U.S. patent application number 15/405357 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for clutch for pipe winch.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yuan Pin Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ming Chih Hsieh.
Application Number | 20180201471 15/405357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62838685 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180201471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsieh; Ming Chih |
July 19, 2018 |
Clutch for Pipe Winch
Abstract
A pipe winch includes a shell, a reeling unit and a clutch. The
reeling unit includes a spring-biased reel connected to a ratchet.
The clutch includes a pedal, a bearing, a shaft, at least one
crank, a lever, an axle, a pawl, a returning element and a spring.
The shaft is supported on the bearing formed on the shell. The
crank extends throughout the shell and connects the pedal to the
shaft. The lever is connected to the shaft. The axle extends
parallel to an axis of the reel. The pawl is connected to the axle
and formed with a tip for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet
and a handle in contact with the lever. The returning element is
connected to the axle. The spring is arranged between the returning
element and the shell.
Inventors: |
Hsieh; Ming Chih; (Ho-Mei
Township, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yuan Pin Industrial Co., Ltd. |
Ho-Mei Township |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
62838685 |
Appl. No.: |
15/405357 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 75/4471 20130101;
B65H 75/4481 20130101; B65H 75/40 20130101; B65H 75/4492 20130101;
B65H 75/4494 20130101; B65H 75/486 20130101; Y10T 137/6943
20150401; B65H 75/4431 20130101; Y10T 137/6932 20150401; B65H
2701/33 20130101; B65H 75/4402 20130101; B65H 75/48 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 75/48 20060101
B65H075/48; B65H 75/44 20060101 B65H075/44 |
Claims
1. A pipe winch comprising a shell (1), a reeling unit (11)
comprising a spring-biased reel (12) inserted in the shell (1), and
a clutch (20) operatively connected to the spring-biased reel (12),
the pipe winch being characterized by that the reeling unit (11)
further comprises a ratchet (13) coaxially connected to the reel
(12) and formed with teeth (14) and that the clutch (20) comprises:
a pedal (21) located out of the shell (1); a bearing (24) formed on
an internal portion of the shell (1); a shaft (23) rotationally
supported on the bearing (24) in the shell (1); at least one crank
(22) extending throughout the shell (1) and comprising an end
connected to the pedal (21) and another end connected to the shaft
(23) so that the crank (22) is not rotatable relative to the shaft
(23); a lever (25) connected to the shaft (23); an axle (26)
rotationally inserted in the shell (1) parallel to an axis of the
reel (12); a pawl (27) connected to the axle (26) and formed with a
tip (271) at an end for engagement with the teeth (14) of the
ratchet (13) and a handle (272) at another end in contact with the
lever (25); a returning element (28) connected to the axle (26) so
that they are not rotatable relative to each other; and a spring
(29) comprising an end connected to the returning element (28) and
another end connected to the shell (1).
2. The pipe winch according to claim 1, wherein the teeth (14) are
made by cutting an edge of the ratchet (13).
3. The pipe winch according to claim 1, wherein each of the cranks
(22) comprises a non-circular aperture (221), and the shaft (23)
comprises a non-circular cross-sectional profile in compliance with
the non-circular aperture (221).
4. The pipe winch according to claim 3, wherein each of the cranks
(22) comprises a cruciform aperture (221), and the shaft (23) is
made with a cruciform cross-sectional profile in compliance with
the cruciform aperture (221).
5. The pipe winch according to claim 1, wherein the returning
element (28) and the pawl (27) are made in one piece.
6. The pipe winch according to claim 1, wherein the spring (29) is
torsion spring.
7. The pipe winch according to claim 6, wherein the spring (29)
comprises two rectilinear terminal sections respectively abutted
against the returning element (28) and the shell (1).
8. The pipe winch according to claim 7, wherein the returning
element (28) comprises an aperture (281) for receiving the
corresponding rectilinear terminal section of the spring (29).
9. The pipe winch according to claim 7, wherein the spring (29)
comprises a helical middle section provided on and around the axle
(26).
10. The pipe winch according to claim 1, wherein the shell (1)
comprises at least two restraints (4) abutted against crank (22).
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe winch and, more
particularly, to a clutch for a pipe winch.
2. Related Prior Art
[0002] A pipe winch is rotated in a first sense of direction to
reel a flexible pipe to facilitate storage or transportation of the
pipe and protect the pipe from improper compression or distortion.
A user can pull the pipe from the pipe winch, thereby rotating the
pipe winch in a second sense of direction opposite to the first
sense of direction. A coil spring can be included in the pipe
winch. The coil spring is loaded when the pipe winch is rotated in
the second sense of direction. Thus, the coil spring automatically
reels the pipe when the user releases the pipe. The automatic
reeling of the pipe will not stop until the entire length of the
pipe is reeled or it is interrupted by resistance that could be
caused by dislocation or twist of the pipe. The user could pull the
pipe from the pipe winch to overcome such resistance before he or
she releases the pipe and allows the coil spring to reel the pipe
again. However, repeated pulling and reeling of the pipe and
interruption of the automatic reeling could damage the pipe winch,
particularly the coil spring.
[0003] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a pipe winch with a clutch.
[0005] To achieve the foregoing objective, the pipe winch includes
a shell, a reeling unit and a clutch. The reeling unit includes a
spring-biased reel inserted in the shell and a ratchet coaxially
connected to the reel. The clutch includes a pedal, a bearing, a
shaft, at least one crank, a lever, an axle, a pawl, a returning
element and a spring. The pedal is located out of the shell. The
bearing is formed on an internal portion of the shell. The shaft is
rotationally supported on the bearing in the shell. The crank
extends throughout the shell and includes an end connected to the
pedal and another end connected to the shaft so that the crank is
not rotatable relative to the shaft. The lever is connected to the
shaft. The axle is rotationally inserted in the shell parallel to
an axis of the reel. The pawl is connected to the axle and formed
with a tip at an end for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet
and a handle at another end in contact with the lever. The
returning element is connected to the axle so that they are not
rotatable relative to each other. The spring includes an end
connected to the returning element and another end connected to the
shell.
[0006] Advantageously, the pedal can be trodden to allow the
spring-biased reel to reel a pipe. The pedal can be released to
allow the clutch to stop the rotation of the spring-biased reel and
hence the reeling of the pipe. The reeling of the pipe is
controlled by operating the pedal. The treading of the pedal to
allow the reeling of the pipe is easy. The pedal can simply be
released to stop the reeling of the pipe when the reeling of the
pipe is messed. The pedal can be trodden and released in an
intermittent manner to ensure that the reeling of the pipe is
conducted in phases. In each of the phases, the length of the pipe
reeled onto the spring-biased reel is under control. Thus, the
reeling of the pipe is in good order and risks of interrupted
reeling of the pipe are reduced.
[0007] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following description referring
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe winch according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pipe winch shown in FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pipe winch shown in FIG.
1 without a cover;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the pipe winch shown
in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is another enlarged partial view of the pipe winch
shown in FIG. 3; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the pipe winch in
another position than shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a pipe winch includes a
shell 1, a reeling unit 11 and a clutch 20 according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shell 1 includes
a front panel 2 and a rear panel (not numbered). Normally, the
front panel 2 is connected to the rear panel to conceal and protect
other components of the pipe winch. The front panel 2 can be
detached from the rear panel to allow access to the other
components of the pipe winch. The front panel 2 includes two
restraints 4 and a bearing 24 formed on an internal or rear face of
the front panel 2. The bearing 24 is located between the restraints
4.
[0016] The reeling unit 11 includes a reel 12 and a ratchet 13
coaxially connected to the reel 12. The reeling unit 11 further
includes a coil spring (not shown) connected to the reel 12. The
ratchet 13 includes teeth 14 evenly arranged at the edge. The teeth
14 are made by cutting the edge of the ratchet 13.
[0017] A user rotates the reel 12 in a sense of direction to reel a
flexible pipe (not shown). The user pulls the pipe from the reel
12, thereby rotating the reel 12 in an opposite sense of direction
and loading the coil spring. Thus, without the clutch 20 activated,
the coil spring would be allowed to automatically rotate the reel
12 to reel the pipe when the user releases the pipe.
[0018] The clutch 20 includes a pedal 21, a shaft 23, a lever 25,
an axle 26, a pawl 27, a returning element 28 and a spring 29. The
pedal 21 is located out of the shell 1 so that the user can tread
the pedal 21. The shaft 23 is inserted in the shell 1. The pedal 21
is connected to the shaft 23 via two cranks 22 that extend
throughout two apertures 3 made in the front panel 2. The shaft 23
is rotationally supported on the bearing 24 and extends throughout
the cranks 22. The cranks 22 are fitted on the shaft 23 so that
translation and rotation of the cranks 22 relative to the shaft 23
are avoided. The cranks 22 are respectively in contact with the
restraints 4, thereby preventing the cranks 22 and the shaft 23
from translation relative to the shell 1. The non-rotational
relation is caused by the shapes of the shaft 23 and the cranks 22.
As shown, the shaft 23 includes a cruciform cross-sectional profile
231 and each of the cranks 22 includes a cruciform aperture 221 in
compliance with the cruciform cross-sectional profile 231. Thus,
the shaft 23 is pivoted when the pedal 21 is hit due to the use of
the cranks 22. The lever 25 is secured to a first end of the shaft
23.
[0019] The axle 26 is inserted in the shell 1, with its axis
extending parallel to that of the reel 12. Corresponding to the
ratchet 13, the pawl 27 is connected to the axle 26. The pawl 27
includes a tip 271 on a side and a handle 272 on an opposite side.
The tip 271 of the pawl 27 is adapted for contacting the teeth 14
of the ratchet 13. The handle 272 is adapted for contacting the
lever 25.
[0020] The returning element 28 is secured to the axle 26. As
shown, the returning element 28 and the pawl 27 are made in one
piece. The returning element 28 is made with an aperture 281. The
spring 29 is a torsion spring that includes a helical middle
section and two rectilinear terminal sections. The helical middle
section of the spring 29 is provided on and around the axle 26. One
of the rectilinear terminal sections of the spring 29 is inserted
in the aperture 281 of the returning element 28. The other
rectilinear terminal section of the spring 29 is abutted against an
internal portion of the shell 1.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 5, the spring 29 exerts torque to the pawl
27 via the returning element 28 to keep the tip 271 of the pawl 27
in contact with one of the teeth 14 of the ratchet 13. Thus, the
ratchet 13 and the reel 12 are prevented from rotation, the pedal
21 remains horizontal, and the lever 25 is kept in contact with the
handle 272 of the pawl 27.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 6, the pedal 21 is trodden to rotate the
shaft 23 and the lever 25 in a first sense of direction as
indicated by an arrow head A because of the non-rotational relation
of the cranks 22 of the pedal 21 to the shaft 23. During the
rotation, the lever 25 exerts an upward force on the handle 272 of
the pawl 27 to rotate the pawl 27 and the axle 26 in a second sense
of direction indicated by an arrow head B and hence load the spring
29. Synchronously, the tip 271 of the pawl 27 is moved away from
the teeth 14 of the ratchet 13 so that the ratchet 13 is free to
rotate and that the coil spring is allowed to rotate the reel 12 to
reel the pipe.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5 again, the pedal 21 is released, thereby
allowing the spring 29 to exert a force on the pawl 27 via the
returning element 28 to rotate the pawl 27 and the axle 26 in a
sense of direction opposite to the second sense of direction. Thus,
the tip 271 of the pawl 27 is engaged with one of the teeth 14 of
the ratchet 13 to prevent the ratchet 13 and the reel 12 from
rotation. Moreover, the handle 272 of the pawl 27 presses the lever
25, to rotate the shaft 23 in a sense of direction opposite to the
first sense of direction and return the pedal 21 to the horizontal
position via the cranks 22.
[0024] As discussed above, the pedal 21 can be continuously trodden
to allow the coil spring to rotate the reel 12 to reel the pipe in
a continuous manner. Alternatively, the pedal 21 can be
intermittently trodden and released to cause the coil spring to
rotate the reel 12 to reel the pipe in an intermittent manner. The
rotation of the reel 12 and hence the reeling of the pipe are
stopped whenever the pedal 21 is released. Now, the pipe can be
unreeled from the reel 12 a little and set in order. Then, the
pedal 21 can be trodden to allow the coil spring to continue to
rotate the reel 12 to reel the pipe.
[0025] The present invention has been described via illustration of
the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive
variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment
shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the
claims.
* * * * *