A winch for securing a load to a vehicle a is disclosed. The winch includes a mounting bracket with opposed flanges. The winch further includes a drum extending along an axis between a first end and a second end. The drum is mounted relative to the opposed flanges so that the drum is rotatable about its axis. The winch includes a gear received on the drum and a worm configured to mesh with the gear so that a rotation of the worm causes a rotation of the gear. The winch further includes a clutch assembly between the drum and the gear. The clutch assembly is biasable between a first configuration in which the gear is fixed relative to the drum about the axis of the drum and a second configuration in which the gear is rotatable relative to the drum about the axis of the drum.

Described are various embodiments of capstan drive transmission self-tensioning apparatus and method. In one embodiment, the capstan drive transmission self-tensioning apparatus comprises a body coupled to the capstan drive drum comprising a force providing member coupled to the cable and configured to displace the cable along a path increasing an effective distance between said first end and said second end of the cable thereby increasing a tension within said cable; a jamming assembly directly or indirectly coupled to said cable and configured to: allow motion of said cable along said path upon said tension being below a lower designated level; and prevent motion of said cable along an opposite path upon said tension being above an upper designated level. In some embodiments, the jamming assembly may comprise a spring-loaded rocker mechanism, a ratcheting mechanism or a directional frictional material to provide the jamming effect.

A cable puller is provided to pull rope or cable where the cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted on the puller frame around a first axis of rotation, an output shaft rotatably mounted to the puller frame and coupled to the capstan, The capstan is configured to rotate when the output shaft is driven. A shift motor is configured to drive a cam to engage gearing coupled to the output shaft to a gear position comprising a low speed position, a medium speed position, and a high-speed position.

A cable puller is provided to pull rope or cable where the cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted on the puller frame around a first axis of rotation, an output shaft rotatably mounted to the puller frame and coupled to the capstan, The capstan is configured to rotate when the output shaft is driven. A shift motor is configured to drive a cam to engage gearing coupled to the output shaft to a gear position comprising a low speed position, a medium speed position, and a high-speed position.

A self-retracting tie down winch for tying cargo on a vehicle is provided. The self-retracting tie down winch comprise a frame that can be attached temporarily or permanently to the transport vehicle, a binding system to secure the cargo, the binding system comprising a gear and a unidirectional pawl and driver to insert a binding media. The self-retracting tie down winch further comprises a space to spool the tie down media around the winch shaft, a self-retracting mechanism for the tie down media to self-retract, and a self-retracting mechanism. The self-retracting mechanism can be stopped in a locking state at given length to ensure a tension free tie down media to facilitate its placement. It can be re-engaged from the locking state to rewind the tie down media.

A winch for securing a load to a vehicle a is disclosed. The winch includes a mounting bracket with opposed flanges. The winch further includes a drum extending along an axis between a first end and a second end. The drum is mounted relative to the opposed flanges so that the drum is rotatable about its axis. The winch includes a gear received on the drum and a worm configured to mesh with the gear so that a rotation of the worm causes a rotation of the gear. The winch further includes a clutch assembly between the drum and the gear. The clutch assembly is biasable between a first configuration in which the gear is fixed relative to the drum about the axis of the drum and a second configuration in which the gear is rotatable relative to the drum about the axis of the drum.

The invention relates to a winding, particularly a winch, arrangement (100) comprising a two speed manually operable winding member (10) and a drive unit (20) comprising a motor (21). The drive unit (20) comprises a transmission arrangement connected to a motor shaft (25), an outgoing shaft (22) with an outer gear wheel (23). The transmission arrangement is adapted to allow the outgoing shaft gear wheel (23) rotate in the same direction but at different speeds depending on rotational direction of the motor (21). The manual winch (10) is adapted for reception of the outgoing shaft (22) allowing the winch drum (1) to be motor (21) driven. The drive unit (20) comprises means (67,68) allowing engagement/disengagement of the outgoing shaft gear wheel (23) from the manually operable winding member (10) and the winding arrangement can be used as a two-speed manual or a two speed motor driven winding arrangement.

A portable hoisting device configured to be connected to a cable secured to a destination location for hoisting at least one person from a start location to the destination location is provided. The device includes a winch mechanism having a drum body shaped and adapted to have the cable wrap around the drum body. The winch mechanism is operable to selectively wrap the cable around the drum body. The device has a gear train operatively connected to the drum body and operable to engage the drum body in rotation, a motor operatively connected to the gear train, a control assembly operatively connected to the motor to control same, and a latching assembly adapted to enable a load to be connected to a component of the portable hoisting device, wherein the control assembly comprises a remote control configured to send signals to the motor remotely.

An apparatus includes an end effector, a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, an instrument base, and a knife driving assembly. The end effector includes a pair of jaws and a knife member capable of actuating between a proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly can actuate the knife member between the proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly includes a cable and a knife drive input assembly coupled only to a first drive input. The knife driven assembly is capable of rotating in first and second angular directions. The cable terminates into a first end and a second end, which are both attached to the knife drive input assembly. A portion of the cable is attached to the knife member. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the first angular direction drives the knife member distally. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the second angular direction drives the knife member proximally.

A line puller designed to accept a Working line (15) through a Working Line Fairlead (14), directing the line around a Capstan (21), and through a brake (28). This line puller is mainly driven by gears or friction rotational devices (38), driving the internal face or cogs (36) of a Capstan. The design allows users to load a Working Line (15) from midsection not requiring the end of the line to load the puller. The puller can be hard mounted or Soft mounted using an Anchor Line (44) fed through incorporated Anchor Fairleads (20). Multiple gear rations allow users to pull objects at different rates.