Electric current limiting device for winch responsive to multiple device states

A winch system comprising:

• an electrical energy source for producing an operating voltage;
• an electric motor, said electric motor adapted for application to movement of a load when coupled thereto, said electric motor drawing electric current during normal operation, said normal operation comprising a first current threshold for an initial inrush interval of normal operation and a second current threshold for a subsequent interval of normal operation after said initial inrush interval;
• a switching network coupling said energy source and said motor to drive said motor in selected rotational directions;
• a remote control producing control signals applied to said switching network to selectively drive said motor;
• a current sensing device providing a measure of electric current drawn by said motor;
• a control device receiving said control signals and said measure of electric current drawn, and including a shut-off device selectively halting operation of said electric motor, said control device activating said shut-off device when said motor draws electric current in excess of said first current threshold during said initial inrush interval or when said motor draws electric current in excess of said second current threshold during said subsequent interval;
• and
• wherein at least one of said first and second current thresholds are adjustable during said normal operation in response to a change in said operating voltage produced by said electrical energy source.

A winch system comprising:

• an electrical energy source;
• an electric motor, said electric motor adapted for application to movement of a load when coupled thereto, said electric motor drawing electric current during normal operation, said normal operation comprising said electric motor drawing a first magnitude electric current during an initial inrush interval of normal operation and a second magnitude of current during a subsequent interval of normal operation after said initial inrush interval;
• a switching network coupling said energy source and said motor to drive said motor in selected rotational directions;
• a remote control producing control signals applied to said switching network to selectively drive said motor;
• a current sensing device providing a measure of electric current drawn by said motor;
• a control device receiving said control signals and said measure of electric current drawn, and including a shut-off device selectively halting operation of said electric motor, said control device activating said shut-off device when said motor draws electric current in excess of said first magnitude during said initial inrush interval or when said motor draws electric current in excess of said second magnitude during said subsequent interval;
• wherein said control device adjusts at least one of said first and second magnitudes as a function of a change in an operating condition of said winch system;
• and
• wherein said electric motor includes a spool rotated thereby and carrying a length of cable thereon, said cable being coupled to said load, and wherein said motor produces a layer output representing a number of layers of said cable wrapped around said spool, said layer output being applied to said control device, said control device adjusting at least one of said first and second magnitudes as a function of said layer output.

A winch system comprising:

• an electric DC motor couplable to an electrical energy source and adapted to move a load when coupled thereto, said electric motor drawing a first magnitude electric current during an initial inrush interval and a second, lower magnitude of current during a subsequent interval after said initial inrush interval is complete;
• a remote control producing control signals to selectively drive said motor;
• a current sensing device providing a measure of electric current drawn by said motor;
• a control device receiving said control signals and said measure of electric current drawn, and including a shut-off device selectively halting operation of said electric motor, said control device activating said shut-off device when said motor draws electric current in excess of said first magnitude during said initial inrush interval or when said motor draws electric current in excess of said second magnitude during said subsequent interval;
• wherein said electric motor includes a spool rotated thereby and carrying a length of cable thereon and wherein said motor produces a layer output representing a number of layers of said cable wrapped around said spool, said layer output being applied to said control device, said control device adjusting said first and second magnitudes as a function of changes in said layer output and said electrical energy source.