[TowerTalk] Your experience with rope capstan hoists or winches

[Patrick Greenlee]

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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