US 12,227,398 B2
Drive gear assembly with predetermined overload protection
Peter Rodriguez, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to Southwire Company, LLC, Carrollton, GA (US)
Filed by Southwire Company, LLC, Carrollton, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/901,917.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/240,563, filed on Sep. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0077274 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B66D 1/14 (2006.01); B66D 1/58 (2006.01)
CPC B66D 1/14 (2013.01) [B66D 1/58 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A winch comprising:
a bore worm coupled to a worm gear;
an input drive shaft attached to the bore worm;
a protected drive shaft; and
an overload protector comprising:
a friction disk rotationally fixed to the protected drive shaft; and
a fastener applying an axial force to the friction disk in the direction of the worm gear causing the friction disk to contact the worm gear;
wherein:
the overload protector is configured to couple to the worm gear when the torque is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum worm gear torque; and
the overload protector is configured to disengage from the worm gear when the worm gear torque is greater than the predetermined maximum worm gear torque.