Self-engaging clutch

1. An improved self-engaging clutch for a planetary gear winch, said self-engaging clutch comprising:

a planetary winch having a motor, a planetary gear drive, a clutch and a drum mounted on a frame, wherein the clutch is capable of engaging and disengaging the drum from the motor;

the planetary gear drive having a first, a second and a third planetary gear set, each gear set having a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears each mounted to a planet carrier by a planet pin, the plurality of planet gears orbiting around and engaging with the sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding and engaging with the planet gears;

the clutch having one or more cavities located on an exterior surface of the ring gear of the third gear set, a cavity located on the frame adjacent to the ring gear of the third gear set, a clutch actuator, a clutch actuator finger on the planet carrier of the second gear set and a pin moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the clutch actuator finger is capable of moving the pin between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

2. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 further comprising the clutch actuator finger being formed from the planet carrier of the second gear set.

3. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 2 further comprising the clutch actuator finger including a plurality of clutch actuator fingers formed from the planet carrier of the second gear set.

4. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle engaged with the clutch actuator;

wherein the handle is operable to move the pin between the engaged and disengaged position.

5. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 , wherein the ring gear of the third gear set is locked relative to the frame in the engaged position.

6. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 , wherein the ring gear of the third gear set is free relative to the frame in the disengaged position.

7. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 , wherein the drum is engaged with the motor when the clutch is in the engaged position.

8. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 , where the drum freely rotates relative to the motor when the clutch is in the disengaged position.

9. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 1 further comprising the clutch actuator finger being connected to the planet carrier of the second gear set.

10. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 9 further comprising the clutch actuator finger including a plurality of clutch actuator fingers connected to the planet carrier of the second gear set.

11. An improved self-engaging clutch for a planetary gear winch including a first, a second, and a third planetary gear set, said self-engaging clutch comprising:

one or more cavities located on an exterior surface of a ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a cavity located on a frame adjacent to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a clutch actuator;

a clutch actuator finger on a planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

a pin moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

wherein the clutch actuator finger is arranged to move the pin between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

12. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 further comprising the clutch actuator finger being formed from the planet carrier of the second gear set.

13. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 12 further comprising the clutch actuator finger including a plurality of clutch actuator fingers formed from the planet carrier of the second gear set.

14. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 further comprising:

a handle engaged with the clutch actuator;

wherein the handle is operable to move the pin between the engaged and disengaged position.

15. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 , wherein the ring gear of the third planetary gear set is locked relative to the frame in the engaged position.

16. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 , wherein the ring gear of the third gear set is free relative to the frame in the disengaged position.

17. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 further comprising the clutch actuator finger being connected to the planet carrier of the second gear set.

18. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 11 further comprising the clutch actuator finger including a plurality of clutch actuator fingers connected to the planet carrier of the second gear set.

19. An improved self-engaging clutch for a planetary gear winch including a first, a second, and a third planetary gear set, said self-engaging clutch comprising:

a cavity located on an exterior surface of a ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a cavity located on a frame adjacent to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a clutch actuator;

at least one clutch actuator finger on a planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

a pin moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

wherein the at least one clutch actuator finger is arranged to move the pin between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

20. The improved self-engaging clutch of claim 19 further comprising:

a handle engaged with the clutch actuator;

wherein the handle is operable to move the pin between the engaged and disengaged position.