1 kN Electric Hoisting Winch (Plumb Bob)
1 kN Electric Hoisting Winch (Plumb Bob)
Compact 1 kN electric plumb bob winches built in Yatala for shaft alignment surveys in a 2,000 m deep mine shaft, with 2,000 m of fine rope capacity and precise single-phase control for lowering and recovering the plumb line.
Plumb Bob Winch Project Overview
Custom-built 1 kN electric winches for plumb bob surveys in a deep mine shaft
A batch of 1 kN electric hoisting winches built to hang plumb bobs in a mine shaft being sunk to 2,000 m. During shaft sinking the surveyors need reference lines that hang perfectly vertical from the collar to the working face, and the winch has to lower a fine wire and a heavy plumb weight the full depth of the shaft, hold it steady while measurements are taken and recover it without disturbing the wire. Each winch carries 2,000 m of wire on a large-diameter drum. The complete set, with the plumb bob weights, was load tested at Yatala and crated for export to the mine.
Key Project Highlights
Exceptional performance, precision and reliability
These 1 kN electric hoisting winches were purpose built for shaft plumbing at 2,000 m depth. Headline specifications:
1 kN
Rated Capacity
2000 m
Rope Storage
Mining
Industry
Mine shaft
Application
Design & Manufacturing Considerations
Built for durability and efficiency in demanding environments
Specified with the shaft sinking contractor for survey accuracy and assembled in-house at Yatala. Key design considerations:
Heavy-Duty
Steel Frame
Material Choice
Electric
Single phase
Power System
1 kN
Rated Line Pull
Drive System
Manual
Standard control
Control / Brake
Operational & Technical Breakdown
An in-depth look at the 1 kN plumb bob hoisting winch's performance and technical capabilities
The design challenge is wire, not load. A 2,000 m length of survey wire has to spool onto the drum in even layers without crossing, so the drum was made wide with a large core diameter and a level-wind guide, and the drive is geared for slow, steady lowering rather than speed. The frame is a compact green fabricated unit with a lifting eye on top so it can be positioned on the shaft collar staging by crane.
Each winch has an electric motor and gearbox with a spring-applied brake that locks the drum as soon as the motor stops, holding the plumb bob motionless while the surveyors work. The yellow plumb weights were manufactured with the winches and load tested on the wire as a set. Every unit was run out and back under load at Yatala, then packed in timber export crates with its wire reel for shipping to the mine.
Other Winch Applications
Versatile winching solutions across multiple industries.
Beyond mining, fine-wire winches with long drum capacity suit survey, instrumentation and sensor deployment work in shafts, tanks and deep water.
Plumb line and instrument winches for tunnel, shaft and high-rise alignment surveys – fine control over very long rope runs.
Small instrument and sounding winches for survey vessels and ports – single-phase electric drive with the rope capacity for deep water.
Project Conclusion
The 1 kN plumb bob hoisting winches show that a small winch can be as demanding to engineer as a large one when accuracy over 2,000 m is the requirement. Designed, built and tested in Yatala by Australian Certified Winches.
Like every winch we build, it was designed to AS 1418, the Australian Standard for cranes, hoists and winches, and signed off by our RPEQ-registered engineers before load testing in Yatala.
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- 2/14 Freight Street, Yatala, QLD 4207
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about plumb bob winches and fine-wire hoisting for shaft sinking.
What is a plumb bob winch used for in shaft sinking?
Surveyors hang a heavy weight on a fine wire from the shaft collar to the working face to give a true vertical reference. The winch lowers and recovers that wire over the full depth, and holds it perfectly still while the shaft alignment and lining positions are checked.
Why does a 1 kN winch need such a large drum?
The load is light but the wire is 2,000 m long. Spooling that length evenly needs a wide drum with a large core and a level-wind guide, otherwise the wire crosses over itself and the plumb line cannot be trusted. The drum, not the motor, sets the size of the winch.
How does the winch hold the plumb bob steady?
A spring-applied brake on the drive train locks the drum the moment the motor stops, and the slow gearing means there is no overrun when lowering stops. The weight hangs motionless until the surveyors have finished.
Were the plumb bob weights supplied with the winches?
Yes. The weights were manufactured at Yatala to match the wire and winch capacity and were load tested on the wire as a complete set, so the mine received a proven system rather than separate parts.
How were the winches delivered to the mine?
Each winch and its wire reel were packed in a timber export crate, secured and labelled for sea and road freight. The crates were sized so the winches could be lifted onto the shaft staging directly from the truck.
Surveying a Deep Shaft?
Tell us the depth, the plumb bob mass and the power at the collar. Our RPEQ engineers will size a certified winch for it.