Clutch for a winch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298705-A1
Application number	US-201514683393-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clutch for driving a winch is provided. The clutch comprises an input shaft for connection to a drive means, operatively connected to at least one input friction plate to rotate therewith and an output shaft for driving a winch operatively connected to at least one output friction plate to rotate therewith.

First claim

1 . 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 to rotate therewith; an output shaft for driving a winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate to rotate therewith; a biasing means 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
one or more ball-ramp assemblies positioned between the input shaft and the at least one input friction plate.

2 . The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ball-ramp assemblies comprise:
a ball-ramp flange, disposed between the input shaft and the input friction plates, and operatively connected to the input friction plates; and a ball disposed between the ball-ramp flange and the input shaft, and held in opposing recesses therein, wherein the ball provides an axial separation between the ball-ramp flange and the input shaft.

3 . The clutch of claim 2 , wherein the recesses each comprise camming surfaces that are arranged to allow the separation between the input shaft and ball-ramp flange to be varied.

4 . The clutch of claim 3 , wherein the ball-ramp assembly is configured such that a predetermined relative torque between the input shaft and output shaft causes the ball to roll along the camming surfaces of the recesses and to increase the separation between the input shaft and the ball-ramp flange.

5 . The clutch of claim 4 , wherein the increase in separation between the input shaft and the ball-ramp flange opposes the biasing force between the at least one input friction plate and the at least one output friction plate.

6 . The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the biasing means comprises one or more springs.

7 . The clutch of claim 6 , wherein the one or more springs comprises one or more disc springs positioned around the output shaft.

8 . The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input friction plate comprises a plurality of input friction plates and the at least one output friction plate comprises a plurality of output plates.

9 . The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is a wet-type clutch.

10 . The clutch of claim 9 , further comprising at least one seal arranged to retain a fluid around at least one portion of the clutch, such as the input and output friction plates.

11 . The clutch of claim 10 , wherein the retained fluid is oil.

12 . A winch system, comprising:
a clutch including:
an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate to rotate therewith;
an output shaft for driving a winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate to rotate therewith;
a biasing means 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
one or more ball-ramp assemblies positioned between the input shaft and the at least one input friction plate; and
a motor operatively connected to the input shaft; and a drum operatively connected to the output shaft.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Davies Stephen H
• Maghsoodi Bejan

Classifications

• F16D43/215 Primary

  with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs · CPC title

• B66D1/16

  the drums or barrels being freely rotatable {, e.g. having a clutch activated independently of a brake (B66D1/20, B66D1/22, B66D1/24 take precedence; clutches activated alternately with brakes B66D1/14, slip couplings B66D1/14)} · CPC title

• F16D7/027 Primary

  with multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16D43/216

  with multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16D2023/123

  Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms · CPC title