# US 11,441,722 B2 · Portable winch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,722 B2 - Document ID: US11441722B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/107,179 - Filed: 2020-11-30 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-18 - Assignees: TT Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: TT Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Tjader - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441722B2 ## CPC - F16L 55/18: Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) - B66C 23/66: Outer or upper end constructions - B66C 23/70: constructed of sections adapted to be assembled to form jibs or various lengths - B66D 1/36: Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains - B66D 1/38: by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel - B66D 1/74: Capstans - B66D 3/04: Pulley blocks or like devices in which force is applied to a rope, cable, or chain which passes over one or more pulleys, e.g. to obtain mechanical advantage (sheaves F16H55/00) - B66D 3/06: with more than one pulley - E21B 7/30: without earth removal - E21B 19/084: with flexible drawing means, e.g. cables - F16L 55/1658: {the old pipe being ruptured prior to insertion of a new pipe} - F16L 2101/50: Pulling cables or the like - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable winch, comprising: a winch; a boom including one or more boom sections; a top pulley positioned at a top of the boom; a flexible line coupled to the winch; a boom end unit, including: a first pulley with a tangent substantially in line with the boom; and a second pulley spaced laterally apart from the first pulley, wherein the boom end unit is configured to space the second pulley farther away from a working surface than the first pulley, wherein the flexible line is routed counterclockwise over the first pulley, and clockwise over the second pulley from a single viewpoint. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable winch of claim 1, further including a joint between the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein a relative position of the first pulley with respect to the second pulley is selectable within a range of motion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable winch of claim 1, further including at least one strut coupled to the boom end unit, the strut having a length adjustment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable winch of claim 3, wherein the length adjustment includes a threaded member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The portable winch of claim 4, wherein the length adjustment further includes a pin and hole length adjustment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable winch of claim 5, further including a bumper with a ball and socket joint between a distal end of the strut and the bumper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable winch of claim 1, wherein the end unit further includes at least one fastener including a spring pin, wherein the fastener includes an opening to permit flushing of debris from within the fastener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portable winch of claim 7, wherein the spring pin is normally biased with the pin engaged in a hole, wherein the fastener includes a hands free selectable position with the pin disengaged from the hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable winch of claim 1, wherein the second pulley is adapted to be positioned in both a first position spaced laterally apart from the first pulley and a second position substantially in line with the boom assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable winch of claim 9, further including a rotary joint between the first pulley and the second pulley that permits movement between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 11 A portable winch, comprising: a winch; a boom assembly, including: two or more boom sections; a boom driver that mechanically engages a lateral side of the two or more boom sections fixed in relation to one another to raise and lower the boom sections; a top pulley positioned at a top of the boom assembly; a flexible line coupled to the winch; a boom end unit, including: a first pulley with a tangent substantially in line with the boom; and a second pulley spaced laterally apart from the first pulley, wherein the boom end unit is configured to space the second pulley farther away from a working surface than the first pulley, wherein the flexible line is routed counterclockwise over the first pulley, and clockwise over the second pulley from a single viewpoint. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The portable winch of claim 11, wherein the two or more boom sections include substantially the same cross section dimensions, and are coupled end to end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The portable winch of claim 11, wherein the second pulley is adapted to be positioned in both a first position spaced laterally apart from the first pulley and a second position substantially in line with the boom assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The portable winch of claim 13, further including a rotary joint between the first pulley and the second pulley that permits movement between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The portable winch of claim 11, wherein the boom driver laterally engages a toothed rack on a lateral side of the two or more boom sections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The portable winch of claim 11, further including a locking mechanism to physically lock the two or more boom sections at a selected depth within a hole.