US Patent 7866631 Rope tensioner for winch

An apparatus is disclosed for tensioning lines of a winch having a reel and three lines wound about the reel. The apparatus is used to position an object on a support. The first and second lines are wound about the reel in a first direction and the third line is wound about the reel in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first line extends around the first guide, the second line extends around the second guide, and the third line extends between the first and second guides. All three lines are connected to each other and to the object at their distal ends. An inner frame and an outer frame each contact the first and second lines. At least one of the inner frame and outer frame moves with respect to the other of the inner and outer frame to maintain tension in the first and second lines.