WINCH APPARATUS
A tensioning device for a winch assembly includes a pair of wheels operatively connected to a winch assembly and is configured to grippingly receive a cable extending therebetween from a rotatably movable drum configured to extend/retract the cable with respect to the winch assembly. The pair of wheels continuously maintains a predetermined tension to the cable extending between the pair of wheels and the drum during operation of the winch assembly.
1 . A tensioning device for a winch assembly comprising:
a pair of wheels operatively connected to a winch assembly and configured to grippingly receive a cable extending therebetween from a rotatably movable drum configured to extend/retract the cable with respect to the winch assembly;
wherein the pair of wheels continuously maintaining a predetermined tension to the cable extending between the pair of wheels and the drum during operation of the winch assembly.
2 . The tensioning device of claim 1 , wherein at least one wheel of the pair of wheels is urged into rotation by a motor.
3 . The tensioning device of claim 2 , wherein the motor is a servomotor.
4 . The tensioning device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the pair of wheels and the motor is positioned interior of a housing of the winch assembly.
5 . The tensioning device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of wheels are configured to maintain the cable at a zero fleet angle relative to the drum.
6 . The tensioning device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of wheels continuously maintains a predetermined tension to the cable extending between the tensioning device and the drum during operation and non-operation of the winch assembly.
7 . The tensioning device of claim 6 , wherein the motor includes an anti-rotation device that is actuated immediately prior to non-operation of the winch assembly.
8 . The tensioning device of claim 7 , wherein the anti-rotation device includes a manually actuatable override feature.
9 . A winch assembly comprising:
a housing;
a rotatably movable drum configured to extend/retract cable with respect to the housing at a zero fleet angle;
a motor for rotatably moving the drum;
a controller for controlling the motor; and
a tensioning device operatively connected to the housing and configured to continuously maintain a predetermined tension to cable extending between the tensioning device and the drum during operation of the winch assembly.
10 . The winch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning device comprises a pair of wheels configured to grippingly receive cable extending therebetween from the drum.
11 . The winch assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one wheel of the pair of wheels is urged into rotation by a motor.
12 . The winch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the motor is a servomotor.
13 . The winch assembly of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the pair of wheels and the motor is positioned interior of the housing.
14 . The winch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pair of wheels are configured to maintain cable at a zero fleet angle relative to the drum.
15 . The winch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning device continuously maintains a predetermined tension to cable extending between the tensioning device and the drum during operation and non-operation of the winch assembly.
16 . The winch assembly of claim 15 , wherein the motor includes an anti-rotation device that is actuated immediately prior to non-operation of the winch assembly.
17 . The winch assembly of claim 16 , wherein the motor includes a manually actuatable override feature to the anti-rotation device.
18 . A method of supporting a load comprising:
providing a winch assembly comprising:
a housing;
a rotatably movable drum configured to extend/retract cable with respect to the housing at a zero fleet angle;
a motor for rotatably moving the drum; and
a controller for controlling the motor; and
a tensioning device operatively connected to the housing and configured to continuously maintain a predetermined tension to cable extending between the tensioning device and the drum during operation of the winch assembly; and
moving the load supported by the cable extending from the housing.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the tensioning device comprises a pair of wheels configured to grippingly receive cable therebetween extending from the drum.
20 . The tensioning device of claim 2 , wherein at least one wheel of the pair of wheels is urged into rotation by a motor.