Winch control mechanism

Claim 1

A pilot control mechanism for a power train including interrelated first and second hydraulically operable motor means, said first motor means operable to permit reeling out of a cable around a drum, and said second motor means operable to reel in said drum the pilot control mechanism comprising a pilot controlled lever being pivotably movable in a first direction for actuating the first motor means and in a second direction for actuating the second motor means, a manual control lever also being pivotably movable in first and second directions, first and second master cylinder means being coupled with the manual control lever, first and second slave cylinder means being coupled with the pilot controlled lever and being in direct fluid communication with the first and second master cylinder means, and accumulator means, also being in direct fluid communication with only one of the master cylinder means, to produce a resilient load upon movement of the manual control lever in its first direction, the accumulator means providing increased resistance to movement of the control lever in the first direction in relation to movement of the lever in the second direction so that a differential modulated control is provided over the first and second motor means with proportional feedback forces being developed in the manual control lever.