Universal level wind system for winch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11577944-B2
Application number	US-201916623947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2019
Priority date	Nov 6, 2018
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A small-footprint level wind system enabling a winch to accept and operate tension members of differing sizes, simplifying the system, and reducing the system weight. Comprising an elongate support, a leadscrew, a guide substantially supported by the support, the guide adapted to accept a tension member. The guide designed to move along the support and to transfer tension member forces onto the support. Further comprising a motor, adapted to apply a motive onto the leadscrew, a shuttle connected the guide and leadscrew and adapted to transfer the motive force to the guide, moving the guide along the support. In many embodiments more than one component share the same longitudinal axis. Another aspect is providing direct tension member metering and load sensing within the guide. Another embodiment provides a load-bearing leadscrew without an additional support, instead having a direct connection between guide and leadscrew.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level wind system for a winch, comprising:
an elongated support;
a leadscrew having a longitudinal axis which defines a first axis;
a guide substantially supported by said support, adapted to (i) move along said support, (ii) receive a tension member, said tension member having a first force and (iii) to transfer said first force to said support;
a motor connected to said leadscrew and adapted to apply a second force onto said leadscrew; and
a shuttle connected said guide and leadscrew, and adapted to move along said leadscrew parallel to said first axis in response to said second force; and
wherein said support is positioned substantially between said leadscrew and said guide and both said support and said guide are coaxial with said first axis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said support is substantially hollow; and wherein said leadscrew is interior of said support.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said support comprises an opening along at least a portion of the support's longitudinal length, wherein said shuttle connects said guide through said opening.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said support has a longitudinal axis, which defines a second axis, and said guide is coaxial with said second axis.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller and a position sensor, wherein said controller is configured to assign the tension member to at least a first and a second partition to the lateral length of the winch drum.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said second force is rotational, and said leadscrew rotates about said first axis.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said guide comprises a first and a second portion, said first portion being rigidly connected to said shuttle and said second portion is rotatably connected to said first portion.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:
a load sensor, within said first portion; and
a controller connected to said load sensor;
wherein said load sensor measures said first force and directs said measurement to said controller.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a metering sensor; and
a controller;
wherein said metering sensor measures a rotation rate of said second portion and directs said measurement to said controller.

10. A method of level winding a tension member about a winch, comprising the steps:
(a) selecting a level wind system comprising a substantially hollow elongate support, a leadscrew interior of said support and having a first longitudinal axis, a guide substantially supported by said support, a motor connected to said leadscrew, adapted to apply a first force onto said leadscrew, and a shuttle connected to said guide and said leadscrew, wherein said shuttle is adapted to move along said leadscrew parallel to said first axis in response to said first force;
(b) mounting said level wind system to a winch;
(c) applying a tension member to said guide;
(d) operating said winch to spool said tension member, wherein said tension member applies a second force to said guide and said guide transfers said second force to said support wherein said support has a second longitudinal axis and said guide is coaxial with said second longitudinal axis.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said guide comprises:
a first portion being rigidly connected to said shuttle;
a second portion being rotatably connected to said first portion; and
a load sensor within said first portion;
wherein said load sensor measures said second force and directs said measurement to an interconnected controller.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said support is coaxial with said first longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst

Inventors

• Haley James
• Eaton Joshua

Classifications

• B66D1/50 Primary

  for maintaining predetermined rope, cable, or chain tension, e.g. in ropes or cables for towing craft, in chains for anchors; Warping or mooring winch-cable tension control · CPC title

• B66D1/38 Primary

  by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel · CPC title

• B66D1/26

  having several drums or barrels · CPC title