How do I design a pulley system for a treehouse lift?

Question

My children really want an "elevator" up to their treehouse, but I have been unable to figure out how to create it.

What I envision is a platform that they can sit on that will be pulled up through a hole in the floor.

I know I want 2 or 3 pulleys to reduce the weight resistance, but I just can't figure out how to do it without them ending up with a pile of rope on their lap.

Answer 1

I'm designing a tree house elevator that uses a man rated hand crank winch. Man rated winches meet OSHA requirements to have a 10 to 1 safety factor and have automatic brakes which hold the load when the operator releases the crank. I plan on installing a square aluminum tube from the ground to the tree house to act as a guide rail and kept the elevator platform from swaying, tilting, or twisting as it is being raised or lowered. Google Safewaze 205G to see an example of a man rated winch.