Warn Industries, Inc.

Richard S Herndon

Jeffrey E Paulson

Richard G Johnson

Robert C Proebstel

A winch system including an electric motor is protected against an overload condition by use of a current sense device and a current limiting device. The current limiting device employs multiple current thresholds to account for normal current usage by the motor during an initial current inrush period and during subsequent normal operation. The current limiting device also references battery voltage to establish current thresholds as a function thereof and thereby establish shutdown conditions corresponding to consistent motor load conditions. Overall, the current limiting device is responsive to multiple winch device states of operation and more fully protects the winch system against damage due to an overload condition.

Electric current limiting device for winch responsive to multiple device

A winch having an electronic current limiter to shut off power to the drive motor when a load limit is attained. The electronic current limiter utilizes a linear hall effect transducer mounted in a torroid surrounding a conductor carrying current to the motor. The transducer outputs a voltage which is compared to a regulated preset voltage. The regulated preset voltage is preset at a value that corresponds to the voltage output of the transducer when the maximum allowed current is flowing in the current carrying conductor. The preset voltage establishes a trip point or threshold. The output voltage of the transducer and the preset voltage are compared and when the output voltage of the transducer crosses the threshold or trip point, power to the winch drive motor is shut off. The electronic current limiter includes a reset circuit that requires the motor to be driven in the reverse direction after an overload shut down before the motor may be run in the initial direction. The electronic current limiter includes a time delay circuit to permit momentary overload conditions such as caused by the required high motor starting currents.

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Albany, OR, United States of America

Richard S Herndon