High capacity cable puller with multi-speed automatic shifting transmission

A cable puller configured to pull rope or cable comprising:

• a puller frame;
• a capstan rotatably mounted on the puller frame around a first axis of rotation;
• an output shaft rotatably mounted to the puller frame and coupled to the capstan, wherein the capstan rotates when the output shaft is driven;
• a main motor configured to rotate the output shaft via gearing, wherein the gearing comprises
• a pinion shaft rotatably mounted to the puller frame,
• a low speed pinion gear on the pinion shaft, the low speed gear being coupled to the main motor,
• a low speed driven gear mounted on the output shaft by an overrunning clutch, the low speed driven gear being intermeshed with the low speed pinion gear,
• a medium speed pinion gear on the pinion shaft,
• a medium speed driven gear mounted on the output shaft by a bearing, the medium speed driven gear being intermeshed with the medium speed pinion gear,
• a high-speed pinion gear on the pinion shaft,
• a high-speed driven gear mounted on the output shaft by a bearing, the high-speed driven gear being intermeshed with the high-speed pinion gear;
• and
• a shift motor configured to be coupled to one of medium speed driven gear and to the high-speed driven gear.