Abstract: A power operated drive shaft and brake assembly are coaxially mounted for rotation inside a cable drum which is coupled to the drive shaft through gearing. The brake assembly has an adapter housing and one-way clutch for drivingly connecting the drive shaft and adapter housing during a "cable out" operation. A plurality of brake pads are mounted for movement relative to the brake adapter housing. The brake pads are angularly offset in a non-radial orientation to negate undesired brake drag caused by centrifugal forces while the pads are spring loaded to provide a predetermined braking force to hold a load in place after completion of a winching operation.

Abstract: A compact and rugged drive mechanism for a winch of high pull rating is disclosed featuring a cycloid drive of powerful construction which serves to provide a driving connection between a cable drum and a reversible motor driven, two stage chain and sprocket drive to an input drive shaft. The cycloid drive includes a ring gear and cycloid gear in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The cycloid gear is supported for eccentric rotation within the ring gear. A clutch pin is releasably secured in fixed relation to the ring gear and a fixed housing to prevent ring gear rotation during normal power-in and power-out modes of operation under cable load. Controlled free spooling of the drive mechanism is effected, when desired, upon removing the clutch pin to render it inoperative.

Abstract: A winch drive and brake mechanism is disclosed featuring a load compensating brake. The brake includes a fixed member and first and second rotary brake members. The first and second brake members are coaxially mounted on a drive shaft in alignment with a cable drum. The first brake member is fixed on the drive shaft. The second brake member is supported on the drive shaft between the first brake member and the fixed member for free rotation and movement axially of the drive shaft toward and away from braking engagement with the fixed member. The first brake member is engageable with the second brake member for axially moving it toward the fixed member into brake engaged position and releasing the second brake member for movement axially away from the fixed member toward a brake released position respectively in response to rotation of the first brake member relative to the second brake member in opposite angular directions.