HOUSING FOR A WINCH RING

Disclosed is a housing (10) for a winch ring (12) carrying a cable (14). The winch ring (12) defines a central aperture (16) having an axis (18), and a peripheral region defining an annular groove (20) for receiving the cable (14). The housing (10) includes opposed gripping members (24) joined by at least one bridging portion (26). Each gripping member (24) is releasably mountable to a side of the winch ring (12) to position the at least one bridging portion (26) across the annular groove (20). The at least one bridging portion (26) is shaped to extend about the axis (18) to enclose a portion of the annular groove (20) to inhibit removal of the cable (14) from the winch ring (12). The gripping members (24) are mountable to the winch ring (12) to permit relative rotation of the peripheral region of the winch ring (12) and the housing (10) about the axis (18). At least one of the gripping members (24) is shaped to at least partially surround the central aperture (16) to allow access through the central aperture (16). Also disclosed is an assembly (50) for carrying the winch cable (14), and a winch assembly (30).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority to Australian provisional patent application no. 2023901319, filed 3 May 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, generally, to winch assemblies used in connection with vehicles, and, particularly, to winch rings used to direct a winch cable, and/or amplify cable tension, during winch operations.

BACKGROUND

A winch ring (also known as a snatch ring, recovery ring, or winch pulley) is employed during winching operations to act as a pulley to direct a cable under tension. Winch rings typically define a central aperture extending through the ring to allow another cable, rope, or other flexible element such as a soft shackle, to be secured through the ring and to another structure. This arrangement allows the winch ring to act as a readily installable coupling which provides the advantages of a pulley.

Winch rings are commonly used with vehicle mounted, electrically powered winches to couple a winch cable to a soft shackle which, in turn, is attached to a static structure, such as a tree, or another vehicle, to provide a stable base to draw the vehicle towards. The cable is carried by the winch ring by winding partway around a groove defined by the winch ring. The cable is typically then returned back on itself and attached to the vehicle. The winch is operated to wind the cable around a spool which causes the vehicle to be drawn towards the winch ring. This can allow removing the vehicle from a precarious position, such as being located in deep water, and/or on unfirm ground.

While winch rings often offer advantages over more complex, alternative coupling solutions, such as snatch blocks, they can be unreliable as can allow the cable to be separated from the winch ring during a winching operation. When this occurs, a user typically must cease winching and manually re-wind the cable about the ring to allow continuing winching. For example, should a user incorrectly install the cable to the winch ring, such as by positioning the axis of the ring to be non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cable, this can cause the cable to slip out of the groove and off the ring when the cable is tensioned by the winch. Also, where a vehicle is being winched concurrently with the vehicle being driven, the vehicle can suddenly grip the ground causing it to lurch forward. This can cause the cable to slacken and consequently fall off the winch ring. Such instances can significantly increase duration of a winching operation which is inconvenient and, in some situations, can be unsafe.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

SUMMARY

According to some disclosed aspects, there is provided a housing for a winch ring carrying a cable. The winch ring defines a central aperture having an axis, and a peripheral region defining an annular groove for receiving the cable. The housing includes opposed gripping members joined by at least one bridging portion, each gripping member configured to be releasably mountable to a side of the winch ring to position the at least one bridging portion across the annular groove. The at least one bridging portion is shaped to extend about the axis to enclose a portion of the annular groove to inhibit removal of the cable from the winch ring. The gripping members are mountable to the winch ring to permit relative rotation of the peripheral region and the housing about the axis. At least one of the gripping members is shaped to at least partially surround the central aperture to allow access through the central aperture.

The gripping members may be biased towards each other.

The gripping members and the at least one bridging portion may be integrally formed such that the gripping members are resiliently pivotable relative to the at least one bridging portion.

Each gripping member may define a free end extending away from the at least one bridging portion, and a portion of each gripping member adjacent the free end is arranged to diverge away from the corresponding portion of the other gripping member.

At least one of the gripping members may be shaped to encircle the central aperture.

Each gripping member may define an aperture dimensioned to surround a hub arranged through the central aperture, and each gripping member define at least one cut out arranged to centralise the aperture on the hub.

At least one bridging portion may be arranged to extend around at least 90 degrees about the axis of the winch ring.

A central bridging portion may be interposed between a pair of spaced side bridging portions, and the bridging portions be arranged to extend about more than 90 degrees about the axis of the winch ring.

Each side bridging portion may define a split extending perpendicular to the axis to divide the side bridging portion into two sections, whereby the two sections are separable when the gripping members are urged apart when being mounted on the winch ring.

Each side bridging portion may define a flared outer edge section.

According to other disclosed embodiments, there is provided an assembly for carrying a winch cable. The assembly includes a winch ring defining a central aperture, and a peripheral annular groove for receiving the winch cable, and a housing having opposed gripping members joined by at least one bridging portion. Each gripping member is configured to be releasably mountable to a side of the winch ring to position the at least one bridging portion across the annular groove. The at least one bridging portion is shaped to extend about the axis to enclose a portion of the annular groove to inhibit removal of the cable from the winch ring. The gripping members are mountable to the winch ring to permit relative rotation about the axis, and at least one of the gripping members is shaped to at least partially surround the central aperture to allow access through the central aperture.

The winch ring may include a body defining the annular groove and the central aperture, and a hub mounted to the body in the central aperture, and the gripping members are mountable to the hub.

The hub may be fixedly secured to the body such that the hub is rotatably locked to the body.

The hub may define a rounded entrance and exit to the central aperture.

According to further disclosed embodiments, there is provided a winch assembly including: an electrically powered winch connected to a cable and operable to wind the cable to adjust its effective length; a winch ring defining a central aperture, and a peripheral annular groove for receiving the cable; and a housing having opposed gripping members joined by at least one bridging portion, each gripping member configured to be releasably mountable to a side of the winch ring to position the at least one bridging portion across the annular groove, the at least one bridging portion shaped to extend about the axis to enclose a portion of the annular groove to inhibit removal of the cable from the winch ring, the gripping members being mountable to the winch ring to permit relative rotation about the axis, and at least one of the gripping members shaped to at least partially surround the central aperture to allow access through the central aperture.

The winch assembly may include a shackle releasably securable through the central aperture.

It will be appreciated embodiments may comprise steps, features and/or integers disclosed herein or indicated in the specification of this application individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of two or more of said steps or features.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, reference numeral10generally designates a housing10for a winch ring12carrying a cable14. The winch ring12defines a central aperture16having an axis18, and a peripheral region defining an annular groove20for receiving the cable14. The housing10includes opposed gripping members24joined by at least one bridging portion26. Each gripping member24is releasably mountable to a side of the winch ring12to position the at least one bridging portion26across the annular groove20. The at least one bridging portion26is shaped to extend about the axis18to enclose a portion of the annular groove20to inhibit removal of the cable14from the winch ring12. The gripping members24are mountable to the winch ring12to permit relative rotation of the peripheral region of the winch ring12and the housing10about the axis18. At least one of the gripping members24is shaped to at least partially surround the central aperture16to allow access through the central aperture16.

FIGS.1and2show a winch assembly30in two different configurations. The assembly30includes a winch32, the winch ring12, the cable14operably connected to the winch32to allow adjusting its effective length, and wound around a portion of the annular groove20of the winch ring12, the housing10mounted to opposed sides of the winch ring12, and a shackle34secured through the central aperture16of the winch ring12.FIG.1shows the assembly30in use in a first (‘straight pull’) configuration where a free end23of the cable14is secured to a location36adjacent the winch32so that the cable14defines two parallel portions either side of the winch ring12.FIG.2shows the assembly30in use in a second (‘directed/redirected pull’) configuration where the free end23of the cable14is secured to a location38spaced away from the winch32so that the cable14defines two non-parallel portions either side of the winch ring12.

The winch32may be an electrically or mechanically powered mechanism installed to a vehicle (not illustrated) and be operable to cause moving the vehicle. In such applications, the winch32is typically fitted to, or behind, a bumper or bull bar of the vehicle. In the first configuration, the free end23of the cable14is typically secured to a towing point on or adjacent the bumper or bull bar, and the shackle34secured to a static structure, such as a tree, or another vehicle, to position the winch ring12in front of the vehicle. In the second configuration, the free end23of the cable14is secured to a static structure or another vehicle arranged in front and to one side of the vehicle, and the shackle is secured to a further structure to position the winch ring12in front of the vehicle. In either arrangement, the winch32is operable alone, or concurrently with driving the vehicle, to pull the vehicle forwards, towards the winch ring12. In the second configuration, this can usefully redirect motion of the vehicle relative to the location of the free end23of the cable14.

In either of the configurations illustrated inFIGS.1and2, operating the winch32to retract the cable14typically causes the winch ring12, or at least the peripheral region of the ring12defining the annular groove20, to rotate about its axis18and relative to the shackle34. The housing10is mountable to the winch ring12to permit rotation of the winch ring12relative to the housing10. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping members24are configured to abut opposed sides of the winch ring12to allow the sides of the ring12to slide against the members24.

In this embodiment, the winch ring12includes a body36(FIG.3) defining the annular groove20and the central aperture16, and a hub38(FIG.3) mounted to the body36in the central aperture16, and the gripping members24are mountable to the hub38. The hub38is fixedly secured to the body36such that the body36and hub38are rotatably locked, and the hub38rotates relative to, and slides against, the gripping members24. In other embodiments, the hub38is rotatably connected to the body36to allow relative rotation, for example, by a bearing arranged to allow the body26to rotate about the hub38. In such embodiments, the housing10may be mountable to the hub38to be rotatably locked with the hub38. In this configuration, in use, the hub38and housing10may remain substantially static while the body36is rotated by the cable14being drawn about the ring12by the winch32.

In other embodiments, the winch ring12and/or gripping members24may carry a bearing plate (not illustrated) arranged so that mounting the gripping members24to the sides of the ring12places the bearing plate against the ring12to reduce friction generated during relative rotation. In such embodiments, the bearing plate may be configured as a low friction and/or self-lubricating plate, such as a nylon disk, or may be associated with a bearing mechanism, such as races carrying ball bearings. Alternatively or additionally, each gripping member24may be configured to engage an annular groove or rib defined on a side of the winch ring (not illustrated) to mount the housing10on the ring12and permit relative rotation.

FIG.1illustrates the cable14being drawn towards the winch32causing rotation of the winch ring12and housing10anticlockwise about the axis18. In this embodiment, the housing10includes a plurality of the bridging portions26, comprising a central bridging portion27interposed between a pair of spaced side bridging portions29. Rotation of the housing10as illustrated causes one of the side bridging portions29to collide with the cable14, inhibiting further rotation of the housing10but permitting continued rotation of the winch ring12.

FIG.2illustrates the cable14being drawn towards the winch32to cause the cable to tension and collide with both of the side bridging portions29. In this embodiment, the bridging portions27,29are arranged to extend around at least 90 degrees about the axis18of the winch ring12. This configuration of the bridging portions27,29means that when the cable14is tensioned, as illustrated, the side bridging portions29collide with the cable14to maintain the cable14being wrapped around at least one quarter of the periphery of the winch ring12. Restricting the cable14in this way inhibits the tensioned cable14from straightening, which could cause removal of the housing10from the winch ring12. It will be appreciated that while three bridging portions27,29are shown in the illustrated housing10, other embodiments may include more, or less bridging portions26, including only a single bridging portion26extending around 90 degrees or more about the axis18.

FIGS.3and4illustrate an alternative assembly50for carrying the winch cable14. The assembly50comprises only the winch ring12and the housing10. The housing10is shown dismounted and spaced from the winch ring12.FIGS.5and6show the housing10in isolation.

The gripping member24are generally configured to be biased towards each other to enhance gripping the opposed sides of the winch ring12. In the illustrated embodiment of the housing10, the gripping members24and bridging portions27,29are integrally formed such that the gripping members24are resiliently pivotable relative to the central bridging portion29. In some embodiments, the gripping members24and bridging portions27,29are formed from a single piece of formed sheet metal. In other embodiments, the housing10is formed from two halves and joined to each other partway across the central bridging portion27, where the halves may be formed sheet metal and/or moulded plastic. In yet other embodiments (not illustrated), the central bridging portion27is joined to one, or each, of the gripping members24by a hinge. In such embodiments, the hinge may be associated with a biasing mechanism, such as a torsion spring, to bias the gripping members towards each other. In yet other embodiments, at least a portion of the central bridging portion27is formed from a resilient deformable material, such as an elastomer, to act as a hinge between the gripping members24, and bias the members24towards each other.

Best shown inFIGS.4and6, the gripping members24are spaced apart to receive the winch ring12between the members24to releasably mount the housing10on the winch ring12. Each gripping member24defines a free end25extending away from the central bridging portion27. A portion31of each gripping member24adjacent the free end25is arranged to diverge away from the corresponding portion31of the other gripping member24to form a lead-in arranged to receive the winch ring12. Shaping the gripping members24in this way can enhance insertion of the winch ring12between the gripping members24. The diverging portions31are in this embodiment define a curved section. Additionally or alternatively, these portions31may define one or more kinks.

At least one of the gripping members24may be shaped to encircle the central aperture16of the winch ring12. This arrangement can enhance securely mounting the housing10to the winch ring12, particularly where the shackle34, or other structure, is secured through the central aperture16. In the illustrated embodiment, both gripping members24define an aperture40dimensioned to surround the hub38arranged through the central aperture16. Arranging the aperture40about the hub38allows securely mounting the housing10to the winch ring12while allowing relative rotation of the winch ring12and housing10. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the gripping members24are shaped to only partially surround the central aperture16, for example, where the gripping member24are configured to engage a groove or rib defined by the sides of the ring12, as described above.

Best shown inFIGS.5and6, each gripping member24may define at least one cut out42arranged to centralise the aperture40on the hub38. In this embodiment, each gripping member24defines a pair of the cut outs42around a periphery of the aperture40. The cut outs42are shaped and positioned to align the aperture40with the hub38when mounting the housing10to the winch ring12. It will be appreciated that each gripping member24may define more, or less, cut outs42, and that the cut outs42may be alternatively shaped to achieve the same purpose.

Also shown inFIGS.4and6, each side bridging portion29defines a split44dividing the bridging portion29into two sections33. This arrangement allows the sections33of each side bridging portion29to be spaced apart as the winch ring12is inserted between the gripping members24, causing the central bridging portion27to act as a hinge. The spacing between the gripping members24is dimensioned such that when the hub38is positioned within the aperture40the gripping members snap fit to the winch ring12. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the bridging portions29may carry, or be partially formed by, resiliently deformable material in place of the splits44to allow deformation of the bridging portions29during mounting to the winch ring12.

Best shown inFIG.5, each side bridging portion29defines a flared outer edge section35. These sections35are shaped to inhibit the housing10snagging on the cable14, which can enhance the cable14gliding past the housing10as the cable14is drawn around the winch ring12.

FIG.7shows an alternative assembly70sharing many of the features of the assembly30shown inFIGS.1and2, whereby common reference numerals indicate common features, unless indicated otherwise. In this embodiment, the housing10is configured so that each gripping member24is shaped to only partially surround the central aperture16to define a gap72. The gap72is dimensioned to allow the shackle34to pass therethrough. This arrangement can usefully allow the housing10to be fitted to the winch ring12when the shackle34is secured through the aperture16.

Assembling the housing10to the winch ring12involves winding the cable14about a portion of the annular groove20, and positioning the winch ring12between the gripping members24to mount the gripping members24to the sides of the winch ring12. When mounted, the bridging portions26extend across the annular groove20to inhibit removal of the cable14from the winch ring12.

When used as part of the assembly30, the shackle34is secured through the central aperture16of the winch ring12after the housing10is mounted to the ring12. In embodiments of the housing10configured to surround the aperture16when mounted to the winch ring12, such as illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the shackle34is also secured through the housing10.

Use of the housing10as part of the assembly30involves the cable14being drawn in one direction around the axis18of the winch ring12and towards the winch32to tension the cable14, or the cable14being released by the winch32to cause the cable to slacken and move in the other direction about the axis18. These actions cause rotation of the winch ring12relative to the housing10. Before tensioning the cable14, the winch ring12, portion of the cable14wrapped around the ring12, and the housing10may be a tangled heap. Tensioning the cable14may draw the cable14out of the heap to elevate the winch ring12and associated housing10to be supported by the tensioned cable14.

The housing10may advantageously inhibit, or prevent, the cable14being inadvertently removed, dislodged, or otherwise separated from the winch ring12during winching operations, and particularly may retain the cable14within the annular groove20of the ring12. This can enhance efficiency of winching by reducing, or avoiding altogether, instances of the cable14slipping off the ring12.

The housing10is readily mountable, and removable from, the winch ring12, and may be securely positioned on the ring12such as to avoid inadvertent removal. The housing10may therefore provide a low complexity solution to reliably inhibiting removal of the cable14from the ring12.

The housing10is shaped so that the gripping members24at least partially cover the sides of the winch ring12. When used as part of the assembly30,70including the shackle34, the configuration of the gripping members24typically prevents the shackle34contacting the winch ring12to inhibit fretting of the rotating ring12against the fibers of the shackle34, which can otherwise cause wear.