Cranking mechanism

A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:

• a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear is rotatable axial said sun gear in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of said sun gear, a spool winding surface is coupled with said ring gear;
• a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is one of retained on or integrated with said drive shaft;
• said carrier includes a plurality of axles to radially and axially retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft;
• and
• a strap includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a spool winding surface of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds said strap on said spool winding surface;
• a one-way rotation device only allows said drive shaft to be rotated in one direction unless said one-way rotation device is released;
• and
• wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow.

A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:

• a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear is rotatable axial said sun gear in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of said sun gear, a spool winding surface of a spool is coupled with said ring gear;
• a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is one of retained on or integrated with said drive shaft;
• said carrier includes a plurality of axles to radially and axially retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft;
• an elongated connecting device includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a winding diameter of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds said elongated connecting device on said winding diameter;
• a clutch is retained on said drive shaft;
• a one-way bearing rotation device is engaged with said clutch, axial tension is applied to said one-way bearing and said clutch in a first direction through said driven end to wind said elongated connecting device on said spool;
• and
• wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow.

A method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device, wherein:

• a planetary gear set and drive shaft is operably coupled to a spool winding surface;
• a strap is operably coupled to said spool winding surface and to a bowstring latch assembly;
• a bowstring latch assembly retainment means is coupled to the crossbow frame;
• the bowstring latch assembly engages and retains the bowstring;
• a handle is operably coupled with the drive shaft;
• the crank handle rotates the drive shaft and sun gear a first direction winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface and moving said bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a proximal position as to engage said bowstring latch assembly with said bowstring latch assembly retainment means;
• a crank handle is rotated in a second direction releasing tension of the strap, said bowstring latch assembly retainment means retains the bowstring and the bowstring latch assembly in the cocked position;
• to de-cock the crossbow or to cock a discharged crossbow, the crossbow the crank handle is rotated the first direction imparting tension on the strap, the user selectively disengaging the bowstring latch assembly retainment means from the bowstring latch assembly, then rotating the crank handle the second direction unwinding the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to the distal position of the crossbow.

A method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device wherein;

• a planetary gear set and drive shaft is operably coupled to a spool winding surface;
• a strap is operably coupled to said spool winding surface and to a bowstring latch assembly;
• the bowstring latch assembly engages and retains the bowstring;
• a handle is operably coupled with the drive shaft;
• a crank handle rotates the drive shaft and a sun gear in a first direction winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface and moving said bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a cocked position;
• and
• to de-cock the crossbow or to cock a discharged crossbow, a user rotates the crank handle in a second direction unwinding the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to a distal position of the crossbow.