Releasable Clamp Winch Assembly for Quick Rail Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing winch assemblies are cumbersome and time-consuming to reposition on different objects due to their fixed nature, making it difficult for users to selectively attach and detach them from various objects of interest.
Innovation Solution
A winch assembly design featuring a winch housing body with releasable clamps that can be easily attached and detached from support rails of differing widths, utilizing a motor-driven cable system and an electrical cover for accessibility and ease of use, along with a remote controller for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard winch assemblies are bolted or fixed to an object of interest, then the winch assembly is securely attached and stable, but removing and reattaching the winch assembly to different objects becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed attachment system into a dynamic, adjustable one by implementing a clamp mechanism with movable jaw members that can be opened and closed to release or secure the winch assembly to different objects, enabling quick repositioning while maintaining stable attachment during use
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment structure is divided into separate, modular components including first and second jaw members that can independently clamp onto different portions of support rails, allowing the winch assembly to be selectively positioned on various objects with different geometries while maintaining secure attachment
2Loss of time
If the winch assembly is designed to be easily repositioned with releasable clamps, then reconfiguration time is reduced, but the attachment stability and security may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is pre-configured with spring-loaded jaw members that automatically engage and secure to the support rail structure when closed, ensuring stable attachment is achieved immediately upon closing the clamp without requiring additional tightening or adjustment steps, thus maintaining both quick repositioning and secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp mechanism allows adjustment of clamping force and jaw position parameters to match different support rail geometries and load requirements, enabling the same clamp structure to provide stable attachment across various objects while maintaining ease of release when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A winch assembly including a winch housing body, an attachment structure, and one or more releasable clamps. The winch housing body may comprise a front wall, a rear wall, and at least one connecting wall that extends between the front wall and the rear wall. The front wall, rear wall, and connecting wall define a winch-receiving volume sized to house a winch device therein. The winch device may include a motor, a drum that is operatively connected to the motor, and a cable that is operatively connected to the drum. The attachment structure may be attached to the distal end of the cable. The one or more releasable clamps may be mounted to the rear wall. The one or more releasable clamps may be configured to clamp onto support rails of differing widths.