Importance

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Abstract

A watercraft lifting apparatus utilizing a lifting beam vertically movable within a frame preferably including pile members defining a watercraft receiving slot. The lifting beam is vertically movable to contact preferably the lower surface of the watercraft for moving it upwardly. The movement of the lifting beam is powered by a main drive connected through the lifting apparatus by two winching and cable devices. First an outer winch powers retraction and extension of an outer cable connected through a pulley configuration to the distal end of the lifting beam. Also an inner winching device is operable to extend and withdraw an inner cable operatively connected through a pulley configuration to the proximate end of the lifting beam to assure that the lifting beam is lifted vertically in a horizontal orientation to facilitate lifting of the watercraft such as for cleaning and/or storage thereof. A differential gearing mechanism is included in the present invention which is operative to receive driving power from the main drive for powering operation of the inner and outer winching drums at different speeds such that they are capable of winding the inner and outer cables at different speeds. The ratio of speed of operation of the two winches has a proportion dependent upon the mechanical configuration of the pulley design utilized for carrying the inner and outer cables during vertical movement of the lifting beam.

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First Claim