[TowerTalk] Your experience with rope capstan hoists or winches

[Steve Maki]

Well they should not be operated while drunk or when texting, that's for 
sure. Nor by someone with zero training.

When you have the proper number of wraps on the drum (when it takes 
approx 5-10 lbs of manual hold to stop the load from moving while the 
drum is spinning), and the rope supply is in-line with the drum, you can 
let go of the rope and the load will slowly descend. No free fall involved.

Chance now includes a safety device which prevents the rope from coming 
off the end of the drum even if the rope supply is not in-line and the 
operator has a heart attack.

-Steve K8LX

On 9/12/2017 22:23 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?