Pawl and ratchet construction for hand winch

In a winch having a winch reel, a driving gear, a driven gear engaging with the driving gear connected to the winch reel, and a ratchet and pawl apparatus for permitting forward and reverse movement of the winch, said pawl having first and second ratchet-engaging members thereon and pivotal on a shaft into a first position permitting winch rotation in only one rotational direction and into a second position permitting winch rotation in only the opposite rotational direction, an improvement in the ratchet and pawl arrangement comprising, in combination:

• handle means for pivoting said pawl into said first and second positions, said handle means mounted for translational and rotational movement on the shaft,
• latching means for engaging with said handle means and maintaining said handle means in fixed position when in contact with said handle means;
• and
• biasing means for translating said handle means against said latching means whereby the pawl is maintained in the desired position until a deliberate translational force is exerted on the handle means sufficient to overcome the force of the biasing means.