Importance

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Abstract

The illustrated embodiment which is in the form of a winch (or hoist) comprises a reel including a spool and embodying a portion thereof through which it may be driven for its raising and lowering functions. The reel mounts in bearing relation to a drive shaft between parallel relatively closely spaced side walls of its housing. This embodiment features an overload clutch including a drive plate mounted for rotation with said shaft within said housing. The drive plate nests within a shallow cup-shaped plate firmly and resiliently coupled by springs, parts of which have an interfit relation with portions of the bounding wall. Upon rotation of the shaft the nature and direction thereof is transmitted through the clutch and successive drive transmission elements to the portion of the reel provided for this purpose. The spool includes a narrow track the base of which is formed in a special arcuate pattern, an interior pocket which is formed to anchor one end of a cable and a restricted passage leading from the pocket, to open from said base, the line of which is lateral to a line radial to the spool. The form of the base and the track dictates a natural stress free coil of the cable on the base and smooth extension of the cable from the winch housing. Additional features include a guide system for the cable providing not only a minimalizing of the wear, tear, and stress normally incident to the use of such apparatus but facilitating a most efficient use thereof where the winch is offset from the applied load. Controls are incorporated through the medium of which the rotation of the reel may be interrupted before the cable is completely unwrapped from the base of the spool.

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First Claim