Patent ID: 11970376
Assignee: CATERPILLAR INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 6:
7. A machine, comprising:
a machine chassis;
a winch system comprising:
a winch drum configured to rotate;
a winch motor configured to rotate said winch drum;
a winch cable attached to said winch drum;
a sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a number of layers of said winch cable on said winch drum; and
a hook attached to said winch cable for coupling to a load; and

a control system including a controller configured to receive said signals from said sensor,
determine the number of layers of said winch cable that are disposed on said winch drum based on said signals, and
generate at least one control command to control said winch motor and thereby rotate said winch drum based on at least said determination of said number of layers of said winch cable,
wherein said at least one control command causes said winch drum to rotate to produce a substantially constant line speed independent of said number of layers determined to be disposed on said winch drum.