Winch device

A winch device, comprising:

• a drum for storing cable;
• hydraulically driven coupling means for disengageably coupling said drum to a winch drum shaft having an axis of rotation, said coupling means providing direct transmission-free drive of said drum shaft about said axis without gear engagement to thereby define first and second axial rotational positions when said drum is coupled to said winch drum shaft and a third free-wheeling position when said drum is uncoupled from said winch drum shaft;
• a housing mounting a crank shaft having at least two throws, said crank shaft being operably connected to a drive shaft, said means for disengageably coupling said winch drum to a winch drum shaft including a driver block mounted on said crank shaft, a driver block receiving socket mounted on said winch drum shaft, and hydraulic coupling means for moving one of said crank and drum shafts into and out of engagement there between;
• at least two cylinder and piston assemblies aligned in parallel planes and attached to said crank shaft at one end and to a common axis pivotal point at the other end thereof, each assembly being attached to a different crank shaft throw, for rotation of said crank shaft upon movement of said pistons between a minimum and maximum point of travel in said cylinders to thereby impart motion to said crank shaft, said at least two cylinders being located on the same side of said crank shaft in an offset alignment with respect to each other such that each piston reaches said minimum or maximum point of travel while the other is offset from said minimum or maximum points of travel, respectively;
• valve means for providing hydraulic fluid to said cylinders and selectively to both faces of said pistons to impart movement thereof to sequentially move each said piston between said minimum and maximum points of travel by providing hydraulic fluid under pressure on said piston in both desired directions of piston travel while evacuating hydraulic fluid from the other side of said piston, said movement of said pistons in said cylinders causing oscillation of said cylinders about said pivotal point axis and in parallel planes to thereby actuate said valve means by said oscillation, said valve means comprising a valve assembly having a cylindrical, non-tapered valve core for transmitting hydraulic fluid within said assembly;
• first and second port means on each of said cylinders for introducing hydraulic fluid from said valve assembly selectively to both faces of said pistons to impart movement thereof;
• and first and second orifices in said valve assembly for each of said cylinders, said orifices being positioned to communicate with said port means selectively to direct flow from said valve core to and from said port means to thereby hydraulically impart torsional rotation of said winch drum shaft about said axis without mechanical speed reduction;
• and
• a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure connected to said valve means for supplying hydraulic fluid thereto under pressure and for receiving hydraulic fluid under said lesser pressure.