Constant pull winch controls

US9908756B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Parker-Hannifin Corporation · US
• Warn Industries, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Oliver Heravi · Tigard, US
• Randy C. Karambelas · Milwaukie, US
• Roger Paul Gray, II · Greeneville, US
• Alexander Milanese · Albino, IT
• Ronald P. Middendorf · Norwood, US
• Anthony J. Wroblewski · Antioch, US
• Kirk Ayres Lola · Rutherfordton, US
• Mark Schuster · San Francisco, US
• Thomas J. Larson · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 27, 2013
• Grant date: Mar 6, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66D1/505
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A constant pulling force winch control system includes a sensor that senses a degree of winding of a winch cable around a winch drum, and a control system configured to control a winch motor to achieve a constant pulling force on the winch cable based on the degree of winding sensed by the sensor. The sensor may be a position sensor that measures a position of the winch cable relative to a centerline of the winch drum as the degree of winding. The position sensor may sense an angular position of a tension plate relative to a tensioner shaft to measure the degree of winding. The winch motor may be a hydraulic winch motor or an electric motor, and the control system is configured to control the power applied to the hydraulic winch motor to achieve the constant pulling force based on the degree of winding sensed by the sensor.