Abstract: In order to overcome the disadvantage of overspinning of a winch drum when a disconnect device adjacent the drum is disengaged, a drag brake apparatus is provided for limitedly restricting the rotation of the drum when an actuator having a braking element is continually urged against the drum by a spring. A control mechanism includes a control lever assembly movable to operate a hydraulic valve assembly for the primary control of the winch drum, and movable to operate an associated valve for controllably directing pressurized fluid to the actuator for supplementing the spring force. Thus, a first drag brake mode can be attained for substantially freespool operation of the drum, and a second drag brake mode can be attained for controlled load dropping operation of the drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for supplying pressurized fluid to various controlled members (16,30,34). A problem with prior apparatus is the need for a plurality of separate apparatuses to supply the controlled members. The invention solves this problem through the use of a single valve (25) that controls the supply of pressurized fluid from a fluid source to first (34), second (16) and third (30) controlled members, in which the single valve (25) has a first relief valve segment (46) to relieve the pressure of fluid flowing from the source to the first controlled member (34), a second relief valve segment (100) to relieve the pressure of fluid relieved by the first relief valve segment (46), and a third valve segment (138) to direct the fluid relieved by the first relief valve segment (46) to the second (16) and third (30) controlled members. A movable lever (26) is connected to the third valve segment (138) to shift this valve segment (138) and control the direction of the fluid.