Abstract:
A winch assembly for use with a tractor having a power take off (“PTO”) includes a winch framework releasably coupled to a rear portion of the tractor. The winch framework does not inhibit connection of an implement to a three point or drawbar hitch of the tractor. A winch having a cable reel is mounted in the winch framework and coupled to the PTO such that the cable-reel may unwind or retract a cable upon PTO operation. The winch framework may be released from the rear portion of the tractor and coupled to a storage frame mounted elsewhere on the tractor when the winch is not in use. While the winch may be connected to the PTO and used without uncoupling an implement from the tractor, the winch must be removed in order to actively couple the implement to the PTO.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to winches and, more particularly, to a winch assembly that may be connected to a rear portion of a farm type tractor and operated without disconnecting an implement or accessory already coupled to the tractor. 
     A common situation for a tractor user is to get stuck in the mud while using a tractor accessory or implement in a field. This situation usually requires that the user walk a considerable distance back to house, barn, or vehicle to retrieve a winch that may be used to pull the tractor out of the mud. In fact, the user typically must bring another tractor or vehicle back to the site for use in pulling the stuck tractor out of the mud. 
     Various winch assemblies are known in the art for attachment and use with vehicles and tractors. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, existing winch assemblies do not connect directly to the rear of a tractor for operation by the tractor&#39;s power take off (“PTO”) and without requiring the tractor accessory or implement to be uncoupled from the tractor. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have a winch assembly that may be mounted for use to the rear portion of a tractor without obstructing connection of a tractor accessory to the tractor&#39;s three point hitch or drawbar hitch. Further, it is desirable to have a winch assembly that may be mounted for storage at a location on the tractor displaced from the rear portion. In addition, it is desirable to have a winch assembly that may be coupled to and driven by the tractor&#39;s PTO without uncoupling an accessory or implement that is already coupled to the tractor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention includes a winch assembly for use with a tractor of a type having a power take off (“PTO”) and a three point or drawbar hitch mounted to a rear portion of the tractor. The winch assembly includes a winch framework having a winch frame releasably attached to a mounting frame. The mounting frame may be coupled to upper and side brackets that are already mounted to the tractor for use with respective arms of a three point hitch. While the mounting frame may be releasably connected to these tractor brackets, it is expected that the mounting frame will remain attached thereto even when the winch frame itself is disconnected for storage purposes. A winch having a cable-reel with gear linkage is mounted within the winch frame, the gear linkage including a PTO connector for connection to the tractor&#39;s PTO. The winch frame is releasably coupled to the mounting frame when use of the winch is needed. The entire winch framework is configured so as not to interfere with or obstruct the connection between the tractor accessory and the three point or drawbar hitch to which the accessory is coupled. However, the accessory driveshaft must be uncoupled from the PTO so that the winch assembly PTO connector may be coupled to the PTO. 
     In use, a free end of a cable that may be wound about the cable-reel includes a fastener and may be attached to an object spaced from the tractor, e.g. a tree. Then, the cable-reel may retract the cable upon operation of the tractor&#39;s PTO so as to pull the tractor toward the spaced object. When use of the winch is no longer needed, the PTO connector may be disengaged from the PTO and the winch frame may be released from the mounting frame and stored elsewhere on the tractor. When the accessory driveshaft is again coupled to the PTO, the tractor user is once again ready to continue using the accessory. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a winch assembly that may be releasably coupled to a rear portion of a tractor without interfering with or obstructing a connection between a tractor implement or accessory and the three point or drawbar hitch to which it is coupled. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a winch assembly, as aforesaid, which may be connected to a tractor&#39;s PTO and operated thereby without uncoupling a tractor accessory from its connection to a tractor&#39;s hitch. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a winch assembly, as aforesaid, which may be mounted for storage at another location on the tractor when not in use. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a winch assembly, as aforesaid, which may be operatively connected to a tractor&#39;s PTO when an accessory&#39;s driveshaft is disconnected from the PTO. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a winch assembly, as aforesaid, in which the winch frame may be oriented horizontally or vertically relative to the mounting frame such that the winch cable may be extended or retracted from a desired configuration. 
    
    
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a winch assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention mounted to a rear portion of a farm type tractor; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a reverse perspective view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 removed from the tractor; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1 with the three point hitch arms and winch frame removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting frame of the winch assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with the winch frame mounted in a cable-reel-low configuration; 
     FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with the winch frame mounted in a cable-reel-high configuration; 
     FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with the winch frame mounted in a cable-reel-side configuration; 
     FIG. 7A is a side view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with a cable of the cable-reel extending rearwardly from the cable-reel; 
     FIG. 7B is a side view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with a cable of the cable-reel extending frontwardly from the cable-reel; 
     FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the winch assembly as in FIG. 1 with an implement coupled to the tractor; 
     FIG. 8B is an isolated perspective view on an enlarged scale of said implement coupled to the tractor as in FIG. 8A showing its driveshaft disconnected from the tractor&#39;s PTO; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a winch assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded view from a reverse angle of the winch assembly as in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a winch assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the winch assembly as in FIG. 11 with the tractor removed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A winch assembly for use with a farm type tractor according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to claims 1 through 12 of the accompanying drawings. A winch assembly  10  according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 through 10 and includes a winch framework that may be releasably coupled to a rear portion  20  of a farm type tractor. More particularly, the winch assembly  10  is configured for attachment to the upper  22  and pair of side  24  brackets that are typically found on the rear portion  20  of a tractor for connection of respective arms  26 ,  28  of a three point hitch (FIG.  1 ). The winch assembly  10  could alternatively be configured for attachment to a tractor&#39;s drawbar hitch  38  (drawbar shown in FIGS.  6 B and  6 C). 
     The winch framework includes a winch frame  62  and a mounting frame  44  (FIG.  3 ). The mounting frame  44  includes a pair of spaced apart side frame bars  46  with upper  52  and lower  54  frame bars extending between respective side frame bars  46  in a generally rectangular configuration. A pair of upstanding flanges  56  are fixedly attached to the upper frame bar  52 , each flange defining an aperture such that said flanges  56  may be releasably coupled to an upper three point hitch bracket  26  with a bolt  58  or other suitable fastener (FIG.  2 ). The side frame bars  46  also define bores  48  enabling the side frame bars  46  to be releasably coupled to respective side three point hitch brackets  24  with bolts  50  (FIG.  4 ). Further, the winch frame  62  includes a plurality of couplings  60  mounted to front surfaces of respective side frame bars  46  for connecting the winch frame  62  to the mounting frame  44  as to be described more fully below. 
     The winch frame  62  includes a pair of rear support members  66  and a pair of front support members  64  with a plurality of struts  68  extending between respective support members (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). A plurality of bosses  70  are fixedly attached to rear surfaces of the rear support members  66  and are configured so as to selectively mate with corresponding couplings  60  on the mounting frame  44 . The bosses  70  may be releasably retained in respective couplings  60  with bolts  72 , pins, or the like. Therefore, the winch frame  62  may be releasably coupled to the mounting frame  44  (FIG.  3 ). A handle  74  is fixedly attached to spaced apart struts that connect upper ends of respective front and rear support members such that the winch frame  62  may be transported by a user. It is understood that another handle (not shown) may be similarly attached to bottom struts. 
     A winch is mounted within the winch frame  62 . More particularly, the winch includes a cable-reel  78  rotatably mounted within the winch frame  62  and includes a cable  80  that may be extended from or retracted about the cable-reel  78 . A fastening means such as a hook  82  is connected to a free end of the cable  80  (FIG. 2) for attachment to an object spaced from the winch assembly  10 , e.g. a tree. The winch also includes a gearbox  84  mounted within the winch frame  62  which includes a conventional gear linkage (not shown) for operation of the cable-reel  78 . A primary PTO connector  86  extends from the gearbox  84  and is configured for connection to the PTO  30  of a tractor. The primary PTO connector  86  is coupled to the gear linkage which, in turn, is connected to the cable-reel  78 , whereby the cable-reel  78  is rotated upon an operation of the PTO  30 . 
     Preferably, the gear linkage includes a worm gear (not shown) linking the cable-reel  78  to the primary PTO connector  86  for non-backdrivable operation of the cable-reel  78 . A line-force clutch lever  88  allows a user to selectively engage or disengage the worm gear from the primary PTO connector  86 . Further, a freespool lever  90  is connected to the gear linkage and extends from the gearbox  84 , an operation of which releases the cable  80  and allows the cable-reel  78  to rotate freely. 
     A plurality of fairleads  76  are attached to the winch frame  62  and extend between respective struts  68  adjacent the cable-reel  78  for guiding the cable  80  onto or from the cable-reel  78  in operation. A fairlead  76  is provided on each side of the winch frame  62  in that the cable  80  may extend therefrom in a desired direction. This configuration is in recognition that an object to which the cable  80  is to be fastened may be to the front, side, or rear of the cable-reel and thus the winch frame  62  needs to accommodate directional choices. Each fairlead  76  includes an inwardly beveled or recessed configuration such that the cable  80  moves smoothly over its surface during use. 
     The winch assembly  10  further includes a storage frame  92  having frame members arranged in a generally square configuration (FIG.  5 ). The storage frame  92  includes a plurality of tabs  94 , each tab defining an aperture through which a mounting bolt may be extended. Therefore, the storage frame  92  may be releasably mounted to a tractor at a location spaced apart from the rear portion  20  thereof. For example, the storage frame  92  may be mounted to the tractor adjacent its tool box, to the front end, or to any other suitable location. Another plurality of couplings  96  are fixedly attached to front surfaces of the frame members of the storage frame  92 , these couplings being capable of receiving and retaining respective bosses  70  of the winch frame  62  in the manner previously described. Therefore, the winch frame  62  may be coupled to the storage frame  92  for storage when the winch is released from its connection to the mounting frame  44 . 
     It should be appreciated that the winch frame  62  may be releasably coupled to the mounting frame  44  in several different configurations such that the cable  80  may be extended and retracted from selected high/low/side orientations (FIGS.  6 A through  6 C). The orientation of a winch is important in certain situations depending on the locations of encountered load forces. The winch framework may be selectively oriented due to the symmetric configuration of the bosses  70  and couplings  60  relative to the PTO  30 . More particularly, FIG. 6A illustrates the winch frame  62  coupled to the mounting frame  44  in a “cable-reel low” configuration. The low cable-reel configuration is advantageous when the free end of the cable  80  is connected to a distant object that is at a higher elevation than the cable-reel  78  for the purpose of pulling the tractor out of a stuck situation. In this configuration, the cable  80  may be, extended and retracted in either a frontward (FIG. 7B) or rearward direction (FIG.  7 A). FIG. 6B illustrates a “cable-reel high” configuration which is advantageous when the free end of the cable  80  is connected to a distant object that is lower than the cable-reel  78 , i.e. where the winch is used to pull another object like a log or another vehicle. Therefore, the winch assembly  10  is versatile in that it can winch both itself and other objects simply by adjusting the position of the winch frame  62  relative to the mounting frame  44 . A sideways orientation as shown in FIG. 6C may be advantageous depending on the position of the tractor relative to the distant object to which the cable  80  needs to be attached. Using the winch assembly  10  in this configuration may require removal of one of the three point hitch arms  28 . It should be appreciated that using the correct winch configuration reduces the risk of tipping the tractor during a winching operation. 
     In use, the winch frame  62  may be releasably coupled to the storage frame  92  when use of the winch is not needed. For example, the winch frame  62  may be carried at a storage configuration displaced from the rear portion  20  of the tractor while an accessory  32  or implement is in use by the tractor. When the winch is needed, the driveshaft  34  of the accessory  32  is disconnected from the PTO  30  of the tractor but the accessory  32  itself need not be uncoupled from the tractor&#39;s three point hitch (FIG.  8 B). It is understood that the accessory driveshaft  34  may be held out of the way with a pin  36 , bracket, or other suitable holding mechanism. Then, the winch frame  62  may be released from the storage frame  92  and coupled to the mounting frame  44  at a desired orientation depending on the intended use of the winch and expected load forces. It is understood that the winch framework does not interfere or inhibit connection of the accessory  32  to the tractor. 
     The freespool lever  90  may be manipulated to allow the cable  80  to be freely extended from the cable-reel  78  so that the hook  82  at its free end may be secured to a distant object. The primary PTO connector  86  of the winch gear linkage may be coupled to the tractor&#39;s PTO  30  such that an operation thereof causes the cable  80  to retract about the cable-reel  78 . Use of the clutch lever  88  engages or disengages rotation of the cable-reel  78  while the PTO is engaged so as to provide control over the overall winching operation, whether the operation is pulling the tractor itself out of the mud or pulling another object, e.g. a log, to the tractor. When the operation is completed, the winch frame  62  may be released from the mounting frame  44  and coupled again to the storage frame  92 . Then, the driveshaft  34  of the accessory  32  may be reconnected to the tractor&#39;s PTO  30  and operation thereof may be resumed. 
     A winch assembly  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown particularly in FIGS. 9 and 10 and includes a construction substantially similar to the construction described above except as specifically noted below. The winch assembly  100  provides for a “cable-reel centered” configuration. In other words, the cable-reel  78  may be positioned intermediate the high and low configurations described previously which is advantageous when certain load forces are encountered. This winch assembly  100  includes a pulley assembly having an auxiliary PTO connector  102  that may be releasably connected to the tractor&#39;s PTO for rotation thereby. The pulley assembly further includes an auxiliary pulley  104 , a primary pulley  106 , and a belt  108  for correspondingly rotating the primary PTO connector  86  upon a rotation of the tractor&#39;s PTO (FIG.  10 ). In operation, operation of the PTO  30  causes the auxiliary PTO connector  104  to rotate which, in turn, causes the primary PTO connector  86  to rotate which, in turn, drives the gear linkage and cable-reel  78  to rotate. 
     A winch assembly  110  according to still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and includes a construction substantially similar to the construction first described above except as specifically noted below. Instead of a PTO connector  86 , the winch assembly  110  according to this embodiment includes a hydraulic motor  112  and conventional linkage for rotating the cable-reel  78 . The hydraulic motor  112  includes quick-connectors  114  to the hydraulic lines of a tractor (FIG.  12 ). 
     Accordingly, the winch assembly of the present invention provides a versatile winch that can be mounted on a tractor without interfering with normal tractor implement usage and that may be configured for optimal and safe usage in many different situations. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.