BRITISH STANDARD BS 3701:1964

Specification for

Hand operated plate

sided winches
BS 3701:1964

Co-operating organizations

The Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee, under whose

supervision this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives
from the following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations:
Admiralty*
Air Ministry
Associated Offices’ Technical Committee*
Association of Consulting Engineers
(Incorporated)
Association of Mining Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
British Chemical Plant Manufacturers’
Association
British Compressed Air Society
British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’
Association
British Gear Manufacturers’ Association
British Internal Combustion Engine
Manufacturers’ Association
British Iron and Steel Federation
British Mechanical Engineering Federation
British Railways Board
Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and
Administrations
D.S.I.R. — National Engineering Laboratory
Electricity Council, the Generating Board and
the Area Boards in England and Wales*
Engineering Equipment Users’ Association*
Gas Council
High Commission of India
Institute of Marine Engineers
Institute of Petroleum
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Gas Engineers
Institution of Heating and Ventilating
Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
(Automobile Division)
Institution of Production Engineers
Locomotive and Allied Manufacturers’
Association of Great Britain
London Transport Board
Machine Tool Trades Association
Ministry of Labour (H.M. Factory
Inspectorate)*
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Public Building and Works
Ministry of Transport
National Coal Board
National Physical Laboratory (D.S.I.R.)
Radio Industry Council
War Office*

The Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations

This British Standard, having
been approved by the
Mechanical Engineering
Industry Standards Committee
and endorsed by the Chairman
of the Engineering Divisional
Council, was published under
the authority of the General
Council on
5 February 1964
© BSI 03-2000
marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following were
directly represented on the Committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:
Association of Lifting Tackle Makers Machine Made Chain Manufacturers
British Constructional Steelwork Association Association
Chain Testers Association of Great Britain National Association of Iron and Steel
Council of British Manufacturers of Petroleum Stockholders
Equipment National Federation of Building Trades
Dock & Harbour Authorities Association Employers
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors National Federation of Demolition Contractors
Federation of Wire Rope Manufacturers of North East Coast Institution of Engineers and
Great Britain Shipbuilders
Hard Fibre Cordage Institute Post Office
Honourable Company of Master Mariners Individual makers and users
Institution of Plant Engineers
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee references MEE/64
MEE/64/5
Draft for comment AB(MEE) 9399

ISBN 0 580 34668 4

 BS 3701:1964

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Materials 1
4 Factor of safety 1
5 Wire rope 1
6 Manual power 1
7 Fusion welding 1
8 Rope drum 1
9 Shafts 2
10 Bearings 2
11 Lubrication 2
12 Keys and keyways 2
13 Gearing 2
14 Ratchet and pawl 2
15 Frame 2
16 Brake 2
17 Gear change 3
18 Winding handles 3
19 Protection from corrosion 3
20 Finish 3
21 Guards 3
22 Test conditions 3
23 Operational test 3
24 Static test 4
25 Certificate of test and examination 4
26 Marking 4
Appendix A Information which should be supplied by the
purchaser with the enquiry or order 5
Appendix B Information which should be supplied by the
manufacturer when tendering 5
Appendix C Gear tooth design formula 5
Appendix D Recommendations relating to contracts 6
Appendix E Care and safe use of a hand winch 7

© BSI 03-2000 i
BS 3701:1964

Foreword

This standard makes reference to the following British Standards:

BS 15, Mild steel for general structural purposes.
BS 46, Keys and keyways and taper pins — Part 1: Keys and keyways.
BS 302 & 621, Steel wire ropes for cranes, excavators and general engineering
purposes.
BS 309, Whiteheart malleable iron castings.
BS 310, Blackheart malleable iron castings.
BS 592, Carbon steel castings for general purposes.
BS 693, General requirements for oxy-acetylene welding of mild steel.
BS 970, Wrought steels in the form of bars, billets, and forgings, up to 6 in ruling
section, for automobile and general engineering purposes. En series.
BS 1452, Grey iron castings.
BS 1856, General requirements for the metal-arc welding of mild steel.
BS 3468, Austenitic cast iron.
This British Standard has been prepared to clarify the meaning of terms relating
to hand-operated plate-sided winches and to ensure that there is understanding
of the performance required and available, and that the winch is able to provide
and maintain the stated performance.
Winches complying with this standard are designed to be operated when bolted
to a firm foundation which will prevent racking, crabbing or horizontal
movement. It is assumed that all lifting of other than insignificant loads will be
done in slow speed gear. In a higher gear, supposing the operators were strong
enough to lift the safe working load, the safety factor would be exceeded for the
shafts and gears.
Lists of information which should be supplied by the purchaser with the enquiry
or order and by the manufacturer when tendering are given in Appendix A
and Appendix B. Another appendix provides recommendations relating to
contracts.
The requirements of this standard are based on the assumption that the winch
will be properly used. To assist the user Appendix E has been provided giving
recommendations for care and safe use of a hand winch.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 7 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 03-2000
 BS 3701:1964

1 Scope BS 309, Whiteheart malleable iron castings.

This British Standard applies to hand-operated BS 592, Carbon steel castings for general purposes.
plate-sided winches with drums suitable for wire BS 15, Mild steel for general structural purposes.
rope, for hoisting and lowering loads up to 8 tons, BS 970, Wrought steels in the form of bars, billets
for intermittent use. and forgings, up to 6 in ruling section, for
automobile and general engineering purposes.
2 Definitions En series.
For the purposes of this British Standard, the
following definitions apply: 4 Factor of safety
2.1 The winch shall be so designed and constructed that
capacity of drum the factor of safety is at least 5 where not otherwise
stated and that there shall be no detrimental
the maximum length of rope of the required
distortion of any part during the application of the
diameter which the winch drum is designed to carry
safe working load at any angle normal to the drum
when lifting
axis or during the dynamic and static tests of
2.2 Clauses 23 and 24.
slow speed gear
the gear (of a winch with changeable gears) giving 5 Wire rope
the greatest number of turns of the handle to one The winch shall be designed for wire rope complying
turn of the drum with BS 302 & 6211) having a tensile strength
2.3 safe working load of 100/110 tonf/in2, with a factor of safety of 5.
the maximum load on the rope at a point where it is
leading on to the drum which can be safely operated
6 Manual power
by the winch when hoisting in slow speed gear when The winch shall be capable of operation at the safe
the drum is carrying its capacity of rope working load in slow speed gear with the drum filled
2.4 factor of safety to its capacity without exceeding the efforts in the
following table:
a factor applicable to any part of the winch and
equal to Safe working Number of men based on
Torque
load of winch a mean effort of 35 lb per
the minimum breaking strength of the material man and a 3 ft turning
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ tons lb ft circle
the computed stress at the safe working load
Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that: Less than 1 105 2
the slow speed gear is engaged, 1 and under 3 157" 3
the winch drum is filled to its capacity, 3 and under 5 210 4
the rope may leave the drum at any angle 5 and over 315 6
normal to the drum axis,
the load is moving at a constant speed. 7 Fusion welding
The use of fusion welding in the construction of a
3 Materials winch or its components is permitted, providing that
Materials shall be as specified in the following the welding is in accordance with BS 6932) or
standards, or alternatively if other materials are BS 18563).
used the manufacturer shall produce evidence
satisfactory to those concerned that such materials 8 Rope drum
have the essential qualities of the standard The rope drum shall be of cast iron, cast steel or mild
material. steel fabricated construction.
BS 1452, Grey iron castings. The diameter of the drum shall be not less
BS 3468, Austenitic cast iron. than 12 times the diameter of the appropriate wire
BS 310, Blackheart malleable iron castings. rope (Clause 5).

1)
BS 302 & 621, “Steel wire ropes for cranes, excavators and general engineering purposes”.
2) BS 693, “General requirements for oxy-acetylene welding of mild steel”.
3)
BS 1856, “General requirements for the metal arc welding of mild steel”.

© BSI 03-2000 1
BS 3701:1964
Drums shall be flanged at both ends. When the
drum is filled to its capacity the flanges shall project
a distance of not less than two rope diameters above
the wound rope.
The rope anchorage shall be adequate and shall not
obstruct the free coiling of the rope on the drum.
When motion is carried from a gear wheel to the
drum partly or wholly through dogs, positive means
shall be provided to prevent lateral movement of the
drum or wheel along the shaft.
The drum shall be a good fit on its shaft. Neither
wedges nor packing pieces shall be used to tighten
or to align the drum or the main gear wheel.
9 Shafts
Shafts and axles shall have ample rigidity and
adequate bearing surfaces for their purpose. They
shall, where necessary, be finished smoothly, and
where shouldered, shall be provided with fillets of as
large a radius as is practicable.
Provision shall be made for attachment of a winding
handle to the handle shaft at each end.
10 Bearings
Bearing surfaces in rotating contact with steel
shafts shall be of either anti-friction material or of
cast iron.
11 Lubrication
Adequate provision shall be made for lubrication of
all bearings. Lubrication points shall be readily
accessible without removal of guards, and shall be
either suitably positioned to avoid damage, or shall
be suitably protected.
12 Keys and key-ways
All keys and key-ways shall be of adequate size to
transmit the required load or torque and shall be
correctly fitted4).
13 Gearing
Gearing may be of steel or cast iron. Cast iron used
for gearing shall comply with the requirements of
BS 14525).
The strength of gearing shall not be less than that
calculated by the formulae in Appendix C.
4)
Attention is drawn to BS 46, “Keys and keyways and taper pins” Part 1, “Keys and keyways”.
5) BS 1452, “Grey iron castings”.
2 © BSI 03-2000
14 Ratchet and pawl
The winch shall be provided with a ratchet and pawl
capable of sustaining the load. If the ratchet and
pawl are fitted to a layshaft instead of to the main
drum, it shall not be possible to disconnect the
layshaft from the main drum.
The pawl and pawl pin shall be made of steel and
shall be of sufficient rigidity in conjunction with the
anchorage to ensure correct mating with the ratchet
wheel.
The pawl shall be operated by gravity. Means shall
be provided whereby it can rest out of engagement
when required, the design being such that there is
no tendency to accidental re-engagement.
The pawl and its operating gear shall be such that
the pawl can be engaged or disengaged without
endangering the operator.
The relative angle of the ratchet wheel teeth and the
pawl shall tend towards engagement under load.
The ratchet wheel teeth shall be cleanly formed of
sufficient depth to allow full engagement of the
pawl.
15 Frame
The winch frame shall be made of mild steel. It shall
be so designed that when secured to a firm
foundation it will withstand without any
detrimental distortion or misalignment the
application of the safe working load at any angle
normal to the drum axis. If necessary, the side
frames shall be braced together and stiffened for
this purpose. It shall be provided with holes for
holding down bolts of adequate strength. There
shall be provided a hole on each side as near to the
base as practicable or other suitable means for
attaching anchorage ties of adequate size. Means of
slinging shall be provided.
16 Brake
A brake shall be provided, either controlled by the
operator or of the automatic self-sustaining type.
The brake shall be capable of exerting a restraining
torque at least 50 per cent greater than the torque
transmitted to the brake drum by the safe working
load on the rope when the drum is carrying its full
capacity of rope.

To exert this restraining torque, brakes applied by
hand shall not require a force greater than 35 lb at
the handle, and brakes applied by foot shall not
require a force greater than 70 lb on the pedal.
The lever, handle and screw mechanism or pedal
which operates the brake, shall be situated at a
position convenient to the operator at the rear of the
winch.
Where brake shoes or a band are employed, they
shall be fitted with a suitable brake lining which
shall be permanently secured during the effective
life of the lining. The brake shoes or brake band and
brake drum shall be protected by means of a durable
cover to prevent as far as practicable ingress of
water, oil, grease or any other substance liable to be
detrimental to the efficiency of the brake. The cover
shall be provided with efficient means of drainage
and shall be readily removable for the purposes of
inspection, renewal of brake lining, etc.
The wearing surface of the brake drum shall be
machined.
A factor of safety not less than 8 shall be employed
in all stress bearing parts of the brake.
Metal to metal brakes shall not be employed unless
they are of the oil-immersed type.
17 Gear change
Winches with sliding gears to provide different gear
ratios or free running of the drum shall incorporate
robust and positive mechanism to maintain the
gears in mesh and to prevent them taking up a
position where they are free to move out of mesh
when the winch is hoisting or lowering.
18 Winding handles
Two winding handles shall be provided. Handles
shall be removable, but shall be provided with
secure means of fastening to their respective shafts
when winding.
The turning circle of winding handles shall not
exceed 3 ft diameter.
The grip of a winding handle designed for one
operator shall not be shorter than 12 in, for two
operators 20 in, for three operators 28 in.
19 Protection from corrosion
Exposed working surfaces shall be treated where
necessary with a corrosion inhibitor before leaving
the maker’s works.
© BSI 03-2000
BS 3701:1964
20 Finish
Metal surfaces other than working surfaces, shall
either be cleaned by scratching-brushing or equally
effective means and freed from grease and scale and
shall then be painted with at least one good quality
coat; or shall be given a suitable alternative
treatment.
21 Guards
Effective guards shall be provided for dangerous
moving parts, unless they are made safe by design
or position.
The guards may be of sheet metal, perforated or
expanded metal, wire mesh or other suitable
material. They shall be designed to allow for routine
lubrication inspection and maintenance work. They
shall be securely fixed in position.
Attention is drawn to the statutory requirements for
adequate guarding of machinery in many
circumstances of use.
22 Test conditions
Before being taken into use, the winch shall be
tested by the operational test of Clause 23 and by
the static test of Clause 24.
During the tests, the winch shall be secured to a
firm base and the winch drum shall be filled with
rope to its capacity to the centre of the length of the
barrel in the top layer or shall be suitably packed
with timber so that the torque will be as though it
were filled to its capacity. The rope shall be
arranged to leave the winch drum in a horizontal
direction from the top of the winch drum and shall
be loaded by lifting or other means.
During the tests there shall be no detrimental
distortion of the winch or of its components. After
the tests, the winch and its components shall be
carefully examined. They comply with this standard
if free from patent defects.
23 Operational test
The rope shall be loaded to produce a load at the
drum equal to the safe working load of the winch
plus 25 per cent.
With this load, the drum shall be caused to revolve
at least once by operating the handles.
The load shall then be taken on the pawl.
3
BS 3701:1964
24 Static test
The rope shall be loaded to produce a load at the
drum equal to the safe working load of the winch
plus 50 per cent.
The load shall then be taken on the pawl.
The pawl shall then be released and the load held by
the brake.
25 Certificate of test and examination
A certificate of test shall be issued. This shall either
be on the appropriate statutory form or shall
contain the information given on that form. It shall
confirm that the winch complies with this standard.
4 © BSI 03-2000
26 Marking
Each winch shall be permanently marked with the
following information:
Safe working load.
Direction of rotation of drum when lifting.
identification number corresponding with that of
the test certificate (Clause 25).
The following operating requirement shall also be
marked:
“This winch must not be used with less
than 2 dead turns on the barrel”.
 BS 3701:1964

Appendix A Information which should be supplied by the purchaser with the

enquiry and order
The following information should be supplied by the purchaser with the enquiry and the order:
Safe working load required.
Diameter or circumference of rope.
Minimum length of lift required.
Statutory regulations under which the winch is to be used.

Appendix B Information which should be supplied by the manufacturer when

tendering
The following information should be supplied by the manufacturer when tendering:
Safe working load.
Size of rope to be used (Clause 5).
Capacity of drum in terms of live rope (not counting dead turns) (Clause 2).
Diameter of drum (Clause 8).
Number of layers of rope when the drum is filled to its capacity.
Number of operators for whom the winding handles provide (Clause 18).

Average velocity ratio in slow speed gear: Distance moved by handle

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distance moved by load
Construction of gearing (cast or machine cut) (Clause 13).
Material of gearing (Clause 13).
Base plan and overall dimensions.
Weight excluding rope.

Appendix C Gear tooth design formula

Clause 13 of the specification requires that the tangential load on each gear wheel at pitch diameter
imposed by the application of the safe working load to the winch (Clause 2) shall in no case exceed the
maximum safe tangential load L computed as follows:
SFY
L = ------------
P

where L = Maximum safe tangential load at pitch diameter

S = allowable static unit stress for material
Y = Strength factor (see Table below)
P = Diametral pitch
F = face width
all factors being in consistent units.
Examples of safe static stresses for gear materials
Material Safe stress S
lbf/in2

Cast iron 7 000 to 10 000

BS 1452 Grade 10 or higher carbon steel,
a

BS 970b
En. 3A 20 000 to 25 000
En. 8 35 000 to 40 000
a
BS1452, “Grey iron castings”.
b
BS 970, “Wrought steels in the form of bars, billets, and forgings, up to 6 in ruling section, for automobile and general engineering
purposes. En series”.

© BSI 03-2000 5
BS 3701:1964

Strength factors used in calculating the power capacity of spur gears

Standard tooth forms Standard tooth forms

20 deg 20 deg
14" deg 14" deg
Number of full depth 20 deg stub Number of full depth 20 deg stub
composite composite
teeth involute tooth system teeth involute tooth system
and involute and involute
system system
Strength factors Y for use Strength factors Y for use
with diametral pitch with diametral pitch
12 0.210 0.245 0.311 28 0.314 0.352 0.430
13 0.220 0.261 0.324 30 0.320 0.358 0.437
14 0.226 0.276 0.339 34 0.327 0.371 0.446
15 0.236 0.289 0.348 38 0.336 0.383 0.456
16 0.242 0.295 0.361 43 0.346 0.396 0.462
17 0.251 0.302 0.367 50 0.352 0.408 0.474
18 0.261 0.308 0.377 60 0.358 0.421 0.484
19 0.273 0.314 0.386 75 0.364 0.434 0.496
20 0.283 0.320 0.393 100 0.371 0.446 0.506
21 0.289 0.327 0.399 150 0.377 0.459 0.518
22 0.292 0.330 0.405 300 0.383 0.471 0.534
24 0.298 0.336 0.415 Rack 0.390 0.484 0.550
26 0.307 0.346 0.424 — — — —

Appendix D Recommendations relating to contracts

It is recommended that contracts relating to hand winches complying with this standard should include
provisions on the following lines.
Responsibility for testing. The manufacturer should be made responsible for the tests and examination
described in Clauses 22, 23 and 24.
Inspection. Representatives of the purchaser should have access to the works of the manufacturer at all
reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting the winches during manufacture and witnessing the tests
and the methods of examination.

6 © BSI 03-2000
 BS 3701:1964

Appendix E Care and safe use of a hand winch

1. Be sure that the appropriate statutory regulations are being followed.
2. All hand winches should be registered. They should be inspected frequently and should be thoroughly
examined, cleaned and lubricated at regular intervals. Attention is drawn to the requirements of statutory
regulations in this respect.
3. When lifting a winch use the means provided for that purpose.
4. Winches must be securely bolted to a firm foundation which must provide adequate anchorage. Attention
is drawn to the Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations (No. 11, Para. 3) which does not allow the
use of timber bearers.
5. Winches must be square with the line of pull.
6. The first lead block around which the rope passes should not be less than six times the length of the drum
away from the drum axis, and should be positioned as nearly as possible centrally between the drum
flanges.
7. NEVER lift or lower a load in excess of the SWL marked on the winch. Use of the winch at a load greater
than the SWL may result in damage.
8. NEVER attempt other than a very light load in a gear other than slow speed gear, since this may result
in excessive forces at the handles and stresses on the handle shaft. Higher speed gears when provided are
for manoeuvring when unloaded.
9. MAKE SURE that the rope is:
strong enough for the job,
long enough (when the load is at its lowest position at least two turns must remain on the drum),
properly anchored,
does not overfill the drum (the width between the outer layer of rope and the outer edge of the flange
should be not less than two rope diameters).
10. Every precaution should be taken to keep water, oil or other foreign matter away from lined brakes. A
wet brake loses its effectiveness.
11. Before using the winch:
CHECK the brake,
MAKE SURE that the winch is in the correct gear. If in doubt use slow speed gear.
MAKE SURE that the driving pinion is fully engaged,
MAKE SURE that the locking device provided to keep the pinion in position is properly applied,
MAKE SURE that the handles are fully engaged and properly secured.
12. When hoisting MAKE SURE that the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel.
13. When lowering it is advisable to maintain control by the handles. Use slow speed gear unless the load
is known to be much less than the safe working load.
14. DO NOT try to stop a falling load with the pawl.

© BSI 03-2000 7
BS 3701:1964

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