Windlass

A windlass is a machine with a horizontal rotating drum or shaft that hauls in or lets out rope, cable, or chain. Its rotation converts applied torque into controlled pulling force.

Capstan: A rotating vertical drum that moves rope through friction as people or a motor turn it. Like a windlass it hauls rope, but its vertical axis and rope-wrapping action distinguish it.
Drum (engineering): A cylindrical rotating component around which rope, cable, or chain is wound. The drum stores the line as the windlass hauls it in.
Anchor windlass: A shipboard windlass that raises or lowers an anchor and its chain. This specialized windlass handles the heavy chain and anchor at a vessel’s bow.
History of the windlass: The historical development of the windlass as a device for lifting and hauling loads. Its long history shows how a simple drum-and-lever arrangement served changing needs.
Winch: A powered or manually operated machine that pulls or releases a load using a drum or similar mechanism. Windlasses belong to the broader family of load-pulling machines called winches.
Shaft (mechanical engineering): A rotating machine element that transmits torque and supports mounted components. The shaft carries rotation from the drive to the windlass drum.
Windlass (sailing): A sailing vessel’s horizontal-axis hauling machine, commonly used to handle anchor cable or other heavy lines. Sailing vessels use windlasses where controlled hauling is needed in limited deck space.
Ancient Greek technology: The technologies developed or used in the Greek world during antiquity. Greek mechanical writing describes windlass-like devices and their use in lifting.
Mechanical advantage: The ratio of a machine’s output force to its input force. The windlass multiplies input force through its handle or drive system.
Lever: A rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum to transmit or multiply force. A removable handle extends the turning radius and increases applied torque.

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