Mechanical overload sensor system
View Patent ↗A mechanical overload sensor system for a planetary winch having a biasing means that when overcome by the force on a ring gear, opens an electric switch which terminates power to the winch.
1. A mechanical overload sensor system for planetary gear winch, said sensor system comprising:
a planetary gear winch having a power supply, drive motor, drive shaft, planetary gear train, case, drum and line;
a first and a second passageway located in the case and extending tangentially from the planetary gear train, the first and second passageways intersecting one another;
a biasing means contained within the first passageway capable of applying a force to the planetary gear train; and
a switch located adjacent to the planetary gear train;
wherein the switch is wired to interrupt the power supply when a force from the line exceeds the force of the biasing means applied on the planetary gear train.
2. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 1 , the biasing means comprising:
a plunger;
a plunger pilot;
a spring means; and
an adjustment set screw;
wherein the set screw threadedly engages the first passageway and holds the plunger pilot in place; and
wherein the plunger is biased relative to the pilot plunger by the spring means.
3. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 2 , the spring means comprising a plurality of belleville washers.
4. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 1 , the planetary gear train further comprising:
a sun gear connected to a drive shaft;
a plurality of planet gears located around and engaging with the sun gear, each
planet gear with a planet pin securing it to a planet carrier; and
a ring gear extending around and engaging with the planet gears, the ring gear having a tab located between the switch and the biasing means.
5. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 1 further comprising:
the first and second passageways each having an adjustment set screw, and
the adjustment set screws threadedly engaging with their respective passageway.
6. The mechanical overload system of claim 5 further comprising:
the biasing means being locatable in either the first or second passageway.
7. A mechanical overload sensor system for planetary gear winch, said sensor system comprising:
a planetary gear winch having a power supply, drive motor, drive shaft, planetary gear train, case, drum and line;
a first and a second passageway located in the case and extending tangentially from the planetary gear train, the first and second passageways intersecting one another;
a biasing means contained within the first passageway capable of applying a force to a tab on the planetary gear train, the biasing means having a plunger, a plunger pilot, a spring means and an adjustment set screw, the adjustment set screw threadedly engaging the first passageway and holds the plunger pilot in place; and wherein the plunger is biased relative to the pilot plunger by the spring means; and
a switch located adjacent to the tab of the planetary gear train;
wherein the switch is wired to interrupt the power supply when a force from the line exceeds the force of the biasing means applied on the tab of the planetary gear train.
8. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 7 further comprising:
the biasing means being moveable between the first and second passageway; and
the tab and switch being moveable between adjacent the first passageway and the second passageway.
9. A mechanical overload sensor system for planetary gear winch, said sensor system comprising:
a planetary gear winch including a case and a planetary gear train, the planetary gear train including planet gears and a ring gear extending around and engaging with the planet gears;
a first and a second passageway located in the case and extending tangentially from the planetary gear train, the first and second passageways intersecting one another;
a biasing means contained within one of the first and second passageways and capable of applying a force to the planetary gear train; and
a switch located adjacent to the planetary gear train, wherein the switch is wired to interrupt a power supply of the planetary gear winch when a force from the line exceeds the force of the biasing means applied on the planetary gear train; and
the ring gear having a tab located between the switch and the biasing means.
10. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 9 , the biasing means comprising:
a plunger;
a plunger pilot;
a spring means; and
an adjustment set screw;
wherein the set screw threadedly engages the first passageway and holds the plunger pilot in place; and
wherein the plunger is biased relative to the pilot plunger by the spring means.
11. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 10 , the spring means comprising a plurality of belleville washers.
12. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 9 comprising:
the first and second passageways each having an adjustment set screw, and
the adjustment set screws threadedly engaging with their respective passageway.
13. The mechanical overload sensor system of claim 9 further comprising:
the biasing means being moveable between the first and second passageway; and
the tab and switch being moveable between adjacent the first passageway and the second passageway.