What is a towing winch?
It generally refers to ships towing unpowered vessels, barges, or other floating objects while sailing on water. The towing winch is a specialized winch used on tugboats to roll up and store towing cables. The braking device of the towing machine should have a static gripping force corresponding to 1.1 times the maximum breaking load of the towing cable it is equipped with. The towing machine should be able to emergency-release the towing cable from the cab during braking, towing, and retrieval operations, even in the event of a malfunction in the normal power source. The towing machine should be equipped with a rope arrangement device. It is recommended to install a device for measuring the load of the towing cable on the tugboat in an unlimited navigation area. This device should be able to record the maximum and average pulling forces and be equipped with an overload alarm and a towing cable release length indicator. The above data should be displayed in the cab. The advantage of setting up a towing winch (towing machine) on a tugboat is that the length of the towing cable can be easily adjusted according to the sea conditions in the navigation area during the towing process.
Overview
Definition:
1. A winch with one or more storage rope reels/drums for retracting or tensioning towing cables. Also known as a towing winch.
2. A specialized winch for collecting and storing towing or other tying cables used in the towing fleet.
3. A specialized winch on a tugboat for retrieving and releasing towing ropes. Also known as a towing winch.
Type:
The towing winch can be divided into ordinary towing winches and automatic towing machines according to their functions; According to the driving method, it can be divided into electric, hydraulic, or diesel engine direct drive; According to the drum of the winch, it can be divided into single drum, double drum, and three drum winches.
The brake of a regular towing winch is equipped with a buffering device. When the towing cable suddenly tightens, the winch drum can rotate slightly to achieve buffering. The following figure shows a hydraulic ordinary towing winch.
An automatic towing machine is used in marine tugboats. Due to the influence of waves, when towing, the towing cable is often affected by impact load. The characteristic of the automatic cable towing machine is that when the tension of the towing cable exceeds the allowable value, the drum automatically releases the towing cable; when the towing cable is relaxed, the drum ends the cable. This function of the automatic towing winch is realized by a constant tension system.
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