Abstract:
A winch mounting bracket for attaching to a vehicle has coupling points arranged and adapted for engagement with corresponding anchor points on the vehicle to secure releasably the winch unit to the vehicle. The coupling points include a sleeve and a pair of latch pins. The sleeve is positioned between the latch pins and arranged to engage a pin or hook on the vehicle. The pins are slidable to engage holes in the vehicle and are biased to a latching position to maintain engagement with the holes.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a mounting bracket and in particular to a mounting bracket for mounting a winch on a vehicle. The winch can be a powered winch or a hand operated winch. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is known to attach powered winches to a vehicle by means of bolts extending through aligned holes in a part of the winch, for example a base plate, and in a part of the vehicle, for example the chassis, and attaching nuts to the bolts to secure the two parts of the winch and vehicle to each other. Typically, access to such fastening means is restricted so that releasing the fastening means can be difficult and time consuming. As a result, once attached to the vehicle, the winches often remain in place permanently until requiring repair or replacement or the vehicle is scrapped. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing and seeks to provide an improved apparatus for and method of attaching a winch to a vehicle. More especially, a preferred aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that allows a winch to be readily attached to and detached from a vehicle. 
         [0004]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a winch mounting bracket for attaching to a vehicle, the bracket having at least two coupling points arranged and adapted for engagement with corresponding anchor points on the vehicle to secure releasably the bracket to the vehicle. 
         [0005]    The coupling points may include at least one latch pin for engagement with a hole at an anchor point on the vehicle. The latch pin may be biased, for example by a spring, to a latching position in which the latch pin is received in the hole when the bracket is secured to the vehicle. 
         [0006]    The coupling points may include at least one sleeve for engagement with a locking pin at an anchor point on the vehicle. The sleeve may be connected to a pivot pin that allows the sleeve to be swung to a position in which the pivot pin can engage a hook at an anchor point on the vehicle. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the bracket has a three point coupling system with a centre coupling point and two outer coupling points disposed on either side of the centre coupling point. In this embodiment, the centre coupling point is a sleeve and the outer coupling points are latch pins. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a demountable winch unit for attaching to a vehicle. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the winch unit has one or more coupling points for releasable engagement with one or more anchor points on the vehicle. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the winch unit includes a bracket according to the previous aspect of the invention for releasably connecting the winch unit to the vehicle. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the winch unit includes a cable reel and a motor for rewinding a cable on the cable reel. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the winch unit include a cover for the cable reel and motor. 
         [0013]    In a further aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle and a detachable winch unit releasably connected to the vehicle by co-operating connector means on the winch unit and vehicle. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the connector means on the vehicle comprise one or more anchor points and the connector means on the winch unit comprise one or more coupling points. 
         [0015]    The coupling point(s) on the winch unit may be provided by a mounting bracket to which a cable reel and motor may be attached. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the co-operating connector means can be engaged and disengaged without any tools being required. 
         [0017]    The mounting bracket may be in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention. 
         [0018]    The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a winch unit embodying the invention: 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the winch unit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  with the locating sleeve in an alternative position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the mounting bracket of the winch unit shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of part of a vehicle showing attachment points on the vehicle for connecting the winch unit of  FIGS. 1 to 4  to the vehicle; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the winch unit positioned for connection to the attachment points on the vehicle shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the winch unit connected to the attachment points on the vehicle shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view from above of the winch unit connected to the attachment points on the vehicle shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of part of a vehicle showing alternative attachment points on the vehicle for connecting the winch unit of  FIGS. 1 to 4  to the vehicle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the winch unit positioned for connection to the attachment points on the vehicle shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the winch unit connected to the attachment points on the vehicle shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    In the accompanying drawings  FIGS. 1 to 4  depict a winch unit  1  embodying the invention.  FIGS. 5 and 6  depict part of a vehicle having a three point anchoring system with anchor points  3 , 5 , 7  for connecting the winch unit  1  to the vehicle and  FIGS. 7 and 8  depict the winch unit  1  connected to the anchor points  3 , 5 , 7 .  FIG. 9  depicts part of a vehicle having alternative three point anchoring system with anchor points  9 , 11 , 13  for connecting the winch unit  1  to the vehicle and  FIG. 11  depicts the winch unit  1  connected to the anchor points  9 , 11 , 13 . The anchor points  3 , 5 , 7  and  9 , 11 , 13  are typically connected to a part of the vehicle such as the frame or chassis that is capable of withstanding the forces generated during operation of the winch unit  1 . 
         [0031]    In this embodiment the anchor points  3 , 5 , 7  are provided at the front of the vehicle and the anchor points  9 , 11 , 13  are provided at the rear of the vehicle. In this way, the winch unit  1  can be connected to the vehicle at the front or back. Also in this embodiment, the winch unit  1  is releasably connectable to the vehicle so as to be demountable. In this way, the winch unit  1  can be moved from the front of the vehicle to the back and vice versa. It will be understood that the winch unit  1  can also be connected to any vehicle provided with one or both sets of anchor points  3 , 5 , 7  or  9 , 11 , 13 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the winch unit  1  includes a cable reel  15 , an electric motor  17 , a mounting bracket  19  and a cover  21 . The bracket  19  has a base plate  23  with through holes  25  for fasteners such as bolts (not shown) by means of which the cable reel  15  and electric motor  17  are attached to the bracket  19  on one side of the base plate  23 . The cover  21  is connected to the bracket  19  at each end of the base plate  23  by a tie rod  27  extending between a pair of plates  29 , 31  connected to the base plate  23  and cover  21  by fasteners such as bolts (not shown). The cover  21  is of channel-section with a base wall  21   a  and side walls  21   b,c  and forms with the base plate  23  a generally box-section housing for protecting the cable reel  15  and electric motor  17 . 
         [0033]    The base wall  21   a  of the cover  21  has an elongate opening  33  for passage of a winch cable  35  wound on the cable reel  15 . An aperture  37  at one end of the base wall  21   a  provides access to a handle  39  or other suitable actuator for manually operating a mechanism (not shown) controlling the drive between the electric motor  17  and the cable reel  15 . The drive can be disconnected to allow free-spooling of the cable reel  15  for manually unwinding the winch cable  35  and can be re-connected for powered re-winding of the winch cable  35  by rotating the cable reel  15  with the motor  17 . In a modification (not shown) the motor may be reversible for powered unwinding and re-winding of the winch cable  35 . 
         [0034]    The bracket  19  is adapted for releasably connecting the winch unit  1  to a vehicle so that the winch unit  1  is detachable for mounting and de-mounting the winch unit  1 . In this way, the winch unit  1  can be fitted when required for use and removed after use for storage until next required. In this way, the winch unit  1  does not have to remain permanently in place on the vehicle and the risk of the winch unit  1  being damaged by collisions or impacts with other objects is reduced. Also, the winch unit  1  may be used with several vehicles so that a dedicated winch unit  1  does not have to be fitted to each vehicle. The releasable connection is preferably manually operable so that the winch unit  1  can be easily attached to and detached from a vehicle. 
         [0035]    In this embodiment, the bracket  19  is provided with a three point coupling system on the opposite side of the base plate  23  to the cable reel  15  and electric motor  17  for connection to a vehicle provided with a mateable three point anchoring system. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the three point coupling system on the bracket  19  includes a centre coupling point  39  and two outer coupling points  41 , 43  disposed either side of the centre coupling point  39 . 
         [0036]    The centre coupling point  39  comprises a sleeve  45  attached to a pivot pin  47  mounted between a pair of lugs  49 , 51  welded or otherwise attached to the base plate  23 . The sleeve  45  can be swung through approximately  90  degrees from the position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  in which the sleeve  45  is disposed so that through bore  53  extends generally parallel to the base plate  23  and the position shown in  FIG. 3  in which the through bore  53  extends generally normal to the base plate  23  for a purpose described later. 
         [0037]    The outer coupling points  41 , 43  are similar and each comprises a latch pin  55  that extends through a housing  57  supported on a generally C-shaped web  59  welded or otherwise attached to the base plate  23 . The latch pin  55  is biased by a spring (not shown) contained in the housing  57  to an operative position in which an outer end  55   a  of the pin  55  is received in an opening  61  in a further plate  63  welded or otherwise attached to the base plate  23  and web  59 . The plate  63  forms a recess  65  with the web  57  and the latch pin  55  extends across the recess  65  under the biasing of the spring. The inner end  55   b  of the latch pin  55  projects from the housing  57  and is provided with a lever  67  by means of which the latch pin  55  can be gripped and manually displaced against the biasing of the spring to withdraw the outer end  55   a  from the opening  61  into the housing  57  clear off the recess  65  for a purpose described later. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the anchor points  3 , 5 , 7  of the three point anchoring system on the front of the vehicle include a centre anchor point  3  and two outer anchor points  5 , 7  disposed either side of the centre anchor point  3 . 
         [0039]    The centre anchor point  3  comprises a recess  67  and a locking pin  69  that extends across the mouth of the recess  67 . The locking pin  69  is removable to allow the sleeve  45  on the winch unit  1  to be inserted in the recess  67  with the sleeve in the position shown in FIG.  6 . Thereafter the sleeve  45  is secured and retained in the recess  67  by replacing the locking pin  69  to extend through the bore  53  in the sleeve  45  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0040]    The outer anchor points  5 , 7  are similar and each comprises a lug  71  that extends forwardly and is provided with a through hole  73 . The lugs  71  are received in the recesses  65  of the outer coupling points  41 , 43  on the winch unit  1  when the latch pins  55  on the winch unit  1  are withdrawn. Thereafter the lugs  71  are secured and retained in the recesses  65  by releasing the latch pins  55  to extend through the holes  73  in the lugs  71  to engage the openings  61  on the other side of the recesses  65  under the biasing of the springs as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In a modification (not shown) the outer end  55   a  of the latch pins  55  may project from the openings  61  to allow a retainer to be fitted that prevents the latch pins  55  being withdrawn to release the lugs  71  until the retainer has been released. In this way accidental release of the lugs  71  is prevented. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the anchor points  9 , 11 , 13  of the three point anchoring system on the rear of the vehicle include a centre anchor point  9  and two outer anchor points  11 , 13  disposed either side of the centre anchor point  9 . 
         [0042]    The outer anchor points  11 , 13  are similar to the outer anchor points  5 , 7  on the front of the vehicle and each comprises a lug  75  with a through hole  77 . The lugs  75  are secured and retained in the recesses  65  of the winch unit  1  by the latch pins  55  on the winch unit  1  as shown in  FIG. 11  similar to the lugs  71  described previously. 
         [0043]    The centre anchor point  9  comprises a hook  79  with a closure part  79   a.  The closure part  79   a  is movable to an open position ( FIG. 9 ) that allows the pivot pin  47  of the sleeve  45  on the winch unit  1  to be seated in the hook  79  after the sleeve  45  has been swung to the position shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0044]    In use, the winch unit  1  is fitted to the front or rear of the vehicle according to requirements and the electric motor  17  is connected to a power source on the vehicle by a suitable lead (not shown). The cable  35  is unwound from the cable reel  15  and attached to an object. The object may be a second vehicle which is to be pulled towards the vehicle, for example when using the winch unit  1  to recover the second vehicle. Alternatively, the object may be fixed such as a pole or tree towards which the vehicle is to be pulled, for example when using the winch unit  1  to recover the vehicle. The cable  35  is rewound by actuating the motor  17  through suitable controls (not shown) on the winch unit  1  or the vehicle to rotate the cable reel  15  in a direction to rewind the cable  35 . The motor  17  may be a single speed motor or a variable speed motor. 
         [0045]    In the above described embodiment, the mounting bracket  19  of the winch unit  1  is configured to be connected to any vehicle having a three point anchor system at the front or rear of the vehicle (or any other suitable position on the vehicle) that is compatible with the three point coupling system on the bracket  19 . In this way, the mounting bracket  19  can be attached to the vehicle without requiring any modification of the vehicle. The coupling points on the bracket  19  are of a quick connect/disconnect type such that the winch unit  1  can be connected to and detached from the vehicle without requiring any tools. In this way, there are no loose fixings or fittings that could be lost or damaged so as to prevent the winch unit  1  being attached to the vehicle. 
         [0046]    It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described and that various modifications can be made within the principle and concept of the invention outlined above. For example, the arrangement and configuration of the coupling points on the winch unit  1  may be altered to suit the anchor points of the vehicles the winch unit is to be connected to. The coupling points provide for a rapid connect/disconnect of the winch unit  1  and to transfer loads from the winch unit  1  to the vehicle at several positions so as to reduce the risk of damage to the coupling points. The number of coupling points may be changed although in general at least two coupling points and more preferably at least three coupling points are provided.