Abstract: A tire lift winch unit includes a depending cable connected through a plastic bushing to an adapter supporting a spare tire and wheel assembly for movement between an elevated stored position an a lower ground engaging position. A secondary support system includes a tubular support bracket enclosing a tubular shell and latch mechanism with a latch body supporting retractable latch blades biased by corresponding springs confined with opposing slots within the latch body and blades. The shell depends from the latch body and has a bottom flange supporting a conical washer engaging the adapter, and a tubular latch release pin extends within the shell. A conical compression spring biases the latch system downwardly within the support bracket to hold the blades retracted for clearing the bracket when the tire and wheel assembly are removed from the adapter.

Abstract: A tire lift winch unit includes a depending cable connected through a plastic bushing to an adapter supporting a spare tire and wheel assembly for movement between an elevated stored position an a lower ground engaging position. A secondary support system includes a tubular support bracket enclosing a tubular shell and latch mechanism with a latch body supporting retractable latch blades biased by corresponding springs confined with opposing slots within the latch body and blades. The shell depends from the latch body and has a bottom flange supporting a conical washer engaging the adapter, and a tubular latch release pin extends within the shell. A conical compression spring biases the latch system downwardly within the support bracket to hold the blades retracted for clearing the bracket when the tire and wheel assembly are removed from the adapter.

Abstract: A spare tire and wheel assembly for a motor vehicle are held in a stored position under the vehicle body by a compact tire lift unit or winch having a primary flexible cable extending to the center of a retaining bracket releasably attached to the wheel hub. A secondary or auxiliary cable has one end portion secured by a crimp connector to the winch cable spaced above the bracket and extends through a laterally offset hole within the bracket to receive a stop fitting spaced below the bracket. In the event the winch cable breaks adjacent the retaining bracket, the spare tire and wheel assembly drops slightly to an inclined position supported by the stop fitting where rattling of the tire against the vehicle body alerts the driver of the vehicle that the winch cable has broken.

Abstract: A housing is formed by a plastic shroud between two metal mounting brackets, and a drive shaft is rotably supported by the brackets. A spool is mounted on the shaft for rotation and is formed by first and second powdered metal plate members which define a track within which a cable is wound upon itself in a spiral overlapping manner. The first plate member has an integral hub which defines an undercut cavity receiving a fitting secured to the inner end of the cable and also defines a set of recesses receiving lugs on the second plate member which has an integrally formed ring gear. A powdered metal control plate is integrally formed with an external gear located within the ring gear, and the ring gear has two teeth with leading and trailing surfaces in simultaneous contact with corresponding trailing and leading surfaces on the external gear for preventing backup of the spool.

Abstract: A tire lift/carrier unit has a sheet metal housing forming an enclosure and having parallel spaced walls supporting a rotatable shaft which supports a rotatable spool formed by a set of sheet metal plates. A flexible cable has one end connected to the spool and its oppposite end connected to a tire support member, and the plates are spaced closely together to define a track slightly wider than the cable so that the cable wraps on itself in a spiral overlapping manner. A ring gear is mounted on the spool and surrounds an internal drive gear supported for orbital movement by an eccentric cam member rotably supported by the shaft. The cam member is rotated by the shaft through a spring biased slip clutch mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: A tire lift/carrier unit has a sheet metal housing forming an enclosure and having parallel spaced walls supporting a rotatable shaft which supports a rotatable spool formed by a set of sheet metal plates. A flexible cable has one end connected to the spool and its opposite end connected to a tire support member, and the plates are spaced closely together to define a track slightly wider than the cable so that the cable wraps on itself in a spiral overlapping manner. A ring gear is mounted on the spool and surrounds an internal drive gear supported for orbital movement by an eccentric cam member rotably supported by the shaft. The cam member is rotated by the shaft through a spring biased slip clutch mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: A tire lift/carrier unit is mounted on a vehicle body and has a depending cable connected by a latch device to a fitting which supports the hub of a spare tire and wheel assembly. When the tire assembly is elevated by the unit to a stored position, the latch device is received within a holder also secured to the vehicle body. In event the cable fails to hold the spare tire assembly in the stored position, latch bolts spring outwardly from the latch device and engage the holder to prevent dropping of the tire assembly. The holder may be formed of adjustable or telescopic sections which may be tubular for enclosing the latch device.

Abstract: A torque wrench, basically exemplified by a torque beam having a driver at one end, a grip at its other end and apparatus associated with said driver and beam providing an observable read-out of any torque that may be developed during use of the wrench, particularly distinguished by a system for defining a prescribed torque limit in use thereof having means associated therewith for producing a highly distinctive alarm signal the nature of which is such to produce an instantaneous torque limiting response of the user at precisely that time the level of the torque applied to said beam reaches said prescribed limit. In a preferred embodiment the system for producing said signal is located in connection with a housing which is releasably based on and secured to said beam immediately of its grip, the means through which the signal is triggered is functionally related to a portion of said read-out apparatus and the alarm signal is preferably provided by a source of light and optionally by a source of sound.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment which is in the form of a winch (or hoist) comprises a reel including a spool and embodying a portion thereof through which it may be driven for its raising and lowering functions. The reel mounts in bearing relation to a drive shaft between parallel relatively closely spaced side walls of its housing. This embodiment features an overload clutch including a drive plate mounted for rotation with said shaft within said housing. The drive plate nests within a shallow cup-shaped plate firmly and resiliently coupled by springs, parts of which have an interfit relation with portions of the bounding wall. Upon rotation of the shaft the nature and direction thereof is transmitted through the clutch and successive drive transmission elements to the portion of the reel provided for this purpose.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment which is in the form of a winch (or hoist) comprises a reel including a spool and embodying a portion thereof through which it may be driven for its raising and lowering functions. The reel mounts in bearing relation to a drive shaft between parallel relatively closely spaced side walls of its housing. This embodiment features an overload clutch including a drive plate mounted for rotation with said shaft within said housing. The drive plate nests within a shallow cup-shaped plate firmly and resiliently coupled by springs, parts of which have an interfit relation with portions of the bounding wall. Upon rotation of the shaft the nature and direction thereof is transmitted through the clutch and successive drive transmission elements to the portion of the reel provided for this purpose.