Disconnect clutch assembly for winch drum

Claim 2

In a winch of the type having a rotatable cable drum and including a power input means, an elongated drive shaft, a clutch means providing a selective coupling between the power input means and the drive shaft, a first jaw gear rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft and operatively coupled in driving relation with the rotatable cable drum, a second jaw gear secured for rotation with the shaft while being axially movable thereon, the first and second jaw gears being further arranged for meshing engagement with each other, the improvement comprising gear teeth formed upon the first and second jaw gears with a negative overlapping pressure angle to maintain engagement between the jaw gears, the teeth being spaced apart sufficiently to permit selective engagement and disengagement between the jaw gears, and a disconnect clutch and associated brake unit, the disconnect clutch comprising a hydraulically responsive actuating piston slidably arranged within a bore internally formed by the elongated shaft and coupled with the second jaw gear, the brake unit being hydraulically actuated simultaneously with the disconnect clutch actuating piston and comprising detent means movably arranged within the elongated drive shaft for engagement with the first jaw gear to selectively secure it against axial movement and thereby facilitate disengagement between the two jaw gears by the disconnect clutch.

Claim 3

The winch of claim 1 wherein the brake unit comprises a pair of detent pins arranged in opposed relation within a bore diametrically penetrating the drive shaft in axial alignment with an annular groove formed by the first jaw gear, the bore for the detent pins being in communication with an actuating chamber for the disconnect clutch.

Claim 4

The winch of claim 2 further comprising a spring arranged between the detent pins, the spring applying a light force tending to urge the pins outwardly into engagement with the first jaw gear.

Claim 5

The winch of claim 2 further comprising a spring interconnected between the two detent pins and tending to urge the detent pins axially inwardly toward each other and out of engagement with the first jaw gear, actuating fluid from the disconnect clutch overcoming the spring and urging the detent pin outwardly to prevent axial movement of the first jaw gear.

Claim 6

In a winch of the type having a rotatable cable drum and including a power input means, an elongated drive shaft, a clutch means providing a selective coupling between the power input means and the elongated drive shaft, a first clutch member rotatably mounted on the drive shaft and operatively coupled in driving relation with the rotatable cable drum, a second clutch member secured for rotation with the shaft while being axially movable thereon, the first and second clutch members having facing jaw-type gears suitable for meshing engagement with each other, the improvement comprising a disconnect clutch actuating means and associated brake unit internally arranged within the elongated drive shaft, the disconnect clutch actuating means comprising a hydraulically responsive piston axially movable within a chamber formed by the elongated drive shaft and coupled with the second clutch member to control its axial position and thereby regulate engagement and disengagement between the first and second clutch members, the associated brake unit comprising a pair of detent pins arranged in opposed relation within a bore diameterically penetrating the elongated shaft and being in communication with an actuating chamber for the disconnect clutch piston, the detent pins being urged outwardly into engagement with an annular groove formed by the first clutch member in response to actuating pressure within the actuating chamber for the disconnect clutch piston to selectively limit freewheeling rotation of the first clutch member and the rotatable cable drum.

Claim 7

In a winch of the type having a rotatable cable drum and including a power input means, an elongated drive shaft, a clutch means providing a selective coupling between the power input means and the elongated drive shaft, a first clutch member rotatably mounted on the drive shaft and operatively coupled in driving relation with the rotatable cable drum, a second clutch member secured for rotation with the shaft while being axially movable thereon, the first and second clutch members having facing jaw-type gears suitable for meshing engagement with each other, the improvement comprising a disconnect clutch actuating means and associated brake unit internally arranged within the elongated drive shaft, the disconnect clutch actuating means comprising a hydraulically responsive piston axially movable within a chamber formed by the elongated drive shaft and coupled with the second clutch member to control its axial position and thereby regulate engagement and disengagement between the first and second clutch members, the associated brake unit comprising a pair of detent pins arranged in opposed relation within a bore diameterically penetrating the elongated shaft and being in communication with an actuating chamber for the disconnect clutch piston, the detent pins being urged outwardly into engagement with an annular groove formed by the first clutch member in response to actuating pressure within the actuating chamber for the disconnect clutch piston to selectively limit freewheeling rotation of the first clutch member and the rotatable cable drum.