Boat lift winch drive unit

Abstract

A convenient power assist system for operating conventional boat lifts is disclosed which have manual wheel-operated mechanical winch lift systems or hoists. The system of the invention is designed to directly address and turn a mechanical wheel of such a system using the spokes of the wheel.

1 . A power assist system for operating a conventional manual wheel-operated mechanical winch comprising:
 (a) an adjustable support structure configured to selectively address a conventional manual winch wheel;   (b) an electric motor attached to said support structure;   (c) a drive arm mounted to be rotated by said motor in a desired rotational direction and including a plurality of spaced wheel-engaging members connected to said drive arm for selectively engaging one or more spoke members of a manual winch wheel mounted on a support structure, the wheel having a relatively fixed location;   (d) a source of power to operate the system; and   (e) a control device to control the operation of the system.   
   
   
       2 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said support structure is adjustable to align said drive arm with said winch wheel and selectively move said wheel engaging members in and out of contact with said spoke members of said winch wheel. 
   
   
       3 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said adjustable support structure includes both generally vertical and generally horizontal adjustable tubular members in securable sliding relation and is attachable to a structure also supporting said manual winch wheel. 
   
   
       4 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 2  wherein said adjustable support structure includes both generally vertical and generally horizontal adjustable tubular members in securable sliding relation and is attachable to a structure also supporting said manual winch wheel. 
   
   
       5 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said wheel-engaging members are spaced pairs of tines connected to said drive arm designed to straddle spoke members of said winch wheel. 
   
   
       6 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 4  wherein said wheel-engaging members are spaced pairs of tines connected to said drive arm designed to straddle spoke members of said winch wheel. 
   
   
       7 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  including devices to secure said system in place as adjusted that are selected from locking bolts and clamping devices. 
   
   
       8 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 6  including devices to secure said system in place as adjusted that are selected from locking bolts and clamping devices. 
   
   
       9 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 5  wherein said power assist structure is designed to be carried by a common mounting post with said winch wheel to be operated. 
   
   
       10 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said drive arm comprises a locating member to facilitate alignment of the drive arm with a winch wheel to be operated. 
   
   
       11 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said motor is a high torque d.c. motor and said source of power is a 12 volt storage battery. 
   
   
       12 . A power assist system as in  claim 1  wherein said control device is capable of being remotely operated. 
   
   
       13 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 1  wherein said winch operates a boat lift. 
   
   
       14 . A power assist system for operating a conventional manual wheel-operated boat lift comprising:
 (a) an adjustable motor support structure configured to be attachable to a conventional lift-operating wheel support;   (b) an electric motor attached to said support structure;   (c) a drive arm mounted to be rotated by said motor in a desired rotational direction and including a plurality of tine members for selectively engaging one or more spoke members of a lift operating wheel to turn the wheel in either direction;   (d) a source of d.c. power to operate the system; and   (e) a control device to control the operation of the system.   
   
   
       15 . A power assist system as in  claim 1  wherein said control device is capable of being remotely operated. 
   
   
       16 . A power assist system as in  claim 14  wherein said adjustable support structure includes both generally vertical and generally horizontal adjustable tubular members in securable sliding relation to align said drive arm with said lift-operating wheel and selectively move said tine members in and out of engagement with said spoke members of said wheel. 
   
   
       17 . A power assist system for a winch wheel as in  claim 16  comprising said devices to fix said system in place as adjusted that are selected from locking bolts and clamping devices. 
   
   
       18 . A method of operating a winch wheel-operated boat lift comprising:
 (a) providing a power assist system as in  claim 13 ;   (b) selectively adjusting the location of said drive arm to engage a winch wheel; and   (c) selectively operating said system to turn said winch wheel and raise and lower a boat.