Winch or hoist system with clutch adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914625-B2
Application number	US-201514715779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2015
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A clutch comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, a biasing member and a plunger. The biasing member is arranged to provide a biasing force that allows torque transfer from the input shaft to the output shaft via one or more input friction plates and one or more output friction plates. Axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft may cause the biasing force to vary to adjust the maximum torque setting of the clutch during reeling-in or reeling-out of a winch cable around a winch drum. A winch assembly may be provided that includes an arm in operable connection with a winch drum. The arm is displaced as the effective radius of the drum varies during reeling in or reeling out. Displacement of the arm can be communicated to the plunger to provide the axial displacement thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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 for rotation therewith;
an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
a biasing member 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
a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
wherein the biasing member is at least one disc springs positioned around the output shaft.

2. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is disposed inside a plunger housing that is co-axial with and fixed axially relative to the output shaft.

3. The clutch of claim 2 , wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member hydraulically.

4. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member mechanically.

5. 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 for rotation therewith;
an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
a biasing member 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
a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member mechanically;
wherein the plunger further comprises projections extending radially therefrom, said projections extending through apertures in the output shaft to allow mechanical communication with the biasing member.

6. 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 for rotation therewith;
an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
a biasing member 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
a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;
wherein the plunger is disposed inside a plunger housing that is co-axial with and fixed axially relative to the output shaft;
wherein axial displacement of the plunger is communicated to the biasing member hydraulically;
wherein the output shaft further comprises:
an output shaft flange forming at least a first chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid; and
first channels disposed through the output shaft, allowing fluid communication between the first chamber and an interior of the plunger housing; and wherein:
the clutch further comprises a piston being disposed at least partially in the first chamber forming a fluid-tight seal therewith, the piston being axially moveable in the first chamber relative to the output shaft and in mechanical communication with the biasing member; and wherein
the plunger housing further comprises second channels disposed therethrough, allowing fluid communication with the first channels in the output shaft.

7. The clutch of claim 6 , wherein a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid is formed within the plunger housing.

8. The clutch of claim 7 , wherein the first and second channels allow communication of hydraulic fluid between the first and second chambers.

9. The clutch of claim 8 , wherein hydraulic fluid is communicated between the chambers due to axial displacement of the plunger within the second chamber.

10. A winch assembly, comprising:
a clutch, the clutch including:
an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith;
an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith;
a biasing member 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
a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative to the output shaft causes the biasing force to vary;

a motor operatively connected to the input shaft;
a drum operatively connected to the output shaft for rotation about a drum axis;
a cable attached to the drum and windable therearound to create a varying effective drum radius; and
an arm having a first end operatively connected to the drum, such that its radial position, relative to the drum axis, changes as the effective drum radius varies, and a second end operatively connected to the plunger.

11. The winch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the radial displacement of the first end of the arm is communicated to the plunger to provide axial displacement thereof.

12. The winch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the communication is provided by at least one of a mechanical connection and a hydraulic connection.

13. The winch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the arm is pivotally attached at a point between the first and second ends of the arm to a static structure, and the winch assembly further comprises:
a roller operatively connected to the first end of the arm for rotation thereabouts, wherein the roller is arranged to rest on an outer surface of an outermost layer of cable on the drum; and
at least one of a mechanical or hydraulic connection is provided at the second end of the arm, to communicate displacement of the second end of the arm to the plunger to provide axial displacement thereof.

14. A method of adjusting a clutch torque setting for a clutch of claim 1 when in use in a winch assembly, the clutch including: an input shaft for connection to a drive means and being operatively connected to at least one input friction plate for rotation therewith; an output shaft for driving the winch and being operatively connected to at least one output friction plate for rotation therewith, a biasing member 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 a plunger disposed co-axially with and axially moveable relative to the output shaft, wherein axial displacement of the plunger relative

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Maghsoodi Bejan

Classifications

• B66D2700/0158

  Hydraulically controlled couplings or gearings · CPC title

• B66D3/20

  with driving motor, e.g. electric motor, and drum or barrel contained in a common housing · CPC title

• B66D3/18

  Power-operated hoists · CPC title

• B66D1/14 Primary

  Power transmissions between power sources and drums or barrels {(including brakes, one-way brakes, one-way clutches, clutches activated alternately with brakes, fixed ratio gearing unless otherwise provided for in B66D1/16 - B66D1/24)} · CPC title

• B66D1/22

  Planetary or differential gearings (for actuating grab buckets B66D1/70 ){, i.e. with planet gears having movable axes of rotation} · CPC title