AU2005229160B2 - Winching means - Google Patents

Description

WO 2005/095257 PCT/AU2005/000472 TITLE WINCHING MEANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a winching means, and a method of attachment thereof, to be used in conjunction with wheeled vehicles. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is known to require alternative propulsion methods for wheeled vehicles in 10 situations where the vehicle wheels can not gain sufficient traction with the ground to drive the vehicle. Commonly, this is achieved by equipping vehicles likely to encounter this situation with winching means, whereby the vehicle may be coupled to a stationary object such as a tree by a variable length connection. Typically, the winching means is provided with a driving mechanism. The driving 15 mechanism may be an electric motor which is coupled to the vehicle, or may be powered by a power take-off from a vehicle's drive shaft. Known winching means are generally permanently coupled to a vehicle. This is considered undesirable. Further, the above mentioned driving mechanisms require a power source which may not be available. 20 US Patents 4,568,036 and 4,778,126 provide a solution to this problem by releasably mounting a winching means on a driving wheel of a vehicle. The winching means is powered by the vehicle drive mechanism. In both these prior art documents, the winching means is provided with an attachment plate having apertures which correspond with the wheel studs. To attach the winching 1 means, at least some of the wheel nuts attaching the wheel to the hub are removed. The attachment plate is then inserted over the available wheel studs, after which the wheel nuts are replaced to hold the attachment plate in position. This method of attachment can be problematic in that it is not always a simple 5 proposition to remove the necessary wheel nuts when the vehicle is in a situation requiring winching. Further, it will be appreciated that the tension applied to the wheel stud through torque on the wheel nut will be substantially altered by the presence of an intermediate body between the wheel nut and the wheel. 10 The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous winching means, and methods of attachment thereof. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 15 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a winching means arranged to attach to a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel having wheel securing members arranged circumferentially about a first radius, characterised in that the winching means has a base plate which may be moved axially with respect to the wheel so as to engage with the wheel whilst maintaining the wheel securing members 20 in position, thereby restricting movement of the winching means relative to the wheel in a radial direction, and whereby means is provided to subsequently restrict axial movement of the winching means relative to the wheel, the winching means having a drum having a second radius, the drum being outside the base plate, the second radius being larger than the first radius. 2 Amended Sheet Received 28 Uctober ZUU In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a winch to a vehicle wheel, characterised by the steps of moving the winching means axially with respect to the wheel so as to engage a base plate of the winching means with the wheel, thereby restricting movement of the winching 5 means relative to the wheel in a radial direction; providing means to subsequently restrict axial movement of the winching means relative to the wheel; and winding a chain or rope about a drum of the winching means, the drum being outside the base plate and having a radius greater than the radius of circumferentially arranged wheel securing members of the vehicle wheel. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional schematic view of a wheel assembly including a base 15 plate of a winching means according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional schematic view of a wheel assembly including a base plate of a winching means according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of a wheel having a winching means 20 according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the winching means of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a close view of the winching means of Figure 3 shown attached to the wheel; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the winching means of Figure 3 in use. 3 Amended Sheet Received 28 October 2U00 Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view of a wheel having a winching means according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the winching means of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the winching means of Figure 7 in use. 5 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figures, there is shown a wheel hub 10 to which a wheel rim 12 is affixed. The wheel rim 12 is affixed to the wheel hub 10 by means of wheel securing members 14. In the embodiments of the drawings the wheel securing members 14 are 10 wheel nuts which are attached by means of a screw thread to wheel studs 16. The wheel securing members are arranged circumferentially about a first radius. A winching means 17 ha a baseplate 18. The base plate 18 is arranged to locate adjacent a plurality of wheel securing members 14. 15 In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 1, each wheel securing member 14 has an centrally located, substantially cylindrical aperture 20 depending from an outer axial edge of the wheel securing member 14. The aperture 20 is internally screw threaded. 20 The base plate 18 has a plurality of base plate apertures 22. Each base plate aperture 22 is located, in use, substantially coaxial to an aperture 20 of a wheel securing member 14. The base plate apertures 22 are similar in diameter to the apertures 20 of the wheel securing members 14. 4 Amended Sheet Received 28 October 200 A fixing means 24 in the form of an externally threaded bolt 26 passes through each base plate aperture and threadedly engages the aperture 20 of each wheel securing member 14. In use, when a vehicle finds itself in a situation where winching is required, the winch 5 can be produced and moved axially into a position adjacent the wheel securing members 14 whilst maintaining the wheel securing members in position. The insertion and tightening of bolts 26 then engages the winch base plate 18 against the wheel securing members 14, and thus secures the winch in position, as shown in Figure 1. When the winch is no longer required the removal of the bolts 26 allows for 10 simple detachment of the winch base plate 18. In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 2, the winch base plate 18 has a plurality of apertures 22 which are sized such that each aperture 22 can be located over a wheel securing member 14. Each wheel securing member 14 is 15 provided with a diametrically extending slot 28 adjacent an outer axial surface thereof, such that in use the slot 28 is outside the winch base plate 18. The insertion of a fixing means such as a pin 26 then prevents the dislocation of the base plate 18 from the wheel securing members 14. In use, the winch base plate 18 and thus the winch can be readily placed in position by 20 sliding over the wheel securing members 14 in an axial direction. The wheel securing members prevent movement of the winch in a radial direction. The wheel securing members 14 also prevent rotation of the winch relative to the wheel. The insertion of pins 26 secure the winch into position, and restrict subsequent axial movement. When 5 Amended Sheet Received 28 October 200 the winch is no longer required the removal of the pins 26 allows for the ready removal of the winch. In a third embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 3 to 6, the apertures 20 have 5 an enlarged bore 30 sized to enable the bore 30 to be located over the wheel securing members 14. Each of the wheel securing members 14 has an outer catchment portion 32. The apertures 20 have arc-shaped extensions 34 on either side of the bore 30. The rotation of the winching means 17 relative to the securing members 14 moves the 10 winch between a first position in which axial movement is possible and a second position in which the arc-shaped extensions 34 are locked between the wheel rim 12 and the outer catchment portions 32, thus preventing movement of the winching means 17 in an axial direction. 15 In a fourth embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 7 to 9, the winching means 17 has a plurality of L-shaped projections 36 extending rearwardly thereof. The L shaped projections are arranged to engage apertures 44 within the wheel rim 12. As in the third embodiment, rotation of the winching means 17 relative to the wheel locks the winching means 17 into position and prevents axial movement of the winching 20 means 17. In use, a chain or rope 40 is wound about a drum of the winching means 17 and secured at an outer end thereof to a remote location. Rotation of the wheel causes rotation of the winching means and thus winding of the rope or chain 40. 6 Amended Sheet

TPRA/AU

Received 28 October 200 It will be appreciated that other methods of fixing the base plate 18 to the wheel securing members 14 are envisaged. These may vary according to the particular form of wheel securing member employed by a particular vehicle. 5 It will also be appreciated that the drum of the winching means 17 must be outside the base plate 18, and hence have a second radius larger than the first radius. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 7 Amended Sheet m A IATT

Claims (12)

1. A winching means arranged to attach to a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel having wheel securing members arranged circumferentially a if~a first radius, 5 characterised in that the winching means[has a base plate whic1 may be moved axially with respect to the wheel so as to engage with the wheel [whilst maintaining the wheel securing members in position thereby restricting movement of the winching means relative to the wheel in a radial direction, and whereby means is povided to subsequently restrict axial movement of the winching means relative to 10 the wheel,\he winching means having a drum having a second radius, the drum being outside the base plate, the second radius being larger than the first radius.)

2. A winching means as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the winching means engages with the wheel securing members in order to restrict movement of the winching means in the radial direction. 15

3. A winching means as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the engagement of the winching means with the wheel securing members prevents rotation of the winching means relative to the wheel.

4. A winching means as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised in that the means for restricting axial movement of the winching means is a fixing means which 20 engages with the wheel securing member.

5. A winching means as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the fixing means is an externally threaded member arranged to engage with an axial, internally threaded aperture of the wheel securing member. 8 Amended Sheet Received 28 October 2UU'

6. A winching means as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the fixing means is a pin which is arranged to engage with a diametrical aperture of the wheel securing member.

7. A winching means as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the winching 5 means is rotatable relative to the wheel between a first position wherein the means to restrict axial movement is not operative and a second position wherein the means to restrict axial movement is operative.

8. A winching means as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the means to restrict axial movement is integral with the wheel securing members. 10

9. A winching means as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the winching means includes apertures having a central bore which is sized so as to locate over a corresponding wheel securing member and at least one arc-shaped extension.

10. A winching means as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the winching means includes projections arranged to engage with apertures within the wheel rim. 15

11. A winching means as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the projections are L-shaped.

12. A method of attaching a winch to a vehicle wheel, characterised by the steps of moving the winching means axially with respect to the wheel so as to engage a base plate of the winching means with the wheel, thereby restricting movement of the 20 winching means relative to the wheel in a radial direction; providing means to subsequently restrict axial movement of the winching means relative to the wheel; and winding a chain or rope about a drum of the winching means, the drum being outside the base plate and having a radius greater than the radius of circumferentially arranged wheel securing members of the vehicle wheel. Amended Sheet -m A IATT