Clamping assembly with self-clamping jaws, in particular for a linear hydraulic winch

The clamping assembly comprises a body having an elongate passage which, in use, receives an elongate object to be clamped, and which has two mutually facing inclined surfaces, and a pair of wedge-shaped jaws movably mounted in said passage to move between a first position in which the jaws clamp said object and a second position in which they release the object. Two sets of rollers form respective rolling paths for corresponding ones of the jaws, with the rollers in each set being supported and rotatably mounted in respective mounting frames capable of sliding movement relative to the corresponding jaw and relative to the body. A compression spring is interposed between each jaw and the mounting frame of the corresponding set of rollers. Each spring has one end bearing against the associated jaw in order to urge it towards its first position and has its opposite end bearing against an opposing thrust surface provided at one end of said mounting frame to urge the mounting frame into contact with an abutment provided on said body.