GB2410484A

GB2410484A - Brake apparatus for winch

Info

Publication number: GB2410484A
Application number: GB0506243A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shih-Jyi Huang
Original assignee: Comeup Industries Inc
Current assignee: Comeup Industries Inc
Priority date: 2005-03-29
Filing date: 2005-03-29
Publication date: 2005-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-29
Also published as: GB0506243D0; GB2410484B

Abstract

A winch includes a brake apparatus (1), a cable pulley (2), and a motor (3). The brake apparatus is secured in a housing (10) and includes a ratchet shaft (11), a ratchet braking disk (12), a drive disk (13), and a catch plate (14). Thus, when the motor stops operating due to a malfunction, the linings (124) of the ratchet braking disk is clamped between the brake disk of the ratchet shaft and the drive disk to provide a braking effect exactly. In addition, the linings of the ratchet braking disk between the brake disk (111) of the ratchet shaft and the drive disk can be used during a long-term utilization so as to enhance the lifetime of the linings without having to replace the linings frequently. To provide the adjustment for wear, the drive disk (13) has a series of spaced apertures (133) into which pegs (134) can be removably positioned to co-operate with catch plate (14) and thereby limit movement.

Description

24 1 0484

BRAKE APPARATUS FOR WINCH

The present invention relates to a brake apparatus, and more particularly to a brake apparatus for a winch.

A winch is used to lift or lower a heavy load and usually comprises a brake apparatus to provide a braking effect, thereby preventing the heavy load from being falling down accidentally when the motor stops operating due to a malfunction. The conventional brake apparatus includes linings to provide a braking effect. However, the linings are easily worn out due to friction, thereby increasing costs of fabrication.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus for a winch whose parts are manufactured easily, thereby decreasing costs of fabrication.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus for a winch, wherein when the motor stops operating due to a malfunction, the linings of the ratchet braking disk is clamped between the brake disk of the ratchet shaft and the drive disk to provide a braking effect exactly.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus for a winch, wherein the linings of the ratchet braking disk between the brake disk of the ratchet shaft and the drive disk can be used during a long-term utilization so as to enhance the lifetime ofthe linings without having to replace the linings frequently.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front plan cross-sectional view of a winch in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan cross-sectional view of the winch as shown in Fig. Fig. 3 is a locally enlarged view of the winch as shown in Fig. 1; lo Fig. 4 is a plan view of the winch as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the winch in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the winch in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a top plan cross- sectional assembly view of the winch as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a front plan assembly view of the winch as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the winch as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is a front plan assembly view ofthe winch as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 11 is a schematic operational view of the winch as shown in Fig. Fig. 12 is a schematic operational view of the winch as shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 13 is a plan assembly view of the winch as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-6, a winch in 5accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a brake apparatus 1, a cable pulley 2, and a motor 3.

The brake apparatus 1 is secured in a housing 10 and includes a ratchet shaft 11, a ratchet braking disk 12, a drive disk 13, and a catch plate 14.

The ratchet shaft 11 has a mediate portion provided with a brake disk lo111, a first end provided with annular driven teeth 112 located at a first side of the brake disk 111 and connected to the cable pulley 2 for driving the cable pulley 2 to rotate, and a second end provided with a threaded rod 113 located at a second side ofthe brake disk 111 and having a threading direction opposite to a positive rotation direction of the motor 3. The threaded rod 113 has an outer 15side formed with a square locking seat 114 having an outer side formed with an annular retaining groove 116 for retaining a C-shaped snap ring 115.

The ratchet braking disk 12 has a central portion formed with a through hole 125 mounted on the ratchet shaft 11 and located at a second side of the brake disk 111 and has a periphery formed with annular positioning 20ratchet teeth 121 meshing with a detent 122 which is pivotally mounted in the housing 10 and is biased by an elastic member 123 so that the detent 122 is constantly rested on the positioning ratchet teeth 121 of the ratchet braking disk 12 as shown in Fig. 4. The ratchet braking disk 12 has two sides each provided with a lining 124 as shown in Fig. 3.

The drive disk 13 has a first side located at an outer side of the ratchet braking disk 12 and has a central portion formed with a screw bore 132 screwed onto the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 and having a threading direction mating with that of the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11. The drive disk 13 has a periphery formed with annular drive teeth 131 -connected to and driven by the motor 3. The drive disk 13 has a second side located opposite to the ratchet braking disk 12 and formed with a plurality of limit recesses 133 surrounding the screw bore 132 in an annular manner for insertion oftwo radially opposite limit pins 134.

The catch plate 14 has a central portion formed with a square locking hole 141 locked on the locking seat 114 of the ratchet shaft 11. The C- shaped snap ring 115 is rested on the catch plate 14 to prevent the ratchet braking disk 12, the drive disk 13 and the catch plate 14 from detaching from the ratchet shaft 11. The catch plate 14 is integrally formed with two radially opposite stop portions 142 rested on the two limit pins 134 ofthe drive disk 13 respectively, so that the catch plate 14 is driven by the drive disk 13 to drive the ratchet shaft 11 to rotate with the drive disk 13 synchronously in one direction only.

The cable pulley 2 includes a transmission chamber 21 located adjacent to the brake apparatus 1, a rotation shaft 22 having an end extended into the transmission chamber 21 and formed with an inner toothed ring 221, a clutch rod 24 movably mounted in the transmission chamber 21 and having a first end formed with a longitudinal spline 240 detachably inserted into the inner toothed ring 221 of the rotation shaft 22 so that the clutch rod 24 is engaged with the rotation shaft 22 to rotate the rotation shaft 22, an operation lever 23 pivotally mounted in the transmission chamber 21 and connected to the clutch rod 24 to drive the clutch rod 24 to move forward and backward in the direction of the rotation shaft 22, a sleeve 241 secured on a second end of the clutch rod 24 and having an outer wall formed with a worm wheel 242, a worm 25 mounted in the transmission chamber 21 and having a first end 0 meshing with the worm wheel 242 and a second end extended into the housing and provided with a driven gear 251 meshing with the driven teeth 112 of the ratchet shaft 11 of the brake apparatus 1.

The motor 3 is mounted on a side of the housing 10 and includes a propeller shaft 31 having a distal end extended into the housing 10, and a drive gear 311 secured on the distal end of the propeller shaft 31 and meshing with the drive teeth 131 of the drive disk 13 of the brake apparatus 1.

Referring to Figs.7 and 8 with reference to Figs.1-6, when the motor 3 is operated in the positive direction, the propeller shaft 31 is driven to rotate the drive gear 311 which drives the drive teeth 131 ofthe drive disk 13 to rotate the drive disk 13. At this time, the threading direction ofthe screw bore 132 of the drive disk 13 and the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 is opposite to the rotation direction of the propeller shaft 31 and the drive gear 311 of the motor 3, so that when the motor 3 is operated in the positive direction, the drive disk 13 is rotated on the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 to approach the ratchet braking disk 12. Thus, the drive disk 13, the ratchet braking disk 12 and the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 are combined closely so that the drive s disk 13, the ratchet braking disk 12 and the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 are rotated synchronously. Then, the driven teeth 112 of the ratchet shaft 1] drives the driven gear 251 of the worm 25 to rotate the worm 25 which rotates the worm wheel 242 which rotates the sleeve 241 which rotates the clutch rod 24 which rotates the rotation shaft 22 (the clutch rod 24 is engaged with the rotation shaft 22 when the operation lever 23 is not operated) to rotate the cable pulley 2.

Thus, when the motor 3 is operated in the positive direction, the cable pulley 2 is rotated so as to lift a heavy load from a lower position to a higher position.

l S In addition, when the motor 3 is operated in the positive direction, the positioning ratchet teeth 121 ofthe ratchet braking disk 12 is not locked by the detent 122, so that the ratchet braking disk 12 skips the detent 122.

On the other hand, when the motor 3 stops operating due to a malfunction or the like, the heavy load applies a downward pull force on the cable of the cable pulley 2, and the pull force applied by the heavy load is in turn transmitted through the cable pulley 2, the clutch rod 24, the sleeve 241, the worm wheel 242, the worm 25 and the driven gear 251 of the worm 25 to the driven teeth 112 of the ratchet shaft 11 to drive the ratchet shaft 11 in the opposite direction, so that the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 and the drive disk 13 are combined more closely to clamp the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 to provide a braking effect exactly. At the same time, the worm 25 has no power to drive the worm wheel 242, so that the worm 25 co- operates with the worm wheel 242 to provide an auxiliary mechanical braking effect, thereby reducing loss of the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 with reference to Figs. 1-6, when the motor 3 is operated in the reverse direction, the propeller shaft 31 is driven to rotate the drive gear 311 which drives the drive teeth 131 of the drive disk 13 to rotate the drive disk 13. At this time, the threading direction of the screw bore 132 of the drive disk 13 and the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 is opposite to the rotation direction of the propeller shaft 31 and the drive gear 311 of the motor 3, so that when the motor 3 is operated in the reverse direction, the drive disk 13 is rotated on the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 to move outward relative to the ratchet braking disk 12, thereby loosening the drive disk 13, the ratchet braking disk 12 and thebrake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11. At this time, the locking hole 141 ofthe catch plate 14 is locked on the locking seat 114 of the ratchet shaft 11, and the stop portions 142 of the catch plate 14 are rested on the two limit pins 134 of the drive disk 13 respectively, so that the catch plate 14 is driven by the drive disk 13 to drive the ratchet shaft 11 to rotate with the drive disk 13 in the reverse direction synchronously. Then, the driven teeth 112 of the ratchet shaft 11 drives the driven gear 251 of the worm 25 to rotate the worm 25 which rotates the worm wheel 242 which rotates the sleeve 241 which rotates the clutch rod 24 which rotates the rotation shaft 22 to rotate the cable pulley 2.

Thus, when the motor 3 is operated in the reverse direction, the cable pulley 2 is rotated so as to move the heavy load from a higher position to a lower position.

In addition, when the motor 3 is operated in the reverse direction, the positioning ratchet teeth 121 of the ratchet braking disk 12 is locked by the detent 122, so that the ratchet braking disk 12 is stationary.

On the other hand, when the motor 3 stops operating due to a malfunction or the like, the heavy load applies a downward pull force on the cable of the cable pulley 2, and the pull force applied by the heavy load is in turn transmitted through the cable pulley Z. the clutch rod 24, the sleeve 241, the worm wheel 242, the worm 25 and the driven gear 251 of the worm 25 to the driven teeth 112 of the ratchet shaft 11 to drive the ratchet shaft 11 in the opposite direction, so that the ratchet shaft 11 is rotated to approach the drive disk 13, thereby clamping the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 between the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 and the drive disk 13 to provide a braking effect exactly. At the same time, the worm 25 has no power to drive the worm wheel 242, so that the worm 25 co-operates with the worm wheel 242 to provide an auxiliary mechanical braking effect, thereby reducing loss of the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12.

Referring to Fig. 11 with reference to Figs. 1-6, when it is necessary to draw the cable of the cable pulley 2 in an emergency, the operation lever 23 in the transmission chamber 21 is operated to drive the clutch rod 24 to move away from the rotation shaft 22 to detach the spline 240 of the clutch rod 24 from the inner toothed ring 221 of the rotation shaft 22, thereby detaching the clutch rod 24 from the rotation shaft 22, so that the cable pulley 2 is rotatable freely, thereby facilitating a user drawing the cable of the cable pulley 2.

lo Referring to Figs. 12 and 13 with reference to Figs. 1-6, when the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 become thinner due to friction, the two limit pins 134 are removed from the drive disk 13. Then, the ratchet shaft 11 is rotated (the locking hole 141 of the catch plate 14 is locked on the locking seat 114 ofthe ratchet shaft 11, so that the catch plate 14 is rotated with the ratchet shaft 11) to further screw the threaded rod 113 of the ratchet shaft 11 into the screw bore 132 ofthe drive disk 13 so that the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 is closer to the drive disk 13, thereby reducing the gap between the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11, the ratchet braking disk 12 and the drive disk 13, so that the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 between the brake disk 111 of the ratchet shaft 11 and the drive disk 13 can be used during a long-term utilization so as to enhance the lifetime of the linings 124.

Accordingly, when the motor 3 stops operating due to a malfunction, the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 is clamped between the brake disk l l 1 of the ratchet shaft 11 and the drive disk 13 to provide a braking effect exactly. In addition, the linings 124 of the ratchet braking disk 12 between the brake disk 1 l 1 of the ratchet shaft 11 and the drive disk 13 can be used during a long-term utilization so as to enhance the lifetime of the linings 124 without having to replace the linings 124 frequently.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other lo possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A winch, comprising: a housing; a cable pulley; a motor; a brake apparatus secured in the housing and driven by the motor to drive cable pulley; wherein the brake apparatus includes: a ratchet shaft having a mediate portion provided with a brake disk, a lo first end provided with annular driven teeth located at a first side of the brake disk and connected to the cable pulley for driving the cable pulley to rotate, and a second end provided with a threaded rod located at a second side of the brake disk and having an outer side formed with a square locking seat; a ratchet braking disk having a central portion formed with a through hole mounted on the ratchet shaft and located at a second side of the brake disk and having a periphery formed with annular positioning ratchet teeth meshing with a detent; two linings mounted on two sides of the ratchet braking disk respectively; a drive disk having a central portion formed with a screw bore screwed onto the threaded rod of the ratchet shaft and a periphery formed with annular drive teeth connected to and driven by the motor; the drive disk having a first side located at an outer side of the ratchet braking disk and a second side located opposite to the ratchet braking disk and formed with a plurality of limit recesses surrounding the screw bore in an annular manner for insertion of two radially opposite limit pins; a catch plate integrally formed with two radially opposite stop portions rested on the two limit pins of the drive disk respectively; the catch plate having a central portion formed with a square locking hole locked on the locking seat of the ratchet shaft; when the motor stops operating due to a malfunction, the linings of l 0 the ratchet braking disk are clamped between the brake disk of the ratchet shaft and the drive disk to provide a braking effect exactly.

2. The winch in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cable pulley includes a transmission chamber located adjacent to the brake apparatus, a rotation shaft having an end extended into the transmission chamber and formed with an inner toothed ring, a clutch rod movably mounted in the transmission chamber and having a first end formed with a longitudinal spline detachably inserted into the inner toothed ring of the rotation shaft so that the clutch rod is engaged with the rotation shaft to rotate the rotation shaft, and an operation lever pivotally mounted in the transmission chamber and connected to the clutch rod to drive the clutch rod to move in the direction of the rotation shaft between a first position where the clutch rod is engaged with the rotation shaft to rotate the rotation shaft and a second position where the clutch rod is disengaged from the rotation shaft so that the rotation shaft idles.

3. The winch in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cable pulley further includes a sleeve secured on a second end of the clutch rod and having an outer wall formed with a worm wheel, a worm mounted in the transmission chamber and having a first end meshing with the worm wheel and a second end extended into the housing and provided with a driven gear meshing with the driven teeth of the ratchet shaft of the brake apparatus.

4. The winch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the worm has no lo power to drive the worm wheel when the motor stops operating, so that the worm co-operates with the worm wheel to provide an auxiliary mechanical braking effect.

5. The winch in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motor 3 is mounted on a side of the housing and includes a propeller shaft having a distal end extended into the housing, and a drive gear secured on the distal end of the propeller shaft and meshing with the drive teeth of the drive disk of the brake apparatus.

6. The winch in accordance with claim 1, wherein the square locking seat has an outer side formed with an annular retaining groove for retaining a C-shaped snap ring.

7. The winch in accordance with claim 6, wherein the C-shaped snap ring is rested on the catch plate to prevent the ratchet braking disk, the drive disk and the catch plate from detaching from the ratchet shaft.

8. A winch having a brake apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.