Capstan (nautical)

The Spill (also capstans, derived from spindle) is a rotatable device for obtaining hawsers or anchor chain ( Capstan), or for lifting heavy loads. Prevent bracing ( latches ) that the capstan rotates backwards. It is driven by human power or an engine, it is about an electric or a diesel engine.

The spill is different from the winch by the fact that the fetched rope is taken up: The power transmission takes place only by the friction of several lying on the drum trips ( Tauwerkswindungen ) or, for chains, a chain sprocket. A spill may therefore anholen any length rope or chain.

A spill with horizontal shaft is called the windlass.

The capstan is a muscle- powered capstan vertical shaft:

It consists of a shaft ( with the drum, a fitting for receiving the anchor chain or cable ) and the capstan head which is provided with openings for the insertion of Spillspaken. The latter are one to two meters long timber, on each of up to four men walked in a circle. This shanties were sung to maintain the steady rhythm of the monotonous work and work to lift the mood of the team. With the introduction of steam engines on board capstan were outdated; they are found today only on historic ships ( eg on the Amphitrite ).

• What in today's parlance winch ( sheet winch ) is called, is actually a spill (more precisely, a crank spill ).
• Multi-start crank Spills that can be coupled via a shaft optionally to a external of several drums, are often on racing yachts and hot Coffee Grinder.