Variable speed winch

A winch comprising, in combination, a unidirectional drum rotatable initially by the clockwise motion of a handle in a clockwise sense only, and a gear selector comprising a control plate rotatable with respect to said drum into an extreme clockwise position wherein a first gear ratio is selected, whereby subsequent clockwise rotation of said handle gives the drum a clockwise speed equal to that of the handle, and wherein subsequent anti-clockwise rotation of said handle causes said drum to continue clockwise rotation at an intermediate higher speed with reference to the handle, up to a point where said control plate is urged into an extreme anti-clockwise position with respect to said drum to select a second gear ratio, whereupon the reversal of the handle and subsequent clockwise rotation thereof causes continued clockwise rotation of said drum at a still higher speed with reference to said handle, and wherein reversal of said handle and subsequent further anti-clockwise rotation thereof causes said drum to revert to said intermediate higher speed whilst continuing to rotate clockwise, said gear selector further comprises ratchet means, splined to a shaft rotatable by said handle, whereby clockwise motion of said handle operates a gear train in said first gear ratio via said shaft, but whereby anti-clockwise motion of said handle operates said gear train in said second gear ratio via said shaft, said ratchet means being slidable axially with respect to said shaft under the influence of cam means responsive to the relative angular displacement of said handle with respect to said control plate, said control plate has recesses engageable by respective spring-loaded balls captively supported by said ratchet means, and said balls are adapted to enter and lock within said recesses in response to an anti-clockwise rotation of said handle sufficient to cause axial sliding of said ratchet means, with respect to said shaft, under the influence of said cam means whereby said control plate is urged anti-clockwise until said gear train assumes said second gear ratio.