Enthusiast Corner
How Do Live Draw-Works Work?
Live draw-works operate based on “clutches” and brakes. The transmission is driven by power take off and drives draw works chains, in turn driving the drums.
Clutches are engaged or disengaged on the load line or boom winch drums.
When a drum’s clutch (dog) is engaged the drum and draw works transmission are connected, and lowering loads is more controlled.
When a drum’s clutch (dog) is disengaged the load (or boom) free falls.
Regular operation includes releasing brakes with drum clutch disengaged.
The image below shows clutch (dawg) levers with no latches on them. Some of the older and smaller CAT pipelayers have latches on the clutch levers the same as is on the brake levers. They move in the OPPOSITE direction to these clutch levers. These levers are pulled back to engage. The others are pushed forward to engage.
