Vehicle winch system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441591-B2
Application number	US-202318102951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2023
Priority date	Jan 30, 2023
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A winch system for a vehicle is provided herein. The winch system includes a winch assembly that is coupled to a body. A sensor system is configured to monitor the winch assembly. A controller processes information from the sensor system. The controller is configured to determine a duration of use and service condition of the winch assembly. The controller is also configured to determine an unauthorized condition based on tampering. The controller is further configured to determine an operational condition from at least one of the service condition and the unauthorized condition. A display generates a visual message when the controller determines the operational condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A winch system for a vehicle, comprising:
a winch assembly operably coupled to a body, the winch assembly comprising a housing, a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, a motor coupled to the spool and to the housing, and a cable operably disposed on the spool;
a sensor system configured to monitor the winch assembly; and
a controller processing information received from the sensor system, wherein the controller is configured to determine a duration of use of the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a service condition of the winch assembly when the duration of use exceeds a duration of use threshold, wherein the controller is configured to detect an interaction with the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine tampering with the winch assembly based on a locked condition of the vehicle and the detected interaction with the winch assembly.

2. The winch system of claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the display to generate a visual message when the controller determines the service condition.

3. The winch system of claim 2 , further comprising a mobile device, the mobile device including the display.

4. The winch system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the display to generate a video of the interaction when the controller determines the tampering.

5. The winch system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to detect physical wear on the winch assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the service condition based on the physical wear.

6. The winch system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to define a temperature threshold of the winch assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the winch assembly to change the winch assembly from an active condition to an inactive condition when a temperature of the winch assembly exceeds the temperature threshold.

7. The winch system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a service condition of at least one of the housing, the spool, the motor, and the cable based on information received from the sensor system.

8. The winch system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system further comprises a camera configured to monitor the winch assembly.

9. The winch system of claim 8 , wherein the camera is coupled to the housing.

10. A winch system for a vehicle, comprising:
a winch assembly operably coupled to a body, the winch assembly being operable between an active condition and an inactive condition;
a sensor system configured to monitor the winch assembly;
a controller processing information received from the sensor system, wherein the controller is configured to determine tampering with the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine an unauthorized condition based on the tampering, wherein the controller is configured to detect an interaction with the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the tampering based on a locked condition of the vehicle and the interaction; and
a mobile device comprising a display in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the display to generate a visual message when the controller determines the unauthorized condition, and wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the display to generate a video of the interaction when the controller determines the tampering.

11. The winch system of claim 10 , wherein the winch assembly is configured to operably decouple from the body, and wherein the controller is configured to determine when the winch assembly is coupled to the body and when the winch assembly is decoupled from the body based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the unauthorized condition when the winch assembly is decoupled from the body, and wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the winch assembly to change the winch assembly from the active condition to the inactive condition when the winch assembly is decoupled from the body.

12. The winch system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate a signal to the winch assembly to change the winch assembly from the active condition to the inactive condition based on the unauthorized condition.

13. The winch system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an unauthorized user based on information received from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the unauthorized condition based on the unauthorized user.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vojtisek Mark George
• Berchin Christopher Thomas
• Carranza-Fulmer Theresa

Classifications

• B66D1/28

  Other constructional details · CPC title

• B66D1/12

  incorporating electric motors · CPC title

• B66D1/00

  Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans (portable or mobile lifting or hauling appliances B66D3/00) · CPC title

• B66D1/40

  Control devices · CPC title

• B66D1/54

  Safety gear · CPC title