US3917228A

US3917228A - Method of forming a winch assembly upon a power-driven vehicle, and such assembly

Info

Publication number: US3917228A
Application number: US446035A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julius A Blum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-25
Filing date: 1974-02-25
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

A winch assembly and method for mounting upon a power-driven vehicle wheel, the assembly including two or more bar members threaded at one end for mounting upon the vehicle wheel in place of the vehicle wheel retaining nuts or bolts, and a unitary, fixed, preferably annular, support means insertable between the bar members to brace and strengthen the bar members when a cable is wound thereon, with the compressive forces of the cable serving to further secure the support means. The bar members and support means are conveniently assembled upon the wheel to form a reel structure fixed to the vehicle wheel which, upon rotation, function as a winch, and which may be conveniently disassembled into component parts for storage.

Description

United States Patent Blum [451 Nov. 4, 1975 METHOD OF FORMING A WINCH [76] Inventor: Julius A. Blum, 5450 Vale Drive,

Denver, Colo. 80222 [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 446,035

[52] US. Cl. 254/166; 242/95 R [51] Int. Cl. B66D 3/00 [58] Field of Search 254/166 R, 150 R; 242/95 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,822 12/1915 Thomson 242/95 1,504,939 8/1924 Carmony 242/95 2,507,903 5/1950 Grounds 242/95 2,662,731 12/1953 Smith 254/166 3,099,416 7/1963 Wright 242/95 3,784,163 1/1974 Swanson et a1. 254/166 3,784,164 1/1974 Blum 242/95 R 3,820,734 6/1974 Selliken 242/95 R Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant Examinerl(enneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or FirmThomas W. ORourke ABS IRACT A winch assembly and method for mounting upon a power-driven vehicle wheel, the assembly including two or more bar members threaded at one end for mounting upon the vehicle wheel in place of the vehicle wheel retaining nuts or bolts, and a unitary, fixed, preferably annular, support means insertable between the bar members to brace and strengthen the bar members when a cable is wound thereon, with the compressive forces of the cable serving to further secure the support means. The bar members and support means are conveniently assembled upon the wheel to form a reel structure fixed to the vehicle wheel which, upon rotation, function as a winch, and which may be conveniently disassembled into component parts for storage.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Fig- J METHOD OF FORMING A WINCH ASSEMBLY UPON A POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLE, AND SUCH ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Operation of a motor vehicle in snow, sand or muddy conditions will frequently require the use of a winch to assist in freeing the vehicle from a mired condition. Accordingly, such vehicles commonly include a permanently-mounted, power-driven, or a hand-powered, winch assembly which can be anchored to a fixed object to free a stuck vehicle. However, vehicle-mounted power-driven winches, and most hand winches, are quite expensive, and are difficult to justify economically for casual use.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various detachable winch assemblies are disclosed in the prior art. These assemblies typically employ a relatively heavy cylinderical drum which is driven by a powered vehicle wheel through an adaptor. U.S. Pat. Nos. 944,956, 1,495,225, 3,099,416, 3,292,905 and 3,392,961 are typical examples of prior art. As a result of the use of a relatively heavy and rigid winch drum, which is difficult to store and handle, and rather complex adaptor assemblies for mounting the drum on a wheel, these prior concepts have not been proven entirely satisfactory, though the concepts disclosed are more suitable for casual use than the above-discussed permanently-mounted or hand-powered winch assemblies.

My prior art US. Pat. No. 3,784,164 discloses a substantial improvement upon the more conventional prior art. My prior concept utilizes T-bars extending from lug-mounting means from vehicle wheels in conjunction with linear, longitudinally extendible and adjustable struts. However, since a strut is required between each pair of T-bars, and since the assembly and adjustment of the struts often must be carried out under adverse conditions when a vehicle is mired in, for instance, snow or mud, my prior concept has, on occasion, proven cumbersome and inconvenient. This is particularly true when one or more of the struts inadvertently falls into snow or mud during assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is particularly directed to a winch assembly which can be readily and conveniently mounted upon a vehicle wheel utilizing a minimum of parts and which avoids the use of multiple, small, difficulty handled parts. By utilizing the compressive force of a cable as it winds upon the reel, the present invention greatly simplifies the assembly and use of a wheelmounted winch which is assembled upon the driven wheel, and disassembled for storage.

The winch assembly of the present invention is comprised of two or more rigid bar members threaded at one end either internally or externally as required to interface with vehicle wheel securing bolts or nuts. Preferably, a handle is welded to the opposite end of the bar members to form a T-bar construction, thereby providing convenient purchase in threading the bar members onto or off of a wheel mounting. A fixed support means, preferably annular, having either holes or detents is inserted between the bar members to brace the bar members radially. When a cable, rope, etc., is wound onto the bar members, the bar-members tend to compress together and thus firmly secure the support means therebetween.

More specifically, the assembly is mounted upon a vehicle wheel by removing two or more of the vehicle wheel retainer means, be the means nuts or bolts, and threading a bar member onto the vehicle wheel in place of the vehicle wheel retaining means which have been removed. The bar members are tightened onto the wheel and serve to retain the vehicle wheel in a similar manner as the vehicle wheel retaining means. The fixed support means is then inserted between the outer ends of the bar members. In the case of the support means utilizing holes rather than indents, the bars, when in T-bar form, are inserted through the support means holes when fastend to the wheel. A winch cable is secured to the thus formed reel assembly, and, upon rotation of the powered vehicle wheel, the cable is wound upon the bar members inboard of the fixed supporting means thereby functioning as a reel. The tension of the cable around the bar members firmly secures the fixed supporting means within the bar members.

Preferably, the fixed supporting means is annular and in the form of a disc having a plurality of holes defined therein. The holes positively secure the fixed support means within the bar members thereby precluding the possibility of the fixed support means being thrown off by centrifugal force. Optionally, two or more fixed supporting means can be employed to further strengthen the bar members, preferably with the first additional such means being located adjacent the wheel.

While at least two bar members are necessary to form a minimal reel, three or more bar members are preferred in order to obtain a stronger assembly, a more even load distribution and a more nearly annular reel assembly.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the specification to the drawlngs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle wheel illustrating a winch assembly of the present invention assembled thereon;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle wheel as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred fixed support means according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the figures, a winch assembly according to the instant invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and generally designated by reference numeral 10. Winch assembly 10 is comprised of bar members 14, having T- handles 16 attached thereto, conveniently by welding a cross-piece perpendicular to the end of bar member 14. At the opposite end of bar member 14 from T- handle 16 is a threaded portion 18, conveniently a conventional lug nut securely welded to the end of bar member 14, and a blind channel 22 aligned with and of a somewhat larger diameter than the major diameter of the threads of threaded portion 18.

Bar members 14 are positioned and strengthened by fixed support means 20, as shown in a preferred embodiment in FIG. 3. Preferably, fixed support means 20 is in the form of an annular disc having a series of openings 24 defined therein, openings 24 preferably being .elongated with a radial major axis. By properly spacing elongated openings 24 in fixed support means 20, various bolt pattern wheel assemblies can be accommodated by fixed support means 20. Similarly, lug bolt patterns of varying diameters can be accommodated by elongated openings 24. Alternatively, fixed support means may be in the form of a disc having indents on the outer periphery thereof. Such indented disc would be of a smaller diameter than the preferred embodiment illustrated, but would generally be similar to the illustrated embodiment with the outer diameter decreased until openings 24 were in the form of indents rather than fully enclosed openings. The advantage of the preferred embodiment lies in the safety and stability of a fully closed opening 24, while the alternative indent fixed support means 20 would have the convenience of being insertable between bar members 14 after attachment of bar members 14 to the wheel. Clearly, the illustrated embodiment would require bar members 14 having T-handle 16 to be inserted through openings 24 prior to attachment to the wheel assembly.

In operation, a plurality, and preferably three or more, of bar members 14 are attached to lug bolts 24 after lug nuts are removed. At least one fixed support means 20 is positioned with bar members 14 extending through openings 24. Optionally, another fixed support means 20 can be advantageously positioned inwardly on bar members 14 as shown in a ghosted fashion in FIG. 2.

When assembled as described above, bar members 14, and specifically threaded portion 18, secure rim 26 with mounted tire 28 and concurrently, in conjunction with fixed support means 20, and secondarily, T-handle 16, form a reel extending outwardly and positioned to accept cable 36, or similar pliable means. Accordingly, when rim 26 and tire 28 are rotated by the vehicle power plant, cable 36 winds onto bar members 14 thereby functioning as a winch. Further, cable 36 induces a compressive force between bar members 14 to secure fixed support means 20 between bar members 14.

Several readily apparent modifications or alternative embodiments may be employed. For instance, in the instance of a vehicle employing removable lug bolts, the ends of bar members 14 would, of course, be threaded with external threads. Also, instead of welded threaded portion 18, bar member 14 can merely be bored with a blind channel and tapped appropriately. If there is any doubt as to the quality of the weld between the conventional nut and bar member 14, this latter approach should be employed.

Since the winch assembly of the instant invention depends upon rotation of a powered wheel, in the instance of a differential drive, winchassemblies may have to be applied to opposed wheels to provide an even and effective pulling power upon the cable.

As compared to previous apparatus of others and myself, the present invention as above described and illustrated enjoys unique advantages in a reduced number of parts, the simplicity of the parts, convenient size and simple assembly. Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and fully described, it is anticipated that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that such changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of forming a winch assembly on a powered vehicle wheel having detachable wheel securing means, comprising: attaching a plurality of elongated bar members to the vehicle wheel securing means, the bar members being axial extensions of the wheel securing means, inserting a fixed dimension support means in an initially slack condition between the bar members at ends of the bar members spaced from the wheel with the bar members positioned in openings larger than the diameter of the bar members defined in the fixed sup- 1 the fixed support means in a finally unslack condition 1 between the bar members, whereby the fixed support means and bar members form a final simple, convenient and sturdy reel assembly attached to the wheel assembly.

2. For use in combination with a power-driven vehicle wheel assembly having a plurality of detachable threaded wheel securing fastener means disposed symmetrically about the wheel axis, a winch assembly for forming a wheel-mounted reel upon which a cable means may be wound upon rotation of the wheel, consisting essentially of: a plurality of elongated, rigid bar members each having threaded means at one end thereof corresponding to the threads of the detachable wheel fastener means whereby each of the bar members may be mounted upon said wheel assembly in axially projecting relationship theretoin place of a wheel fastener means, and at least one fixed dimension support means having openings larger than the bar mem ber diameter defined therein to receive the bar members, said fixed dimension support means being positioned between the bar members with the openings receiving thebar members at a position on the bar members adjacent the ends of the bar members remote from the threaded portion of the bar members adapted to engage the detachable wheel fastener means, whereby the cable means may be wound directly around the bar.

members which, in conjunction with the fixed dimension support means, form a sturdy reel assembly from the initially loosely assembled reel in which the support means is axially movable prior to winding of the cable means.

3. A winch assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the fixed support means is in the form of a disc having equiarcuately spaced openings therein.

4. A winch assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the openings are fully enclosed.

5. A winch assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the openings are elongated with the major axis in radial directions.

6. A winch assembly utilizing the wheel attachment 1 means of a powered vehicle wheel as a part of the assembly, the assembly consisting essentially of: a plurality of bar members attached to the vehicle wheel at the wheel attachment'means and extending axially therefrom, and at least one unitary, fixed dimension support means having spaced openings larger than the diameter,

around the support means to secure the support means within the bar members.

' 7. A winch assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein a second support means is positioned adjacent the wheel and otherwise similarly between the bar members.

Claims

1. A method of forming a winch assembly on a powered vehicle wheel having detachable wheel securing means, comprising: attaching a plurality of elongated bar members to the vehicle wheel securing means, the bar members being axial extensions of the wheel securing means, inserting a fixed dimension support means in an initially slack condition between the bar members at ends of the bar members spaced from the wheel with the bar members positioned in openings larger than the diameter of the bar members defined in the fixed support means to form a initial reel assembly in which the fixed support means is axially moved along the bar members attaching cable means to the reel assembly, rotating tHe wheel assembly to wind the cable means in a reel fashion directly upon the bar members, and inducing compressive inward radial forces on the bar members by the cable means tension to axially secure the fixed support means in a finally unslack condition between the bar members, whereby the fixed support means and bar members form a final simple, convenient and sturdy reel assembly attached to the wheel assembly.

2. For use in combination with a power-driven vehicle wheel assembly having a plurality of detachable threaded wheel securing fastener means disposed symmetrically about the wheel axis, a winch assembly for forming a wheel-mounted reel upon which a cable means may be wound upon rotation of the wheel, consisting essentially of: a plurality of elongated, rigid bar members each having threaded means at one end thereof corresponding to the threads of the detachable wheel fastener means whereby each of the bar members may be mounted upon said wheel assembly in axially projecting relationship thereto in place of a wheel fastener means, and at least one fixed dimension support means having openings larger than the bar member diameter defined therein to receive the bar members, said fixed dimension support means being positioned between the bar members with the openings receiving the bar members at a position on the bar members adjacent the ends of the bar members remote from the threaded portion of the bar members adapted to engage the detachable wheel fastener means, whereby the cable means may be wound directly around the bar members which, in conjunction with the fixed dimension support means, form a sturdy reel assembly from the initially loosely assembled reel in which the support means is axially movable prior to winding of the cable means.

6. A winch assembly utilizing the wheel attachment means of a powered vehicle wheel as a part of the assembly, the assembly consisting essentially of: a plurality of bar members attached to the vehicle wheel at the wheel attachment means and extending axially therefrom, and at least one unitary, fixed dimension support means having spaced openings larger than the diameter of the bar members defined therein positioned between the bar members at a portion of the bar members spaced from the wheel with the bar members loosely positioned in the openings in the support means, whereby anchored cable means may be wound directly upon the bar members forming the reel upon rotation of the wheel thereby concurrently producing a tension in the cable means and compressing the bar members around the support means to secure the support means within the bar members.

7. A winch assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein a second support means is positioned adjacent the wheel and otherwise similarly between the bar members.