Improved winch

Abstract

To provide an improved winch that relieves pressure on a wire rope, prevents deformation of the wire rope located in the inner layer, and improves service life and safety. [Solution] The device comprises a drum section (1), a drum shaft section, a power unit, at least one pressure distribution member, a wire rope (5), and two side plates (6). The pressure distribution member comprises a plurality of first raised sections (41), a plurality of first recessed sections (42), and a plurality of first pressure distribution sections (43). The power unit uses the drum shaft section to rotate the drum section, and the wire rope is wound between the side plates. This winding action naturally guides the wire rope above the first recessed sections, and by regulating the position of the first raised sections, the wire rope is abutted against the first pressure distribution sections on both sides, distributing the straight downward pressure to both sides. When the wire ropes are stacked, this relieves pressure on the wire rope in the lowest layer and prevents deformation of the wire rope.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved winch that can relieve pressure on the wire rope, prevent deformation of the wire rope located in the inner layer, and improve the service life and safety of the wire rope. [Background technology]

[0002] Winches are common components in various lifting devices, such as hoists, cranes, and cranes, and are primarily used to wind and secure ropes to lift and move objects. Conventional winches typically consist of a drum, a drive mechanism, and a braking device. The rope is wound around the drum, and the drive mechanism provides power to control the winding and unwinding of the rope. However, when existing winches are used, when the rope is wound multiple times, the upper layers of the rope exert pressure on the lower layers, especially on the bottom layer, which is in direct contact with the rigid drum. This significantly increases the pressure experienced by the rope, affecting its service life and load-bearing capacity.

[0003] Generally, ropes are made by twisting together multiple strands of steel wire, ensuring sufficient strength and flexibility. However, when a rope is wound multiple times, the upper layer of rope presses against the lower layer, causing lateral deformation of the rope and potentially damaging its structure. This deformation phenomenon due to compression not only reduces the rope's service life, but also causes localized stress concentrations, potentially affecting the rope's overall load-bearing capacity. After heavy loads or prolonged use, damaged ropes are at risk of breaking, potentially affecting the safety of equipment operation.

[0004] Especially in large crane applications, a relatively long and relatively large amount of rope is usually wound on the drum, and the first layer of rope is often not unwound, so even if deformation occurs, the impact on use is relatively small. However, in small elevators or equipment with limited space, due to volume requirements, excess rope is usually not wound, and the rope is often completely unwound, in which case each layer of rope directly affects operational performance. Therefore, in such applications, the impact of rope deformation is more significant, and the requirements for winch design are higher.

[0005] In addition, as shown in the schematic diagram of winding a rope in a conventional winch in Figure 1, conventional winches usually have a smooth surface of drum 9, and when winding rope 91, rope 91 and the surface of drum 9 are in point-to-point contact in cross section, and the area receiving force is small, so the pressure received by rope 91 is greater, and its deformation is accelerated, affecting its durability and load-bearing capacity.

[0006] The industry has already introduced improvements to ropes. For example, some winches use drums with spiral grooves to ensure that the rope is aligned along a predetermined path and reduce tangled winding. However, this design primarily serves to align the rope, and the rope's greatest force is still concentrated at the bottom of each groove, so it cannot solve the problem of rope compression. In addition, some winches use special materials or increase the friction coefficient of the drum surface to reduce rope sliding, but these methods have limited effect on reducing rope deformation.

[0007] Another solution is to use a segmented winch design, which has multiple independent winding zones on the drum to prevent the rope from stacking in layers. However, such designs often require a larger drum volume, which increases the volume and cost of the equipment and makes them inapplicable to some space-constrained applications. Furthermore, large winches are equipped with guide mechanisms, which, like spiral-grooved drums, primarily serve as an alignment mechanism, usually complicating the system and requiring additional maintenance and adjustment.

[0008] Therefore, although the existing technology can alleviate the problem of deformation due to pressure to a certain extent, there are still many shortcomings, and it is difficult to balance the volume of the equipment, manufacturing costs, and the lifespan of the rope. Therefore, how to solve the above-mentioned problems and shortcomings of the conventional technology, more effectively distribute the force when winding the rope, reduce the deformation of the rope, and improve its durability and safety has become the direction of research and development by the applicant of the present invention and related manufacturers engaged in this industry. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned shortcomings, the inventor of this invention collected relevant materials, made evaluations and considerations from various angles, and based on his many years of experience in this industry, made repeated prototypes and modifications, and designed a utility model of an improved winch that relieves pressure on the wire rope, prevents deformation of the wire rope located in the inner layer, and improves the service life and safety of the wire rope.

[0010] The main purpose of this invention is to provide an improved winch in which the pressure distribution member is designed to change and increase the pressure direction of the wire rope when the wire rope is wound onto the drum, thereby reducing the pressure on the wire rope located in the inner layer.

[0011] Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved winch in which the pressure distribution member can be retrofitted onto the drum, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the drum. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The invention will be described below. The improved winch described in claim 1 includes a drum unit, a drum shaft unit, a power unit, at least one pressure distribution member, a wire rope, and two side plates, the pressure distribution member having a plurality of first raised portions arranged at intervals, a plurality of first recessed portions arranged alternately with the first raised portions, and a plurality of first pressure distribution portions respectively located between adjacent first raised portions and first recessed portions, wherein the drum shaft unit is formed at the center of the drum unit, the power unit is connected to the drum shaft unit, the pressure distribution member is continuously wound on the surface of the drum unit, the wire rope is continuously wound on the pressure distribution member, and the side plates are respectively installed on both ends of the drum unit to limit the winding range of the wire rope, and the first raised portions restrict the position of the wire rope above the first recessed portions, so that the wire rope simultaneously abuts on the first pressure distribution portions on both sides.

[0013] In the improved winch described in claim 2, the pressure dispersion member of claim 1 is wound continuously in a spiral shape, and the first protruding portion is arc-shaped.

[0014] The improved winch recited in claim 3 is the winch recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one first fixing portion formed on the drum portion or any one of the side plates.

[0015] The improved winch recited in claim 4 is the pressure dispersion member recited in claim 3, which has a first connecting portion at one end thereof that is connected to the first fixing portion in correspondence with the first fixing portion.

[0016] The improved winch recited in claim 5 is the winch recited in claim 1, further comprising a second fixing portion formed on the drum portion.

[0017] The improved winch recited in claim 6 is characterized in that the wire rope of claim 5 has a second connecting portion at one end thereof that is connected to the second fixing portion in a manner corresponding to the second fixing portion.

[0018] In the improved winch described in claim 7, the second fixing portion in claim 5 is adjacent to one side of each of the side plates, and a guide portion is formed between the pressure dispersion member and each of the side plates.

[0019] The improved winch recited in claim 8 is characterized in that the pressure dispersion member in claim 1 has a smooth layer on its surface.

[0020] The improved winch recited in claim 9 is characterized in that the smooth layer in claim 8 is any one of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and metal plating layer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] When using this device as a winch, a pressure distribution member is installed on the surface of the drum. When the power unit rotates the drum using the drum shaft, the wire rope is wound between the side plates. This winding action, combined with the positioning of the first protrusion, naturally guides the wire rope above the first recess, causing the wire rope to abut on the first pressure distribution members on both sides, distributing the downward pressure to both sides. When wire ropes are stacked, the pressure on the bottom wire rope is alleviated, preventing deformation of the wire rope and extending its service life.

[0022] With the above-mentioned technology, the present invention overcomes the problems of conventional winch drums, such as the spiral grooved drum only assisting in alignment but not preventing the rope from being compressed, the sectioned winch requiring too large an equipment volume and high manufacturing costs, and the rope storage guide technology complicating the system and increasing maintenance costs, thereby achieving the above-mentioned advantages of practicality and progress. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the winding of a rope in a conventional winch. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the use of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing pressure distribution in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the use of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the use of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0024] Referring to the perspective view of the first best embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 2 and the schematic diagram of pressure distribution in Fig. 6, as can be clearly seen from these figures, the winch 100 of the present invention includes a drum part 1, a drum shaft part 2, a power unit 3, at least one pressure distribution member 4, a wire rope 5, and two side plates 6, The drum shaft portion is formed at the center position of the drum portion 1, and the power unit 3 is connected to the drum shaft portion 2, The at least one pressure dispersion member 4 is continuously wound around the surface of the drum unit 1, and the wire rope is continuously wound around the pressure dispersion member and includes a plurality of first protrusions 41 arranged at intervals, a plurality of first recesses 42 arranged alternately with the first protrusions 41, and a plurality of first pressure dispersion portions 43 respectively located between adjacent first protrusions 41 and adjacent first recesses 42; The wire rope 5 is continuously wound around the pressure dispersion member 4, and the first protrusions 41 position the wire rope 5 above the first recesses 42, causing the wire rope 5 to abut simultaneously against the first pressure dispersion portions 43 on both sides. The two side plates 6 are respectively installed at both ends of the drum unit 1 to limit the winding range of the wire rope 5 .

[0025] The wire rope 5 has a second connecting portion 54 at one end, which is connected to a corresponding second fixing portion 11 formed on the drum portion 1. The second fixing portion 11 is adjacent to one side of each of the side plates 6, and a guide portion 12 is formed between the pressure dispersion member 4 and each of the side plates 6.

[0026] The winch 100 is connected to either an elevator, hoist, or crane. This embodiment uses a small elevator as an example. The drum 1 is a hollow cylindrical body used to wind the wire rope 5, and has a drum shaft 2 inside that is connected to the shaft of the power unit 3 via an axial hole. The power unit 3 includes at least a motor 31. The pressure distribution member 4 has a rigid structure with an external shape similar to a spring. The entire structure may be a single solid cylindrical structure wound spirally, or this structure may be divided into annular structures with multiple notches, i.e., multiple pressure distribution members 4. This embodiment uses the former as an example, and the first protrusion 41 is arc-shaped. The wire rope 5 is, for example, a rope made of multiple strands of steel wire twisted together. The second fixing portion 11 is, for example, a perforation. The second connecting portion 54 is, for example, a knot or a crimped sleeve at the end of the wire rope 5, for example, a crimped sleeve in this embodiment. The side plate 6 is a plate with a cross-sectional area larger than that of the drum part 1, and in this embodiment, it is installed by welding. The guide part 12 is a gap between the pressure dispersion member 4 and the side plate 6. However, the corresponding form of the above components is merely an example of the best mode, and any form having a similar function falls within the scope of the present invention, and is not limited to the above example.

[0027] The structure of the present technology can be understood from the above description. This structural combination achieves advantages such as reducing pressure on the wire rope 5, preventing deformation of the inner layer of the wire rope 5, and improving the service life and safety of the wire rope 5. As can be clearly seen from these figures, the winch 100 of the present invention is mounted on an elevator and does not have a winding guide mechanism for the wire rope 5. The spiral shape of the pressure distribution member 4 can be curved using equipment and then wound around the drum 1. Alternatively, the pressure distribution member 4 can be prefabricated to the shape of a tension spring and then attached to the drum 1 before welding the side plate 6. This embodiment uses the latter method, as shown in Figure 3. However, both manufacturing methods have the advantages of ease of manufacture and low cost. The power unit 3 of this embodiment is composed of a motor 31, a reducer 32, a worm 33, and a helical gear 34.

[0028] In actual use, the second connecting portion 54 of the wire rope 5 is fixed to one side of the second fixing portion 11 inside the drum unit 1, preventing the wire rope 5 from falling off even when it is completely unwound and also serving to position the wire rope when it is rewound again. In combination with the design of the guide portion 12, when the wire rope 5 is being pulled out from the drum shaft 2 into the drum unit 1, it can be regulated in position between the pressure dispersing member 4 and the side plate 6, and this guides the wire rope 5 to the nearest first recess 42, allowing the wire rope 5 to naturally rest on the pressure dispersing member 4. Furthermore, the helical gear 34 of the power unit 3 is connected inside the drum shaft 2 to rotate the drum unit 1 forward or backward. Furthermore, when the wire rope 5 is wound between the two side plates 6, the pressure distribution member 4 is disposed on the surface of the drum 1, so the wire rope 5 comes into direct contact with the pressure distribution member 4, and the shapes of the first protrusions 41 and first recesses 42 form continuous corrugations on the surface of the pressure distribution member 4, and the circular cross section of the pressure distribution member 4 gives the surface a smooth appearance, so that the winding action of the wire rope 5 causes the wire rope 5 to be naturally guided above the first recesses 42, and the position is restricted by the first protrusions 41, so that the wire rope 5 comes into contact with the first pressure distribution members 43 on both sides. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the original wire rope 5 contacts the drum 1 only at a single point, directly below, but now it contacts the first pressure distribution members 43 at two points, the lower left and lower right. Furthermore, because the pressure dispersing members 4 are installed in a continuous winding, all of their cross sections are circles of the same size that are closely adjacent to each other, so regardless of the diameters of the wire rope 5 and the pressure dispersing members 4, if the center of the wire rope 5 and the centers of the two adjacent pressure dispersing members 4 are considered to be the three vertices of a triangle, this triangle will always be an isosceles triangle. In other words, the compressive force of the wire rope 5 is distributed into two component forces of the same size, thereby achieving the goal of evenly distributing the applied force.

[0029] Similarly, after the wire rope 5 is wound around the pressure distribution member 4, the wire rope 5 also has a plurality of second protrusions 51 arranged at intervals, a plurality of second recesses 52 arranged alternately with each second protrusion 51, and a plurality of second pressure distribution portions 53 located between adjacent second protrusions 51 and second recesses 52. When the second layer of wire rope 5a is subsequently wound and installed, it is simultaneously pressed against the second pressure distribution portions 53 on both sides. In other words, when the second layer of wire rope 5a is wound, the wire rope 5a is also guided into the second recesses 52 and its position is restricted by the second protrusions 51, so that the wire rope 5a abuts against the second pressure distribution portions 53 on both sides. This distributes the downward pressure to both sides, relieving the pressure on the first layer of wire rope 5. When the second layer of wire rope 5a is stacked on the first layer of wire rope 5, it is inevitable that some of the wire ropes will overlap, and the second layer of wire rope 5a cannot be positioned completely within the second recess 52. However, since the wire rope 5 is softer than the drum section 1 or the pressure distribution member 4, the impact of some of the soft wire rope 5 overlapping is minimal, and overall, this has the advantage of preventing deformation of the wire rope 5 located in the inner layer and improving the service life and safety of the wire rope 5. [Example]

[0030] 7 is a schematic diagram showing the use of the second best embodiment of the present invention. As can be clearly seen from this diagram, the main difference between this embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiments is that the winch 100 has at least one first fixing portion 61 formed on the drum unit 1 or one of the side plates 6, and the pressure distribution member 4 has a first connecting portion 44 at one end that is connected to the first fixing portion 61. In this embodiment, the first fixing portion 61 is, for example, a hole on the side plate 6, and the first connecting portion 44 is a bent end of the pressure distribution member 4 that is used to hook onto the first fixing portion 61. In this way, by utilizing the design of the first fixing portion 61 and the first connecting portion 44, the pressure distribution member 4 can be firmly fixed and installed on the drum unit 1 and cannot rotate or slide on the surface of the drum unit 1. Although the rotational sliding of the pressure distribution member 4 does not affect the overall effect, after the pressure distribution member 4 is fixed using the first fixing part 61 and the first connecting part 44, it can be ensured that the pressure distribution member 4 does not press on the wire rope or block the second fixing part 11, and furthermore, it can ensure that the wire rope is placed on the first first recess of the pressure distribution member 4, which indirectly improves the alignment of the wire rope and the pressure distribution effect. [Example]

[0031] Please also refer to Figure 8, a schematic diagram showing the usage of the third best embodiment of the present invention. This shows the state after the pressure dispersion member 4 has been fixed and before the wire rope 5 has been wound. As can be clearly seen from this figure, this embodiment is almost the same as embodiment 2, except that the first fixing part 13 and the second fixing part 11 are connected to form the same hole. Since the overall function is the same as above, no further explanation will be given. It should be noted here that there are no particular limitations on the method of fixing the pressure dispersion member 4 and the wire rope 5. [Example]

[0032] Please also refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be clearly seen from this figure, the main difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment is that the pressure distribution member 4 has a smooth layer 45 formed on its surface, which can be made of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or a metal-plated layer. The smooth layer 45 not only improves strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, but also makes the surface of the pressure distribution member 4 smoother, which makes it easier for the wire rope 5 to be naturally guided above the first recess 42 when wound around it, thereby indirectly improving the pressure distribution effect and alignment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] (conventional materials) 9 Drums 91 Rope (Components of the present application) 100 winch 1 Drum section 11 Second fixed part 12 Guide section 13 1st fixed part 2 Drum shaft 3 Power plant 31 Motor 32 Reducer 33 Warm 34 Helical gear 4 Pressure dispersion member 41 1st protuberance 42 First recess 43 First pressure dispersion section 44 1st joint 45 Smooth layer 5, 5a wire rope 51 2nd protuberance 52 Second recess 53 Second pressure dispersion section 54 Second joint 6 Side Plate 61 1st fixed part

Claims

1. 1. An improved winch, said winch comprising a drum portion, a drum shaft portion, at least one pressure distribution member, a wire rope, and two side plates; The drum shaft portion is formed at the center of the drum portion and is used to connect a power unit, The at least one pressure dispersion member is continuously wound around the surface of the drum portion and includes a plurality of first raised portions arranged at intervals, a plurality of first recessed portions arranged alternately with each of the first raised portions, and a plurality of first pressure dispersion portions respectively located between adjacent first raised portions and adjacent first recessed portions, The wire rope is continuously wound around the pressure distribution member, and each of the first protrusions restricts the position of the wire rope above each of the first recesses, causing the wire rope to abut simultaneously on each of the first pressure distribution parts on both sides thereof. The two side plates are respectively installed at both ends of the drum portion to limit the winding range of the wire rope. Improved winch characterized by:

2. 2. The improved winch of claim 1, wherein said pressure distribution member is continuously wound in a spiral shape, and said first ridge is arcuate.

3. 2. The improved winch of claim 1, wherein said winch includes at least one first fixed portion formed on said drum portion or on one of said side plates.

4. 4. The improved winch according to claim 3, wherein said pressure dispersion member has at one end a first connecting portion which is connected correspondingly to said first fixed portion.

5. 2. The improved winch of claim 1, wherein said winch includes a second fastening portion formed on said drum portion.

6. 6. The improved winch according to claim 5, wherein said wire rope has a second connecting portion at one end thereof which is connected to said second fixed portion in correspondence with said second fixed portion.

7. 6. The improved winch according to claim 5, wherein the second fixing portion is adjacent to one side of each of the side plates, and a guide portion is formed between the pressure dispersion member and each of the side plates.

8. 2. The improved winch of claim 1, wherein said pressure distribution member is provided with a smooth layer on its surface.

9. 9. The improved winch according to claim 8, wherein the smooth layer is one of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and metal plated layer.

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