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US 4,390,161 AGranted
Winch drive and brake mechanism
AssigneeSuperwinch, LLC
InventorRobert G. Nelson
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSuperwinch, LLC
InventorRobert G. Nelson
Estimating the term…
A winch drive and brake mechanism is disclosed featuring a load compensating brake. The brake includes a fixed member and first and second rotary brake members. The first and second brake members are coaxially mounted on a drive shaft in alignment with a cable drum. The first brake member is fixed on the drive shaft. The second brake member is supported on the drive shaft between the first brake member and the fixed member for free rotation and movement axially of the drive shaft toward and away from braking engagement with the fixed member. The first brake member is engageable with the second brake member for axially moving it toward the fixed member into brake engaged position and releasing the second brake member for movement axially away from the fixed member toward a brake released position respectively in response to rotation of the first brake member relative to the second brake member in opposite angular directions. The first brake member is continuously urged by cable load on the drum in one angular direction such that when power is interrupted under any conditions, whatsoever, to the drive shaft, the first brake member rotates relative to the second brake member and axially moves it into engagement with the fixed member to automatically effect brake locking engagement under cable load.
A winch drive and brake mechanism comprising a stationary frame, a fixed member rigidly secured to the fixed frame against both axial and angular movement relative to the stationary frame, a rotary cable drum supported on the frame for rotation, a power operated rotary drive shaft coaxially aligned with the drum and supported by the fixed member for rotary movement, a rotary speed reducer drivingly connecting the cable drum and drive shaft for rotation respectively in opposite angular directions, a first rotary brake member coaxially fixed to the drive shaft for rotation, a second rotary brake member coaxially mounted on the drive shaft between the first brake member and said fixed member, the second brake member being freely supported for rotation on the drive shaft and for movement axially of the drive shaft, the first brake member being engageable with the second brake member for axially moving it toward the fixed member into brake engaged position and releasing the second brake member for movement axially away from the fixed member toward a brake released position responsive respectively to rotation of the first brake member relative to the second brake member in opposite angular directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.