Winch
First Claim
1. In a winch of the type including a frame, a gear train affixed to the frame, a cable drum affixed to the frame and driven by the gear train, and means for driving the gear train, the improvement of an adjustable clutch mechanism in the gear train between the means for driving and the drum, the adjustable clutch mechanism including:
- a clutch shaft in the gear train;
a friction plate on the shaft and axially movable on the shaft;
said means for driving the gear train attached to the friction plate;
a clutch plate on the shaft in opposed relation to one side of the friction plate;
a thrust bearing threaded on the shaft in opposed relation to the opposite side of the friction plate; and
means for adjusting the force of the thrust bearing on the friction plate to thereby engage the friction plate against the clutch plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A winch includes a direct current reversible motor operable to drive a gear train to wind or unwind cable from a drum and also includes first and second clutch mechanisms in the gear train that provide respectively (1) internal loading of the winch to prohibit undesirable unwinding of cable and (2) infinite clutch control between free wheeling operation and direct gear train drive of the winch. The first clutch mechanism is a sprag clutch which is operated against a brake load built into the winch. The second clutch mechanism includes clutch plates which are engaged proportional to the force of a thrust bearing controlled by a manually operated handle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a winch of the type including a frame, a gear train affixed to the frame, a cable drum affixed to the frame and driven by the gear train, and means for driving the gear train, the improvement of an adjustable clutch mechanism in the gear train between the means for driving and the drum, the adjustable clutch mechanism including:
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a clutch shaft in the gear train; a friction plate on the shaft and axially movable on the shaft; said means for driving the gear train attached to the friction plate; a clutch plate on the shaft in opposed relation to one side of the friction plate; a thrust bearing threaded on the shaft in opposed relation to the opposite side of the friction plate; and means for adjusting the force of the thrust bearing on the friction plate to thereby engage the friction plate against the clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a winch of the type including a frame, a gear train affixed to the frame, a cable drum affixed to the frame and driven by the gear train, and means for driving the gear train, the improvement of reversible drive means for driving a drive shaft to the gear train and means for loading the drive shaft when driven in one direction.
Specification