GB2383987A - Wheel winch - Google Patents

Abstract

A Wheel Winch unit which is adaptable to all types of off road vehicle to be used for the purpose of its recovery from bogged, entrenched or axle bound situations. The winch unit 1 (Fig 1) is secured to any of the vehicle wheels by using modified locking bolts 3 (Fig 1) and (Fig 3) through the vehicle wheel hub without requiring its removal facilitating recovery by means of engaging forward or reverse gears to unwind the wire rope 2 (Fig 1) connected onto the winch hub 1 (Fig 2) attaching to a suitable anchorage point and rewinding the rope using the driving wheel of the vehicle. Once the vehicle has been recovered the winch can be removed and the standard locking bolts replaced in a fashion similar to that when changing a wheel.

Description

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Brief Product Description Wheel Winch is a device designed to enable the recovery of"off road" vehicles that are unable to drive themselves free from the situation in which they have become i. e. , bogged in soft ground, axle bound, or entrenched.

This system of winching requires no electrical or air fed power supply, and no secondary motor of any kind other than the engine of the vehicle concerned. The wheel winch is proposed for use in conjunction with any of the 4 wheels on the vehicle, giving it all round vehicle versatility. More than one winch could be fitted to one vehicle if desired.

The winch system, as it requires no dedicated motive power of its own, will benefit from minimal maintenance requirements, and will be perfectly suited to operate underwater, if necessary, or within ultramuddy conditions. It is envisaged that the wheel hub will be fabricated to suit most vehicle wheel designs to suit the current off road 4wd market.

The product will comprise of the following components : 1.1 No. wheel hub c/w"U"bo) t wire hoist rope anchor point 2.1 No. reel of wire hoist rope (capacity to suit vehicle spec) c/w anchor "0" shackle to connect to wheel winch hub 3.1 No. set of 5 extended locking bolts c/w integral bolt head washer to fit wheel winch hub locking bolt locating holes.

(see Drawing on sheet No. RNIWW/1A12 attached for items above) There would be no requirement for an additional locking bolt spanner as the standard spanner for use on the vehicle would suffice.

The Wheel Winch would be able to be fitted in a similar fashion to that for changing a wheel, however the existing vehicle wheel remains on the vehicle with the winch hub attaching itself onto it.

Wheel locking bolts could be of a designed length to suit the vehicle wheel hub being used.

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Installation, Use and Removal Procedure 1. Select vehicle wheel to receive wheel winch and remove 2 of the existing locking bolts. Choose 2 bolts in opposite orientation to provide maximum stability when fitting. Use standard vehicle issue locking bolt spanner provided.

2. Fit up Wheel Winch hub to existing vehicle wheel hub and attach with 2 of the extended length locking bolts with standard issue spanner 3. Using standard spanner undo and remove remaining locking bolts from vehicle wheel hub and replace with extended Wheel Winch locking bolts 4. Engage relevant differential lock to selected driving wheel on which the Wheel Winch has been fitted and pre-select forward or reverse gear as necessary.

5. Unwind wire hoist rope from hub and attach to a suitable anchor point, i. e. tree 6. Engage required gear and using vehicle throttle/clutch control feed in the winch rope and recover the vehicle.

7. Detach rope from anchor point, reel in remaining rope and remove Wheel Winch in opposite manner to the installation process above

Claims (6)

1. A Wheel Winch device comprising a cable reel in the form of a modified wheel hub adapted to be attached to a vehicle wheel for the recovery of bogged, entrenched or axle bound vehicles.

2. A Wheel Winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection of the wheel winch is provided by means of elongated locking bolts c/w suitable washers suited to the vehicle to which it is to be mounted upon.

3. A Wheel Winch as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 that can be attached to any driving wheel of said vehicle to aid recovery.

4. A Wheel Winch as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 where the winch unit is provided with a suitable wire rope secured to the winch and unwound or rewound by the driving of the of the vehicle wheel in either the forward or reverse gear.

5. A Wheel Winch as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wheel winch can be suitable for attachment to any vehicle wheel wherein the wheel winch is provided with suitable locking bolts or is of specific dimensions to be incorporated onto the vehicle wheel hub.

6. A Wheel Winch substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.