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Towrope winch safety shutoff switch

  • US 8,651,461 B2
  • Filed: 05/17/2010
  • Issued: 02/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A towrope winch system comprising:

  • a winch configured to wind a rope; and

    a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if, during winding of the rope, a foreign object enters a winch intake along with the rope to actuate the safety shutoff device, in which the safety shutoff device further comprises;

    a compression block having a hole defined therein through which the rope, but not the foreign object may pass;

    a compression switch block having a hole defined therein through which the rope may pass and proximal to the compression block, the compression block and compression switch block being biased apart;

    a compression switch coupled to the compression switch block and configured to be actuated when the compression block abuts the compression switch block because said foreign object has moved said compression block against said bias into contact with said compression switch.

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