Vehicle Winch Damage Protection via Segmented Covers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Winches used in off-roading and hostile environments are prone to damage, particularly affecting the motor and gear components, rendering them unusable.

Innovation Solution

The winch design incorporates a motor cover, gear cover, and supplemental cover to protect the motor and gear components, with a rotatable drum supported by first and second drum supports, and a plurality of gears coupled to the drum, along with a motor and gear cover housing system, and a supplemental cover that covers at least a portion of the motor and gear covers for enhanced protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the winch is used in hostile off-road environments, then the winch can perform its pulling function, but the motor and gear components are prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewinch adaptability to off-road environmentVSAvoiddamage resistance of motor and gear

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The winch housing is divided into multiple protective covers including a motor cover that encloses the motor and a gear cover that encloses the gear components. This segmentation allows each component to be independently protected from environmental damage while maintaining the overall functionality of the winch system in hostile off-road conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The motor cover and gear cover are designed to preemptively protect the motor and gear components from damage before exposure to hostile environments occurs. These covers create a protective barrier that prevents debris, water, and other environmental factors from causing damage to the internal components during off-road operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the motor and gear components are exposed to protect the winch functionality, then the winch can operate, but damage to these components renders the winch unusable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewinch operational capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental damage to motor and gear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The motor cover and gear cover serve as protective shielding that cushions the motor and gear components from environmental harmful factors before damage can occur. These covers are designed to absorb or deflect impacts from debris, water, and other external elements that could otherwise damage the operational components during off-road use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10899590B2Winch for a vehicle having damage protection

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 WHEEL PROS LLC

AI summary

A winch and method for operating the winch includes a winch body having a first drum support, a second drum support and a drum rotatably coupled to the first drum support and the second drum support. The winch further comprises a plurality of gears coupled to the second drum support and the drum. A motor is coupled to the drum through the plurality of gears. A motor cover is coupled to the first drum support. A gear cover is coupled to the second drum support and houses the plurality of gears therein. A supplemental cover covers at least a portion of the motor cover or a portion of the gear cover or both.