The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 1978
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1976
Richard F Hoehn, Pekin, IL (US);
Norman R Allen, Washington, IL (US);
Ronald E Wineburner, Pekin, IL (US);
Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention is concerned with an improvement in a winch and fluid control system. The preferred system which is improved comprises (1) a rotatable drum for receiving and releasing a cable, (2) a drive train for supporting said drum and for selectively transmitting rotary drive thereto, said drive train including a brake, (3) a source of pressurized fluid, (4) a control valve having an inlet communicating with the source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet system and a valving element which is shiftable between at least three positions including a Brake-On position, a Reel-In position and a Brake-Off position, and (5) a winch lubricating system which communicate said source of pressurized fluid with said winch. Preferably the valving element is also shiftable to a Free-Spool position. The improvement of the present invention comprises a one-way clutch associated with said brake which allows said drum to rotate in a reel-in direction when said brake is engaged; an auxiliary drag brake for stopping reel-in rotation of said drum caused by viscous drag of hydraulic fluid on said drive means when said valving element is in said Brake-On position; and a fluid flow directing system intermediate said winch lubricating system and said auxiliary drag brake which directs a flow of pressurized fluid from said winch lubricating system to said auxiliary drag brake responsive to shifting of said valving element to said Brake-On position and blocks said flow of pressurized fluid from said winch lubricating system to said auxiliary drag brake responsive to shifting of said valving element to any of said Brake-Off and Reel-In positions and, when applicable, said Free-Spool position.