Multi-mode radio frequency winch controller

• US 9,415,981 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Inventors: Heravi, Oliver, Fretz, Darren G., Averill, Bryan M., Walston, Jeff, Wendler, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler
• Application Number:
  US14/664,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 254/274, 254/361
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/16 the drums or barrels being freely rotatable , e.g. having a clutch activated independently of a brake B66D1/20, B66D1/22, B66D1/24 take precedence; clutches activated alternately with brakes B66D1/14, slip couplings B66D1/14
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/42 non-automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface

Abstract

A wireless remote forms a two-way radio frequency (RF) communication network with a winch control module that allows the wireless remote to control both the winch and additional vehicle accessories through the winch control module. Further accessory control modules allow the control of more accessories utilizing the wireless remote by way of RF communication. Feedback from either the winch control module or the accessory control module is sent back to the wireless remote to allow the operator to view the current operating conditions of the winch or accessories.

Claims

1. A winch comprising:

a drum;

a motor drivingly attached to the drum;

a pulling line wrapped around the drum;

a battery selectively connected to the motor via a winch power cable;

a control module for connecting the motor to the battery, the control module including;

a connector configured to connect an auxiliary electrical device to the control module, the auxiliary electrical device including auxiliary lights including one or more of a spot light, a light bar, a brake light, and a parking light; and

a first transceiver for two-way wireless communication with a control device configured to provide user input for operating the motor and the auxiliary electrical device, where the first transceiver is configured to receive, from the control device, a first control signal for operating the motor and a second control signal for operating the auxiliary electrical device.

2. The winch according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a second transceiver for two-way wireless communication with the control module.

3. The winch according to claim 2, wherein the control device provides two-way communication with the control module for providing the first control signal for operation of the motor and the second control signal for operation of the auxiliary electrical device and for receiving signals indicating an operational status of the winch and the auxiliary electrical device, the control device including a display providing a visual indication of the operational status of the winch and the auxiliary electrical device.

4. The winch according to claim 2, wherein the winch and the auxiliary lights are accessories of a vehicle and wherein the first transceiver provides two-way wireless communication with an in-cab wireless control panel of the vehicle, the in-cab wireless control panel configured to provide control signals for operation of the winch and the auxiliary lights and receive signals indicating an operational status of the winch and the auxiliary lights.

5. The winch according to claim 1, wherein the control module is in communication with a winch motor contactor for connecting the motor to the battery.

6. The winch according to claim 1, further comprising a gear train drivingly connecting the motor to the drum, the gear train including a clutch that is operable to be disengaged to allow the drum to free spool, the clutch being disengaged by a clutch actuator, the clutch actuator being controlled by the control module and wherein the control device in communications with the first transceiver further provides user input for operating the clutch actuator.

7. The winch according to claim 6, wherein the control device provides two-way communication with the control module for providing the first control signal for operation of the motor, the second control signal for operation of the auxiliary electrical device, and a third control signal for operation of the clutch actuator, and for receiving signals indicating an operational status of the winch, the clutch actuator, and the auxiliary electrical device, the control device including a display providing a visual indication of the operational status of the winch, the clutch actuator, and the auxiliary electrical device.

8. A method for controlling a winch, comprising:

receiving at a control module of the winch from a control device in wireless communication with the control module a first operational command for controlling the winch and a second operational command for controlling an auxiliary electrical device electrically coupled to the control module; and

sending from the control module to the auxiliary electrical device a first control signal for operating the auxiliary electrical device based on the second operational command received at the control module, the auxiliary electrical device including auxiliary lights including one or more of a spot light, a light bar, a brake light, and a parking light.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising distributing via the control module power from a power source coupled to the control module to a winch motor and the auxiliary electrical device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending from the control module to a winch clutch actuator a second control signal to adjust a position of a clutch of the winch, the second control signal including one of a signal to shift the clutch into a disengaged state to allow a drum of the winch to free spool and a signal to shift the clutch into an engaged state for normal winch powering in or powering out.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the first control signal includes sending a signal to turn the auxiliary lights on or off and further comprising receiving at the control module a first feedback signal from the auxiliary electrical device including a status of the auxiliary lights.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first feedback signal includes a power level of the auxiliary lights.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving at the control module a second feedback signal including winch status information including one or more of motor temperature, electrical demand, winch load, and a winch clutch position from one or more sensors of the winch.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending from the control module one or more third feedback signals to the control device based on the first and second feedback signals; and

displaying via a display of the control device an operational status of the winch and the auxiliary electrical device based on the one or more third feedback signals, where the operational status of the winch and the auxiliary device includes one or more of whether the winch is in a power-in or power-out mode, the auxiliary lights are on or off, the winch clutch position, and a selected control mode of the winch.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving at the control module one or more control signals from an in-cab wireless control panel of a vehicle in which the winch is installed; and

sending to the in-cab wireless control panel from the control module feedback signals regarding an operational status of the winch and the auxiliary electrical device.

16. A winch comprising:

a rotatable drum;

a motor drivingly connected to the drum;

a drive train for delivering drive torque from the motor to the rotatable drum, the drive train including a clutch that includes a clutch actuator for disengaging the clutch to allow the rotatable drum to free spool;

a winch control module including a processor unit in communication with a winch contactor control switch and a winch clutch actuator control switch for operating the motor and the clutch actuator, the winch control module further including an accessory control switch in communication with the processor unit for controlling operation of an auxiliary electrical device connected to the accessory control switch, the auxiliary electrical device including auxiliary lights coupled to a vehicle to which the winch is installed, the auxiliary lights including one or more of a spot light, a light bar, a brake light, and a parking light, the winch control module including a receiver module for receiving a first control signal for operating the winch and a second control signal for operating the motor and communicating the first and second control signals to the processor unit.

17. The winch according to claim 16, wherein the receiver module includes an RF module providing two-way RF communication between the winch control module and a control device, the control device configured for transmitting the first and second control signals to the receiver module based on user inputs.

18. A method for controlling a winch, comprising:

distributing via a control module of the winch power from a power source coupled to the control module to a winch motor and an auxiliary electrical device electrically coupled to the control module, the winch motor adapted to rotate a drum of the winch, wherein the auxiliary electrical device includes auxiliary lights including one or more of a spot light, a light bar, a brake light, and a parking light; and

receiving at the control module from one or more sensors in communication with the control module a feedback signal including electrical demand of the winch motor and auxiliary electrical device.

19. A method for controlling a winch, comprising:

distributing via a control module of the winch power from a power source coupled to the control module to a winch motor and an auxiliary electrical device electrically coupled to the control module, the winch motor adapted to rotate a drum of the winch, wherein the distributing power includes managing the distribution of power from the power source to the winch motor and auxiliary electrical device with a power management module of the control module.