UNDERWAY REPLENISHMENT NWP 4-01.4 - Historic Naval Ships ...

NWP 4-01.4APPENDIX IWinch MalfunctionsI.1 BIRDCAGINGWire rope is not spooling properly on winch drum;or winch drum is rotating to pay out, but wire rope is notmoving.I.2 INTERNAL MALFUNCTIONUnusual noise is coming from winch gearbox or hydraulictransmission and there is excessive leakage ofhydraulic fluid or lubricating oil. Check temperatureand pressure gauges.I.3 RUNAWAY WINCHWinch operator has lost control of winch. Wire ropeis paying out at a fast rate and losing tension duringtransfer operation. Highline or spanwire winch’s ramtensioner is extended to upper limit of travel and rig issagging close to the water.CAUTIONReleasing the hydraulic brake under tensionmay cause damage to the hydraulictransmission.NoteIf a runaway-winch condition occurs, thewinch watcher will immediately apply thewinch’s manual brake until the winch isreturned to normal control. The manualbrake will be released only as required toprevent a tightline condition.I.4 TIGHTLINE CONDITIONThere is excessive tension on wire rope, usuallycaused by malfunction of hydraulic brake.NoteIt is difficult for the winch watcher to detecta tightline condition. The winch watcherwill usually be informed of the condition bythe rig captain or winch operator. Wheninformed of a tightline condition, the winchwatcher will immediately pull the hydraulicbrake’s manual release handle to release thebrake. The manual release handle will beheld long enough to get a catenary in thewire rope, but the wire rope must not touchthe water.I.5 ABNORMAL OPERATIONAny indication that, by experience, the winch watcherrecognizes as a malfunction or as a situation that isleading to a malfunction.I-1 (Reverse Blank) ORIGINAL