What is Windlass?

A windlass is a wheel and axle which and uses to raise or pull things. It is used to draw water up from wells.

A windlass is a wheel and axle which and uses to raise or pull things. It is used to draw water up from wells. The wheel and axle is one of the six simple machines which make work easier. It can raise heavy loads with only a small force.

One spoke of a wheel is attached to a rotating rod. A chain or a rope from heavy weight is wrapped around the rod, and the weight can be lifted by turning the handle and winding the rope up on the rod. The lifting force depends in how long the spoke is in relation to the radius of the rod. The longer the spoke, the greater the lifting forces.

The Chinese windlass creates much force by the use of axles of two diameters. A ship windlass is a more complicated apparatus. It is hand, steam or electrically driven, with chain wheels to move the anchor chain. 

The electrically-driven windlass is generally used to operate a tackle- rigged wire rope. It consists of drum large enough to contain the hoisting cable when the load is in its upper position, together with suitable gear set interposed between the winding drum and the driving motor.