Manual disengaging and self-engaging clutch

A clutch for use with a winch of the type having a drum on which a cable is wound and unwound, comprising:

• a housing for housing said clutch;
• an input shaft driven by a motor;
• a cable drum;
• at least one planetary gear stage coupling torque from said input shaft to said cable drum, said planetary gear stage having a sun gear, plural planetary gears and a carrier for supporting said planetary gears,
• a ring gear mounted for rotation, said planetary gears meshing with said ring gear;
• a clutch mechanism for coupling torque from said planetary gear stage to said cable drum and for disconnecting the planetary gear stage from said cable drum, said clutch mechanism including:
• an actuator having a shaft connected to a handle, said actuator manually operable from a rest position to a second position for disengaging said clutch, said actuator having a lug off center from an axis of said handle shaft;
• a locking member adapted for movement into engagement with said ring gear to lock said ring gear with respect to said housing, and out of engagement with said ring gear to allow said ring gear to rotate with said planetary gear stage;
• a hinged link connecting said actuator to said locking member, said link and said actuator movable to an over-center condition when said actuator is in said second position;
• and
• a rotating member rotatable when said motor is energized, said rotating member adapted for striking said actuator lug to rotate said actuator and move said locking member into engagement with said ring gear.