Towing winch capable of adjusting tensile force of mooring rope

Abstract

The utility model discloses a towing winch capable of adjusting the tensile force of a mooring rope, and relates to the technical field of towing winches, the towing winch comprises a bottom plate and a towing machine, the bottom plate is provided with a fixing frame, the fixing frame is rotatably provided with a fixing wheel, telescopic rods are arranged on the two sides of the fixing frame, and each telescopic rod comprises a barrel piece and a rod piece slidably inserted into the barrel piece; an elastic piece is arranged on the inner bottom face of the barrel piece, one end of the elastic piece is connected with the bottom face of the rod piece, a movable frame is arranged at one end of the telescopic rod and rotationally provided with a movable wheel, and the movable wheel is located above the fixed wheel and clamps the cable together with the fixed wheel. When the tension of the cable is increased, the cable can apply upward thrust to the moving wheel, the elastic piece is stretched to store the energy, and the cable is prevented from being snapped due to sudden increase of the tension; on the contrary, when the tension is reduced, the elastic piece releases energy, the rod piece is pushed to move downwards to drive the moving wheel to press the cable, and the cable is kept properly tensioned all the time; tensioning of the mooring rope is automatically adjusted in real time, the burden of sailors is relieved, and meanwhile the mooring rope is protected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cable winches, and in particular to a cable winch with adjustable cable tension. Background Technology

[0002] A towing winch is a device used for deploying and retrieving cables, widely used in marine engineering, shipping, seismic exploration, and other fields. Early towing winches were mostly manually operated, relying on manual turning of a handle to deploy or retract the cable. This was laborious and inefficient, suitable only for small vessels or scenarios with low requirements for the cable. With technological advancements, electric and hydraulically powered towing winches have gradually replaced manual winches.

[0003] Currently, common cable winches mainly consist of a base plate and a cable winding machine for winding the cable. In some simple cable winch designs, only basic winding functions are available, with the cable being wound up and down by a motor driving the drum, lacking effective control measures for cable tension.

[0004] Regarding the aforementioned technologies, the inventors believe that in actual operations, the ship's navigation status is constantly changing, and the marine environment is complex and variable. Factors such as wind, waves, and currents can cause frequent fluctuations in the tension of the towline. Existing technologies lack an automatic adjustment mechanism and cannot adaptively adjust in real time according to changes in the towline tension. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a towing winch with adjustable cable tension to improve the problem that the prior art lacks an automatic adjustment mechanism and cannot adaptively adjust according to changes in cable tension in real time.

[0006] This application provides a cable winch for adjustable cable tension, employing the following technical solution:

[0007] An adjustable cable tension towing winch includes a base plate and a cable winding machine mounted on the top surface of the base plate. The base plate is provided with a fixed frame, and the fixed frame is rotatably equipped with a fixed wheel. Telescopic rods are provided on both sides of the fixed frame. Each telescopic rod includes a cylindrical part and a rod slidably inserted into the cylindrical part. An elastic element is provided on the bottom surface of the inner part of the cylindrical part. One end of the elastic element away from the bottom surface of the inner part of the cylindrical part is connected to the bottom surface of the rod. A movable frame is provided on the end of the telescopic rod away from the base plate. The movable frame is rotatably equipped with a movable wheel. The movable wheel is located above the fixed wheel and together with the fixed wheel clamps the cable.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, when the ship's motion changes during navigation, causing a sudden increase in cable tension, the cable will exert an upward thrust on the moving wheel, causing the telescopic boom's rod to slide upward within the cylinder, stretching the elastic element. The elastic element stores this energy, preventing the cable from breaking due to the sudden increase in tension. Conversely, when the tension decreases, the elastic element releases energy, pushing the rod downward and causing the moving wheel to press the cable down, keeping the cable at a suitable tension at all times. The automatic and real-time adjustment of the cable tension reduces the burden on the crew while protecting the cable.

[0009] Optionally, both the fixed wheel and the movable wheel have concave surfaces that conform to the cable.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the concave surface design allows the cable to fit better against the wheel body, increasing the contact area between the wheel body and the cable, thereby improving the friction force; during the operation of the cable winch, it improves the stable control of the cable tension.

[0011] Optionally, both ends of the fixed wheel and the movable wheel are provided with limiting plates for blocking the cable.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the limit plate provides additional restraint for the cable, preventing the cable from accidentally slipping off both ends of the wheel due to various external forces such as ship swaying and wind and waves during operation; thus reducing the risk of the cable deviating from its normal operating track.

[0013] Optionally, both the fixed wheel and the movable wheel are provided with elastic washers that conform to the concave surface.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the elastic washer can play a buffering role. When the cable is suddenly subjected to a large impact force during the winding and unwinding process, such as when the ship brakes suddenly or encounters strong winds and waves, the elastic washer can absorb part of the impact force and protect the cable and wheel from damage. On the other hand, it can also further enhance the friction between the wheel and the cable, making the clamping of the cable between the wheel more stable.

[0015] Optionally, the elastic washer is provided with anti-slip strips around its circumference.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the anti-slip strip further increases the friction between the elastic washer and the cable, effectively reducing the cable's slippage on the wheel and improving the accuracy and stability of cable tension control.

[0017] Optionally, a bracket is provided between the base plate and the cable towing machine and the fixed wheel. A hydraulic cylinder is provided on the top surface of the bracket. A pressure frame is provided through the output end of the hydraulic cylinder through the top surface of the bracket. The pressure frame is rotatably equipped with a pressure roller for pressing down the cable.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution and setting up a design that drives the pressure roller to press down the cable with a hydraulic cylinder, an additional active control method for tension adjustment is provided. Combined with the passive adjustment of the elastic element, it can be more flexible in different working conditions, such as when it is necessary to quickly tighten the cable to deal with emergencies or adjust the cable tension to meet special operation requirements. This enhances the adaptability of the cable winch and improves the operation efficiency.

[0019] Optionally, the inner walls on both sides of the bracket are provided with sliding grooves in the vertical direction, and sliding rods are provided in the sliding grooves in the vertical direction, with both ends of the pressure frame slidably connected to the sliding rods.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the cooperation between the slide bar and the slide groove provides guidance for the up and down movement of the pressure frame, improves the stability of the pressure frame under the drive of the hydraulic cylinder, and reduces the possibility of uneven pressure caused by the tilting of the pressure frame, which in turn affects the uniformity of the cable tension.

[0021] Optionally, the base plate is provided with a slide rail along its length, the bracket is slidably connected to the slide rail, a connecting plate is provided inside the bracket, the base plate is provided with a drive motor, the output end of the drive motor is provided with a screw along the length of the base plate, the screw is threadedly connected to the connecting plate, and the base plate is provided with a fixed seat that is rotatably connected to the end of the screw away from the drive motor.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the moving mechanism composed of components such as drive motor, screw, and slide rail can drive the support and the components fixed on the support to move along the length of the base plate. By moving the pressure roller along the length of the base plate, the tension of the cable can be further adjusted, thereby improving the adaptability and functionality of the cable winch.

[0023] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects of a towing winch with adjustable cable tension:

[0024] 1. When a ship's motion changes during navigation, causing a sudden increase in cable tension, the cable exerts an upward thrust on the moving wheel, causing the telescopic boom's rod to slide upward within the cylinder, stretching the elastic element. The elastic element stores this energy, preventing the cable from breaking due to the sudden increase in tension. Conversely, when the tension decreases, the elastic element releases energy, pushing the rod downward and causing the moving wheel to press the cable down, keeping the cable at a suitable tension at all times. This automatic adjustment of cable tension reduces the burden on the crew while protecting the cable.

[0025] 2. Elastic washers can act as a buffer. When the cable is suddenly subjected to a large impact during the winding and unwinding process, such as when the ship brakes suddenly or encounters strong winds and waves, the elastic washers can absorb part of the impact force and protect the cable and wheel from damage. On the other hand, they can also further enhance the friction between the wheel and the cable, making the cable clamped between the wheel and the wheel more secure.

[0026] 3. By setting up a hydraulic cylinder to drive the pressure roller to press down the cable, an additional active control method is provided for tension adjustment. Combined with the passive adjustment of the elastic element, it can be more flexible in different working conditions, such as when it is necessary to quickly tighten the cable to deal with emergencies, or to adjust the cable tension to meet special operation requirements. This enhances the adaptability of the cable winch and improves the operation efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a cable winch with adjustable cable tension.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram used to illustrate the fixed wheel structure in the embodiment.

[0029] In the diagram, 1. Base plate; 2. Cable towing machine; 3. Fixed frame; 31. Fixed wheel; 4. Telescopic rod; 41. Cylinder; 42. Rod; 43. Elastic component; 44. Moving frame; 45. Moving wheel; 5. Limiting plate; 6. Elastic washer; 61. Anti-slip strip; 7. Bracket; 71. Hydraulic cylinder; 72. Pressure frame; 73. Pressure roller; 74. Slide groove; 75. Slide rod; 8. Slide rail; 81. Connecting plate; 82. Drive motor; 83. Screw; 84. Fixed seat. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1 -Appendix Figure 2 This application will be described in further detail below.

[0031] A cable winch with adjustable cable tension, as shown in the reference. Figure 1 The system includes a base plate 1 and a towing machine 2 for winding the cable, which is mounted on the top surface of the base plate 1. The base plate 1 is made of high-strength steel of moderate thickness and is fixed to the ship plate with bolts. The base plate 1 is equipped with a fixing frame 3, which is vertically fixed to the base plate 1 by welding. The fixing frame 3 is equipped with a fixing wheel 31 that rotates through bearings.

[0032] Reference Figure 1 The base plate 1 is provided with a slide rail 8 along its length. The slide rail 8 is fixedly connected to the base plate 1 by bolts. The base plate 1 is provided with a drive motor 82. The drive motor 82 is fixed to a motor mounting seat pre-designed on the base plate 1 by bolts. The output end of the drive motor 82 is provided with a screw 83 along the length of the base plate 1. One end of the screw 83 is rigidly connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 82 through a coupling. The drive motor 82 can change the rotation direction of the screw 83 by forward and reverse rotation. The base plate 1 is provided with a fixed seat 84 rotatably connected to the end of the screw 83 away from the drive motor 82. The fixed seat 84 is welded to the base plate 1. The fixed seat 84 provides support and positioning for the screw 83 through the bearings provided inside it.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 A support 7 is installed on the base plate 1 between the cable towing machine 2 and the fixed wheel 31. The bottom of the support 7 is slidably connected to the slide rail 8 via a slider. The slider and the support 7 are integrally welded together. A connecting plate 81 is installed inside the support 7 and is welded to the inside of the support 7 to transmit the driving force of the screw 83. The screw 83 is threadedly connected to the connecting plate 81. Slide grooves 74 are opened on the inner walls of both sides of the support 7 in the vertical direction. Slide rods 75 are installed in the slide grooves 74 in the vertical direction. The two ends of the slide rods 75 are installed on the inner wall of the support 7 by interference fit to ensure the slide rods 75 is firmly fixed. A hydraulic cylinder 71 is provided on the top surface of the bracket 7. The hydraulic cylinder 71 is fixed to the hydraulic cylinder 71 mounting seat on the top surface of the bracket 7 by bolts to ensure that the hydraulic cylinder 71 is installed firmly. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder 71 is provided with a pressure frame 72 through the top surface of the bracket 7. The pressure frame 72 is connected to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 71 by threads. The pressure frame 72 is rotatably provided with a pressure roller 73 for pressing down the cable. The pressure roller 73 is installed on the pressure frame 72 by bearings. The two ends of the pressure frame 72 are slidably connected to the slide rod 75 to ensure that the pressure frame 72 can slide smoothly along the slide rod 75 under the drive of the hydraulic cylinder 71.

[0034] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 The fixed frame 3 is provided with telescopic rods 4 on both sides. The telescopic rods 4 include a cylindrical part 41 and a rod 42 that is slidably inserted into the cylindrical part 41. The cylindrical part 41 is welded to the fixed frame 3. An elastic element 43 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the cylindrical part 41. This elastic element 43 is specifically a helical spring. The end of the elastic element 43 away from the inner bottom surface of the cylindrical part 41 is welded to the bottom surface of the rod 42. The end of the telescopic rod 4 away from the base plate 1 is fastened to a movable frame 44 by bolts for easy installation and disassembly. The movable frame 44 is provided with a movable wheel 45 that rotates through a bearing. The movable wheel 45 cooperates with the fixed wheel 31.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 Both the fixed wheel 31 and the movable wheel 45 have concave surfaces that conform to the cable, and the curvature of these concave surfaces is designed based on the outer diameter of common cables. Both the fixed wheel 31 and the movable wheel 45 are equipped with elastic washers 6 that conform to the concave surfaces. The elastic washers 6 are made of rubber and have good cushioning performance. Anti-slip strips 61 are provided around the circumference of the elastic washers 6. The anti-slip strips 61 are rubber strips with raised textures on their surface, further enhancing the friction with the cable and preventing the cable from slipping. Limiting plates 5 are provided at both ends of the fixed wheel 31 and the movable wheel 45 to block the cable. The limiting plates 5 are integrated with the wheel body to ensure structural strength and prevent the cable from accidentally slipping off the ends of the wheel body during operation. The movable wheel 45 is located above the fixed wheel 31 and, together with the fixed wheel 31, clamps the cable.

[0036] The implementation principle of this application embodiment is as follows:

[0037] In the initial state, the elastic element 43 is in a naturally extended state, so that the moving wheel 45 maintains a certain pressure on the fixed wheel 31 under the action of the telescopic rod 4. The two together hold the cable appropriately, and the cable tension is at a basic stable value. When towing operations begin, the towing winch 2 starts winding the cable. If, during the winding process, the ship's navigation state changes, increasing the cable tension, the cable will exert an upward thrust on the moving wheel 45. This thrust is transmitted to the rod 42 of the telescopic boom 4 through the moving frame 44, causing the rod 42 to slide upward within the cylinder 41 against the elastic force of the elastic element 43. The elastic element 43 is stretched, storing energy and buffering the sudden increase in tension. At the same time, the clamping force between the moving wheel 45 and the fixed wheel 31 is dynamically adjusted to maintain effective clamping of the cable and prevent the cable from slipping. If the cable tension decreases, the elastic element 43 releases the stored energy, pushing the rod 42 downward and causing the moving wheel 45 to press the cable downward, compensating for the loss of tension and ensuring that the cable is always maintained at a suitable tension, thus ensuring the stable operation of the towing operation and achieving automatic adjustment of the cable tension. Furthermore, during the entire operation, further active adjustments can be made via the drive motor 82. When the drive motor 82 is started, power is transmitted to the screw 83 via the coupling. The screw 83 rotates, and since it is threadedly connected to the connecting plate 81 inside the bracket 7, and the bottom of the bracket 7 is slidably connected to the slide rail 8 on the base plate 1 via a slider, the bracket 7 moves along the length of the base plate 1 under the guidance of the threaded transmission and the slide rail 8. This, in turn, moves the hydraulic cylinder 71, pressure frame 72, and pressure roller 73 on the bracket 7 to a suitable position, allowing for adjustment of the cable tension at different positions. When fine adjustment of the cable tension is required, the hydraulic cylinder 71 is activated, and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 71 extends and retracts, pushing the pressure frame 72 to slide along the slide rod 75 within the slide grooves 74 on both sides of the bracket 7. The pressure roller 73 descends with the pressure frame 72 and presses down on the cable, applying additional downward pressure to the cable. This, combined with the clamping and tensioning action of the moving wheel 45 and the fixed wheel 31, achieves precise and multi-dimensional control of the cable tension.

[0038] The embodiments described in this specific implementation are preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Identical components are represented by the same reference numerals. Therefore, all equivalent changes made to the structure, shape, and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A cable winch with adjustable cable tension, comprising a base plate (1) and a cable winding machine (2) for winding the cable disposed on the top surface of the base plate (1), characterized in that: The base plate (1) is provided with a fixed frame (3), the fixed frame (3) is rotatably provided with a fixed wheel (31), and telescopic rods (4) are provided on both sides of the fixed frame (3). The telescopic rod (4) includes a cylindrical part (41) and a rod (42) slidably inserted into the cylindrical part (41). An elastic element (43) is provided on the bottom surface of the inner tube (41). The end of the elastic element (43) away from the bottom surface of the inner tube (41) is connected to the bottom surface of the rod (42). A movable frame (44) is provided on the end of the telescopic rod (4) away from the base plate (1). A movable wheel (45) is rotatably provided on the movable frame (44). The movable wheel (45) is located above the fixed wheel (31) and together with the fixed wheel (31) clamps the cable.

2. The adjustable cable tension towing winch according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the fixed wheel (31) and the movable wheel (45) are concave surfaces that fit the cable.

3. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both ends of the fixed wheel (31) and the movable wheel (45) are provided with limiting plates (5) for blocking the cable.

4. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 3, characterized in that: Both the fixed wheel (31) and the movable wheel (45) are provided with elastic washers (6) that conform to the concave surface.

5. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 4, characterized in that: The elastic washer (6) is provided with anti-slip strips (61) around its circumference.

6. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base plate (1) is provided with a bracket (7) between the cable towing machine (2) and the fixed wheel (31). The top surface of the bracket (7) is provided with a hydraulic cylinder (71). The output end of the hydraulic cylinder (71) passes through the top surface of the bracket (7) and is provided with a pressure frame (72). The pressure frame (72) is rotatably provided with a pressure roller (73) for pressing down the cable.

7. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner walls on both sides of the bracket (7) are provided with sliding grooves (74) in the vertical direction, and sliding rods (75) are provided in the sliding grooves (74) in the vertical direction. The two ends of the pressure frame (72) are slidably connected to the sliding rods (75).

8. A towing winch with adjustable cable tension according to claim 7, characterized in that: The base plate (1) is provided with a slide rail (8) along its length. The bracket (7) is slidably connected to the slide rail (8). A connecting plate (81) is provided inside the bracket (7). The base plate (1) is provided with a drive motor (82). The output end of the drive motor (82) is provided with a screw (83) along the length of the base plate (1). The screw (83) is threadedly connected to the connecting plate (81). The base plate (1) is provided with a fixed seat (84) rotatably connected to the end of the screw (83) away from the drive motor (82).

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