Winch
OwnerDmitrijs Volohovsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
We generally describe a winch (100) comprising: a plurality of ropes (130, 140) coupleable to a first load (200) or to different respective second loads (200, 210); a support frame (110); and a first roller (150) moveably coupled to the support frame (110), wherein a first rope (150) of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) is moveable over the first roller (150); wherein a movement of the first roller (150) is configured to shorten and/or lengthen a usable length of the first rope (140) of the plurality of ropes (130, 140), and wherein the shortening and/or lengthening of the usable length of the first rope (140) is configured to raise and/or lower the first load (200) or one of the second loads (200, 210) to which the first roller (150) is coupleable via the first rope (140).
Claims15
A winch (100) comprising:
- a plurality of ropes (130, 140) coupleable to a first load (200) or to different respective second loads (200, 210);
- a support frame (110);
- and
- a first roller (150) moveably coupled to the support frame (110), wherein a first rope (150) of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) is moveable over the first roller (150);
- wherein a movement of the first roller (150) is configured to shorten and/or lengthen a usable length of the first rope (140) of the plurality of ropes (130, 140), and wherein the shortening and/or lengthening of the usable length of the first rope (140) is configured to raise and/or lower the first load (200) or one of the second loads (200, 210) to which the first roller (150) is coupleable via the first rope (140).
The winch (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first roller (150) is coupled to an elongated member (121), wherein the elongated member (121) is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongated member (121), and wherein upon a rotation of the elongated member (121) about the longitudinal axis, the first roller (150) is configured to move along said longitudinal axis of the elongated member (121).
The winch (100) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a switch (118) contactable by the first roller (150) and/or by a first roller support (119) of the first roller (150), wherein upon an establishment of a contact between the first roller (150) and the switch (118) and/or between the first roller support (119) and the switch (118), the winch (100) is configured to detect a position of the first roller (150).
The winch (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:
- a common support (163) which is moveably coupled to the support frame (110), and
- a third roller (161a) and a fourth roller (161c) fixably coupled to the common support (163),
- wherein a movement of the common support (163) is configured to move the first load (200) or one or more second loads (200, 210) in a direction having a component perpendicular to gravity.
The winch (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising an extension arm (275) comprising a fifth roller (276), wherein one or more of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) is moveable over the fifth roller (276).
The winch (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the second loads (200, 210) are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of gravity, and wherein at least one of the second loads (200, 210) comprises a pass through hole configured to allow at least one of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) to pass through the at least one second load (200, 210).
A method for controlling a winch (100), in particular the winch (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winch (100) comprises:
- a plurality of ropes (130, 140) coupleable to a first load (200) or to different respective second loads (200, 210),
- a support frame (110),
- a first roller (150) moveably coupled to the support frame (110), wherein a first rope (140) of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) is moveable over the first roller (150), and
- a winch controller (113) configured to move the first roller (150) or to provide an output signal for moving the first roller (150);
- and wherein the method comprises:
- receiving, by the winch controller (113), from the winch (100), data comprising positional data of at least one of the plurality of ropes and/or a said first or second load (200, 210);
- determining, by the winch controller (113), if the received data fulfils a condition;
- wherein, if the condition is fulfilled, the method further comprises:
- calculating, by the winch controller (113), length data relating to a usable length of at least one of the plurality of ropes (130, 140), wherein the usable length is changeable and/or a position of a said first or second load (200, 210) is raisable and/or lowerable by the winch (100);
- and
- moving the first roller (150) to a location defined by a length difference which is determined based on the calculated length data and the received data, wherein the movement is configured to change the usable length of the at least one of the plurality of ropes (130, 140) and/or raise and/or lower a said first or second load (200, 210).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.