Winch drum disconnect clutch

Claim 1

A winch of the type having a rotatable cable drum and comprising a power input means, a rotatable, elongated drive shaft, clutch means providing a selective coupling between the power input means and the elongated drive shaft, a first clutch member rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft and operatively coupled in driving relation with the rotatable cable drum, a second clutch member secured for rotation with the shaft and axially movable thereon, the first and second clutch members having facing jaw-type gear faces suitable for meshing engagement with each other, and hydraulically responsive piston means axially arranged within the elongated drive shaft and coupled with the second clutch member to control engagement and disengagement between the first and second clutch members, the power input means comprisIng a power input shaft supporting a first bevel gear, second and third bevel gears arranged in meshing relation with the first bevel gear and in opposition to each other, the clutch means comprising respective clutches for selectively coupling each of the second and third bevel gears with the elongated drive shaft, each of the respective clutches being mounted upon the elongated drive shaft.