CPC B66D 1/36 (2013.01) [B66D 2700/0191 (2013.01)] | 5 Claims |
1. A winch apparatus, comprising:
a cable unwinding/rewinding mechanism having a cable attached thereon;
a first sheave spaced apart from the cable unwinding/rewinding mechanism, the first sheave having an annular groove therein, the annular groove arranged substantially on a first plane; and,
two horizontally aligned trunnion sheaves adjacently arranged, each of the two horizontally aligned trunnion sheaves having an annular groove therein, the respective annular grooves of the two horizontally aligned trunnion sheaves forming a cable channel adapted to maintain a minimum circumferential cable-to-trunnion sheave contact of 90° along an angle of recovery range for the cable of about 180° ;
each of the two horizontally aligned trunnion sheaves adapted to change the direction of the applied force on the cable, transmit consistent rotational motion as the cable is unwound/rewound, afford mechanical advantage in either or both linear and rotational motion, and facilitate even winding of the cable onto a winch drum of the cable unwinding/rewinding mechanism;
the two horizontally aligned trunnion sheaves rotatable along a trunnion-sheave support head pivot, the trunnion-sheave support head pivot having an axis of rotation parallel to the first plane and perpendicular to the cable channel, wherein the cable is arranged to be seated at least partially within the annular groove of the first sheave and within the cable channel.
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