Compact Winch System
AssigneeWestin Automotive Products, Inc.
InventorsJeremy Lanini, Jake Eggan, Jose Eduardo Lopez Moctezuma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a compact winch system that reduces the required space for a winch after-market accessory for a vehicle by using a small DC motor with a planetary gearbox assembly having at least four planetary stages and a gear control assembly that together provide a choice of a low range gear reduction and a high range gear reduction that allows the motor to retain the pulling power of a conventional winch system. Alternatively, the compact winch system creates its compactness through the use of a set of spur gears that multiply the torque of the motor while simultaneously offsetting the motor in order to create space for its motor controller.
Claims20
A compact winch system comprising a winch assembly, a housing for the winch assembly, and a winch cable wherein:
- the winch assembly includes a direct current motor having an output shaft, a motor controller controls the motor, a drive shaft, a brake assembly, and a planetary gearbox assembly coupled to the drive shaft, and a winch drum;
- the planetary gearbox assembly includes a first planetary stage assembly, a second planetary stage assembly, a third planetary stage assembly, and a fourth planetary stage assembly;
- the third planetary stage assembly allows for selection of a high gear ratio for the system and a low gear ratio for the system by having a low range planetary stage and a high range planetary stage;
- the high gear ratio is provided by the system when the low range planetary stage is selected;
- the low gear ratio is provided by the system when the high range planetary stage is selected;
- the selection between the high gear ratio for the system and the low fear ratio for the system is controlled by a gear control assembly.
A compact winch system comprising a winch assembly, a housing for the winch assembly, and a winch cable wherein:
- the winch assembly includes a direct current motor having an output shaft, a motor controller controls the motor, a drive shaft, a brake assembly, and a planetary gearbox assembly coupled to the drive shaft, and a winch drum;
- the planetary gearbox assembly includes a first planetary stage assembly, a second planetary stage assembly, a third planetary stage assembly, and a fourth planetary stage assembly;
- the motor is rated for less than five horsepower;
- the third planetary stage assembly allows for selection of a high gear ratio for the system and a low gear ratio for the system by having a low range planetary stage and a high range planetary stage;
- the high gear ratio is provided by the system when the low range planetary stage is selected;
- the high gear ratio has a range between 400:1 and 600:1;
- the low gear ratio is provided by the system when the high range planetary stage is selected;
- the low gear ratio has a range between 60:1 to 190:1;
- and
- the selection between the high gear ratio for the system and the low fear ratio for the system is controlled by a gear control assembly.
A compact winch system comprising a winch assembly, a housing for the winch assembly, and a winch cable wherein
- the winch assembly includes a motor having an output shaft, a motor controller controls the motor, a motor spur gear having a first diameter and a first tooth count, a drum spur gear having a second diameter and a second tooth count, a drive shaft, a brake assembly, and a planetary gearbox assembly coupled to the drive shaft, and a winch drum;
- the first diameter of the motor spur gear is smaller than the second diameter of the drum spur gear;
- the first tooth count of the motor spur gear is lesser than the second tooth count of the drum spur gear;
- the motor spur gear is coupled to the output shaft;
- the drum spur gear is coupled to the planetary gearbox assembly via the brake assembly and the drive shaft;
- the motor outputs power in a form of speed and torque to the motor spur gear via the output shaft;
- the motor spur gear engages with the drum spur gear to transfer the power to the drum side spur, then into the brake assembly, the drive shaft, and the planetary gearbox assembly;
- the engagement of the motor gear with the drum spur gear multiplies the torque generated by the motor, moves axis of the power's flow from the motor to the planetary gearbox assembly with an offset of the motor's location to create a desired physical location for the motor;
- and
- the planetary gearbox assembly transfers the power into the winch drum and then to the winch cable for use in winching operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.