Winch system

Abstract

A manually operated winch system secures cargo to a transport vehicle. The winch system has a shaft rotationally mounted relative a frame. A ratchet drive mechanism controls rotation of the shaft. A handle received in the drive mechanism can be used both to control rotation of the shaft and to control operation of a pawl. The drive mechanism is configured such that tilting the handle moves a member axially. Sufficient axial movement of the member causes the pawl to disengage mating ratchet teeth and thereby allows the shaft to rotate freely.

1 . A manually driven winch system for use to rotate a shaft that is rotatably mounted on a frame and that is adapted for attachment to an elongated flexible member so that the elongated flexible member can be wrapped around the shaft by rotating the shaft about its axis of rotation, the winch system comprising: 
 a drive system secured to the shaft to rotate the shaft about an axis of rotation, the drive system including a body having (a) a surface shaped to provide a series of ratchet teeth spaced around the axis, the body being connected to the shaft in such a manner that the series of ratchet teeth revolves around the axis as the shaft rotates and such that the series of ratchet teeth can move axially between a first location and a second location and (b) a handle-engaging portion configured to transmit rotational force from a handle to the shaft to urge the shaft to rotate and configured to transmit axially directed force from the handle to the series of ratchet teeth to cause the series of ratchet teeth to move from one of the locations to the other location; and    a pawl mounted on the frame, the pawl being positioned to engage the series of ratchet teeth such that the shaft can rotate in only one direction when the series of ratchet teeth is in the first location and such that the pawl does not engage the series of ratchet teeth so the shaft can rotate in both directions when the series of ratchet teeth is in the second location.    
   
   
       2 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 1  further comprising a handle adapted to engage the handle-engaging portion.  
   
   
       3 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 1  further comprising a spring positioned to urge the series of ratchet teeth toward the first location.  
   
   
       4 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot pin that secures the pawl to the frame such that the pawl pivots about the pin axis and travels in a path that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation as the pawl moves between engaged and disengaged positions.  
   
   
       5 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 1  wherein the body is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       6 . A manually driven winch system comprising: 
 a frame;    a shaft mounted on the frame to rotate about an axis of rotation, the shaft being adapted for attachment to an elongated flexible member so that the elongated flexible member can be wrapped around the shaft;    a drive system secured to the shaft to rotate the shaft about an axis of rotation, the drive system including a body having (a) a surface that defines a series of ratchet teeth spaced around the axis, the drive system being connected to the shaft in such a manner that the series of ratchet teeth revolves around the axis as the shaft rotates and such that the series of ratchet teeth can move axially between a first location and a second location and (b) a handle-engaging portion configured to transmit rotational force from a handle to the shaft to urge the shaft to rotate and configured to transmit axially directed force from the handle to the series of ratchet teeth to cause the series of ratchet teeth to move from one of the locations to the other location; and    a pawl mounted on the frame, the pawl being positioned to engage the series of ratchet teeth such that the shaft can rotate in only one direction when the series of ratchet teeth is in the first location and such that the pawl does not engage the series of ratchet teeth so the shaft can rotate in both directions when the series of ratchet teeth is in the second location.    
   
   
       7 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 6  further comprising a handle adapted to engage the handle-engaging portion.  
   
   
       8 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 6  further comprising a spring positioned to urge the series of ratchet teeth toward the first location.  
   
   
       9 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 6  further comprising a pivot pin that secures the pawl to the frame such that the pawl pivots about the pin axis and travels in a path that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation as the pawl moves between engaged and disengaged positions.  
   
   
       10 . The manually driven winch system of  claim 6  wherein the body is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       11 . A vehicle for transporting cargo, the vehicle comprising: 
 a frame to support cargo; and    a shaft mounted on the frame to rotate about an axis of rotation, the shaft being adapted for attachment to an elongated flexible member so that the elongated flexible member can be wrapped around the shaft;    a drive system secured to the shaft to rotate the shaft about the axis of rotation, the drive system including a body having (a) a surface that defines a series of ratchet teeth spaced around the axis, the drive system being connected to the shaft in such a manner that the series of ratchet teeth revolves around the axis as the shaft rotates and such that the series of ratchet teeth can move axially between a first location and a second location and (b) a handle-engaging portion configured to transmit rotational force from a handle to the shaft to urge the shaft to rotate and configured to transmit axially directed force from the handle to the series of ratchet teeth to cause the series of ratchet teeth to move from one of the locations to the other location; and    a pawl mounted on the frame, the pawl being positioned to engage the series of ratchet teeth such that the shaft can rotate in only one direction when the series of ratchet teeth is in the first location and such that the pawl does not engage the series of ratchet teeth so the shaft can rotate in both directions when the series of ratchet teeth is in the second location.    
   
   
       12 . The vehicle for transporting cargo of  claim 11  further comprising a handle adapted to engage the handle-engaging portion.  
   
   
       13 . The vehicle for transporting cargo of claim  111  further comprising a spring positioned to urge the series of ratchet teeth toward the first location.  
   
   
       14 . The vehicle for transporting cargo of  claim 11  further comprising a pivot pin that secures the pawl to the frame such that the pawl pivots about the pin axis and travels in a path that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation as the pawl moves between engaged and disengaged positions.  
   
   
       15 . The vehicle for transporting cargo of  claim 11  wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile transport trailer.