HAULING APPARATUS
United States Patent 3601366
The present invention discloses a foldable hauling apparatus which can be used on either hard ground or soft ground and which is self-anchoring, requiring no rigid structure to which it must be attached. Also disclosed is a winch mechanism for this hauling apparatus, which mechanism not only allows for wire to be hauled in, thus hauling the load towards the apparatus, but also provides for the wire to be paid out under tension; the speed at which the wire is paid out being dependent on the speed at which an operator operates the mechanism.
US Patent References:
Timing mechanism
Klein et al. - May 1956 - 2745290
Electrical conduit wire puller
Jones - January 1963 - 3072382
Winch
Linde - December 1965 - 3224735
Portable winch
Reigh - January 1968 - 3361411
Timing mechanism
Klein et al. - May 1956 - 2745290
Electrical conduit wire puller
Jones - January 1963 - 3072382
Winch
Linde - December 1965 - 3224735
Portable winch
Reigh - January 1968 - 3361411
Application Number:
04/842646
Publication Date:
08/24/1971
Filing Date:
07/17/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Limited, Samuel Lewis
,
,
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
254/376, 254/369, 74/142, 254/375
International Classes:
B66D3/14; B66D3/00; E21C29/16
Field of Search:
254/186,190,145,134.3,147,150 74/142
Primary Examiner:
Hornsby, Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner:
Maffei, Merle F.
Claims:
I claim
1. Hauling apparatus, for use in the hauling vehicles, boats, machines and the like, comprising:
2. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winch housing includes an extension with which said terrain gripping member is releasably assembled, means being provided for locking said terrain-gripping member in any of a plurality of positions along the length of said extension.
3. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said terrain gripping member is of delta shape for penetrating soft ground.
4. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including a further terrain-gripping member affording teeth for gripping hard terrain, both of said terrain gripping members being capable of assembly simultaneously with said extension so that when said wire guiding member and said steadying member are each in their inoperative position both of said terrain gripping members can be disposed therebetween.
5. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wire-guiding member comprises:
1. Hauling apparatus, for use in the hauling vehicles, boats, machines and the like, comprising:
2. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winch housing includes an extension with which said terrain gripping member is releasably assembled, means being provided for locking said terrain-gripping member in any of a plurality of positions along the length of said extension.
3. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said terrain gripping member is of delta shape for penetrating soft ground.
4. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including a further terrain-gripping member affording teeth for gripping hard terrain, both of said terrain gripping members being capable of assembly simultaneously with said extension so that when said wire guiding member and said steadying member are each in their inoperative position both of said terrain gripping members can be disposed therebetween.
5. Hauling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wire-guiding member comprises:
Description:
The present invention relates to hauling apparatus for use in the hauling of vehicles, boats or the like out of difficult situations, such as, for example, hauling a vehicle out of a snow drift or a caravan from a muddy locality; or for hauling heavy machinery from or to wherever required.
According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible hauling apparatus for hauling vehicles, boats, machinery and the like, and comprising a winch housing with a winch mechanism mounted therein, a terrain member extending outwardly from the housing so as to be inclined downwardly to the horizontal when the apparatus is in use, and an elongated wire guiding member and an elongated steadying member which extend from the housing on opposite sides of the position at which the terrain gripping member is connected thereto. The wire guiding member and the steadying member are each pivotally connected to the housing and are capable of being swung between respective operative positions in which the wire guiding member extends generally horizontally and the steadying member extends to engage the terrain on which the winch is supported, and respective inoperative positions in which these two members extend in superimposed parallel relationship with the terrain gripping member disposed therebetween.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the terrain gripping member will be adapted to slide onto an outwardly projecting extension of the housing and be locked at various positions along the length of the extension to give varying lengths of effective terrain gripping member beneath said housing. When the winch is to be used on soft terrain (e.g. muddy ground) a delta-shaped terrain gripping member will preferably be used, which digs right into the ground. However, when the winch is used on hard terrain (e.g. concrete) a terrain gripping member will preferably be used which has an outer edge substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the extension, from which edge extends at least two teeth parallel to said longitudinal axis, the teeth engaging in any crack or crevice in the hard terrain.
When the apparatus is erected, the steadying member will extend rearwardly of the housing with its free end resting on the ground so aiding the stabilizing of the winch prior to the tensioning of the winch wire. Also, when the terrain gripping member has dug into or gripped the ground, an operator may stand on the steadying member, thus aiding the stabilization and grip of the winch. The terrain gripping member, the wire guiding member, the steadying arm and the housing when folded together into a compacted structure provide for the easy transportation of the hauling apparatus when it is not in use.
The compacted form of winch may be arranged in a location where it is to be used, and the various members may be released from the compacted arrangement.
The wire-guiding member may then be pivoted about the housing and locked into one of several available positions, all the possible positions causing the wire guiding member to be at an acute angle to the extension for supporting the terrain gripping member. The position chosen will cause the tensioned wire to engage around a pulley at the free end of the wire guiding member, and so cause the tensioned wire to follow a path which is not a straight line from the winch mechanism to the point of attachment of the wire to the load. The steadying arm may then be pivoted about the housing and locked in one of several available locking positions, all the positions causing the steadying arm to be at an obtuse angle to the extension for supporting the terrain-gripping member.
If the winch is to be used on soft ground, such as for example, a muddy field, the delta-shaped terrain gripping member will be slid onto and locked to the extension of the housing in the maximum extended position, so that the terrain gripping member may be able to dig deeply into the soft ground to obtain sufficient grip to haul the particular load in question. The wire guiding member will be locked in the pivotal position relative to the housing, which provides the largest available acute angle between the wire guiding member and the extension on the housing, and the steadying arm will be pivoted and locked to the housing in a position which provides the largest available obtuse angle between the steadying arm and the housing. The free end of the winch wire may then attached to the load, and the winch mechanism may be actuated to an operative position. Then, by backward and forward movement of a winch arm connected to the winch mechanism, the wire may be tensioned. As the wire is tensioned the delta-shaped terrain gripping member will dig into the soft ground until it attains sufficient grip to haul the particular load.
If the winch is to be used on hard ground such as, for example, a concrete floor, then the wire guiding member will be locked into a position which provides the smallest available acute angle between the wire guiding member and the extension of the housing, and the steadying arm will be pivoted about the housing to a relative position where it can be locked to the housing, to give the smallest available obtuse angle between the extension of the housing and the steadying arm. The terrain gripping member having the at least two projecting teeth, may then be slid onto and locked to the extension. The teeth projecting from the outer edge of the terrain gripping member may then be engaged into a small crack, or behind a small projection on the concrete floor, to thus provide the grip for the winch to be operated. The rearward end of the steadying arm will rest on the floor stabilizing the winch before the wire is attached to the load and tensioned. Assuming that the wire is attached to the load, the winch mechanism may be actuated to an operative position and the winch arm moved backwards and forwards, so winding in the wire and thus hauling the load towards the winch. Whilst the wire is under tension, the teeth and outer edge of the terrain gripping member will grip into the crack or behind the projection on the concrete floor, and the wire guiding member will press downwards on top of the tensioned wire.
The present invention will now be further described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in its compacted state ready for transportation or use,
FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the winch in an opened out and operative position on soft terrain,
FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the winch in an opened out and operative position on hard terrain, and
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the winch mechanism.
In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the hauling apparatus in a compacted state ready for transportation to any place where it is to be used. The housing 1 of the apparatus is in the form of two substantially parallel polygonal-sided sideplates (1a, 1b), which are rigidly held together and between which is mounted a winch mechanism 7. Two shapes of terrain gripping member 2 are provided and in the compacted state illustrated both are supported on the extension 3 of the housing 1. One terrain-gripping member 2A is delta shaped and suitable for use on soft ground where it is required to dig a long way into the ground to obtain sufficient grip to haul a load. The other shape of terrain gripping member 2B has a square outer edge with two gripping teeth 8 extending therefrom; and is suitable for use on hard terrain (e.g. a concrete floor) where the teeth 8 engage in a crack or crevice to obtain the necessary grip for the winch. In the compacted form of the apparatus, both shapes of terrain gripping member (2A, 2B) are slid onto the extension 3 of the housing 1, one (2B) over the outside of the extension, the other (2A) having a support strut 2C which slides inside the extension 3.
The wire guiding member 9 is in the form of an elongated structure and is bifurcated at one end into two parts 10, each of the parts 10 being pivotally connected to a side plate (1a, 1b) of the housing 1, on an axle 6. At the other end of the elongated wire guiding member is a two pulley arrangement 20. This pulley arrangement comprises a pulley housing 21 in which are arranged two pulley wheels 24 and 25 mounted on parallel axles 22 and 23 respectively. The axles 22 and 23 are so spaced as to allow the winch wire A to pass between the pulley wheels, and the pulley housing 21 itself is pivotally mounted at the outer end of the wire guiding member 9 on extensions of axle 22. A handle 12 is provided on the wire guiding member for carrying the compacted apparatus.
A steadying member 13 of generally U-shaped cross section is also provided, the steadying member being bifurcated at one end into two parts 11, the parts 11 being pivotally attached to the sideplates (1a, 1b) of the housing 1, on an axle 14. An extension 15 is telescoped within the steadying member 13 so that the effective length of the steadying member 13 can be increased by sliding the extension 15 out from the steadying member (FIGS. 2 and 3).
In the compacted state illustrated in FIG. 1, the wire guiding member 9 and the steadying member 13 are pivoted about their respective axles 6 and 14 in the housing 1, to engage on either side of the two terrain gripping members (2A, 2B) supported on the extension 3 of the housing 1. Locking pins 16 and 17 hold the various members in this compacted position by pin 16 passing through holes in the wire guiding member 9 and a hole in the terrain gripping member 2A, and pin 17 passing through holes in the steadying member 13 and another hole in terrain gripping member 2A; the pins 16 and 17 being held in position by spring clips 18a.
The winch mechanism 7 can be manually operated by the forward and backward movement of the winch arm 18. The winch arm 18 is comparatively short so as to allow for the compacted state of the winch illustrated in FIG. 1. To provide extra leverage to the winch mechanism a tubular winch arm extension (not shown) is placed over the winch arm 18. This winch arm extension can be housed within the steadying arm 13 when the winch is in a compacted state.
When the winch is to be used it may be moved in its compacted form illustrated in FIG. 1 to a suitable place adjacent the load to be hauled. The winch is then set up in a position such as illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 of the drawings. To reach the position illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 from the compacted state illustrated in FIG. 1 the steadying arm 13 is first released by the removal of the pin 17. The steadying member 13 is then pivoted about its axle 14 to a position where it extends rearwardly of the housing 1. By means of pin 17 the steadying arm 13 is locked in one of two such positions, both these positions providing an obtuse angle between the steadying member 13 and the extension 3 of the housing 1. Likewise the pin 16 is removed to allow the wire-guiding member 9 to be rotated about the axle 6 on the housing 1. The wire guiding member 9 is thus rotated about the axle 6 until it occupies the position shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The wire guiding member 9 is then locked to the housing 1 in one of three positions by the pin 16 engaging through one of three holes 26 in the wire guiding member 9 and through a hole (not shown) at the free end of a spacer support strut 19 which has its other end pivotally attached to the extension 3 of the housing 1. The wire guiding member 9 is locked to the housing 1 in such a position that the winch wire A, when tensioned, is prevented from following a straight path directly from the winch mechanism 7 to the point of attachment on the load to be hauled, by having to pass around the pulley 25. Such a position is obtained by the spacer support strut 19 being of such a length that the angle between the extension 3 of the housing 1 and the wire guiding member 9 is acute. After attaching the wire to the load, the winch arm extension is then placed on the winch arm 18 and the winch mechanism 7 actuated to an operative position, whence the backward and forward movement of the winch arm extension causes the wire to be wound in and tensioned.
In very soft ground where the delta-shaped terrain gripping member 2A is used in order to obtain maximum grip for the hauling apparatus, the wire guiding member 9, is locked by means of pin 16 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, with the largest available acute angle between the wire guiding member 9 and the extension 3 of the housing 1. This position is attained by passing pin 16 through hole 26a in the wire guiding member 9 and the hole (not shown) at the free end of the spacer support strut 19. The steadying member 13 is locked in a position giving the largest available obtuse angle between the steadying member 13 and the extension 3. The steadying member extension 15 is then slid out of member 13 until it contacts the ground, to thus support the apparatus together with the terrain gripping member 2A, before the wire is tensioned. When the wire is tensioned, the terrain gripping member 2A, will dig into the ground until sufficient grip is attained to haul the load. Sometimes, on very soft ground, the housing 1 and the wire guiding member 9 will be substantially submerged within the terrain, and then the operator can stand on the steadying member 13 to prevent himself from sinking into the ground. A cross piece (not shown) can be slid through a hole in the end of extension 15 to thus provide a projection on which an operator may stand. The wire guiding member 9 in the aforementioned position is just angled downwards, so that the necessary downward pressure is exerted on the winch wire A to create the aforementioned equilibrium condition, when the apparatus locks in position. If the ground is only moderately soft, so that the terrain gripping member 2A only becomes partially submerged in the ground before attaining sufficient grip to haul the load, then the wire guiding member 9 may not be angled down far enough to produce the necessary downward pressure on the winch wire. In such a case, the angle between the wire guiding member 9 and the extension 3 of housing 1 will have to be reduced by using one of the other holes 26 in the wire guiding member 9, for the attachment of the free end of the spacer support strut 19.
If the winch is to be used on hard ground, such as a concrete floor or the like, the apparatus is arranged in the position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The terrain-gripping member 2B is used since only the two gripping teeth 8 are going to grip into a crack or fissure in the concrete floor. The position in which the wire guiding member 9 is to be locked to the housing 1 is again chosen so that the tensioned wire does not follow a straight path from the winch mechanism to the point of attachment of the wire to the load; the position being adjusted by the insertion of the pin 16 in any one of the series of holes 26 and the one hole (not shown) in the free end of the spacer support strut 19. Thus, as the winch arm extension 19 is moved backwards and forwards the wire is tensioned and tries to lift the wire guiding member and drag the teeth 8 of the terrain-gripping member 2B out from the crack in which they are engaged. However, the ground tries to retain the teeth 8 and this thus causes a downward movement of the wire guiding member 9, the pulley 25 pressing downwards on the tensioned wire. The steadying member 13 will thus be lifted out of contact with the ground, and as soon as the aforementioned equilibrium condition is attained the apparatus as a whole locks in a position and cannot be moved. Then by subsequent movement of the winch arm extension backwards and forwards, the wire is tensioned further and the load is hauled towards the winch. Since the wire guiding member 9 is held in position by the tensioned wire passing between the pulley wheels 24 and 25, the housing 1 and the apparatus as a whole will not move as the tension in the wire is increased.
The preferred embodiment of the hauling apparatus illustrated in the drawings also incorporates a winch mechanism 7 which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. This winch mechanism allows for the wire to be hauled in, thus hauling the load towards the apparatus, and also allows for the wire to be paid out whilst still under tension. The winch mechanism 7 has a drum 29 (shown in dotted lines) around which the wire A is wound. This drum 29 has a ratchet wheel 30 at each of its ends; the ratchet wheels 30 and drum 29 being rotatably mounted on axle 14 which is fixed to the sideplates 1a and 1b of the housing 1. The section of the winch arm 18 in the region of the drum 29 is formed in an inverted U-shape, the side pieces 31 of the U-shape being pivotably mounted on an axle 30a extending between the sideplates 1a and 1b of the housing 1. Between the two side portions 31 of the inverted U-shape is pivotably arranged a hauling pawl 36; this hauling pawl 36 being spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheels 30 by means of spring 36a fixedly attached at one end to the crosspiece 32.
A locking or tensioning pawl 39 is pivotably mounted on an axle 40 supported between the housing sidewalls 1a and 1b. This tension pawl 39 is so arranged as to also engage the teeth of both the ratchet wheels 30. The tension pawl 39, like the hauling pawl 36 is spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheels 30, this being effected by means of a spring 39a fixedly mounted at one of its ends to an axle extending between the side plates 1a and 1b of the housing 1.
A time delay actuating arm 41 is pivotally mounted on axle 30a between the side pieces 31 of winch arm 18. This actuating arm 41 is bent about the region of the axle 30a having an upper section 42 and a lower section 43. The end of the lower section 43 has two pawl engaging projections 44 and 45 attached thereto, which projections extend at right angles to the axis of axle 30a; whilst the end of the upper section 42 is pivotally attached to a connecting rod 46 which forms part of a time delay member 33. The time delay member 33 is composed of two cylinders 47 and 48, cylinder 47 being coaxially arranged within cylinder 48. In the annular space between the two cylinders 47 and 48 is a spring 49, which spring biases the two cylinders to the position one within the other. The lower part of the inner cylinder 47 extends outside cylinder 48 and has a disc like flange 50 of a diameter approximately equivalent to the outer diameter of cylinder 48. This flange 50 together with cylinder 47 can be moved against spring 49 to provide a space between the flange 50 and the base 51 of cylinder 48. The winch arm 18 had a radially outwardly directed projection 52 which has a U-shaped recess (not shown) and the time delay member 33 is clipped onto the projection 52 when the time delay member 33 is operating. When clipped to the winch arm 18 the projection 52 engages between the flange 50 and the base 51 of the cylinder 48 and the time delay member is held in this position by the tension in spring 49.
The inner cylinder 47 has a bore slightly larger than the diameter of the connecting rod 46 which passes therethrough, except for one region 53 where the diameter of the bore cylinder 47 is decreased. Above the reduced diameter region 53 and between the connecting rod 46 and the inside surface of cylinder 47, is arranged a first time delay spring 34 which is held on the connecting rod 46 by a nut 54. Below the reduced diameter region 53 and extending to the pivoted end of connecting rod 46 is a second time delay spring 35.
When the hauling apparatus is in normal operation and the wire is being wound around the drum 29 and the load hauled towards the winch, the time delay member 33 is in a nonoperating position, unclipped from the projection 52 and clipped to a wall 55 of the housing 1. Thus the winch arm can be moved backwards and forwards without affecting the actuating arm 41. During this backwards and forwards motion of the winch arm 18, the hauling pawl 36 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30 and tension pawl 39 also engages said ratchet wheel teeth. By movement of the winch arm 18 in the direction X the hauling pawl 36 runs back over the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30; the tension pawl 39 engaging behind one of the teeth of both of the said ratchet wheels 30 thus taking the strain of the wire and preventing the load which is being hauled from slipping. When the winch arm 18 has attained its maximum forward position in the direction X, the winch arm 18 may be pulled backwards in the direction Y. The pawl 36 thus engages behind one of the teeth of both of the said ratchet wheels 30, and by pulling the winch arm 18 in the direction y the ratchet wheel is rotated in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) and the wire A is wound around the drum 29 thus hauling the load towards the winch. During this hauling movement the pawl 39 passes freely over the teeth of the said ratchet wheels 30. Thus, by the movement of the winch arm 18 in the directions X and Y, the wire is hauled in and wound around the drum 29.
If, for example, a load is being hauled up an incline and the wire A is under tension, the winch mechanism 7, described above, can be actuated so as to release the tension slowly, thus paying out the wire whilst it is still under tension. To effect this operation the time delay member 33 is unclipped from its inoperative position on the wall 55 of the housing 1, and cylinders 47 and 48 are moved relatively to each other against spring 49 and the time member is clipped onto projection 52 on the winch arm 18. Let us say, for example, that the winch arm 18 has just been moved in the Y-direction and has therefore just completed a hauling-in operation, the pawl 36 still holding all the load whilst the tension pawl 39 is just engaging behind a tooth on each of said ratchet wheels so as to be ready to take the load, if and when the winch arm 18 is released by the operator. Let tension pawl 39 take the load and leave winch arm 18 in its last position. Now, time delay member 33 is clipped to projection 52 on winch arm 18, thus as winch arm 18 moves about axle 30a, so actuating arm 41 moves about axle 30a. The winch arm 18, is then moved further in the Y-direction causing actuating arm 41 to pivot anticlockwise, causing pawl engaging projection 45 to engage in a recess 56 (shown in dotted lines) in the tension pawl 39. The winch arm 18 is moved still further in the Y-direction until hauling pawl 36 again contacts a tooth on each ratchet wheel 30. During this movement in the Y-direction the projection 45 will try to lift tension pawl 39 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. However, this pawl 39 is at present holding the strain of the load and cannot be moved, thus time delay spring 34 is compressed within cylinder 47. When hauling pawl 36, takes the load and moves the ratchet wheels 30 and drum 29 slightly further anticlockwise, the compression in spring 34 is released causing projection 45 to lift tension pawl 39 clear of the ratchet wheels 30. This is the effective position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
At this point the hauling pawl 36 is holding all the tension in the wire A and a movement of the winch arm 18 in the direction X will cause drum 29 to effect a clockwise motion (as viewed in FIG. 4); thus unwinding the wire from around the drum 29 and the motion being entirely controlled by the operator holding the winch arm 18. As the winch arm 18 is moved in the X-direction the actuating arm 41 pivots clockwise about axle 30a. When the winch arm 18 has reached a certain forward position in the X-direction, pawl engaging projection 44 engages the underside of hauling pawl 36 whilst projection 45 releases the tension pawl 39 and allows it to return to engagement with the ratchet wheels 30 under the action of spring 39a. Further movement of the winch arm 18 in the X-direction causes projection 44 to try and lift hauling pawl 36 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, but the hauling pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet teeth as it is still supporting the load. Thus, during this further movement in the X-direction of the winch arm, the time delay spring 35 is compressed. A forward position of the winch arm is reached when tension pawl 39 engages behind a tooth on each ratchet wheel 30 and takes the strain off the hauling pawl 36. At this point, hauling pawl 36 is lifted clear of the ratchet wheels 30 by projection 44 moving due to the movement of actuating arm 41 about axle 30a to release the compression of spring 35.
The winch arm 18 is then moved back in the Y-direction projection 44 keeping the hauling pawl 36 clear of the ratchet wheels 30. A position is then reached where actuating arm 41 has again pivoted in an anticlockwise direction about axle 30a, and projection 45 has contacted the recess 56 in tension pawl 39, projection 44 releasing hauling pawl 36 and allowing it to again engage the ratchet wheel teeth. Further movement of winch arm 18 in the Y-direction results in hauling pawl 36 again taking the load off tension pawl 39; the above mentioned action resulting again to allow the wire to be again paid out whilst still under tension. This forward and backward motion of the winch arm 18 may be continually repeated, so paying out all the wire A whilst the load still holds the wire under tension, i.e., for example letting a load down a slope.
By placing time delay member 33 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, with tension pawl 39 held clear of the ratchet wheels 30, the wire can be freely unrolled from the drum 29 after additionally raising the hauling pawl 36 out of engagement with the ratchet wheels, and hooking the L-shaped extension 57 of the hauling pawl, onto the wall 58 of the housing 1.
The present invention thus provides for a hauling apparatus which can be used on either hard ground or soft ground and which is self-anchoring, requiring no rigid structure to which it must be attached. The present invention also provides for a winch mechanism which not only allows for the wire to be hauled in, thus hauling the load towards the hauling apparatus, but provides for the wire to be paid out under tension; the speed at which the wire is paid out being dependent on the speed at which the winch arm 18 is moved forwards and backwards.
According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible hauling apparatus for hauling vehicles, boats, machinery and the like, and comprising a winch housing with a winch mechanism mounted therein, a terrain member extending outwardly from the housing so as to be inclined downwardly to the horizontal when the apparatus is in use, and an elongated wire guiding member and an elongated steadying member which extend from the housing on opposite sides of the position at which the terrain gripping member is connected thereto. The wire guiding member and the steadying member are each pivotally connected to the housing and are capable of being swung between respective operative positions in which the wire guiding member extends generally horizontally and the steadying member extends to engage the terrain on which the winch is supported, and respective inoperative positions in which these two members extend in superimposed parallel relationship with the terrain gripping member disposed therebetween.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the terrain gripping member will be adapted to slide onto an outwardly projecting extension of the housing and be locked at various positions along the length of the extension to give varying lengths of effective terrain gripping member beneath said housing. When the winch is to be used on soft terrain (e.g. muddy ground) a delta-shaped terrain gripping member will preferably be used, which digs right into the ground. However, when the winch is used on hard terrain (e.g. concrete) a terrain gripping member will preferably be used which has an outer edge substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the extension, from which edge extends at least two teeth parallel to said longitudinal axis, the teeth engaging in any crack or crevice in the hard terrain.
When the apparatus is erected, the steadying member will extend rearwardly of the housing with its free end resting on the ground so aiding the stabilizing of the winch prior to the tensioning of the winch wire. Also, when the terrain gripping member has dug into or gripped the ground, an operator may stand on the steadying member, thus aiding the stabilization and grip of the winch. The terrain gripping member, the wire guiding member, the steadying arm and the housing when folded together into a compacted structure provide for the easy transportation of the hauling apparatus when it is not in use.
The compacted form of winch may be arranged in a location where it is to be used, and the various members may be released from the compacted arrangement.
The wire-guiding member may then be pivoted about the housing and locked into one of several available positions, all the possible positions causing the wire guiding member to be at an acute angle to the extension for supporting the terrain gripping member. The position chosen will cause the tensioned wire to engage around a pulley at the free end of the wire guiding member, and so cause the tensioned wire to follow a path which is not a straight line from the winch mechanism to the point of attachment of the wire to the load. The steadying arm may then be pivoted about the housing and locked in one of several available locking positions, all the positions causing the steadying arm to be at an obtuse angle to the extension for supporting the terrain-gripping member.
If the winch is to be used on soft ground, such as for example, a muddy field, the delta-shaped terrain gripping member will be slid onto and locked to the extension of the housing in the maximum extended position, so that the terrain gripping member may be able to dig deeply into the soft ground to obtain sufficient grip to haul the particular load in question. The wire guiding member will be locked in the pivotal position relative to the housing, which provides the largest available acute angle between the wire guiding member and the extension on the housing, and the steadying arm will be pivoted and locked to the housing in a position which provides the largest available obtuse angle between the steadying arm and the housing. The free end of the winch wire may then attached to the load, and the winch mechanism may be actuated to an operative position. Then, by backward and forward movement of a winch arm connected to the winch mechanism, the wire may be tensioned. As the wire is tensioned the delta-shaped terrain gripping member will dig into the soft ground until it attains sufficient grip to haul the particular load.
If the winch is to be used on hard ground such as, for example, a concrete floor, then the wire guiding member will be locked into a position which provides the smallest available acute angle between the wire guiding member and the extension of the housing, and the steadying arm will be pivoted about the housing to a relative position where it can be locked to the housing, to give the smallest available obtuse angle between the extension of the housing and the steadying arm. The terrain gripping member having the at least two projecting teeth, may then be slid onto and locked to the extension. The teeth projecting from the outer edge of the terrain gripping member may then be engaged into a small crack, or behind a small projection on the concrete floor, to thus provide the grip for the winch to be operated. The rearward end of the steadying arm will rest on the floor stabilizing the winch before the wire is attached to the load and tensioned. Assuming that the wire is attached to the load, the winch mechanism may be actuated to an operative position and the winch arm moved backwards and forwards, so winding in the wire and thus hauling the load towards the winch. Whilst the wire is under tension, the teeth and outer edge of the terrain gripping member will grip into the crack or behind the projection on the concrete floor, and the wire guiding member will press downwards on top of the tensioned wire.
The present invention will now be further described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in its compacted state ready for transportation or use,
FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the winch in an opened out and operative position on soft terrain,
FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the winch in an opened out and operative position on hard terrain, and
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the winch mechanism.
In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the hauling apparatus in a compacted state ready for transportation to any place where it is to be used. The housing 1 of the apparatus is in the form of two substantially parallel polygonal-sided sideplates (1a, 1b), which are rigidly held together and between which is mounted a winch mechanism 7. Two shapes of terrain gripping member 2 are provided and in the compacted state illustrated both are supported on the extension 3 of the housing 1. One terrain-gripping member 2A is delta shaped and suitable for use on soft ground where it is required to dig a long way into the ground to obtain sufficient grip to haul a load. The other shape of terrain gripping member 2B has a square outer edge with two gripping teeth 8 extending therefrom; and is suitable for use on hard terrain (e.g. a concrete floor) where the teeth 8 engage in a crack or crevice to obtain the necessary grip for the winch. In the compacted form of the apparatus, both shapes of terrain gripping member (2A, 2B) are slid onto the extension 3 of the housing 1, one (2B) over the outside of the extension, the other (2A) having a support strut 2C which slides inside the extension 3.
The wire guiding member 9 is in the form of an elongated structure and is bifurcated at one end into two parts 10, each of the parts 10 being pivotally connected to a side plate (1a, 1b) of the housing 1, on an axle 6. At the other end of the elongated wire guiding member is a two pulley arrangement 20. This pulley arrangement comprises a pulley housing 21 in which are arranged two pulley wheels 24 and 25 mounted on parallel axles 22 and 23 respectively. The axles 22 and 23 are so spaced as to allow the winch wire A to pass between the pulley wheels, and the pulley housing 21 itself is pivotally mounted at the outer end of the wire guiding member 9 on extensions of axle 22. A handle 12 is provided on the wire guiding member for carrying the compacted apparatus.
A steadying member 13 of generally U-shaped cross section is also provided, the steadying member being bifurcated at one end into two parts 11, the parts 11 being pivotally attached to the sideplates (1a, 1b) of the housing 1, on an axle 14. An extension 15 is telescoped within the steadying member 13 so that the effective length of the steadying member 13 can be increased by sliding the extension 15 out from the steadying member (FIGS. 2 and 3).
In the compacted state illustrated in FIG. 1, the wire guiding member 9 and the steadying member 13 are pivoted about their respective axles 6 and 14 in the housing 1, to engage on either side of the two terrain gripping members (2A, 2B) supported on the extension 3 of the housing 1. Locking pins 16 and 17 hold the various members in this compacted position by pin 16 passing through holes in the wire guiding member 9 and a hole in the terrain gripping member 2A, and pin 17 passing through holes in the steadying member 13 and another hole in terrain gripping member 2A; the pins 16 and 17 being held in position by spring clips 18a.
The winch mechanism 7 can be manually operated by the forward and backward movement of the winch arm 18. The winch arm 18 is comparatively short so as to allow for the compacted state of the winch illustrated in FIG. 1. To provide extra leverage to the winch mechanism a tubular winch arm extension (not shown) is placed over the winch arm 18. This winch arm extension can be housed within the steadying arm 13 when the winch is in a compacted state.
When the winch is to be used it may be moved in its compacted form illustrated in FIG. 1 to a suitable place adjacent the load to be hauled. The winch is then set up in a position such as illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 of the drawings. To reach the position illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 from the compacted state illustrated in FIG. 1 the steadying arm 13 is first released by the removal of the pin 17. The steadying member 13 is then pivoted about its axle 14 to a position where it extends rearwardly of the housing 1. By means of pin 17 the steadying arm 13 is locked in one of two such positions, both these positions providing an obtuse angle between the steadying member 13 and the extension 3 of the housing 1. Likewise the pin 16 is removed to allow the wire-guiding member 9 to be rotated about the axle 6 on the housing 1. The wire guiding member 9 is thus rotated about the axle 6 until it occupies the position shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The wire guiding member 9 is then locked to the housing 1 in one of three positions by the pin 16 engaging through one of three holes 26 in the wire guiding member 9 and through a hole (not shown) at the free end of a spacer support strut 19 which has its other end pivotally attached to the extension 3 of the housing 1. The wire guiding member 9 is locked to the housing 1 in such a position that the winch wire A, when tensioned, is prevented from following a straight path directly from the winch mechanism 7 to the point of attachment on the load to be hauled, by having to pass around the pulley 25. Such a position is obtained by the spacer support strut 19 being of such a length that the angle between the extension 3 of the housing 1 and the wire guiding member 9 is acute. After attaching the wire to the load, the winch arm extension is then placed on the winch arm 18 and the winch mechanism 7 actuated to an operative position, whence the backward and forward movement of the winch arm extension causes the wire to be wound in and tensioned.
In very soft ground where the delta-shaped terrain gripping member 2A is used in order to obtain maximum grip for the hauling apparatus, the wire guiding member 9, is locked by means of pin 16 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, with the largest available acute angle between the wire guiding member 9 and the extension 3 of the housing 1. This position is attained by passing pin 16 through hole 26a in the wire guiding member 9 and the hole (not shown) at the free end of the spacer support strut 19. The steadying member 13 is locked in a position giving the largest available obtuse angle between the steadying member 13 and the extension 3. The steadying member extension 15 is then slid out of member 13 until it contacts the ground, to thus support the apparatus together with the terrain gripping member 2A, before the wire is tensioned. When the wire is tensioned, the terrain gripping member 2A, will dig into the ground until sufficient grip is attained to haul the load. Sometimes, on very soft ground, the housing 1 and the wire guiding member 9 will be substantially submerged within the terrain, and then the operator can stand on the steadying member 13 to prevent himself from sinking into the ground. A cross piece (not shown) can be slid through a hole in the end of extension 15 to thus provide a projection on which an operator may stand. The wire guiding member 9 in the aforementioned position is just angled downwards, so that the necessary downward pressure is exerted on the winch wire A to create the aforementioned equilibrium condition, when the apparatus locks in position. If the ground is only moderately soft, so that the terrain gripping member 2A only becomes partially submerged in the ground before attaining sufficient grip to haul the load, then the wire guiding member 9 may not be angled down far enough to produce the necessary downward pressure on the winch wire. In such a case, the angle between the wire guiding member 9 and the extension 3 of housing 1 will have to be reduced by using one of the other holes 26 in the wire guiding member 9, for the attachment of the free end of the spacer support strut 19.
If the winch is to be used on hard ground, such as a concrete floor or the like, the apparatus is arranged in the position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The terrain-gripping member 2B is used since only the two gripping teeth 8 are going to grip into a crack or fissure in the concrete floor. The position in which the wire guiding member 9 is to be locked to the housing 1 is again chosen so that the tensioned wire does not follow a straight path from the winch mechanism to the point of attachment of the wire to the load; the position being adjusted by the insertion of the pin 16 in any one of the series of holes 26 and the one hole (not shown) in the free end of the spacer support strut 19. Thus, as the winch arm extension 19 is moved backwards and forwards the wire is tensioned and tries to lift the wire guiding member and drag the teeth 8 of the terrain-gripping member 2B out from the crack in which they are engaged. However, the ground tries to retain the teeth 8 and this thus causes a downward movement of the wire guiding member 9, the pulley 25 pressing downwards on the tensioned wire. The steadying member 13 will thus be lifted out of contact with the ground, and as soon as the aforementioned equilibrium condition is attained the apparatus as a whole locks in a position and cannot be moved. Then by subsequent movement of the winch arm extension backwards and forwards, the wire is tensioned further and the load is hauled towards the winch. Since the wire guiding member 9 is held in position by the tensioned wire passing between the pulley wheels 24 and 25, the housing 1 and the apparatus as a whole will not move as the tension in the wire is increased.
The preferred embodiment of the hauling apparatus illustrated in the drawings also incorporates a winch mechanism 7 which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. This winch mechanism allows for the wire to be hauled in, thus hauling the load towards the apparatus, and also allows for the wire to be paid out whilst still under tension. The winch mechanism 7 has a drum 29 (shown in dotted lines) around which the wire A is wound. This drum 29 has a ratchet wheel 30 at each of its ends; the ratchet wheels 30 and drum 29 being rotatably mounted on axle 14 which is fixed to the sideplates 1a and 1b of the housing 1. The section of the winch arm 18 in the region of the drum 29 is formed in an inverted U-shape, the side pieces 31 of the U-shape being pivotably mounted on an axle 30a extending between the sideplates 1a and 1b of the housing 1. Between the two side portions 31 of the inverted U-shape is pivotably arranged a hauling pawl 36; this hauling pawl 36 being spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheels 30 by means of spring 36a fixedly attached at one end to the crosspiece 32.
A locking or tensioning pawl 39 is pivotably mounted on an axle 40 supported between the housing sidewalls 1a and 1b. This tension pawl 39 is so arranged as to also engage the teeth of both the ratchet wheels 30. The tension pawl 39, like the hauling pawl 36 is spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheels 30, this being effected by means of a spring 39a fixedly mounted at one of its ends to an axle extending between the side plates 1a and 1b of the housing 1.
A time delay actuating arm 41 is pivotally mounted on axle 30a between the side pieces 31 of winch arm 18. This actuating arm 41 is bent about the region of the axle 30a having an upper section 42 and a lower section 43. The end of the lower section 43 has two pawl engaging projections 44 and 45 attached thereto, which projections extend at right angles to the axis of axle 30a; whilst the end of the upper section 42 is pivotally attached to a connecting rod 46 which forms part of a time delay member 33. The time delay member 33 is composed of two cylinders 47 and 48, cylinder 47 being coaxially arranged within cylinder 48. In the annular space between the two cylinders 47 and 48 is a spring 49, which spring biases the two cylinders to the position one within the other. The lower part of the inner cylinder 47 extends outside cylinder 48 and has a disc like flange 50 of a diameter approximately equivalent to the outer diameter of cylinder 48. This flange 50 together with cylinder 47 can be moved against spring 49 to provide a space between the flange 50 and the base 51 of cylinder 48. The winch arm 18 had a radially outwardly directed projection 52 which has a U-shaped recess (not shown) and the time delay member 33 is clipped onto the projection 52 when the time delay member 33 is operating. When clipped to the winch arm 18 the projection 52 engages between the flange 50 and the base 51 of the cylinder 48 and the time delay member is held in this position by the tension in spring 49.
The inner cylinder 47 has a bore slightly larger than the diameter of the connecting rod 46 which passes therethrough, except for one region 53 where the diameter of the bore cylinder 47 is decreased. Above the reduced diameter region 53 and between the connecting rod 46 and the inside surface of cylinder 47, is arranged a first time delay spring 34 which is held on the connecting rod 46 by a nut 54. Below the reduced diameter region 53 and extending to the pivoted end of connecting rod 46 is a second time delay spring 35.
When the hauling apparatus is in normal operation and the wire is being wound around the drum 29 and the load hauled towards the winch, the time delay member 33 is in a nonoperating position, unclipped from the projection 52 and clipped to a wall 55 of the housing 1. Thus the winch arm can be moved backwards and forwards without affecting the actuating arm 41. During this backwards and forwards motion of the winch arm 18, the hauling pawl 36 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30 and tension pawl 39 also engages said ratchet wheel teeth. By movement of the winch arm 18 in the direction X the hauling pawl 36 runs back over the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30; the tension pawl 39 engaging behind one of the teeth of both of the said ratchet wheels 30 thus taking the strain of the wire and preventing the load which is being hauled from slipping. When the winch arm 18 has attained its maximum forward position in the direction X, the winch arm 18 may be pulled backwards in the direction Y. The pawl 36 thus engages behind one of the teeth of both of the said ratchet wheels 30, and by pulling the winch arm 18 in the direction y the ratchet wheel is rotated in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) and the wire A is wound around the drum 29 thus hauling the load towards the winch. During this hauling movement the pawl 39 passes freely over the teeth of the said ratchet wheels 30. Thus, by the movement of the winch arm 18 in the directions X and Y, the wire is hauled in and wound around the drum 29.
If, for example, a load is being hauled up an incline and the wire A is under tension, the winch mechanism 7, described above, can be actuated so as to release the tension slowly, thus paying out the wire whilst it is still under tension. To effect this operation the time delay member 33 is unclipped from its inoperative position on the wall 55 of the housing 1, and cylinders 47 and 48 are moved relatively to each other against spring 49 and the time member is clipped onto projection 52 on the winch arm 18. Let us say, for example, that the winch arm 18 has just been moved in the Y-direction and has therefore just completed a hauling-in operation, the pawl 36 still holding all the load whilst the tension pawl 39 is just engaging behind a tooth on each of said ratchet wheels so as to be ready to take the load, if and when the winch arm 18 is released by the operator. Let tension pawl 39 take the load and leave winch arm 18 in its last position. Now, time delay member 33 is clipped to projection 52 on winch arm 18, thus as winch arm 18 moves about axle 30a, so actuating arm 41 moves about axle 30a. The winch arm 18, is then moved further in the Y-direction causing actuating arm 41 to pivot anticlockwise, causing pawl engaging projection 45 to engage in a recess 56 (shown in dotted lines) in the tension pawl 39. The winch arm 18 is moved still further in the Y-direction until hauling pawl 36 again contacts a tooth on each ratchet wheel 30. During this movement in the Y-direction the projection 45 will try to lift tension pawl 39 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. However, this pawl 39 is at present holding the strain of the load and cannot be moved, thus time delay spring 34 is compressed within cylinder 47. When hauling pawl 36, takes the load and moves the ratchet wheels 30 and drum 29 slightly further anticlockwise, the compression in spring 34 is released causing projection 45 to lift tension pawl 39 clear of the ratchet wheels 30. This is the effective position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
At this point the hauling pawl 36 is holding all the tension in the wire A and a movement of the winch arm 18 in the direction X will cause drum 29 to effect a clockwise motion (as viewed in FIG. 4); thus unwinding the wire from around the drum 29 and the motion being entirely controlled by the operator holding the winch arm 18. As the winch arm 18 is moved in the X-direction the actuating arm 41 pivots clockwise about axle 30a. When the winch arm 18 has reached a certain forward position in the X-direction, pawl engaging projection 44 engages the underside of hauling pawl 36 whilst projection 45 releases the tension pawl 39 and allows it to return to engagement with the ratchet wheels 30 under the action of spring 39a. Further movement of the winch arm 18 in the X-direction causes projection 44 to try and lift hauling pawl 36 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, but the hauling pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet teeth as it is still supporting the load. Thus, during this further movement in the X-direction of the winch arm, the time delay spring 35 is compressed. A forward position of the winch arm is reached when tension pawl 39 engages behind a tooth on each ratchet wheel 30 and takes the strain off the hauling pawl 36. At this point, hauling pawl 36 is lifted clear of the ratchet wheels 30 by projection 44 moving due to the movement of actuating arm 41 about axle 30a to release the compression of spring 35.
The winch arm 18 is then moved back in the Y-direction projection 44 keeping the hauling pawl 36 clear of the ratchet wheels 30. A position is then reached where actuating arm 41 has again pivoted in an anticlockwise direction about axle 30a, and projection 45 has contacted the recess 56 in tension pawl 39, projection 44 releasing hauling pawl 36 and allowing it to again engage the ratchet wheel teeth. Further movement of winch arm 18 in the Y-direction results in hauling pawl 36 again taking the load off tension pawl 39; the above mentioned action resulting again to allow the wire to be again paid out whilst still under tension. This forward and backward motion of the winch arm 18 may be continually repeated, so paying out all the wire A whilst the load still holds the wire under tension, i.e., for example letting a load down a slope.
By placing time delay member 33 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, with tension pawl 39 held clear of the ratchet wheels 30, the wire can be freely unrolled from the drum 29 after additionally raising the hauling pawl 36 out of engagement with the ratchet wheels, and hooking the L-shaped extension 57 of the hauling pawl, onto the wall 58 of the housing 1.
The present invention thus provides for a hauling apparatus which can be used on either hard ground or soft ground and which is self-anchoring, requiring no rigid structure to which it must be attached. The present invention also provides for a winch mechanism which not only allows for the wire to be hauled in, thus hauling the load towards the hauling apparatus, but provides for the wire to be paid out under tension; the speed at which the wire is paid out being dependent on the speed at which the winch arm 18 is moved forwards and backwards.