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winch
winch mechanical device for hauling or lifting consisting essentially of a movable drum around which a cable is wound so that rotation of the drum produces a drawing force at the end of the cable. A windlass is essentially the same device as a winch, except that a winch may be power-driven whereas a windlass is usually hand-powered and somewhat less sophisticated. Winches are normally equipped with a ratchet wheel and a pawl to prevent slippage of the load, and brakes that allow a load to be lowered or released at a controlled rate. A hoist is another closely related device, mounted so as to be movable (as in a traveling crane). Winches and hoists are widely used in cargo handling, e.g., in ships, factories, and warehouses, and also function as the power unit in derricks, power cranes, and power shovels. A car puller is a winch with a vertical drum axis, used to position railroad cars in freight yards. Certain military and construction vehicles designed for off-road use are equipped with engine-powered winches that can be used for lifting and hauling or to extricate the vehicle should it become stuck in areas where traction is poor. |
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"winch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "winch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-winch.html "winch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-winch.html |
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winch
winch, a small capstan fitted to the decks and masts of yachts to obtain the maximum purchase on running rigging. They came into general use after the First World War (1914–18) and were initially hand powered, with a winch handle being used to turn the drum. However, from the 1970s onwards they became the subject of much development and much larger winches, powered by multiple hand-cranked pedestals, known as coffee grinders, were introduced, which had gear boxes that allowed for reverse rotation and different gear ratios. Later, electric and hydraulic motors were fitted, often with remote control air switches. The mechanisms were then further developed with roller bearings and up to four gear ratios. For racing yachts, the weights have been reduced by the use of aluminium, titanium, and carbon composites. Many winches also have a device on top of them which automatically tails the rope off the drum when under load, and so is called a self-tailer. The rope is held in the jaw so that it does not need to be cleated.
In large ships all winches are, of course, powered by their generators. Jeremy Lines |
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Cite this article
"winch." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "winch." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-winch.html "winch." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-winch.html |
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winch
winch
/ winch/
•
n.
1.
a hauling or lifting device consisting of a rope, cable, or chain winding around a horizontal rotating drum, turned by a crank or by motor or other power source; a windlass.
2.
the crank of a wheel or axle.
•
v. [tr.]
hoist or haul with a winch.
DERIVATIVES: winch·er
n.
winch |
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Cite this article
"winch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "winch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-winch.html "winch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-winch.html |
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winch
winch. Reel or roller, capable of hoisting objects. Winch-houses are high-level features protecting winches on the façades of many tall, narrow Dutch houses. Sometimes the mechanisms for hoisting are set within the houses.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "winch." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "winch." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-winch.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "winch." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-winch.html |
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winch
winch Drum that turns to pull or release a rope, cable or chain. A winch is used to raise, lower or pull heavy loads. The device may be motor-driven or operated by hand.
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Cite this article
"winch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "winch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-winch.html "winch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-winch.html |
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winch
winch reel, roller OE.; hoisting or hauling apparatus XVI. Late OE. winċe :- Gmc. *wiŋkjo-, f. IE. *weŋg- WINK.
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T. F. HOAD. "winch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "winch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-winch.html T. F. HOAD. "winch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-winch.html |
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winch
winch
•Romansh
•blanch, Blanche, branch, ranch, tranche
•avalanche
•backbench, bench, blench, clench, Dench, drench, entrench, French, frontbench, quench, stench, tench, trench, wench, wrench
•crossbench • workbench
•cinch, clinch, finch, flinch, inch, lynch, Minch, pinch, squinch, winch
•chaffinch • greenfinch • hawfinch
•goldfinch • bullfinch
•carte blanche, conch
•graunch, haunch, launch, paunch, raunch, staunch
•brunch, bunch, crunch, hunch, lunch, munch, punch, scrunch
•honeybunch • keypunch
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"winch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "winch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-winch.html "winch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-winch.html |
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