Abstract: A hand winch including a winding roll, a flexible elongated member, a shaft connected to the winding roll, a friction brake including a brake disk and a gear element engaging the winding roll and mounted on the shaft. The gear element has a release position and a brake position in which the gear element enters into frictional contact with the brake disk, generating a braking torque resisting winding off the flexible elongated member. Friction means is provided between the shaft and the gear element for generating a frictional resistance therebetween such that, if a driving force acting on the gear element does not overcome the frictional resistance established by the friction means, the gear element drives the shaft through friction means. However, if the driving force between the shaft and the gear element overcomes the frictional resistance, relative movement between the gear element and the shaft occurs.

Abstract: Hand winch comprising a wind roll for receiving a flexible elongated member, an operation shaft engaged with the wind roll for transmitting forces therebetween, a friction brake including a gear member being in engagement with the wind roll and having a thrust position in which the gear member acts on a stationary member for generating braking forces directed oppositely to a sense of winding off the elongated member, characterized in that said gear member is movably mounted on the operation shaft such that, in case of winding off the elongated member, the gear member is displaced from a released position to said thrust position.