ENDLESS CABLE WINCH

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an endless cable winch including a drive unit having an engine configured to generate a torque. The endless cable winch further including an output unit connected to the drive unit, the output unit including a power transmission assembly coupled to the drive unit, the power transmission assembly configured to apply a driving force to a cable. The endless cable winch further including a lifting force limiting device configured to stop the drive unit as soon a predetermined driving force is exceeded. In doing so, this system is also transferable to winches with multiple engines. The engine and the output unit can be movable relative to one another, and the lifting force limiting device can be configured to stop the drive unit based on the relative movement of the drive unit and the engine.

Claims

1. An endless cable winch (1, 101) comprising: a drive unit (3, 103) having an engine (7) configured to generate torque; an output unit (5,105) connected to the drive unit (3, 103), the output unit including a coupled power transmission assembly (10,110) configured to apply a driving force onto a cable coupled to the drive unit (3, 103); and a lifting force limiting device configured to stop the drive unit when a predetermined drive force is exceeded, wherein the engine (7) and the output unit (5, 105) are movable relative to one another, and the lifting force limiting device is configured to stop the drive unit based on the relative movement of the drive unit and the engine.

2. The endless cable winch according to claim 1, wherein the engine (7) and the output unit (5, 105) are supported against each other via a torque arm (12,112), and the torque arm (12,112) features both a drive-side support structure (13,113) and an output-side support structure (15,115).

3. The endless cable winch according to claim 2, wherein the lifting force limiting device includes a switch (21, 121) configured to switch off the drive unit (3, 103) in case drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115) fail to achieve a predetermined minimum distance to each other.

4. The endless cable winch according to claim 3, wherein the switch (21, 121) is contact-sensitive and configured to switch off the drive unit (3, 103) when the drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115) touch each other.

5. The endless cable winch according to claim 2, wherein the lifting force limiting device includes a restoring element (23) configured to apply a restoring force directed against an approximation movement of the drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115).

6. The endless cable winch according to claim 5, wherein the lifting force limiting device includes a biasing element (19) configured to apply a biasing force to the restoring element (23) directed against an approximation movement of the drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115).

7. The endless cable winch according to claim 1, wherein the lifting force limiting device includes a damping element (17) configured to delay the approximation movement of the drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115).

8. The endless cable winch (1) according to claim 2, wherein the drive unit (3) includes a transmission (9), which is rotatably positioned relative to the engine (7) and non-rotatably connected to the drive unit (5), and the drive side support structure (13) is non-rotatably connected to the engine (7).

9. The endless cable winch (101) according to claim 2, wherein the drive unit (103) includes a transmission (109), which is non-rotatably connected to the engine (7) and rotatably positioned relative to the drive unit (105) and the drive side support structure (113) is non-rotatably connected to at least one of the engine (7) and the transmission (109).

10. The endless cable winch according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit (5, 105) includes a casing and the output side support structure (15, 115) is firmly connected to the casing.

11. The endless cable winch according to claim 2, further comprising an electronic control device configured to interact with the drive unit (3, 103) and the lifting force limiting device in such a signal-processing way, that a first signal generated by the switch (21,121) representing a value below the predetermined minimum distance is transmitted to the control device and on this basis a control command to stop the drive unit is transmitted to drive unit (3, 103).

12. The endless cable winch according to claim 11, wherein cable is passed through the output unit (5, 105), and the control device is configured such that when the predetermined minimum distance between the drive-side support structure (13,113) and the output-side support structure (15,115) is not achieved the control device: 1) holds the endless cable winch in a constant position relative to the cable, or 2) lowers the endless cable winch along the cable.

13. The endless cable winch according to claim 11, wherein the control device is configured to release the drive unit if the predetermined minimum distance has been achieved or exceeded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the present disclosure, there is shown in the drawings illustrative embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the application is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods disclosed, and reference is made to the claims for that purpose. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a first side elevation view of an endless cable winch according to one embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a second side elevation view of the endless cable winch illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endless cable winch illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the partial cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a first side elevation view of an endless cable winch according to another embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a second side elevation view of the endless cable winch illustrated in FIG. 5;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endless cable winch illustrated in FIG. 5; and

[0033] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the partial cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout, unless specified otherwise. Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The term between as used herein in reference to a first element being between a second element and a third element with respect to a direction means that the first element is closer to the second element as measured along the direction than the third element is to the second element as measured along the direction. The term between includes, but does not require that the first, second, and third elements be aligned along the direction. Certain features of the disclosure which are described herein in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any subcombination.

[0035] FIGS. 1 to 4 show an endless cable winch 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Endless cable winch 1 can include a drive unit 3 and an output unit 5. Drive unit 3 can include an engine 7 and a transmission 9. Output unit 5 can include a casing 4. As shown, the transmission 9 can be non-rotatably, also referred to herein as firmly, connected to casing 4, preferably through a flange connection, and the engine 7 and the transmission 9 of drive unit 3 can be rotationally coupled to one another, for example by a bearing 11. In doing so, the engine 7 is movable relative to output unit 5 and more specifically to the casing 4 of the output unit 5, in particular rotationally movable.

[0036] Furthermore, the endless cable winch 1 can include a torque arm 12, which on the one hand interacts with the drive unit 3 and on the other hand interacts with the output unit 5. For this purpose, the torque arm 12 can include a drive-side support structure 13 (also referred to herein as the first support structure) and an output-side support structure 15 (also referred to herein as the second support structure), which are arranged in a movable way relative to one another. According to one embodiment, the drive side support structure 13 and output-side support structure 15 are configured to be brought into abutment with one another, to generate a supporting motion against the torque applied between the engine 7 and the transmission 9.

[0037] The operating method of the lifting force limiting device at the first exemplary embodiment can be seen more specifically by viewing FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3 a power transmission assembly 10 is shown, illustrated as a shaft with the function to transmit the torques originating from the transmission 9 to the output unit 5. A traction sheave, according to one example, can be connected to the power transmission assembly 10, which are can be arranged within the casing 4.

[0038] As can be more specifically seen from FIG. 4 in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, the first support structure 13 and the second support structure 15 relative to the rotational axis between the elements of drive unit 3 (engine 7 and transmission 9) are eccentrically arranged. FIG. 4 shows an operational position, in which drive-side support structure 13 and output-side support structure 15 are approximated to one another, insofar that a switch 21, which is associated with the drive side support structure 13 according the first exemplary embodiment, is in an open position. The open position is achieved through the fact, that the switch 21 is not in contact with a corresponding area of the casing 4.

[0039] The operational position according to FIG. 4 is achieved through the fact, that a restoring element 23, configured as a spring, is deflected as a result of the approximation of drive side support structure 13 and the output-side support structure 15 towards one another. The deflection is configured to take place against a restoring force created by the restoring element. In addition, according to the first exemplary embodiment, a biasing element 19, configured as an adjusting bolt according to one embodiment, is provided for, whereby the force necessary for deflecting the restoring element, which must be applied in the direction of the approximation of the drive-side support structure 13 and the output-side support structure 15 to one another, has been increased to a predetermined level.

[0040] At a preferred setup of the endless cable winch 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the drive-side support structure 13 and the output-side support structure 15 are positioned at a predetermined minimum distance to one another, as long as switch 21 is in a closed state and in contact with the corresponding area of the casing 4. As soon as switch 21 distances itself from the said area, that is when drive side support structure 13 and output-side support structure 15 are moved towards one another (against the restoring force of the restoring element 23), the predetermined minimum distance, preferably resulting from the end position of drive-side support structure 13 relative to casing 4 not shown, is not achieved. In addition, according to the first exemplary embodiment, a damping element 17 can be included in the endless cable winch 1, which delays an approximation of the drive-side support structure 13 and the output-side support structure 15 to one another.

[0041] FIGS. 5 to 8 show an endless cable winch 101 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The endless cable winch 101 can be configured in an identical and/or similar way as endless cable winch 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Differences include a drive unit 103 can be included having an engine 7 and a transmission 109, whereby the engine 7 and the transmission 109 are non-rotatably connected to one another. The drive unit 103 can be connected to a drive unit 105, whereby the transmission 109 and the drive unit 105 are rotatably positioned relative to one another, for example by a bearing 111.

[0042] Between the drive unit 103 and the drive unit 105, a torque arm 112 can be positioned. The torque arm 112 can include a drive-side support structure 113 and an output-side support structure 115. The drive-side support structure 113 can be non-rotatably connected to the transmission 109. The output-side support structure 115 can be non-rotatably connected to a casing 104 of the output unit 105. As well as the torque arm 12 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the torque arm 112 can be eccentrically arranged relative to a rotational axis, however, in this case, eccentrically arranged to the rotational axis between the transmission 109 and the output unit 105.

[0043] In FIG. 7 a power transmission assembly 110, indicated as a shaft, is shown in sectional view. The power transmission assembly 110 can include essentially the same function as the power transmission assembly 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0044] The operating method of the endless cable winch 1 and in particular the lifting force limiting device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure results from viewing FIG. 8, in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the endless cable winch 101 can have a switch 121, which is firmly connected to the output unit 105, the casing 104, or both. In the position shown in FIG. 8, the switch 121 is in an open position, resulting from the fact, that the drive-side support structure 113 and the output-side support structure 115 are approximated to one another and at a predetermined minimum distance, preferably also according to the second exemplary embodiment, through the end position of drive-side support structure 113 at the casing 104 and/or in this case realized at the switch 121, is not achieved.

[0045] According to the second exemplary embodiment restoring element 23, bearing member 19 and damping element 17 can also be included. The first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment also have in common that the drive of engine 7 is released as long as switch 21, 121 is closed. In the simplest case, the switch 21, 121 is opened through the approximation of the drive side support structure 13, 113 and the output-side support structure 15, 115 to one another and consequently through a failure to achieve the predetermined minimum distance and an electrical circuit is transitioned from the previous state (closed) into a new state (opened). In doing so, thereupon, the control of the engine 7 is caused to turn it off. This can take place with the aid of (not shown) an electric control unit. The electronic control unit is preferably configured according to the preferred embodiments of the disclosure.

[0046] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

[0047] Although the disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure.