Do you know all this knowledge about winch?

    A winch is a mechanical device used to pull in or out or otherwise adjust a rope or wire rope. In its simplest form, it consists of a spool and an additional crank. In larger forms, winches are the centers of various machines, such as trailers, steam shovels and elevators. The drum can also be called winch drum. More elaborate designs include gear assemblies and can be driven by electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or internal combustion engines. Some may include solenoid actuators and/or mechanical brakes or ratchet pawl devices that prevent the ratchet pawl from retracting unless the pawl retracts.
    The earliest literary references to winches were described by Herodotus of Halikanasius during the Persian War, in which he described how the wooden winches were used to fasten the cables of the pontoon bridge across Hellespont in 480 B.C. Earlier in Assyria. In the 4th century B.C., winches and pulley hoists were regarded by Aristotle as common equipment for architectural purposes.In 1903, the U.S. defender Shinshi Yacht in the  American Cup Sailing Race was the first yacht to have a modern winch under the  deck, and her competitors relied on the pulley system.
     The rope can be stored in the winch. When trimming lines on a sailboat, the crew rotates the winch handle with one hand while the other hand pulls the loose tail end to maintain the tension during the turn. Some winches have a "stripper" or splint to maintain tension. These are called "self-trailing" winches.
In large dramas, winches are often used as backstage mechanical components to move scenes. They are usually embedded in the floor of the stage and are used to move large machines up and down. Off-road vehicles usually have winches, which can be driven by electric or hydraulic power and wound with ropes or cables. If the vehicle loses traction, the winch is used to pull it back to a stronger ground.
     A lever winch is a winch that uses self-grabbing tongs instead of reels to move ropes or wires through the winch. Powered by moving the handles back and forth, they allow a person to move several tons of objects.
    The winches designed for skateboards, for example, consist of a small four-cycle gasoline engine, clutch and reel, all mounted in a steel frame. When the rope is wrapped around the reel, the rider is quickly towed to the winch. This is a vertical reel with ratchet mechanism, similar to a traditional winch, but without a crank handle or other form of driver. The wire is wound around the reel and can be tightened and involved by pulling the tail line. Once the pulling stops, the winch will bear the load, and the operator is very few. Tension needs to be maintained. They also allow the operator to release tension by controlling the friction of the wire around the ratchet axis. They are used on small sailboats and kayaks to control plates and other lines, and in larger applications to supplement and reduce the  tension of the main winch mechanism.
    Boat winch is a growing hobby for many water sports enthusiasts. The winch consists of an engine, a reel, a rope, a handle, a frame and some simple transmission devices. The dragged person walks away from the winch and pulls all the ropes out. When the winch engages, it usually pulls the boarding board between 15 and 25 miles an hour. Winches can  be mounted on trailers of vehicles, staked on the ground, or tied to trees. These winches have been converted into skiers and skis for urban use.
    Gliders are often started by winches mounted on trailers or heavy vehicles. This method is widely used in gliding clubs in Europe as a cheap alternative to air towing. Engines are usually large gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas or diesel, but they also use hydraulic fluid  engines and motors. The winch pulls 1,000 to 1,600 meters of cable, made of high-strength steel wire or synthetic fibers, connected to the glider. After a brief steep climb, the cable was released at 400 to 700 meters.
    Pneumatic winch, sometimes called pneumatic hoist or pneumatic trailer, is a kind of pneumatic winch. It is usually used  for material hoisting and suspension. In oil and gas, construction and offshore industries, air winches are often more popular than electric winches, diesel winches and hydraulic winches because of their durability, versatility and safety.
   Various types of winches are widely used in industrial production and life. They save manpower and material resources to a large extent and facilitate human life. They are very practical inventions.