Clutch for Pipe Winch

Abstract

A pipe winch includes a shell, a reeling unit and a clutch. The reeling unit includes a spring-biased reel connected to a ratchet. The clutch includes a pedal, a bearing, a shaft, at least one crank, a lever, an axle, a pawl, a returning element and a spring. The shaft is supported on the bearing formed on the shell. The crank extends throughout the shell and connects the pedal to the shaft. The lever is connected to the shaft. The axle extends parallel to an axis of the reel. The pawl is connected to the axle and formed with a tip for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet and a handle in contact with the lever. The returning element is connected to the axle. The spring is arranged between the returning element and the shell.

1 . A pipe winch comprising a shell ( 1 ), a reeling unit ( 11 ) comprising a spring-biased reel ( 12 ) inserted in the shell ( 1 ), and a clutch ( 20 ) operatively connected to the spring-biased reel ( 12 ), the pipe winch being characterized by that the reeling unit ( 11 ) further comprises a ratchet ( 13 ) coaxially connected to the reel ( 12 ) and formed with teeth ( 14 ) and that the clutch ( 20 ) comprises:
 a pedal ( 21 ) located out of the shell ( 1 );   a bearing ( 24 ) formed on an internal portion of the shell ( 1 );   a shaft ( 23 ) rotationally supported on the bearing ( 24 ) in the shell ( 1 );   at least one crank ( 22 ) extending throughout the shell ( 1 ) and comprising an end connected to the pedal ( 21 ) and another end connected to the shaft ( 23 ) so that the crank ( 22 ) is not rotatable relative to the shaft ( 23 );   a lever ( 25 ) connected to the shaft ( 23 );   an axle ( 26 ) rotationally inserted in the shell ( 1 ) parallel to an axis of the reel ( 12 );   a pawl ( 27 ) connected to the axle ( 26 ) and formed with a tip ( 271 ) at an end for engagement with the teeth ( 14 ) of the ratchet ( 13 ) and a handle ( 272 ) at another end in contact with the lever ( 25 );   a returning element ( 28 ) connected to the axle ( 26 ) so that they are not rotatable relative to each other; and   a spring ( 29 ) comprising an end connected to the returning element ( 28 ) and another end connected to the shell ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The pipe winch according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth ( 14 ) are made by cutting an edge of the ratchet ( 13 ). 
     
     
         3 . The pipe winch according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the cranks ( 22 ) comprises a non-circular aperture ( 221 ), and the shaft ( 23 ) comprises a non-circular cross-sectional profile in compliance with the non-circular aperture ( 221 ). 
     
     
         4 . The pipe winch according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the cranks ( 22 ) comprises a cruciform aperture ( 221 ), and the shaft ( 23 ) is made with a cruciform cross-sectional profile in compliance with the cruciform aperture ( 221 ). 
     
     
         5 . The pipe winch according to  claim 1 , wherein the returning element ( 28 ) and the pawl ( 27 ) are made in one piece. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe winch according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring ( 29 ) is torsion spring. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe winch according to  claim 6 , wherein the spring ( 29 ) comprises two rectilinear terminal sections respectively abutted against the returning element ( 28 ) and the shell ( 1 ). 
     
     
         8 . The pipe winch according to  claim 7 , wherein the returning element ( 28 ) comprises an aperture ( 281 ) for receiving the corresponding rectilinear terminal section of the spring ( 29 ). 
     
     
         9 . The pipe winch according to  claim 7 , wherein the spring ( 29 ) comprises a helical middle section provided on and around the axle ( 26 ). 
     
     
         10 . The pipe winch according to  claim 1 , wherein the shell ( 1 ) comprises at least two restraints ( 4 ) abutted against crank ( 22 ).