US 12,441,591 B2
Vehicle winch system
Mark George Vojtisek, Royal Oak, MI (US); Christopher Thomas Berchin, Dearborn, MI (US); and Theresa Carranza-Fulmer, Detroit, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/102,951.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253955 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B66D 1/48 (2006.01)
CPC B66D 1/48 (2013.01) 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A winch system for a vehicle, comprising:
a winch assembly operably coupled to a body, the winch assembly comprising a housing, a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, a motor coupled to the spool and to the housing, and a cable operably disposed on the spool;
a sensor system configured to monitor the winch assembly; and
a controller processing information received from the sensor system, wherein the controller is configured to determine a duration of use of the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a service condition of the winch assembly when the duration of use exceeds a duration of use threshold, wherein the controller is configured to detect an interaction with the winch assembly based on information from the sensor system, and wherein the controller is configured to determine tampering with the winch assembly based on a locked condition of the vehicle and the detected interaction with the winch assembly.