Two-axis winching and traversing device is used for installing liquid-propellant rocket-engine fuel and liquid oxygen suction ducts between the valves and the rocket engine on a test stand. The device raises and maneuvers the duct into the required position where it can be safely installed by mechanics

Cox, E. F.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

March 1969	 Brief 69-10062 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Two-Axis Winch Installer for Heavy Ducts in Confined Space 
.
Installing liquid-propellant rocket-engine fuel and 
liquid oxygen suction ducts between the valves and the 
rocket engine on a test stand has required extensive 
rigging and handling. These ducts must be installed 
in very close quarters in a vertical attitude and with 
the bellows on one end in a compressed condition to 
permit duct insertion into a tight area. The ducts, 
which weigh 2600 pounds, must be lifted to a height 
of 26 feet without the benefit of overhead crane clear-
ance. 
A special winching and traversing device was de-
signed to raise and maneuver a duct into the required 
position where it can be safely and easily installed by 
mechanics. The device includes a pneumatically driven 
winch and positioning arm. The winch drum is capa-
ble of hoisting a 2600-pound load at 8 feet per minute. 
The duct is supported by two steel cables, each driven 
by the winch. The positioning arm is used to move the 
duct in and out of installation position. A hydraulic 
piston drives the positioning arm. Hydraulic pressure 
is supplied by a pneumatic motor which provides slow, 
easily controllable motion. The entire winch and 
positioning arm assembly, together with power supply
and control system, is mounted on a frame hung from 
an overhead I beam. Traverse motion of the assembly 
is effected manually, requiring a maximum effort of 
160 pounds under full load. 
This type of equipment can be used by riggers for 
installation of delicate equipment. It may also be use-
ful on ships and in plants for repair and maintenance 
operations in close quarters such as engine and boiler 
rooms. 
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Ques-
tions may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B69-10062 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: E. F. Cox 
of North American Rockwell Corp. 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(M FS- l4254) 
Cate t orv 05 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690000062 2020-03-16T17:54:13+00:00Z


Two-axis winch installer for heavy ducts in confined space

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server