Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Plural power paths to and/or from gearing
Patent
1981-09-17
1984-04-03
Herrmann, Allan D.
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Plural power paths to and/or from gearing
192 357, 192 8716, 192 8719, 254344, 254345, F16H 344, F16D 2510, F16D 25061
Patent
active
044400411
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a winch apparatus and more particularly to a winch apparatus including a shift control mechanism for compactly and effectively positioning a shaft of a drive transmission in one of three positions.
Background Art
The winch construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,126 issued July 17, 1979 to J. E. Winzeler provides two-speed load elevating capability and safe load lowering capability in a particularly advantageous package. The drive transmission thereof includes three interconnected planetary sets, an input shaft, a hollow shaft surrounding the input shaft, and an axially shiftable shaft connected to the winch housing via a one-way brake. In a first position of the shiftable shaft a load can be raised at a relatively low speed; in a second position the load can be raised relatively quickly; and in a third and centered position the load can be lowered.
While the winch construction of U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,126 is generally very satisfactory, the construction of the axially shiftable shaft is not as strong as is desired and the assembly thereof and the associated subassemblies is too difficult. Also, different fluid operating volumes are undesirably required to shift the shaft.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
Disclosure of the Invention
In one aspect of the present invention a winch apparatus is provided which has a shift control mechanism having a shaft rotatably supported within a housing and including first and second piston members disposed within the housing and mounted on the shaft. First means are provided for fluidically urging the first piston member and the shaft to a first position, second means are provided for fluidically urging the second piston member and the shaft to a second position opposite the first, and centering means are provided for mechanically centering the shaft between the first and second positions in response to abutment with the piston members and the housing.
Advantageously, the shiftable shaft of the winch apparatus of the present invention is more rugged and provided with a shoulder. One of the piston members abuts the shoulder and the other piston member is telescopically mounted on the first piston member in such a manner that the centering means, including a single coiled compression spring and a pair of annular spring seats, can be entrapped between the piston members as a subassembly. Means are provided for releasably coupling and containing the piston members on the shiftable shaft.
Other features and advantages will readily become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The sole FIGURE is a diagrammatic elevational view of a winch apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention with a portion thereof shown in section to better disclose details of its construction.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A winch apparatus 8 includes a shift control mechanism 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention as is illustrated in the drawing. The winch has an input shaft 14 which is driven by a bidirectional, variable speed hydraulic motor 16. In general, the driven input shaft is cooperatively associated with first, second and third planetary gear sets 18,20 and 22 and the shift control mechanism 10 to selectively elevate a load by, for example, rotating a winch drum 24 and a cable 26 wrapped thereon in a clockwise direction about a central axis 28, or lowering a load by rotating the winch drum in a counterclockwise direction when viewing the winch from the right side of the drawing and looking along the axis.
The first or centrally located planetary gear set 18 includes a first ring gear element 30, a first sun gear element 32 and a first planet carrier element 34 of the usual type wherein a plurality of similar planet gear elements 36 are rotatably mounted on the carrier element and are in intermeshing toothed engagem
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Caterpillar Tractor Co.
Herrmann Allan D.
Lanchantin, Jr. Charles E.
Rolnicki Joseph M.
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