Mechanical Winch Rope Termination Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical winches in forestry applications face issues with timely termination of rope winding, leading to rope damage and deformation, which can cause work suspension and potential damage to other winch components due to the rope being trapped in the drum layers.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical stop switch mechanism using a Bowden wire rope system, where the end part of the rope impacts a spring-supported pushing element, transmitting force through the wire rope to a switching mechanism, disengaging the coupling and allowing the drum to return to its initial position for unwinding, utilizing a base plate, housing, and restraining elements like balls or pressure pins to manage the locking and release of the winch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the user manually monitors and terminates rope winding, then the winch can operate continuously, but the rope may be trapped between layers or damaged due to delayed termination
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system performs self-monitoring and self-termination of the winding process through the automatic end detection mechanism. The pushing element, activated by the rope end itself, triggers the switching mechanism to automatically stop winding, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while ensuring rope integrity is maintained.
2Reliability
If a mechanical end detection mechanism is installed, then rope damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
A Bowden cable serves as an intermediary transmission element between the pushing element (activated by the rope end) and the switching mechanism. This allows the detection and control functions to be spatially separated while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the Bowden cable transmits the activation force over distance without requiring complex direct mechanical linkages.
3Reliability
If the switching mechanism is made robust to prevent false triggering, then reliability improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to harder return to initial position
Solution Approach 1:
A spring mechanism provides a counteracting force to the switching mechanism, creating a balanced system that requires controlled effort to activate but automatically returns to its initial position. The spring acts as a mechanical counterweight that stores energy during activation and releases it to facilitate easy return, preventing false triggering while maintaining operational ease.
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
Enables reliable termination of the pulling function, allowing for easier return to the initial position for unwinding and load pulling, preventing rope damage and reducing the risk of winch component damage by mechanically controlling the winding process.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-supported pushing element, which is preferably shaped as a washer or a plate with an opening for receiving the rope
Implementation Method 2
when the end part of the rope impacts the pushing element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical winch with a mechanical switch for terminating winding of a rope on the winch drum. An orifice (1) of a guide for the rope is provided with a spring-supported pushing element (11). Upon contact of an end part of the rope with the pushing element (11), a wire rope guided in a Bowden (B) is arranged to translate this movement to a switching plate (2), which is a part of a switching mechanism that comprises: - a base plate (3) with two legs (31,32) directed in opposite directions, wherein the upper leg (31) is connected to the green rope for activation of pulling, - a switching plate (2), to which a wire rope (Z) is attached, - a housing (4) provided with a bore (42) for connection with a coupling of the drum drive and an ear for mounting a spring (43), - two springs (43,34) for return movement of the base plate (3) and the housing (4) from their end position to their initial (null) position, wherein between the base plate (3) and the housing (4) at least one restraining element (5) is provided in suitable grooves or holes (3a, 4a), and wherein the switching plate (2) is provided with grooves or holes (2a) for receiving said restraining element (5) and is arranged to rotate upon movement of the wire rope (Z), thus causing the grooves (2a) to cover with holes on the base plate (3), which leads to movement of the restraining element (5), and to disengagement of the connection between the base plate (3) and the housing (4), which terminates pulling.