Removable winch handle assembly and method thereof
AssigneeQuadratec, Inc.
InventorDavid M. Bowes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable winch handle assembly for engaging a winch gear within a gearbox comprises: a handle receiver having at least a portion thereof exposed outside the gearbox, a seal between the handle receiver and the gear box, an engagement mechanism in the gearbox, the engagement mechanism coupled to the handle receiver to rotate with the handle receiver, wherein rotation of the engagement mechanism engages the winch gear, and a winch handle selectively coupled to the handle receiver, wherein, rotation of the winch handle causes rotation of the handle receiver when attached, the winch handle detachable from the handle receiver, wherein the gearbox opening is sealed by the seal when the winch handle is detached from the handle receiver.
Claims20
A winch assembly having a gearbox, said winch assembly comprising:
- a handle receiver having at least a portion thereof exposed outside the gearbox;
- a seal between the handle receiver and the gear box;
- a winch gear in the gearbox, the winch gear driven by a motor;
- an engagement gear;
- a spool;
- a winch cable that wraps around the spool responsive to rotation of the spool;
- an engagement mechanism in the gearbox, the engagement mechanism coupled to the handle receiver to move with the handle receiver, wherein one movement of the engagement mechanism engages the engagement gear with the winch gear, and another movement of the engagement mechanism disengages the engagement gear from the winch gear;
- a winch handle selectively coupled to the handle receiver, wherein, movement of the winch handle causes movement of the handle receiver when attached, the winch handle detachable from the handle receiver, wherein the handle receiver or the engagement mechanism rotates within the seal;
- wherein when the engagement gear is engaged with the winch gear, actuation of the motor rotates the spool so that wrapping of the cable around the spool occurs,
- wherein the gearbox opening is sealed by the seal when the winch handle is detached from the handle receiver.
A method of removing a handle from a winch assembly having a gearbox, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing said winch handle assembly that includes:
- a handle receiver having at least a portion thereof exposed outside the gearbox;
- a seal between the handle receiver and the gear box;
- a winch gear in the gearbox, the winch gear driven by a motor;
- an engagement gear;
- a spool;
- a winch cable that wraps around the spool responsive to rotation of the spool;
- an engagement mechanism in the gearbox, the engagement mechanism coupled to the handle receiver to move with the handle receiver, wherein one movement of the engagement mechanism engages the engagement gear with the winch gear, and another movement of the engagement mechanism disengages the engagement gear from the winch gear;
- a winch handle selectively coupled to the handle receiver, wherein, movement of the winch handle causes movement of the handle receiver when attached, the winch handle detachable from the handle receiver, wherein the handle receiver or the engagement mechanism rotates within the seal;
- wherein when the engagement gear is engaged with the winch gear, actuation of the motor rotates the spool so that wrapping of the cable around the spool occurs,
- detaching the winch handle from the handle receiver while maintaining the gearbox opening sealed by the seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.