Winch & me

[raykos]

Supposing the building where we keep & work on our tractors has high ceilings and high lofts where stuff is stored. And supposing further we have a winch to help us with our work.

Has anyone ever used the winch as a mini elevator? Maybe make a small platform, attach it to the winch, then stand on the platform and winch ourself upward to the stuff stored above? Or would balance & swinging wildly about become to big of an issue?

Just curious, been thinking about getting a winch,(the older I get, the stronger gravity becomes), and this crazy thought passed through my head.

 

[KennyV]

,(the older I get, the stronger gravity becomes), and this crazy thought passed through my head.

You think gravity is strong now... just wait till the elevator fails with you on it. You will not believe how fast things fall...

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I know some winches are rated for overhead lifting and some are not. I'd imagine that there are additional parameters and precautions for actually lifting a person.

That doesn't stop many, though. I'd build a track of some sort if I were doing it. That way all the winch is providing is lift... Not stability. Some kind of upright rails and then wheels that ride on the tracks to keep the elevator stable would probably work.

 

[mjncad]

I'd figure out some sort of fail-safe braking mechanism. How high up are you talking about? How much weight? Is the winch a worm gear drive, planetary...?

I think Warn makes an AC powered hoist that is comparable in price to their winches.

Be careful.

 

[raykos]

DARN!!

Not only does gravity get stronger, the brain gets weaker; used the wrong word. Was thinking about Harbor Freight's 1300lb hoist, and typed "winch" instead. Whoops, sorry.

 

[MikeD74T]

I'd figure out some sort of fail-safe braking mechanism. Be careful.

I was picked for jury duty in a civil case where a homemade "elevator" broke a mans back. It was built using a heavy duty electric chainfall but had no car brakes. Based on the business owners frequent use to transport people, especially handicapped in wheelchairs, the case was an easy win for the injured party despite his own stupidity (I use this term to adress his lack of understanding - he was not uneducated, but his field of expertise was not mechanical)) & action being predominant factors in his injury.
Having worked as a welder for a "hoist" manufacturer I know it's easy to build an auto braking system that is held off by hoist cable tension -loss of tension = brakes locked. A simple spring loaded pawl will do the trick. PM me if you want more detail.

Most interesting part of the trial was the explanation by the injured's much younger wife of the value of loss of consortium caused by the husband's injury.

You can build something that is both simple and safe. MikeD74T

 

[JoelD]

I'm with the others, I would think the braking system to be the key element. Without which you are risking some serious problems.

I think the point on worm gear is it is self braking.

good luck and let us know how this all turns out.

Joel

 

[jd2305cd]

Mike D Nailed it... Sounds like he knows how to get ya setup too... Brake and some sort of stability guide are keys.. good luck..

 

[biggerten]

I'm with the others, I would think the braking system to be the key element. Without which you are risking some serious problems.

I think the point on worm gear is it is self braking.

good luck and let us know how this all turns out.

Joel

Of course, the cable system will be inspected regularly, the self braking system tested on a yearly basis.

Plus the ability to lower one's self manually should a breaker pop or the electricity go out when you're halfway up/down. Which it never will, since I never hear of people getting stuck in an elevator.

This just seems like a bad idea to me. Trusting one's life to a Harbor Freight winch, that's not for me.

Now, if it was for hoisting only materials, that's another thing.

 

[KubotaSam]

I have a friend that has a great winch setup in his barn for raising a platform to the upper floor. It is for materials only!!! I think anyone that thinks a person would ride in such a lift should talk to someone that has had a spinal cord injury.
Riding in one would be foolish and downright dangerous. The lift my friend has pulls up beyond second floor then large planks are pushed across the hole in the floor. Then the winch is lowered down to rest on the thick planks. No one would ever ride to the second floor on the lift.