Winch for boat trailer

• US 7,017,887 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Verakis, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, EMMANUEL MONSAYAC
• Application Number:
  US10/996,295
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 254/342, 254344-346, 475/218, 475/209, 475/223
• US Class Current: 254/342
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/12 incorporating electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/14 Power transmissions between power sources and drums or barrels including brakes, one-way brakes, one-way clutches, clutches activated alternately with brakes, fixed ratio gearing unless otherwise provided for in B66D1/16 - B66D1/24

Abstract

A low-amp winch for use on boat trailers is provided with a higher gear reduction than conventional winches and with a winch cable made of a softer material and shorter length than conventional boat winches to reduce the current draw from the motor. The winch is capable of operating off a seven-pin RV socket which provides 12 volts of DC power at no greater than 30 amps.

Claims

1. A winch for operating off a 12-volt DC power supply so as to draw fewer than 30 amps comprising in combination:

a motor having an output shaft with a first gear;

a first gear pair having a second gear for meshing with said first gear and a third gear, said second gear having a greater diameter than said first gear and said third gear having a smaller diameter than said second gear, said second and third gears being operatively interconnected to rotate in unison;

a second gear pair having a fourth gear meshed with said third gear and having a diameter at least as great as said third gear and a fifth gear of a smaller diameter than said fourth gear, said fourth and fifth gears being operatively interconnected to rotate in unison;

a sixth gear meshed with said fifth gear, said sixth gear having a greater diameter than said fifth gear;

a seventh gear having a smaller diameter than said sixth gear and adapted to be rotated in unison with said sixth gear;

an eighth gear meshed with said seventh gear and having a diameter greater than said seventh gear;

a spool operatively connected to said eighth gear to rotate in unison therewith; and

a compressible, flexible cable made of a synthetic material having one end anchored to said spool, said cable being wrappable about said spool upon energization of said motor.

2. The winch of claim 1 wherein the gear ratio between said output shaft of said motor to said spool is approximately 355:

1.

3. The winch of claim 2 wherein the length of said cable is in the range of 10 to 12 feet.

4. The winch of claim 1 wherein the length of said cable is in the range of 10 to 12 feet.

5. The winch of claim 4 wherein the diameter of said cable is approximately one-fourth inch.

6. The winch of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said cable is approximately one-fourth inch.

7. The winch of claim 1 wherein said first gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 0.4166 inches, said second gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 5.000 inches, said third gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 0.667 inches, said fourth gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 1.750 inches, said fifth gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 4.750 inches, said seventh gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 2.000 inches, and said eighth gear has a pitch diameter of approximately 4.750 inches.

8. The winch of claim 1 wherein said motor draws fewer than 30 amps with a 12-volt power supply.

9. The winch of claim 8 wherein said motor draws approximately 20 amps with a 12-volt power supply.

10. The winch of claim 1 further including a clutch operatively associated with said sixth gear to selectively permit said sixth gear to transfer rotation to said seventh gear.