U.S. patent number 3,698,690 [Application Number 05/103,185] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-17 for hydraulically operated winch.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Koontz Machine & Welding, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert D. Beaver.
United States Patent |
3,698,690 |
Beaver |
October 17, 1972 |
HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WINCH
Abstract
A power-operated winch assembly with multiple power-driven
pinion gears meshing with an driving a drive gear coaxial with the
winch drum in the assembly. Each of the pinion gears is coupled to
a reversible hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motors may be placed in
series with each other, to obtain high speed type of operation, and
in parallel with each other, to obtain a high torque type of
operation.
Inventors: |
Beaver; Robert D. (Coos Bay,
OR) |
Assignee: |
Koontz Machine & Welding,
Inc. (Coos Bay, OR)
|
Family
ID: |
22293839 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/103,185 |
Filed: |
December 31, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
254/340; 188/69;
60/427; 254/361 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66D
1/14 (20130101); B66D 1/08 (20130101); B66D
2700/0133 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B66D
1/14 (20060101); B66D 1/08 (20060101); B66D
1/02 (20060101); B66d 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;254/186 ;60/53
;92/15,24 ;188/69 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blunk; Evon C.
Assistant Examiner: Maffei; Merle F.
Claims
It is claimed and desired to secure by letters patent:
1. A power-operated winch assembly comprising a winch drum,
a drive gear joined to the drum to rotate the drum, and multiple
power-driven pinion gears meshing with the drive gear at points
distributed about the periphery of the drive gear,
each of said power-driven pinion gears having a separate hydraulic
motor coupled thereto which, on actuation of the motor, rotates the
pinion gear,
a source of fluid under pressure,
conduit means connecting said source and said hydraulic motors
supplying fluid to the motor, said conduit means including valve
mechanism for placing said motors in series with each other to
obtain high speed operation and in parallel with each other to
obtain high torque operation, and
a fluid pressure-operated locking dog for locking the winch
drum,
said valve mechanism including one valve for placing said motors in
series with each other or parallel to each other, and another valve
for actuating the motor and changing the direction of the motor
operation, said conduit means further including a connection with
said locking dog producing hydraulic release of the dog with said
other valve producing actuation of said motors in either
direction.
2. A power-operated winch assembly comprising a frame including a
pair of opposed, vertically disposed and laterally spaced-apart
bracket plates,
a winch drum and a bull gear for the drum disposed with the axis of
the gear aligned with the axis of the drum, said bull gear being
joined to one end of the drum, said bull gear and drum being
positioned between said bracket plates with the bull gear and said
one end of the drum adjacent and rotatably supported on one bracket
plate and the opposite end of the drum rotatably supported on the
opposing bracket plate,
multiple pinion gears located in the space between said bracket
plates and journaled on said one bracket plate, said pinion gears
being circumferentially distribued about said bull gear and meshing
therewith,
a separate reversible hydraulic motor for each of said pinion
gears, each including a casing mounted as a cantilever on said one
bracket plate on the opposite side of the bracket plate from said
one end of the drum and said bull gear, each hydraulic motor having
an output shaft axially aligned with its associated pinion gear
which extends through said one bracket plate and is keyed to its
associated pinion gear,
a pump having an outlet supplying fluid under pressure, and
conduit means connecting said outlet of the pump and said hydraulic
motor for supplying fluid under pressure to the motors, said
conduit means including valve mechanism adjustable to connect said
motors to said pump outlet with the motors in series with each
other whereby the pinion gears which are driven by the motors
conjointly rotate the bull gear at a relatively high speed, said
valve mechanism also being adjustable to connect the motor to said
pump outlet with the motors parallel to each other whereby the
pinion gears which are driven by the motors conjointly rotate the
bull gear at a lower speed and with high torque.
Description
This invention concerns a power-operated winch assembly, which
comprises a winch drum and hydraulic means for rotating the
drum.
The winch assembly of the invention has been used successfully by
fishermen in the taking in and paying out of line connected to nets
and the like. The compact construction of the winch assembly,
coupled with its versatile type of operation, has made the assembly
a very practical instrumentality for such a use. It is appreciated,
however, that these features of the winch assembly have value in
other areas, and it is not intended to in any way limit the
invention by indicating a specific use of the assembly.
A general object of the invention is to provide an improved winch
assembly of a relatively compact but durable construction, which
enables it use in places where space is at a premium.
Another object of the invention is to provide a power-operated
winch assembly which is versatile in operation. In this connection,
a feature of the winch assembly is that it may be operated in one
condition of adjustment to obtain a high rotational speed in a
winch drum, and in another condition of adjustment to obtain higher
torque at a lower speed.
Another and further object of the invention is to provide such
versatility where adjustments in the type of operation are made by
controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to multiple
hydraulic motors in the assembly.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a winch
assembly which includes a drive gear coaxial with the winch drum,
and multiple power-driven pinion gears meshing with the drive gear
at points distributed about the perimeter thereof. Each of such
power-driven pinion gears is provided with a reversible hydraulic
motor for rotating it under power. The motor casings, as well as
the pinion gears and the drive gear, may all be mounted on one of a
pair of opposed frame brackets in a frame provided in the winch
assembly.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will
become more fully apparent as the following description is read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, showing a winch drum in the
apparatus, and hydraulic motors provided for driving the drum,
portions of the apparatus having been broken away;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the means provided for
supplying the hydraulic motors with pressure fluid thereby to
energize the motors.
Referring now to the drawings, and first of all more particularly
to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown at 10 is the frame which supports a winch
drum 12 in the assembly. The frame in the particular embodiment of
the invention illustrated comprises opposed bracket plates 10a, 10b
which are secured to an overhead support 11 and depend from this
support.
The drum 12 includes a central hub 12a and joined to the ends of
the hub flange plates 12b and 12c. Line is collected on the drum
with such coiled around the hub and contained between the flange
plates. The drum is journaled in a suitable manner on the frame 10,
as by the journal structure shown generally at 14.
Joined to the drum 12 and located between the plates 10a, 10b
adjacent plate 10a, is a bull or drive gear 16. The gear, which is
concentric with the drum, is joined to the drum to rotate in unison
therewith.
The bull gear is rotated under power by means of multiple,
power-driven pinion gears which mesh with the bull gear at points
distributed about its periphery, such being exemplified by the
pinion gears shown at 18 and 20.
The pinion gears are rotated under power by energizing of
reversible hydraulic motors 22, 24, one being provided for each of
the power-driven pinion gears. As demonstrated by motor 22, the
motor is mounted on the frame through mounting its casing 22a on
the adjacent frame plate 10a. Power-driven output shaft 22b of the
motor extends through plate 10a, and its outer extremity is keyed
to pinion gear 18.
As contemplated herein, hydraulic motors 22, 24 may be supplied
with fluid under pressure from a source, with the pressure fluid
exhausting from one motor and then flowing to the other, with the
motors then being in an in-series relationship relative to the
source. With the motors connected to the source of pressure fluid
in this manner, the drum is rotated at a relatively high speed.
Alternatively, the motors may be connected in parallel relative to
the source. With this type of connection established, the pressure
fluid supplied to each motor is supplied at half the delivery rate
of the source, and the drum will be driven at a slower speed.
However, the torque applied to the drum is greater, enabling the
winch assembly when so operated to handle heavier loads.
The hydraulic circuit contemplated, and associated structure, is
illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to this figure, the two reversible
motors again are shown schematically at 22 and 24. With the motors
operated to rotate in a clockwise direction, or the direction of
the arrows shown in FIG. 3, it will be assumed that the winch drum
in the assembly is rotated in a direction causing line to be wound
up on the drum. With such a direction of rotation, the inlet for
hydraulic motor 22 is illustrated at 22x and the exhaust at 22y.
Similarly, the inlet to motor 24 has the reference numeral 24x, and
the exhaust 24y.
Shown at 30 is a three-position main control valve. With the valve
in the idling position shown, ports 30a, 30b are connected through
the valve, as are ports 30c and 30d. With the spool of the valve
adjusted to produce the crossflow indicated by the lines within the
right-hand portion of the rectangle illustrating the valve, port
30a is connected to port 30d, and port 30b becomes connected with
port 30c. With the valve spool adjusted to produce the parallel
type of flow indicated by the left-hand portion of the rectangle,
port 30a is directly connected to port 30c and similarly, port 30b
becomes directly connected to port 30d.
Port 30c of the main control valve is connected by conduit 42,
conduit 44, and through flow control and check valve assembly 46 to
port 22x of motor 22. Port 30d is connected by conduit 48 and
conduit 50, to port 24y of motor 24.
Also part of the conduit system providing for the supply of
pressure fluid to the motors is a two-position valve 60 which
determines the type of operation of the motors, i.e., whether they
are to be connected in series or in parallel with respect to the
supply of pressure fluid. The valve includes ports 60a, b, c, and
d, with port 60a being connected by conduit 62 to conduit 42, port
60b being connected to conduit 48 by conduit 64, port 60c being
connected to port 22y of motor 22 by conduit 66, and port 60d being
connected by conduit 68 to port 24x of motor 24. With the spool of
the valve adjusted to have the flow in the direction indicated by
the right-hand portion of the valve rectangle, port 60a is
connected to port 60d within the valve, and port 60b to port 60c.
In the other position of the valve, port 60a, 60b join, and ports
60c, and 60d are joined.
In FIG. 3, a pump which supplies fluid under pressure to the system
is indicated at 80. Spent fluid dumps into a reservoir 82.
Completing the description of the apparatus, illustrated at 84 in
FIG. 3 is what is referred to herein as a fluid-pressure-operated
locking dog. Such includes an element 84a connected to a
pressure-sensitive element 84b. Spring 84c normally urges 84a to an
extended position. With a high pressure in conduit 86,
pressure-sensitive element 84b is urged to the left against the
spring to retract element 84a.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, element 84a includes a sector 88 which
engages pinion gear 20 with element 84a extended. Such engagement
serves to lock the pinion gear from rotation and through locking of
the pinion gear to lock the drum 12 from rotation.
Generally describing the operation of the apparatus, with valves 30
and 60 in the position of adjustment shown in FIG. 3, the motors 22
and 24 are idling. To produce rotation of the motors in a clockwise
direction with the motors placed in series with each other, valve
30 is adjusted to produce parallel flow through the valve as shown
by the left-hand portion of the rectangle designating the valve.
This introduces pressure fluid to conduit 44 (with release of the
locking dog) which passes through the check valve of assembly 46
and thence to inlet 22x of motor 22. Fluid discharged from motor 22
flows through conduit 66 and 68 to the inlet of motor 24. The
exhaust from motor 24 passes through conduit 50 and conduit 48 to
reservoir 82.
To obtain the same direction of rotation of the motors, with the
motors parallel to each other, valve 60 is adjusted to produce the
crossed flow through the valve indicated by the right portion of
the rectangle designating the valve in FIG. 3. With this adjustment
of valve 60, fluid discharged from motor 22 passes through valve 60
into conduit 64, from whence it is discharged to reservoir 82.
Pressure fluid is admitted to pump 24 through conduit 42, conduit
62 and conduit 68. The discharge of spent fluid from motor 24 takes
place through conduit 50.
To run the assembly in the opposite direction and with the motors
hooked up in series, valve 60 is positioned as illustrated, and
valve 30 is adjusted to produce crossed flow through the valve.
Pressure fluid thence is admitted to conduit 50 to motor 24 and
thence passes from motor 24 to port 22y of motor 22. Discharge from
motor 22 takes place through throttle valve in assembly 46, and
through conduit 44. To place the motors in parallel, valve 60 is
adjusted to produce crossed flow through the valves.
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described
herein, it is appreciated that changes and variations are possible
without departing from the invention, such changes being well
within the purview of one skilled in the art.
* * * * *