Winch assembly

• US 9,758,357 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric, Okerlund, Kawa-She-Quoen Wm.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, EMMANUEL MONSAYAC
• Application Number:
  US14/267,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 2425325, 2425326, 2425327, 242586, 2425865
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/00 Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans portable or mobile lifting or hauling appliances B66D3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/04 manually operated
• 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 1/34 Attachment of ropes or cables to drums or barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/7452 driven manually only
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/7489 having a particular use, e.g. rope ascenders

Abstract

A winch assembly is described and shown herein. The winch assembly may include a first housing member having a first retaining member formed therein and a second housing member having a second retaining member formed therein, the second housing member secured to the first housing member forming a winch housing. The winch assembly may further include a drive system generally positioned within the winch housing, and a winch drum operatively coupled with the drive system and rotationally secured with the first and second retaining members.

Claims

1. A winch assembly comprising:

a housing;

a winch drum rotatably coupled to the housing and generally held by the housing;

a drum hub attached with the winch drum;

a recess formed in the drum hub;

an engaging device; and

a cargo connection member engaged with the engaging device, wherein the cargo connection member and engaging device are positioned in the recess, whereby rotating the drum hub in a first direction wraps the cargo connection member generally concentrically wraps around the drum hub and the engaging device.

2. The winch assembly of claim 1, wherein rotation of the drum hub in a second direction opposite the first direction generally concentrically unwraps the cargo connection member from the drum hub.

3. The winch assembly of claim 1, wherein the engaging device comprises a pin.

4. The winch assembly of claim 3, wherein the drum hub includes a hub exterior surface and the pin includes a pin exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the hub and pin exterior surfaces are generally coextensive when the pin is fitted in the recess.

5. The winch assembly of claim 3, wherein the cargo connection member comprises a strap having a loop at an end thereof, wherein the pin is engaged with the strap by inserting the pin into the loop of the strap.

6. The winch assembly of claim 5, wherein the recess is generally concave and wherein the loop and the pin inserted in the loop are capable of fitting within the generally concave recess.

7. The winch assembly of claim 6, wherein the drum hub includes a first exterior surface and the loop with the pin inserted in the loop include a second exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the first and second exterior surfaces are generally coextensive when the loop of the strap and the pin inserted in the loop are fitted in the recess.

8. The winch assembly of claim 5, wherein the drum hub includes a slot, wherein the strap fits through the slot when the loop and the pin are inserted in the loop and fitted within the recess.

9. The winch assembly of claim 1, wherein the cargo connection member comprises at least one of a strap, cable, rope, or chain.

10. The winch assembly of claim 1, wherein the drum hub includes first and second mounting portions, whereby the first and second mounting portions are a fixture for the winch drum to attach thereto.

11. The winch assembly of claim 10, wherein the winch drum includes first and second drum gears, wherein the first drum gear is attached to the first mounting portion of the drum hub and the second drum gear is attached to the second mounting portion of the drum hub.

12. The winch assembly of claim 1, wherein the cargo connection member operatively engages the drum hub without a fastener or bolt.

13. A winch assembly comprising:

a housing;

at least one drum gear rotatably coupled to the housing and generally held within the housing;

a drum hub comprising a recess therein;

at least one gear mounting portion positioned on the drum hub, the at least one drum gear engaged with the at least one gear mounting portion;

at least one stop positioned on the drum hub, wherein the at least one drum gear engages the at least one stop to maintain the at least one drum gear in an operative position;

an engaging device; and

a cargo connection member operatively engaged with the engaging device, wherein the cargo connection member and engaging device fit within the recess, whereby during rotation of the drum hub in a first direction the cargo connection member generally concentrically wraps around the drum hub and engaging device.

14. The winch assembly of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the drum hub and an exterior surface of the portion of the cargo connection member are generally coextensive when the portion of the cargo connection member is positioned in the recess.

15. The winch assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one drum gear includes first and second drum gears and the at least one gear mounting portion includes first and second gear mounting portions on opposed sides of the drum hub, whereby the first drum gear engaged with the first gear mounting portion and the second drum gear engages with the second gear mounting portion.

16. The winch assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one stop includes first and second stops positioned on the first and second gear mounting portions, whereby the first drum gear engages the first stop to maintain the first drum gear in an operative position and the second drum gear engages the second stop to maintain the second drum gear in an operative position.

17. The winch assembly of claim 13, wherein rotation of the drum hub in a second direction opposite the first direction generally concentrically unwraps the cargo connection member from the drum hub.

18. The winch assembly of claim 13, wherein the engaging device comprises a pin.

19. The winch assembly of claim 18, wherein the drum hub includes a hub exterior surface and the pin includes a pin exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the hub and pin exterior surfaces are generally coextensive when the pin is fitted in the recess.

20. The winch assembly of claim 18, wherein the cargo connection member comprises a strap having a loop at an end thereof, wherein the pin is engaged with the strap by inserting the pin into the loop of the strap.

21. The winch assembly of claim 20, wherein the recess is generally concave and wherein the loop and the pin inserted in the loop fit within the generally concave recess.

22. The winch assembly of claim 21, wherein the drum hub includes a first exterior surface and the loop with the pin inserted in the loop include a second exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the first and second exterior surfaces are generally coextensive when the loop of the strap and the pin inserted in the loop are fitted in the recess.

23. The winch assembly of claim 22, wherein the drum hub includes a slot, wherein the strap fits through the slot when the loop and the pin inserted in the loop are fitted within the recess.

24. A winch assembly comprising:

a housing;

a drum hub positioned within the housing;

a recess formed in the drum hub; and

a strap;

an engaging device engaged with the strap, wherein a portion of the strap and the engaging device fit within the recess whereby the strap generally concentrically wraps around the drum hub and engaging device during rotation of the drum hub in a first direction.

25. The winch assembly of claim 24, wherein the engaging device includes a pin inserted into the strap.

26. The winch assembly of claim 24, wherein rotation of the drum hub in a second direction opposite the first direction generally concentrically unwraps the strap from the drum hub.

27. The winch assembly of claim 24, wherein the strap includes a loop at an end thereof, whereby the engaging device is inserted into the loop.

28. The winch assembly of claim 27, wherein the recess is generally concave whereby the loop and the engaging device inserted in the loop fit within the generally concave recess.

29. The winch assembly of claim 28, wherein the drum hub includes a first exterior surface and the loop with the engaging device inserted in the loop include a second exterior surface, whereby at least a portion of the first and second exterior surfaces are generally coextensive when the loop of the strap and the engaging device inserted in the loop are fit in the recess.