WO2024009253A1

WO2024009253A1 - Winch for recovering a load and respective recovering method by means of said winch

Info

Publication number: WO2024009253A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/056992
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuliano BARTOCCETTI
Original assignee: Bartoccetti Giuliano S.R.L.
Priority date: 2022-07-07
Filing date: 2023-07-06
Publication date: 2024-01-11

Abstract

Winch (1) for recovering a load (300), comprising a base frame (2), a spool (3) rotatably constrained to said base frame (2) around a first axis (X) and at least one rope (4) which can be wound/unwound around said rotatable spool (3), said winch (1) further comprising an electric motor (60) and motion transmission means (9) for transmitting the motion produced by said electric motor (60) to said spool (3), wherein said motion transmission means (9) comprise at least one drive shaft (10) coupled, at a first end (10a), directly or indirectly, to said rotatable spool (3) and which can be coupled, at a second free end (10b), to said electric motor for driving the rotation of said drive shaft (10), characterised by comprising at least one compensating lever (80) arranged integrally constrained to said base frame (2) at a first side (2a) of said base frame (2) arranged parallel to said first axis (X) of said spool, said compensating lever (80) extending along a first direction (L) substantially orthogonal to said first axis (X).

Description

“Winch for recovering a load and respective recovering method by means of said winch”

* * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a winch for recovering a load. In particular, this winch is preferably used for recovering animals shot during a hunting trip, in particular it is intended for the market of hunting of ungulates, whether selective or hunting trip, where there is the need to recover shot animals that have to be translated by crawling them from the place where they were shot to the place where the transport means were parked. The nature of the soil and the numerous obstacles that are encountered in the areas for the hunting of ungulates always make the recovery particularly complicated and tiring.

However, it should be specified that, although herein and hereinafter for simplicity’s sake this winch is associated with the specific use related to the recovery of shot animals, it is clear that this winch can be used in all cases where a load has to be recovered.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

It is known that modern hunting carbines equipped with very high-precision sighting optics allow shootings even at particularly long distances, which can exceed 300 metres, and it is further known that in most cases it is very difficult to move closer to the shooting area by transport means. In fact, the hunting for ungulates takes place in wooded, often hilly, areas with steep slopes and ditches along which these animals are often found. In these places, once the shooting has been executed, there is the major problem with the recovery of the animal which often has to be dragged from the bottom of the ditches to areas where it is possible to go by off-road vehicles.

Therefore, the hunter has two alternatives:

- carrying out the removal of the animal by force of arms or with the help of other hunters; or

- using systems that can help him with this operation.

Currently adopted solutions range from manual winches, such as the simple pulley or block, to motorised winches. Known motorised winches comprise an internal combustion engine or a battery- operated motor and with a free-rope pull. In this case, the traction rope is wound onto a spool or drum of the winch in a single loop and, as the recovery of the shot animal takes place, the rope must be guided to prevent it from tangling. For accuracy’s sake, it should be mentioned that the ropes are made of synthetic fibres and have a diameter large enough to ensure the grip by friction on the motorised drum. Wire ropes are therefore to be excluded.

Additionally, in winches with rope wound onto the spool, the amount of rope that can be wound depends on how neatly it is arranged on the same spool. The condition that allows to achieve the winding of a greater amount of rope is achieved when the coils are in contact with each other over the entire length of the spool. For this reason, in some cases a rope-guiding device is added to the winch, which moves synchronously at the rotation speed of the spool, so that the cable translates along the axis of the spool by an amount equal to the thickness of the rope for each revolution of the same spool. This condition ensures that the coils of the rope which winds on the spool are in contact with each other, thus achieving the condition of maximum amount of cable that can be contained in a given spool.

The consequence of adopting a rope-guiding device results in a further increase in the weight and dimensions of the system, which, if it is justifiable in stationary applications, is not in portable applications. The winch that is the object of this invention actually falls into the category of portable winches.

As mentioned above, the winches of known art have a high weight reaching several tens of kilograms and, in any case, the need to operate the recovery with at least two people: one who is found at the winch to control the drive of the motor combined with the winch and the other who is next to the animal to manage the ascent by diverting the path from time to time due to the presence of obstacles along the ascent path. In particular, the person accompanying the shot animal is always needed to prevent an obstacle from impeding the recovery. The control of the ascent speed is managed by the person who is in the proximity of the winch, who executes the instructions of the person who is in the proximity of the game and who sees the obstacles ahead on the path. In the light of the above, object of the present invention is to implement a winch that is easy to use, is not cumbersome and allows the rope to be easily rewound on the winch spool.

Further object of the present invention is to prevent the rope from becoming tangled during its rewinding, i.e. to achieve the maximum amount of rope that can be wound on the spool.

Further object of the present invention is to implement a winch that can be used even by a single person.

Finally, object of the present invention is to implement a method that easily allows to recover a load even for a single person, preferably for a single hunter to recover a shot animal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by means of a winch for recovering a load, preferably a shot animal, even more preferably a boar, comprising a base frame, a spool rotatably constrained to said base frame around a first axis and at least one rope which can be wound/unwound around said rotatable spool, said winch further comprising an electric motor and motion transmission means for transmitting the motion produced by said electric motor to said spool, wherein said motion transmission means comprise at least one drive shaft coupled, at a first end, directly or indirectly, to said rotatable spool and which can be coupled, at a second free end, to said electric motor for driving the rotation of said drive shaft, characterised by comprising at least one compensating lever arranged integrally constrained to said base frame at a first side of said base frame arranged parallel to said first axis of said spool, said compensating lever extending along a first direction orthogonal to said first axis. The compensating lever allows the user to compensate for any moments resulting from the pulling of the rope, especially in the case of use of the winch according to the operating mode that will be explained hereinafter.

The winch further comprises a hook arranged on said first side of said base frame, wherein said hook extends along a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first axis, said first direction and said second direction lying on a plane substantially orthogonal to said first axis. In practice, both the hook and the compensating lever are found (lie) in an identical plane which, in turn, is orthogonal to the first axis. All this clearly favours the manoeuvrability of the winch during its use. The presence, in fact, of a single hooking point, i.e. a single hook, allows the winch to be rotated or to oppose to a possible winch rotation during its operation.

It should be noted that the second direction can be identified as the axis of the hook portion that is combined with the first side of the frame.

Additionally, the first and second directions are distinct from each other.

However, the first and second directions are parallel to each other.

This lever further prevents the winch from overturning around a horizontal axis (or parallel to the axis of the spool), while at the same time allowing the cable coils to be correctly and neatly wound without the cable becoming tangled. In fact, it will be possible for the user to use this compensating lever to correctly route the cable along the spool when rewinding it and to ensure that, during the rewinding, the rope translates along the axis of the spool by a quantity equal to the thickness of the rope for each revolution of the same spool. This condition ensures that the coils of the rope which winds on the spool are in contact with each other, thus achieving the condition of maximum amount of cable that can be contained in a given spool.

Additionally, said transmission means comprise at least one reduction gear rotatably driven by said drive shaft.

In particular, the winch also comprises means for coupling/decoupling said at least one reduction gear to said rotatable spool. By decoupling the reduction gear from the spool, the latter becomes idle so that the rope can be unwound freely and, at the same time, it is possible, by fastening the free end of the rope at a point, to also drag the same winch therewith.

In detail, said coupling/decoupling means comprise at least one first engaging element movably constrained to said base frame and a second engaging element integrally constrained to said rotatable spool, wherein said first element is further movable so as to translate with respect to said base frame along said first axis between a first position, in which it is engaged with said second element to allow the transmission of motion between said reduction gear and said spool, and a second position, in which said first element is disengaged from said second element, to release said spool from said reduction gear and to make the rotation of said spool idle around said first axis.

In particular, said first element is slidingly constrained to a rotor shaft that is integrally and rotatably coupled to said reduction gear and coaxial to said first axis. Preferably, said first element slides along a slot formed in the shaft which is integrally coupled to the reduction gear. Said rotor shaft, therefore, also supports the spool along this first axis. This first element is integrally and rotatably constrained to the rotor shaft. When said first element is displaced to its first position, thus sliding with respect to the rotor shaft preferably within the above mentioned slot, it engages the second element so that the rotation of the rotor shaft is transmitted to the spool. Conversely, when said first element is displaced to its second position, thus sliding with respect to the rotor shaft preferably within the above mentioned slot in the direction opposite that for reaching its first position, it disengages from said second element so that the rotation of the rotor shaft is no longer transmitted to the spool. The spool thus rotates idle. The rotor shaft is rotatably driven by the reduction gear to which it is coupled.

Said first engaging element comprises, in a particular embodiment, a key and said second engaging element comprises a seat for said key, which is formed on said spool. According to a particular implementation of the invention, said coupling/decoupling means further comprise at least one control rod equipped with said first engaging element at a first end, wherein said control rod is externally displaced by the user to control the displacement of said first element from said first position to said second position, and vice versa. Said coupling/decoupling means further comprise at least one spring back element, such as e.g. a spring, to keep said control rod pressed in said first position for said at least one first element. The control rod can therefore be translated along said first axis with respect to said base frame.

Additionally, said coupling/decoupling means further comprise at least one knob constrained to a second free end of said control rod, preferably externally to said base frame, in such a way as to cause the translation of said first engaging element between said first position and said second position, or vice versa, at least when said knob is respectively moved away from or closer to said base frame, or vice versa. Displacing the knob therefore displaces the control rod and, integrally therewith, the key displacement is also achieved.

In particular, said knob is further free to rotate with respect to said control rod; said coupling/decoupling means further comprise at least one ring nut integrally constrained to said base frame. The ring nut is mounted on a plane orthogonal to said first axis. Said knob comprises at least one tooth and said ring nut comprises at least one cavity capable of accommodating said at least one tooth of said knob. Said ring nut further comprises at least one abutment surface for said knob, protruding with respect to said cavity, or vice versa; said knob, at least when moved away from said base frame, is rotatably movable with respect to said ring nut to reach at least one first angular position, in which said tooth can be translationally coupled to said cavity in order to allow said first engaging element to reach said first position, and at least one second angular position in which said knob can be coupled to said abutment surface to allow said first engaging element to reach said second position.

Additionally, the winch comprises at least one hook arranged on said first side of said base frame. This hook can be used in both the first and second operating modes of the winch, as will become clearer below. In fact, the hook can be used both to constrain the shot animal to the base frame of the winch and to constrain the winch to an immovable constraint.

Furthermore, said electric motor is released from said base frame.

Thanks to this solution, the electric motor is not always coupled to the base frame but is separated therefrom and is coupled to the drive shaft only when it is necessary to apply a certain torque to the spool in order to wind the rope around the same spool. Additionally, as the electric motor can be decoupled from the drive shaft, an electric screwdriver, whose electric motor is equipped with a high torque, can also be used to operate the winch. This makes the use of such a winch very simple and handy.

According to a particular embodiment, the axis of said drive shaft is substantially orthogonal to said first axis of said spool and/or said reduction gear.

Finally, the winch comprises at least one containment plane constrained in a tilting manner to said base frame around a second axis distinct from and parallel to said first axis of rotation of said spool, and at least one spring back element for constantly keeping said tilting plane pressed on said rope during the winding/unwinding of said rope around said spool.

This solution allows to prevent the rope from unwinding in the event that it is not sufficiently tensioned.

Finally, said compensating lever comprises at least two components which can be reversibly constrained to each other, wherein at least one of said two components can be reversibly combined with said base frame.

One of the two components may, for example, telescopically slide with respect to the other component.

The purposes are also achieved by two distinct operating modes of the winch.

According to a first mode, the method for recovering a load, preferably a shot animal, even more preferably a boar, by means of a winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprises the steps of: a) constraining the free end of said rope to an immovable constraint; c) unwinding said rope until said load to be recovered is reached, said winch being transported in the direction of said load to be recovered while unwinding said rope; d) constraining said load to said base frame at said hook; fl) preferably coupling temporarily said electric motor to said drive shaft; f2) activating said electric motor for winding said rope around said spool and dragging said winch towards said immovable constraint; and e) guiding, by means of said compensating lever, the winding of said rope on said spool.

In this case, therefore, the winch, once the free end of the rope has been constrained to an immovable constraint, always remains integral to the user, both when moving the load closer, i.e. during the unwinding of the rope on the spool, and when the user moves closer to the immovable restraint, i.e. during the winding of the rope on the spool together with the load. This solution allows even a single person to be able to carry out the load recovery operation, taking into account both the fact that the approaching and distancing path may not be linear and the forces to which the rope is subject and, therefore, to which the winch is subject. In the absence of the compensating lever, these forces can cause both the winch to overturn and the rope to be wound incorrectly, i.e. in a disorderly manner.

In accordance with a second operating mode, the method for recovering a load, preferably a shot animal, even more preferably a boar, by means of a winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprises the steps of: a') constraining said base frame, at said hook, to an immovable constraint; c’) unwinding the free end of the rope until said load is reached; d’) constraining the free end of said rope to said load; fl’) preferably coupling temporarily said electric motor to said drive shaft; f2’) activating said electric motor for winding said rope around said spool and dragging said load towards said immovable constraint; e’) guiding, by means of said compensating lever, the winding of said rope on said spool.

In this case, therefore, once the winch is fastened to the immovable constraint, the rope is unwound until it reaches the load. At this point, the free end of the end is combined with the load and then the user will wind the rope by means of the electric motor, which could be temporarily combined with the drive shaft. During this step, the user is capable of guiding the correct winding of the rope on the spool by means of the compensating lever. This solution also allows, in theory, even a single person to be able to carry out the load recovery operation.

Additionally, in accordance with the two above-mentioned operating modes, between said step a) and said step c), or between said step a’) and said step c’), step b), or said step b’), of displacing said first element to said second position is comprised, and in that between said step d) and said step f2), or said step d’) and said step f2’), step g), or g’), of displacing said first element to said first position is comprised.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided herein only by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1 A is a front axonometric view of the winch according to the invention with electric motor not yet coupled;

Figure IB is a front axonometric view of the winch according to the invention with coupled electric motor; Figure 1C is a rear axonometric view of the winch of figure 1A;

Figure 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of the winch of figure 1 A, in which said first element is in its first position and the knob in its first angular position;

Figure 2B is a longitudinal sectional view of the winch of figure 1 A, in which said first element is no longer in its first position, while the knob is still in its first angular position;

Figure 2C is a longitudinal sectional view of the winch of figure 1 A, in which said first element is in its second position and in which the knob is in its second angular position;

Figures 3A-3C are schematic side views of multiple steps of the first operating mode of the winch of figure 1 A;

Figures 4A-4B are schematic side views of multiple steps of the second operating mode of the winch of figure 1 A;

Figure 5 is a cross section of the winch, which shows in particular the tilting containment plane to keep the rope always tensioned on the spool;

Figure 6 is a top view of the winch, in which the compensating lever is disassembled into two components;

Figures 7A and 7B depict the conditions of winding the rope on the spool by using the compensating lever;

Figure 8 depicts a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With particular reference to these figures, the reference numeral 1 denotes a winch according to the invention.

This winch 1 for recovering a load 300 which, in the example set forth hereinafter, refers to a shot animal, in particular a boar or, anyway, a large animal. In any case, as mentioned above, this winch 1 can also be used for other purposes, e.g. the recovery of a general load, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention. This winch 1 comprises a base frame 2, a spool 3 rotatably constrained to said base frame 2 around a first axis X and a rope 4 which can be wound/unwound around the rotatable spool 3. The rope 4 is made of metal, in particular steel, however, in other embodiments, this rope 4 can also be made of kevlar or another material having high tensile strength, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention. The winch 1 further comprises an electric motor 60 and motion transmission means 9 for transmitting the motion generated by the electric motor 60 to the spool 3. The motion transmission means 9 comprise, in particular, a drive shaft 10 directly or indirectly coupled, at a first end 10a, to the rotatable spool 3 and which can be coupled, at a second free end 10b, to the electric motor 60 for driving the rotation of the same drive shaft 10. According to the embodiment described herein, the electric motor 60 is released from the base frame 2, i.e. it is not fixedly constrained to the frame 2 but can only be coupled to the drive shaft 10 in case the winch 1 is used. It will be the user who will connect the electric motor 60 to the drive shaft 10 and keep it in position throughout the operations of recovering the shot animal.

In particular, the electric motor 60 used can be the one present in an electric starter 400. This electric motor 60 is equipped with high torque and the screwdriver 400 is quite manageable for the user. In other embodiments, the motor 60 can also be fastened to the frame 2, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the winch 1 comprises a compensating lever 80 arranged integrally constrained to the base frame 2, at a first side 2a of the base frame 2 arranged on a plane parallel to the first axis X of the spool 3. This compensating lever 80 extends, on the other hand, along a first direction L (see figure 1C) orthogonal to the first axis X, i.e. also orthogonal to the lying plane of the first side 2a. In the embodiment described herein, this first direction L is substantially parallel to the direction of the rope 4 when tensioned, therefore, subject to the load to be recovered. This compensating lever 80 allows the user, in its operating modes described below, not only to prevent the winch 1 from overturning around the first axis X or to an axis parallel to this first axis X, but to guide the correct winding of the rope 4 around the spool 3, i.e. to prevent the wire 4 from becoming tangled during its winding on the spool 3.

In practice, the compensating lever 80 also has the function of preventing the possible rotation of the winch 2 around a vertical axis of the same winch 1, by manually compensating the rotation torque determined by pulling the rope 4 and by the load dragged by the winch 1. With this simple embodiment, the compensating lever 80 allows the perfect ordering of the coils of the rope 4 without the use of any cableguiding device, thus maximising the length of the rope 4 that can be stored in the spool

3 and significantly reducing the weight and dimensions of the winch 1.

Figures 7A and 7B show the two extreme positions of the rope 4 and the forces acting on the winch 1, i.e. the force Fl due to the load dragged by the winch (e.g. shot animal), the force F2 due to pulling the rope 4 and the force Fc due to the force that must be compensated by the user in order to prevent the rope 4 from becoming tangled, i.e. that the winch rotates around a vertical axis. During the recovery, the rope 4 winds neatly from one end of the spool 3 to the other (figures 7A and 7B) because the user acts appropriately on the compensating lever 80 by checking that the coils of the rope 4 are adjacent to each other. In practice, the condition for the correct winding of the rope 4 on the spool 3 is that the direction of the tensioned rope 4 is always parallel to the first direction L of the compensating lever 80. Should the condition occur whereby the rope

4 is, e.g., oriented in a non-parallel manner (see arrow on figure 7A), then the rope 4 would not be able to continue its neatly winding with adjacent coils until the end of the spool 3 but would wind over the partially wound layer. The same situation would occur in the winding situation of figure 7B. The compensating lever 80 therefore allows the user to manually compensate for any rotations of the winch 1 around a vertical axis with respect to it and thus assist the perfect rewinding of the rope 4 on the spool 3.

The transmission means 9 comprise a reduction gear 11 rotatably driven by the drive shaft 10. The reduction gear 11 comprises a rotor shaft 18 which is capable of transmitting the motion from the drive shaft 10 to the spool 3.

The winch 1 further comprises means 20 for coupling/decoupling the reduction gear 11 to said rotatable spool 3. These coupling/decoupling means 20 are therefore used to allow the spool 3 to rotate idly with respect to the reduction gear 11 or coupled thereto. The idle rotation with respect to the spool 3 mainly takes place in cases in which the rope 4 is be unwound from the spool 3, as will become clearer hereinafter from the description of the two distinct operating modes that will be described hereinafter.

In detail, the coupling/decoupling means 20 comprise a first engaging element 12 movably constrained to the base frame 2 and a second engaging element 13 integrally constrained to the rotatable spool 3. In particular, this first element 12 is movably and translationally constrained with respect to the base frame 2 along the above mentioned first axis X between a first position Pl, in which it is engaged with the second element 13 to allow the transmission of motion between the reduction gear 11 and the spool 3, and a second position P2 in which the first element 12 is disengaged from the second element 13 to release the spool 3 from the reduction gear 11 and make the rotation of the spool 3 idle around the first axis X.

In particular, this first element 12 slides along the rotor shaft 18 integrally and rotatably coupled to the reduction gear 11 and coaxial to the first axis X. In particular, the first element 12 slides along a slot 19 formed in the rotor shaft 18. This rotor shaft 18, therefore, also supports the spool 3 along this first axis X. This first element 12 is, therefore, integrally and rotatably constrained to the rotor shaft 18. When the first element 12 is displaced to its first position Pl, thus sliding with respect to the rotor shaft 18 within the above mentioned slot 19, it engages the second element 13 so that the rotation of the rotor shaft 18 is transmitted to the spool 3. Conversely, when the first element 12 is displaced to its second position P2, thus sliding with respect to the rotor shaft 18 within the above mentioned slot 19 in the direction opposite that for reaching its first position Pl, it disengages from the second element 13 so that the rotation of the rotor shaft 18 is no longer transmitted to the spool 3. The spool 3 thus rotates idle. The rotor shaft 18 is rotatably driven by the reduction gear 11 to which it is coupled.

As shown in figures 2A, 2B and 2C, the first engaging element 12 comprises a key and the second engaging element 13 comprises a seat for the key, which is formed on the spool 3.

In detail, the coupling/decoupling means 20 further comprise a control rod 14 equipped, at a first end 14a, with the first element 12 which is integrally constrained to the same rod 14. The control rod 14 is externally displaced by the user to control the displacement of the first element 12 from the first position Pl to the second position P2, and vice versa. These coupling/decoupling means 20 also comprising a spring back element 15 to keep the control rod 14 constantly pressed in the first position Pl for the first element 12. The control rod 14 is coaxial to the first axis X.

In particular, the coupling/decoupling means 20 also comprise a knob 16 constrained to a second free end 14b of the control rod 14 in such a way as to cause the translation of the first engaging element 12 between the first position Pl and the second position P2, or vice versa, when the knob 16 is respectively moved away from or closer to the base frame 2, or vice versa. The translation displacement of the knob 16 takes place along the first axis X.

In particular, the knob 16 is arranged outside the base frame 2 so that the user can grab it and use it to couple/decouple the reduction gear 11 to the spool 3.

The knob 16 is however free to rotate with respect to the control rod 14.

The coupling/decoupling means 20 further comprising a ring nut 17 integrally constrained to the base frame 2, to a side face 2b thereof orthogonal to the axis X. This side face 2b is, in turn, orthogonal to the face 2a. Additionally, the base frame 2 also has a further side face 2c opposite the side face 2b and a lower face 2d. The knob 16 comprises two teeth 16a and the ring nut 17 comprises both two corresponding cavities 17a capable of accommodating the two teeth 16a of the knob 16 and an abutment surface 17b for the knob 16, which protrudes outside the two cavities 17a. It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment the two teeth 16a could be made on the ring nut 17, whereas the cavities 17a on the knob 16, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

The knob 16, at least when moved away from the base frame 2 in such a way that the teeth 16a and the cavities 17a do not interfere with each other, is rotatably movable with respect to the ring nut 17 to reach at least one first angular position R1 (figures 2 A and 2B), in which the teeth 16a can be translationally coupled to the two cavities 17a to allow the first engaging element 12 to reach the first position Pl, and a second angular position R2 (figure 2C), in which the abutment surface 17b of the ring nut 17 can be coupled to the knob 16 to allow the first engaging element 12 to reach the second position P2.

Ultimately, the user can translationally displace the knob 16 along the first axis X away from the frame 2 so as to reach a position in which there is no interference between the two teeth 16a and the two cavities 17a (figure 2B) and it is thus possible to rotate the same knob 16 between a first angular position Rl, in which the two teeth 16a can be translationally coupled to the two cavities 17a, when the first element 12 is displaced to its first position Pl (i.e. when the knob 16 is translationally displaced when moving closer to the frame 2 to be returned to its starting position), and a second angular position R2 distinct from the first angular position Rl, in which the protruding surface 17b of the ring nut 17 can be coupled by abutment to the knob 16, in particular on its inner side, so that the first element 12 can reach the second position P2.

Additionally, the winch 1 comprises a hook 90 arranged on the first side 2a of the base frame 2, i.e. on the same side of the frame 2 where the compensating lever 80 is arranged. This hook 90 may be used both to constrain the shot animal 300 to be recovered (or the load to be recovered) to the frame 2 and to constrain the same winch 1 to an immovable constraint 200.

Advantageously, the hook 90, as shown in figure 8, further extends along a second direction T substantially orthogonal to the first axis X. The first direction L and the second direction T further lie on a plane K that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis X.

The second direction T coincides with the axis of the portion 91 of the hook 90 which is fastened to the first side 2a of the frame 2 and along which the same hook 90 extends. This way, the compensating lever 80 allows the user to compensate for any moments resulting from pulling the rope, especially in the event of using the winch according to the operating modes that will be explained hereinafter. This is advantageously achieved because both the hook 90 and the compensating lever 80 are located on an identical plane K orthogonal to the first axis X. All this clearly assists the manoeuvrability of the winch 1 during its use. In fact, the presence of only one hooking point, i.e. of only one hook 90, allows the winch to be rotated or to oppose to any rotation of the winch 1 during its operation without any stress by the user.

According to the embodiment described herein, the axis Y of the drive shaft 10 is substantially orthogonal to the first axis X of the spool 3 and/or the reduction gear 11. In addition, the winch 1 comprises a containment plane 95 constrained in a tilting manner to the base frame 2 around a second axis Z distinct from and parallel to the first axis of rotation X of the spool 3, and a spring back element 96 to keep the tilting containment plane 95 constantly pressed on the rope 4 during the winding/unwinding of the rope 4 around the spool 3. This prevents the rope 4 from winding/unwinding in a disorderly manner but especially prevents the rope 4 from being able to unwind if not properly tensioned. The containment plane 95 is constrained in a tilting manner (i.e. alternately rotatable) to the face 2a of the base frame 2.

Finally, figure 6 shows the compensating lever 80 disassembled. This compensating lever 80 comprises two components 81, 82 that can be easily disassembled.

In order to make the winch 1 ready for use, it is sufficient to couple the two components 81, 82, e.g. by screwing or interlocking, and then snap fit the compensating lever 80 thus made into a housing 84 of the frame 2. One of the two components 81 can be reversibly combined with the base frame 2. In particular, the base frame 2 comprises a housing 84 integral to the frame 80 and having a collar-like shape adapted to accommodate this component 81 and to allow its reversible connection.

In another embodiment, the compensating lever 80 can be made in one piece, in which one of the two ends of the lever can be reversibly combined with the base frame 2.

In another embodiment, this compensating lever 80 can also be of the telescopic type, i.e. the two components can be slidable with respect to each other. In this embodiment, the number of components could even exceed two.

Hereinafter, with reference to figures 3A-3C and 4A and 4B, two distinct operating modes of the winch 1 will be described.

In accordance with a first operating mode (figures 3A-3C), the method for recovering a shot animal 300 (or a load) by means of a winch 1 of the type described above and, in any case, of the type according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprises the steps of: a) constraining the free end 4a of the rope 4 to an immovable constraint 200, such as e.g. the trunk of a tree or any other constraint capable of bearing the weight of the winch and the shot animal 300; b) displacing the first element 12 to the second position P2, so that the spool 3 becomes idle; c) unwinding the rope 4 until the shot animal 300 to be recovered is reached; in this step c), the winch 1 is dragged by the user in the direction of the shot animal 300 to be recovered during the unwinding of the rope 4 (figure 3A); d) constraining the shot animal to the base frame 2 at said hook 90 (figure 3B); g) displacing the first element 12 to the first position Pl so as to couple the spool 3 to the reduction gear 11; fl) coupling temporarily the electric motor 60 to the drive shaft 10; f2) activating the electric motor 60 for winding the rope 4 around the spool 3 and dragging the winch 1 (together with the shot animal 300) towards the immovable constraint 200 (figure 3C); e) guiding, by means of the compensating lever 80 during said step f2), the winding of the rope 4 on the spool 3.

In accordance with a second operating mode (figures 4A-4B), the method for recovering a shot animal (or a load) by means of a winch 1 of the type described above and, in any case, of the type according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprises the steps of: a’) constraining the base frame 2 to an immovable constraint 200 at said hook 90; b’) displacing the first element 12 to the second position P2 so as to make the rotation of the spool 3 idle; c’) unwinding the free end 4a of the rope 4 until the shot animal 300 is reached; d’) constraining the free end 4a of the rope 4 to the shot animal 300; g’) displacing the first element 12 to the first position Pl, so as to couple the spool 3 to the reduction gear 11; fl’) coupling temporarily the electric motor 60 to the drive shaft 10; f2’) activating the electric motor 60 for winding the rope around the spool 3 and dragging the shot animal towards the immovable constraint 200; e’) guiding, by means of the compensating lever 80, the winding of the rope 4 on the spool 3.

In both cases described above, between step a) and step c), or between step a’) and step c’), step b), or step b’), of displacing the first element 12 to the second position P2 is comprised, and between step d) and said step f2), or step d’) and step f2’), step g), or g’), of displacing the first element 12 to the first position Pl is comprised.

This way, the unwinding of the rope 4 takes place with the spool 3 idle, while the winding of the rope 4 takes place with the reduction gear 11 coupled to the spool 3 which, therefore, gets the torque from the electric motor 60 through the drive shaft 10.

In other embodiments, these steps may be absent and the spool 3 may always be coupled to the reduction gear 11.

Claims

1) Winch (1) for recovering a load (300), comprising a base frame (2), a spool (3) rotatably constrained to said base frame (2) around a first axis (X) and at least one rope (4) which can be wound/unwound around said rotatable spool (3), said winch (1) further comprising an electric motor (60) and motion transmission means (9) for transmitting the motion produced by said electric motor (60) to said spool (3), wherein said motion transmission means (9) comprise at least one drive shaft (10) coupled, at a first end (10a), directly or indirectly, to said rotatable spool (3) and which can be coupled, at a second free end (10b), to said electric motor for driving the rotation of said drive shaft (10), characterised by comprising at least one compensating lever (80) arranged integrally constrained to said base frame (2) at a first side (2a) of said base frame (2) arranged parallel to said first axis (X) of said spool, said compensating lever (80) extending along a first direction (L) substantially orthogonal to said first axis (X).

2) Winch according to claim 1, characterised in that said motion transmission means (9) comprise at least one reduction gear (11) rotatably driven by said drive shaft (10).

3) Winch according to claim 2, characterised by comprising coupling/decoupling means (20) for coupling/decoupling said at least one reduction gear (11) to said rotatable spool (3).

4) Winch according to claim 3, characterised in that said coupling/decoupling means (20) comprise at least one first engaging element (12) movably constrained to said base frame (2) and a second engaging element (13) integrally constrained to said rotatable spool (3), wherein said first element (12) is further movable so as to translate with respect to said base frame (2) along said first axis (X) between a first position (Pl), in which it is engaged with said second element (13) to allow the transmission of motion between said reduction gear (11) and said spool (3), and a second position (P2), in which said first element (12) is disengaged from said second element (13), to release said spool (3) from said reduction gear (11) and to make the rotation of said spool (3) idle around said first axis (X).

5) Winch according to claim 4, characterised in that said first engaging element (12) comprises a key and said second engaging element (13) comprises a seat for said key formed on said spool.

6) Winch according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said coupling/decoupling means (20) further comprise at least one control rod (14) equipped at a first end (14a) with said first element (12), said control rod (14) being externally displaced by the user to control the displacement of said first element (12) from said first position (Pl) to said second position (P2), and vice versa, said coupling/decoupling means (20) further comprising at least one spring back element (15) for keeping said control rod pressed in said first position (Pl) for said at least one first element (12).

7) Winch according to claim 6, characterised in that said coupling/decoupling means (20) further comprise at least one knob (16) constrained to a second free end (14b) of said control rod (14), preferably externally to said base frame (2), in such a way as to cause the translation of said first engaging element (12) between said first position (Pl) and said second position (P2), or vice versa, at least when said knob (16) is respectively moved closer to or moved away from said base frame (2), or vice versa.

8) Winch according to claim 7, characterised in that said knob (16) is further free to rotate with respect to said control rod (14), said coupling/decoupling means further comprising at least one ring nut (17) integrally constrained to said base frame (2), said knob (16) comprising at least one tooth (16a) and said ring nut (17) further comprising at least one cavity (17a) capable of accommodating said at least one tooth (16a), said ring nut (17) further comprising at least one abutment surface (17b) for said knob (16), protruding with respect to the top of said at least one cavity (17a), wherein said knob (16), at least when moved away from said base frame (2), is rotatably movable with respect to said ring nut (17) to reach at least one first angular position (Rl), in which said at least one tooth (16a) can be translationally coupled to said at least one cavity (17a) to allow said first engaging element (12) to reach said first position (Pl), and at least one second angular position (R2), in which said knob (16) can be coupled by abutment to said abutment surface (17b) to allow said first engaging element (12) to reach said second position (P2).

9) Winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said electric motor (60) is released from said base frame (2). 10) Winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised by comprising a hook (90) arranged on said first side (2a) of said base frame (2), wherein said hook extends along a second direction (T) substantially orthogonal to said first axis (X), said first direction (L) and said second direction (T) lying on a plane (K) substantially orthogonal to said first axis (X).

11) Winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the axis (Y) of said drive shaft (10) is substantially orthogonal to said first axis (X) of said spool (3) and/or of said reduction gear (11).

12) Winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterised by comprising at least one containment plane (95) constrained in a tilting manner to said base frame (2) around a second axis (Z) distinct from and parallel to said first axis of rotation (X) of said spool (3), and at least one spring back element (96) for constantly keeping said containment plane (95) pressed on said rope (4) during the winding/unwinding of said rope (4) around said spool (3).

13) Winch according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that said compensating lever (80) comprises at least two components (81, 82) which can be reversibly constrained to each other, at least one of said two components (81) being reversibly combined with said base frame (2).

14) Method for recovering a load (300) by means of a winch (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprising the steps of: a) constraining the free end (4a) of said rope (4) to an immovable constraint (200); c) unwinding said rope (4) until said load (300) to be recovered is reached, said winch (1) being dragged in the direction of said load to be recovered while unwinding said rope (4); d) constraining said load (300) to said base frame (2) at said hook (90); fl) preferably coupling temporarily said electric motor to said drive shaft (10); f2) activating said electric motor (60) for winding said rope around said spool

(3) and dragging said winch (1) towards said immovable constraint (200); e) guiding, by means of said compensating lever (80), the winding of said rope

(4) on said spool. 15) Method for recovering a load by means of a winch (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprising the steps of: a’) constraining said base frame (2) to an immovable constraint (200) at said hook (90); c’) unwinding the free end (4a) of the rope (4) until said load (300) is reached; d’) constraining the free end of said rope (4) to said load (300); fl’) preferably coupling temporarily said electric motor to said drive shaft (10); f2’) activating said electric motor for winding said rope around said spool (3) and dragging said load (300) towards said immovable constraint (200); e’) guiding, by means of said compensating lever (80), the winding of said rope

(4) on said spool (3).

16) Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that between said step a) and said step c), or between said step a’) and said step c’), said step b), or said step b’), of displacing said first element (12) to said second position (P2) is comprised, and in that between said step d) and said step f2), or said step d’) and said step f2’), step g), or g’), of displacing said first element (12) to said first position (Pl) is comprised.