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:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2002
Christopher Paul Chambers, Auckland, NZ;
Maxwell Marine Limited, Auckland, NZ;
Abstract
A winch includes a chain wheel mounted on a spindle. A clutch is provided to selectively engage or disengage the chain wheel with the spindle. A clutch nut having a central aperture is movable rotationally and longitudinally on the spindle by way of mutually engaging threads on the spindle and central aperture. A stop is provided on the spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the clutch nut away from the chain plates beyond a predetermined position. A carrier rotates on the spindle and rotational direction limiting structure is provided between the carrier and the spindle. Rotation structure rotates the carrier with respect to the clutch nut so that by rotating the rotation structure in one direction the clutch nut is moved towards the chain wheel to cause the chain wheel to be rotated by the spindle, and by rotating the rotation structure in the opposite direction, the clutch nut moves away from the chain wheel to release the chain wheel from the spindle, engagement of the clutch nut with the stop causing the carrier to rotate thereby rotating the chain wheel without rotation of the spindle.