Abstract: A rapid reverse winch has a hollow winding drum and a hydraulic motor to a first side of the drum. A drive shaft extends inwardly from the motor and is connected to a primary sun gear near the center of the drum. A primary internal gear extends about the primary sun gear. There is a primary planet hub between the primary sun gear and the primary internal gear and a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted on the primary planet hub are in mesh with the primary sun gear and the primary internal gear. A final drive sun gear to a second side of the drum is connected to the primary planet housing. A non-rotatable final drive housing extends about the final sun gear. There is a final drive planet hub between the final drive sun gear and the final drive housing with a plurality of planet gears in mesh with the final drive internal gear and the final drive sun gear.

Abstract: A winch includes a direct current reversible motor operable to drive a gear train to wind or unwind cable from a drum and also includes first and second clutch mechanisms in the gear train that provide respectively (1) internal loading of the winch to prohibit undesirable unwinding of cable and (2) infinite clutch control between free wheeling operation and direct gear train drive of the winch. The first clutch mechanism is a sprag clutch which is operated against a brake load built into the winch. The second clutch mechanism includes clutch plates which are engaged proportional to the force of a thrust bearing controlled by a manually operated handle.