Strap winch

A strap winch for pulling in and storing a strap, comprising:

• a storage device for continuously collecting a strap arriving at the winch;
• a step-wise pulling mechanism through which the strap passes to said storage device and which is arranged to grip and with great force step-wise pull the strap for further passage to said storage device;
• a locking means through which the strap is to be pulled by said step-wise pulling mechanism for allowing the strap to pass freely in the direction of pull, but automatically locking the strap against movement in the opposite direction, and a disengaging means connected with said locking means and operable to release said locking means from the strap and allow such strap free passage in both directions, said step-wise pulling mechanism including means defining a common pivot axis fixed with respect to at least one of said storage device and locking means, two spaced elements pivotable about said common axis, together as well as relative to each other, said pulling mechanism being located so that the strap passes from said locking means through the space between said two elements, and means actuable for pivoting the first said element about said common axis (1) relative to said second element into strap gripping relation therewith and (2) then with said second element so as to coil said strap into a convoluted shape and therewith pull a greater length of said strap into the zone between said storage device and locking means, whereby a return pivoting of said first and second elements about said common axis frees the convoluted portion of said strap for addition of a corresponding portion of said strap to said storage device, said locking means comprising a wedge lock incorporating two rigid locking planes, which define between themselves a wedge-shaped space through which said strap is to pass, a movable locking element mounted for pressing into said wedge-shaped space between one said locking plane and the strap and thereby for locking the strap against movement in one direction, friction reducing means between said movable locking element and said one locking plane for facilitating movement of said movable locking element, said friction reducing means comprising at least one rollable bearing element mounted in the vicinity of the pressure center of said locking element, i.e. where the force resultant or the element engagement pressure against the strap passes.

A strap winch for pulling in and storing a strap, comprising:

• a storage device for continuously collecting a strap arriving at the winch;
• a step-wise pulling mechanism through which the strap passes to said storage device and which is arranged to grip and with great force step-wise pull the strap for further passage to said storage device;
• a locking means through which the strap is to be pulled by said step-wise pulling mechanism for allowing the strap to pass freely in the direction of pull, but automatically locking the strap against movement in the opposite direction, and a disengaging means connected with said locking means and operable to release said locking means from the strap and allow such strap free passage in both directions, said step-wise pulling mechanism including means defining a common pivot axis fixed with respect to at least one of said storage device and locking means, two spaced elements pivotable about said common axis, together as well as relative to each other, said pulling mechanism being located so that the strap passes from said locking means through the space between said two elements, and means actuable for pivoting the first said element about said common axis (1) relative to said second element into strap gripping relation therewith and (2) then with said second element so as to coil said strap into a convoluted shape and therewith pull a greater length of said strap into the zone between said storage device and locking means, whereby a return pivoting of said first and second elements about said common axis frees the convoluted portion of said strap for addition of a corresponding portion of said strap to said storage device, said locking means comprising a fixed locking plane and movable slide means coacting with it, the strap being routed between said locking plane and an engagement portion of said movable slide means, said engagement portion having an opening close to one end thereof, said locking means having a path for said strap passing around said slide means portion between said opening and said one end of said engaging portion and then through said opening and then further on between said engagement portion and said fixed locking plane, an eccentric means mounted to engage said engagement portion of said slide means and press same towards the strap and therewith for automatically preventing the strap from moving in one direction by achieving seizure of the strap between said engagement portion and said fixed locking plane.

A strap winch for pulling in and stowing a strap, comprising:

• storage means for exerting a relatively light tension on the strap and retrieving same;
• a locking means spaced along the strap from said storage means, in a direction toward the load engageable end of the strip for locking the strap against unwanted movement towards the load-engaging end thereof while permitting strap movement therethrough in the opposite direction away from said load-engaging end thereof and toward said storage means;
• a cam shaft rotatable about its own longitudinal axis, said camshaft axis being fixedly located between and with respect to said storage means and locking means, said cam shaft having an eccentrically protruding lobe located with respect to said axis, a support member carried by said camshaft axis for rotation thereabout, a counter member orbitally carried by said support member for rotation through an arcuate path around said cam shaft for disposition of said strap therebetween, the minimum radial distance between said counter member and cam lobe being somewhat less than the thickness of said strap and the radial distance between said counter member and the unlobed portion of said cam shaft being greater than the thickness of said strap;
• means actuable to rotate said cam shaft about said camshaft axis, with said strap engaged between said lobe and said counter member, for drawing additional strap material from both said storage means and locking means into a loop surrounding said counter member and lying along one side of said camshaft.