Calibrated mechanical winch and method of manufacture
OwnerLonnie Mark Bondinventor
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical winch. The mechanical winch includes a body and a spool axle. The spool axle is slidably disposed within the body and coupled to the body by at least one spring. A spool is disposed about the spool axle. A non-electrically-conductive tether is coupled to the spool. A brake axle is slidably disposed within the frame and located a fixed distance from the spool axle. Actuation of the spool applies increasing tension to non-electrically-conductive tether and causes compression of the at least one spring.
Claims20
A mechanical winch comprising:
- a body;
- a spool axle slidably disposed within the body and coupled to the body by at least one spring;
- a spool disposed about the spool axle;
- a handle pivotably coupled to the body and operable to impart force to the spool so as to induce rotation of the spool;
- a non-electrically-conductive tether coupled to the spool;
- a brake axle slidably disposed within the body and located a fixed distance from the spool axle;
- and
- wherein actuation of the handle applies increasing tension to the non-electrically-conductive tether and causes compression of the at least one spring.
A mechanical winch comprising:
- a body;
- a spool-support assembly slidably disposed within the body;
- a spool rotatably coupled to the spool-support assembly;
- a tether secured around the spool;
- an adjustable stop coupled to the spool-support assembly,
- a selection member interoperably coupled to the adjustable stop, wherein the selection member allows selection of a desired magnitude of tension to be applied to the tether;
- a handle pivotably coupled to the body and operable to induce rotation of the spool to apply a tension to the tether;
- a spring operatively engaged with the body and the spool-support assembly;
- a spring-biased indicator disposed in the body, the spring-biased indicator being removably engaged with the adjustable stop;
- wherein the tension applied to the tether causes displacement of the spool-support assembly and causes compression of the spring;
- and
- wherein, responsive to the desired magnitude of tension being reached, the spring-biased indicator becomes disengaged from the adjustable stop.
A mechanical winch comprising:
- a body;
- a spool rotatably coupled to the body, the spool comprising a ratchet wheel coupled to the spool;
- a tether secured around the spool;
- a handle pivotably coupled to the body and operable to impart force to the ratchet wheel so as to induce rotation of the spool;
- a cylinder coupled to the body;
- a piston disposed within the cylinder;
- and
- a spring disposed within the cylinder and operatively engaged with the piston.
A method for monitoring tension applied to a tensionable element, the method comprising:
- coupling a first connector of a mechanical winch to the tensionable element;
- coupling a second connector of the mechanical winch to a support;
- selecting a desired magnitude of tension to be applied to the tensionable element by adjusting a length of an adjustable stop;
- engaging a spring-biased indicator disposed in the mechanical winch with the adjustable stop;
- compressing a spring located in the mechanical winch responsive to tension applied to the tensionable element;
- and
- disengaging the spring-biased indicator from the adjustable stop when the desired magnitude of tension is reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.