Patent Application
20060278860
The present invention relates to an integrated air compressor and winch mechanism.
Winches have been commonly mounted to a support bracket at the front bumper location of an automobile, and have been used to perform a variety of tasks, such as dragging a large object while the vehicle is stationary, or moving the vehicle itself by attaching the free end of the winch cable to a stationary object and reeling in the cable to pull the vehicle toward that object. These typical winches include a cable winding drum supported on each end and including an electric or hydraulic motor in combination with a speed reducing gear transmission for transmitting torque to the cable winding drum. The use of winches with off-road and utility vehicles has greatly enhanced the functionality of the vehicles. However, it is still desirable to further enhance the vehicle functionality, as well as the functionality of the winch.
The present invention provides an integrated air compressor and winch system that uses a common drive motor for driving both the winch drum and the air compressor mechanism so as to enhance the functionality of the winch as it is used on a vehicle, or as is used in other industrial applications. The present invention utilizes a source of rotary motive power such as an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or internal combustion engine that is used in combination with a drum mechanism selectively engageable with the source of rotary motive power having a cable adapted to be wound onto and off from the drum mechanism, and a compression mechanism selectively engageable with the source of rotary motive power. The compression mechanism is capable of generating stored compressed gasses or alternatively stored vacuum.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
With reference to
The motor 16 serves as a source of rotary motive power and can include an electric motor, hydraulic motor, internal combustion engine, or other known sources of rotary motive power. As illustrated in
The gear case 20 receives drive torque from intermediate shaft 28 which is connected to the brake device 26. The gear case 20 can include a planetary reduction gear system 30 that is selectively operable by shift mechanism 32 to provide drive torque to the drum 32. The shift mechanism 32 can also be operable to engage the intermediate shaft 28 for direct engagement with the compressor mechanism 24 by movement of coupler sleeve 34. The gear reduction mechanism 30 can be of any known type of reduction gearing and can include a single planetary gear system as shown or a multiple planetary gear system as shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,567; 4,461,460; 4,736,929; 5,261,646, which are all herein incorporated by reference. The planetary gear mechanism 30, as shown, is provided with a sun gear 38 fixed for rotation with intermediate shaft 28. A plurality of planetary gears 40 are in meshing engagement with the sun gear 38 and with an annular ring gear 42. The planetary gears 40 are supported by a planetary carrier 44 which is provided with a splined connection to the drum 22 at 46. The clutch mechanism 32 is engageable with the annular ring gear 42 to prevent rotation thereof in order to cause rotation of the planet carrier 44 when the sun gear 38 is rotated. When the annular ring gear 42 is not engaged by the shift mechanism 32, the ring gear 42 is free to rotate along with rotation of the sun gear 38 and planet gears 40 so that no appreciable torque is applied to the planet carrier 44 and thus, no rotation is imparted to the drum 22. The shift mechanism 32 is designed to allow torque to be applied either to the drum 22 or compressor 24 depending upon the position of the shift mechanism 32. For driving the compressor 24, the shift mechanism moves coupler 60 into simultaneous engagement with splined member 62 (connected to intermediate shaft 28) and splined member 64 (connected to compressor 24).
The compressor mechanism 24 can be of any known compressor type, including piston, rotary vane, and scroll-type compressors, as well as other known compressors. The compressor 24 includes a storage tank or vessel 50 that receives compressed air or vacuum from the compression mechanism and stores the compressed air or vacuum for subsequent use. The storage tank 50 includes a compressor hose fitting 52 which is releasably engageable with a compressor hose 54. Furthermore, the compressor 24 includes a pressure regulator and other valving and controls typically associated with compressors.
The integrated air compressor and winch is mounted on a common support 60 which can be mounted to a vehicle or used in other industrial applications. In the embodiment shown, the motor 16 is disposed on one side of the drum 22 while the gear case 20 and compressor 24 are mounted on the opposite side of the drum 22. It should be understood that other variations of this arrangement could also be utilized in which the motor 16, gear case 20, and compressor 24 can all be mounted on the same side, or wherein the motor and gear case can be mounted on one side with the compressor on the other, or with the motor and compressor on one side with the gear case on the other. Furthermore, other configurations with the motor and/or compressor being non-coaxially mounted with the drum can also be utilized.
The integrated air compressor and winch 10 of the present invention provides for enhanced functionality for both a winch mechanism and for a vehicle utilizing the integrated air compressor and winch. The use of a single source of rotary motive power for operating both the winch drum and compressor provides improved efficiency as compared to a separate winch and compressor which each would require their own motor and related power source.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
