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Re: [TowerTalk] Your experience with rope capstan hoists or winches

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Your experience with rope capstan hoists or winches
From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2017 06:08:40 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Well, if you are concerned the operator will be beamed up by alien extraterrestrials and the tower will come down out of control with no operator "tailing" then consider a self tailing winch as is used on sailboats. There is a minor hassle changing from taking in line to letting some out but if the winch is stopped nothing happens.  You can resume taking in line or you can reconfigure to pay out line.  At no time when taking in line is there an opportunity for the load to fall even if the operator is beamed up by space aliens, gets involved in texting, or notices his next door neighbor lady nude sun bathing.

Patrick        NJ5G

On 9/12/2017 9:23 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
I have been reading about how nice capstan winches are,
but I have no experience with them.  They seem very
dangerous since the line comes loose and the load
falls down in case the line handler's attention wanders
for a second. It seems especially dangerous to be
lowering a heavy load when the handler has to pay
out the line just fast enough, but not too fast.
A foot switch is suggested, but it doesn't work as
a dead man safety.  The winch stops but the line
still slips if not held back.

Seems like an accident waiting to happen, like free
climbing a tower.  Can someone with experience explain
how these capstans could possibly be safe?


Rick N6RK
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