HIGH SPEED WINCH REWIND ADAPTER

• US 20190256319A1
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Published: 08/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James L. Henderson
• Original Assignee: James L. Henderson
• Inventors: Henderson, James L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0846 winding up or storing of straps
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0853 Tools for manipulating straps or tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/375 Strapping tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 54/585 Reels for rolling tape-like material, e.g. flat hose or strap, into flat spiral form; Means for retaining the roll after removal of the reel
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/305 Arrangements to facilitate driving by a portable drill

Abstract

This disclosure describes a high speed winch rewind adapter for quickly rewinding a loading strap. In one implementation, the adapter includes a body having a volume sized to at least partially surround an annular end of the winch. The annular end is coupled with a ratchet mechanism of the winch and having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar. A drive connector is positioned both within the volume of the body and external to the volume of the body, the drive connector external to the volume of the body having an external profile to receive a torque, and the drive connector within the volume of the body insertable into the annular end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation. A coupling mechanism synchronizes the drive connector to the annular end such that both the drive connector and the annular end rotate simultaneously.

Claims

1. A winch adapter having an axis of rotation and configured to rotate a winch along the axis of rotation when a torque is applied to the winch adapter, the winch adapter comprising:

a body sized to at least partially surround an end of the winch when coupled, the end of the winch having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar;

a drive connector positioned at least partially both within the body of the winch adapter and external to the body at the winch adapter, the drive connector having an external profile to receive a torque, and the drive connector at least partially within the body insertable into the end of the winch when aligned; and

an extension member movable at least partially into and out of the body of the winch adapter and biased toward the drive connector, wherein at least a portion of the extension member is configured to engage at least a portion of the at least one hole of the end of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotated along its axis of rotation when the torque is applied to the external profile of the drive connector of the winch adapter.

2. The winch adapter of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to the extension member for pulling the extension member away from the drive connector to disengage the adapter from the end, which is provided as an annular end.

3. The winch adapter of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member operable to bias the extension member toward the drive connector, the resilient member inside the body.

4. The winch adapter of claim 3, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.

5. The winch adapter of claim 4, wherein the extension member further includes a flange for engaging the coil spring.

6. The winch adapter of claim 1, wherein the external profile comprises a hex drill socket operable to receive a hex drill socket driver coupled to a power drill for powered winding.

7. The winch adapter of claim 1, wherein the external profile is coupleable to a socket wrench for manual winding, wherein the socket wrench is not directly coupleable to the winch.

8. A rewind adapter having an axis of rotation for coupling with a winch with a ratchet mechanism and an axis of rotation, the rewind adapter comprising:

a body partially surrounding an end of the winch, the end and having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar;

a drive connector positioned at least partially within the body and at least partially external to the body, the portion of the drive connector external to the body having an external profile to receive a torque, and the portion of the drive connector within the body coupleable with the end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation of the winch; and

an extension member movable at least partially into and out of the body, wherein at least a portion of the extension member is configured to engage at least a portion of the at least one hole of the end of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotated along its axis of rotation when a torque is applied to the external profile of the drive connector of the rewind adapter.

9. The rewind adapter of claim 8, further comprising a handle attached to the extension member for pulling the extension member away from the drive connector to disengage the adapter from the end.

10. The rewind adapter of claim 8, wherein the extension member is biased toward the drive connecter.

11. The rewind adapter of claim 10, further comprising a resilient member that is a coil spring for biasing the extension member toward the drive connector.

12. The rewind adapter of claim 11, wherein the extension member further comprises a flange for engaging the coil spring.

13. The rewind adapter of claim 8, wherein the external profile couples with a power drill for powered winding through a hex drill socket and a hex drill socket driver arrangement.

14. The rewind adapter of claim 8, wherein the external profile is coupleable to a socket wrench for manual winding, wherein the socket wrench is not directly coupleable to the winch.

15. An adapter having an axis of rotation for coaxially coupling with a winch and configured to rotate the winch with a ratchet mechanism along the axis of rotation when a torque is received at the adapter, the adapter comprising:

a body sized to at least partially surround an annular end of the winch, the annular end having at least one opening;

a drive connector positioned both within the body and external to the body, the drive connector external to the body having an external profile to receive the torque, and the drive connector within the body insertable into the annular end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation; and

a coupling mechanism synchronizing the drive connector to the annular end such that both the drive connector and the annular end rotate simultaneously.

16. The winch adapter of claim 15, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an extension member movable at least partially into and out of the body and biased toward the drive connector, wherein at least a portion of the extension member is configured to engage at least a portion of the at least one opening of the annular end of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when a torque is applied to the external profile of the drive connector of the adapter.

17. The winch adapter of claim 16, further comprising a resilient member for biasing the extension member toward the drive connector.

18. The winch adapter of claim 17, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring and the extension member further comprises a flange for engaging the coil spring.

19. The winch adapter of claim 17, wherein the external profile of the drive connecter couples with a power drill through a hex drill socket assembly to provide the torque.

20. A powered adapter having an axis of rotation for coaxially coupling with a winch with a ratchet mechanism and configured to rotate the winch along the axis of rotation when a torque is applied, the adapter comprising:

a rotational power source configured to provide rotational motion;

a body sized to at least partially surround an end of the winch, the end of the winch having at least one opening;

a drive connector positioned both within the body and external to the body, the drive connector external to the body having an external profile to receive a torque, and the drive connector within the body coupleable with the end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation, wherein the drive connector is rotationally coupled with the rotational power source to rotate the drive connector by applying the torque to the external profile; and

an extension member movable at least partially into and out of the body, wherein at least a portion of the extension member is configured to engage at least a portion of the at least one opening of the end of the winch when the powered adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when the torque is applied to the external profile of the drive connector of the powered adapter.