Winch

A portable winch comprising:

• a drive cylinder, configured to be rotated by an applied force from both a handle for manually rotating the drive cylinder and from an external motor for rotating the drive cylinder about its longitudinal axis and having at least three drive grooves rotating in parallel planes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive cylinder;
• a shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive cylinder upon which at least two idler pulleys are rotatably attached;
• wherein the idler pulleys rotate in planes parallel to each other, which planes are at an angle to the parallel planes of the drive grooves, such that, as a line passes around a first drive groove, onto a first idler pulley, and around the first idler pulley, the line, as it comes off the first idler pulley, is aligned with a second drive groove;
• and wherein as the line comes around the second drive groove, onto a second idler pulley, and around the second idler pulley, the line, as it comes off the second idler pulley, is aligned with a third drive groove;
• wherein the line is attached to one of a fixed object or an object to be moved;
• and
• wherein, the winch is attached to the other of the fixed object or the object to be moved;
• and
• wherein, as the line is passed around the drive grooves and idler pulleys and as the drive cylinder is rotated, the length of the line between the fixed object and the object to be moved is shortened, thereby moving the object to be moved.

A portable winch kit comprising:

• a line;
• a winch comprising:
• a handle;
• a drive cylinder, configured to be rotated by an applied force from both the handle for manually rotating the drive cylinder and an external motor for rotating the drive cylinder about its longitudinal axis and having at least three drive grooves;
• an idler with a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the drive cylinder;
• wherein the line is fed onto the winch by passing it over a first of the at least three drive grooves then around the idler and then around a second of the at least three drive grooves and then around the idler and then around a third of the at least three drive grooves;
• wherein the line is attached to one of a fixed object or the object to be moved;
• and
• wherein, the winch is attached to the other of the fixed object or the object to be moved;
• and
• wherein, as the applied force is applied to the drive cylinder, the line is gripped by the at least three drive grooves and a length of the line between the fixed object and the object to be moved is shortened, whereby the object is moved;
• a winch attachment device comprising a hook or a loop;
• a line attachment device comprising a hook or a loop.