If a capstan is a winding machine on a vertical axis, what is the equivalent on a horizontal axis?
Capstan (nautical) Capstan (nautical) A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle. The word, connected with the Old French "capestan" or "cabestan(t)", from Old Provençal "cabestan", from "capestre" "pulley cord," from Latin "capistrum", -a halter, from "capere", to take hold of, seems to have come into English (14th century) from Portuguese or Spanish shipmen at the time of the Crusades. Both device and word are considered Spanish inventions. In its
Rotation around a fixed axis Rotation around a fixed axis Rotation around a fixed axis or about a fixed axis of revolution or motion with respect to a fixed axis of rotation is a special case of rotational motion. The fixed axis hypothesis excludes the possibility of an axis changing its orientation, and cannot describe such phenomena as wobbling or precession. According to Euler's rotation theorem, simultaneous rotation along a number of stationary axes at the same time is impossible. If two rotations are forced at the same time, a new axis of rotation will appear. This article assumes that the rotation is also stable,