Stream Gauging Winches (Models WS250, WS400 and WS500)

KISTERS’ stream gauging winches are hand operated single drum winches capable of deploying sediment samplers or mechanical current meters with Columbus gauging weights. They can be deployed using a winch board (e.g. SAN22SS) or alternatively a bridge crane (e.g. 3WBC, 4WBC)*.

The winches are designed for ease of operation and serviceability in the field: robust, compact, portable, light-weight, handled easily and safely by one person. They can be deployed from cable cars, boats or bridges.

Special attention is paid to safety: An automatic Weston Brake locks the drum if the handle is released. This holds the load in any position for safe and smooth operation.
The unit is equipped with a breakaway kit rated @ 272 Kg for the safety of the user during operation. (Attention: Failure to use this device may cause severe injury or death.)

The winch drum is fitted with an amergraph cable. The special construction of this cable offers these advantages:

• Allows the suspension in the stream of the sensing device (e.g. current meter and large Columbus weight)
• Serves as a medium for transmission of current meter signals to a counting device attached to the winch

The winch depth counter supplied (centimetre resolution) is protected within the frame. An imperial version is available on request.

Use with current meter

Some elaborate features support current metering: A silver-plated slip ring conducts the signal from the sounding drum to the current meter counter. The counter can be connected to terminals provided on the winch itself. The single layer of the amergraph signal cable on the drum prevents damage of the internal conductor and premature replacement.

^{* Please note: Deployment from a bridge crane is possible for models WS250 and WS400 only.
Due to the width of its drum, the model WS500 is NOT suitable for use on a bridge crane.}