Climbing Winch Adhesion Pulley Rope Jam Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing winches with grooved pulleys face issues with jamming due to the upward extraction of ropes without longitudinal rigidity and require additional locking devices, especially when dealing with ropes rather than cables, and have limitations in height and lifting force.

Innovation Solution

A grip pulley winch design featuring a frame with an upper region for the tensioned rope and a lower region for the slack rope, incorporating an adhesion pulley with a guide and clamping pulley system that allows the rope to exit downwards, eliminating jams and providing controlled force locking without a separate locking device, with pulleys positioned for a significant winding angle to enhance lifting force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the rope is extracted upwards from the top of the winch, then the winch structure is simplified, but the rope jams due to lack of longitudinal rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinch structureVSAvoidrope extraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional rope extraction direction by guiding the slack strand downwards from the lower region of the frame instead of upwards from the top. This reversal eliminates jamming issues caused by upward extraction of flexible ropes while maintaining structural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a blocking device is added to prevent rope slippage, then lifting reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping pulley system automatically generates the necessary blocking force through the tension of the lifting strand itself. The system is self-regulating, requiring no external locking mechanisms or additional blocking devices to prevent rope slippage during lifting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Force

If the guide pulley and clamping pulley are positioned close to the adhesion pulley, then the winding angle increases and lifting force is enhanced, but the space requirement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting forceVSAvoidwinch volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement by positioning the guide pulley and clamping pulley in close proximity to the adhesion pulley along the rope path, creating a compact configuration that achieves a large winding angle (at least 200°, preferably 280° or more) without increasing the overall winch volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The winch enables seamless ascent and descent along unlimited-length ropes, prevents jamming, and provides sufficient lifting force without additional braking, ensuring secure operation and compact portability.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesion pulley mounted on the frame and comprising on its periphery a groove allowing traction (transmission of force/movement) of the lifting strand by adhesion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a clamping pulley at the grip pulley outlet, close to the guide pulley, exerting pressure on the lifting strand in the direction of the grip pulley

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3063086B1Climbing winch
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 CAPITAL ACCESS SARL
  • EP3063086B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3063086B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3063086B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Winch (10) having a traction sheave (14) for moving along a lifting strand (20), in particular a rope or a cable, comprising a frame (12); a drive sheave (14) with a single groove (16) mounted on said frame (12); a guide means able to guide the lifting strand under tension from the upper region of said frame (12) towards the lower region thereof, the guide means comprising, on the side of the lower region of said frame, a guide sheave (22) in the vicinity of the drive sheave (14) and transferring the tensioned lifting strand (20a) to the drive sheave (14); a clamping sheave (26), in the vicinity of said guide sheave (22), that exerts a pressure on the lifting strand in the direction of said drive sheave (14) and acts at the wound end of the lifting strand (20) on said sheave (14) on the side of the free strand (20b).