Patent ID: 7201366
Filing Date: 2007-04-10
Classification: B66D

Abstract:
1. An electronic winch monitoring system for a winch mechanism including a gearbox of predetermined fixed ratio between a rotatable input shaft and a rotatable output shaft, a primary brake operatively connected to the input shaft for selectively stopping rotational motion of the input shaft when activated, a rotatable winch drum operatively connected to the output shaft to rotate therewith for selectively winding on and winding off cable stored on the drum to hoist and lower loads, respectively, and an auxiliary brake operatively connected to the output shaft for selectively stopping, when activated, rotational motion of the winch drum independent of the action of the primary brake, the electronic winch monitoring system comprising: an input speed sensor for detecting an actual rotational speed of the input shaft and producing input speed signals indicative of thereof; an output speed sensor for detecting an actual rotational speed of the output shaft and producing output speed signals indicative thereof; a sensor for determining a currently selected hoisting direction and producing hoisting direction signals indicative thereof; an electronic control unit including a monitoring section and a brake control section;