Winch tightening mechanism

1. A winch apparatus, comprising:

a winch housing;

a winch drum rotationally coupled to the winch housing by a drive shaft;

a ratchet gear coupled to the drive shaft for rotating the winch drum;

a hub coupled to the winch housing and positioned concentrically around the ratchet gear;

a mounting plate coupled to the hub and configured to rotate around an axis of the hub;

a first moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate;

a pawl comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the pawl is pivotally coupled to the mounting plate and positioned such that the second end of the pawl engages the ratchet gear via the mounting plate is rotated in a first direction and disengages the ratchet gear via the mounting plate being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the hub comprises a slot in a portion of its circumference; and

the pawl pivotally coupled to the mounting plate is positioned such that the second end of the pawl passes through the slot in the hub to engage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in the first direction and the second end of the pawl lifts out of the slot in the hub to disengage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in the second direction.

3. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a counterweight coupled to the mounting plate, the counterweight positioned to rotate the mounting plate in the second direction to automatically disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear.

4. The winch apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the counterweight is gravity operated or spring operated.

5. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate.

6. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a slot in the mounting plate; and

a stop pin coupled to the winch housing and extending into the slot in the mounting plate such that the stop pin limits the rotational motion of the mounting plate.

7. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first moment arm comprises an enclosed handle.

8. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first moment arm comprises a first portion coupled to the mounting plate and a second portion coupled to the first portion, the second portion detachable from the first portion.

9. The winch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first moment arm comprises a shear point.

10. A winch tightening apparatus, comprising:

a mounting plate;

a first moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate; and

a pawl comprising a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the mounting plate; and

a hub positioned concentrically around a ratchet gear, the hub comprising a slot in a portion of its circumference; and

wherein the pawl pivotally coupled to the mounting plate is positioned such that the second end of the pawl passes through the slot in the hub to engage the ratchet gear via the mounting plate being rotated in a first direction and the second end of the pawl lifts out of the slot in the hub to disengage the ratchet gear via the mounting plate is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

11. The winch tightening apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a second moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate.

12. The winch tightening apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a counterweight coupled to the mounting plate and positioned to rotate the mounting plate in the second direction.

13. The winch tightening apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first moment arm comprises an enclosed handle.

14. The winch tightening apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first moment arm comprises a first portion coupled to the mounting plate and a second portion coupled to the first portion, the second portion detachable from the first portion.

15. The winch tightening apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first moment arm comprises a shear point.

16. A method comprising:

providing a winch housing and a winch drum, the winch drum rotationally coupled to the winch housing by a drive shaft;

positioning a hub concentrically around the driveshaft;

coupling the hub to the winch housing;

rotationally coupling a winch tightening apparatus to the hub, the winch tightening apparatus comprising:

a first moment arm coupled to a mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate;

a pawl comprising a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the mounting plate such that the second end pivots to engage a ratchet gear via the mounting plate being rotated in a first direction and pivots to disengage the ratchet gear via the mounting plate being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction and pivots to disengage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling the ratchet gear to the drive shaft.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling a stop pin to the winch housing positioned such that the stop pin extends into a slot in the mounting plate to limit the rotational motion of the mounting plate.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the hub comprises a slot in a portion of its circumference; and

the pawl pivotally coupled to the mounting plate is positioned such that the second end of the pawl passes through the slot in the hub to engage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in the first direction and the second end of the pawl lifts out of the slot in the hub to disengage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in the second direction.