Q:
Why am I limited to 2000 RPM at the drive motor?
A: There are occasions when the Lantec winch nearly matches the specification in
question, but needs just a bit more line speed. An obvious solution is to just
provide more hydraulic flow to turn the motor faster and obtain the desired line
speed. Unfortunately, this solution reaches a limit at around 2000 RPM at the
motor.
The limiting factor is the internal brake. This brake is an oil brake with friction disks and separators. It turns at the same RPM as the motor. As the RPM increases, the viscous drag of the hydraulic oil increases even faster. At around 2000 RPM the drag becomes so large that the motor is unable to generate more torque, and additional horsepower to the motor just generates more heat.
Keep in mind that the internal oil brake is not the only brake solution available. For special cases where higher RPM is desired, the Lantec winch can be equipped with an external dry brake. Allied winch engineers can specify just the right brake required.