Granted Patent B2

US 9,475,647 · App. 14/157,672 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. A winch drum tension isolation system comprising:

a winch drum including an outwardly extending flange, the flange including a plurality of holes spaced along the flange;

a locking mechanism positioned proximate the winch drum and including a locking member engageable with the flange, the locking member movable between a first position, in which the locking member is received in one of the plurality of holes to prevent rotation of the winch drum, and a second position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the flange to permit rotation of the winch drum; and

a motor and gearbox coupled to the winch drum.

2. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the winch drum includes a central portion having a first diameter, and the flange has a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

3. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the flange includes an outer radial circumference.

4. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced circumferentially about the flange.

5. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced evenly apart along the flange.

6. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is a spring-loaded pin.

7. The conveyor system of claim 6 , wherein the spring-loaded pin includes a spring that biases a pin into one of the plurality of holes.

8. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a housing and the locking member is slidable through the housing.

9. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the housing is rigidly mounted to a stationary frame.

10. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , further comprising a torque arm coupled to the winch drum, and a winch frame, the winch drum and the locking mechanism both coupled to the winch frame.

11. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 10 , further comprising a ram that drives the torque arm.

12. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 10 , further comprising an anchor point coupled to the winch frame.

13. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 12 , further comprising an anchor pin extending through the anchor point and the torque arm to restrain movement of the torque arm.

14. The winch drum tension isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a restraining mechanism to restrain movement of the locking member, the restraining mechanism including a flange at an end of the locking member.

15. A conveyor system comprises:

a winch frame;

a conveyor extending through the winch frame;

a winch drum coupled to the winch frame that drives the conveyor, the winch drum including an outwardly extending flange having a plurality of holes spaced along the flange;

a torque arm coupled to both the winch frame and the winch drum;

a motor and gearbox that drives rotation of the winch drum;

a park brake that provides emergency braking force to the motor and gear box; and

a locking mechanism positioned proximate the winch drum and including a locking member engageable with the flange, the locking member movable between a first position, in which the locking member is received in one of the plurality of holes to prevent rotation of the winch drum, and a second position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the flange to permit rotation of the winch drum.

16. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the winch drum includes a central portion having a first diameter, and the flange has a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

17. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the flange includes an outer radial circumference.

18. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced circumferentially about the flange.

19. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced evenly apart along the flange.

20. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the locking member is a spring-loaded pin.

21. The conveyor system of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a housing and the locking member is slidable through the housing.

22. A winch drum tension isolation system comprising:

a winch drum including an outwardly extending flange, the flange including a plurality of holes spaced along the flange;

a locking mechanism positioned proximate the winch drum and including a locking member engageable with the flange, the locking member movable between a first position, in which the locking member is received in one of the plurality of holes to prevent rotation of the winch drum, and a second position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the flange to permit rotation of the winch drum;

a torque arm coupled to the winch drum; and

a winch frame, wherein the winch drum and the locking mechanism are both coupled to the winch frame.

23. A winch drum tension isolation system comprising:

a winch drum including an outwardly extending flange, the flange including a plurality of holes spaced along the flange;

a locking mechanism positioned proximate the winch drum and including a locking member engageable with the flange, the locking member movable between a first position, in which the locking member is received in one of the plurality of holes to prevent rotation of the winch drum, and a second position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the flange to permit rotation of the winch drum, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a restraining mechanism to restrain movement of the locking member, the restraining mechanism including a flange at an end of the locking member.

Assignments (8)