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US 9,914,625 B2Granted
Winch or hoist system with clutch adjustment
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorBejan Maghsoodi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, a biasing member and a plunger. The biasing member is arranged to provide a biasing force that allows torque transfer from the input shaft to the output shaft via one or more input friction plates and one or more output friction plates. Axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft may cause the biasing force to vary to adjust the maximum torque setting of the clutch during reeling-in or reeling-out of a winch cable around a winch drum. A winch assembly may be provided that includes an arm in operable connection with a winch drum. The arm is displaced as the effective radius of the drum varies during reeling in or reeling out. Displacement of the arm can be communicated to the plunger to provide the axial displacement thereof.
Claims16
A clutch for driving a winch, the clutch comprising:
- an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith;
- an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
- a biasing member arranged to provide a biasing force that pushes the at least one input friction plate and the at least one output friction plate into contact with each other so that torque can be transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the input and output friction plates;
- and
- a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
- wherein the biasing member is at least one disc springs positioned around the output shaft.
3 more elements
A clutch for driving a winch, the clutch comprising:
- an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith;
- an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
- a biasing member arranged to provide a biasing force that pushes the at least one input friction plate and the at least one output friction plate into contact with each other so that torque can be transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the input and output friction plates;
- and
- a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
- wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member mechanically;
- wherein the plunger further comprises projections extending radially therefrom, said projections extending through apertures in the output shaft to allow mechanical communication with the biasing member.
4 more elements
A clutch for driving a winch, the clutch comprising:
- an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith;
- an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
- a biasing member arranged to provide a biasing force that pushes the at least one input friction plate and the at least one output friction plate into contact with each other so that torque can be transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the input and output friction plates;
- and
- a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
- wherein the plunger is disposed inside a plunger housing that is co-axial with and fixed axially relative to the output shaft;
- wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member hydraulically;
- wherein the output shaft further comprises:
- an output shaft flange forming at least a first chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid;
- and
- first channels disposed through the output shaft, allowing fluid communication between the first chamber and an interior of the plunger housing;
- and wherein:
- the clutch further comprises a piston being disposed at least partially in the first chamber forming a fluid-tight seal therewith, the piston being axially moveable in the first chamber relative to the output shaft and in mechanical communication with the biasing member;
- and wherein
- the plunger housing further comprises second channels disposed therethrough, allowing fluid communication with the first channels in the output shaft.
12 more elements
A winch assembly, comprising:
- a clutch, the clutch including:
- an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith;
- an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
- a biasing member arranged to provide a biasing force that pushes the at least one input friction plate and the at least one output friction plate into contact with each other so that torque can be transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the input and output friction plates;
- and
- a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
- a motor operatively connected to the input shaft;
- a drum operatively connected to the output shaft for rotation about a drum axis;
- a cable attached to the drum and windable therearound to create a varying effective drum radius;
- and
- an arm having a first end operatively connected to the drum, such that its radial position, relative to the drum axis, changes as the effective drum radius varies, and a second end operatively connected to the plunger.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.