Cranking Mechanism

Abstract

A cranking mechanism preferably includes a planetary gear set, a drive shaft, a one way bearing, a clutch assembly, and at least one drive unit. The clutch preferably includes a clutch pressure plate, a flywheel, friction surfaces and at least one friction plate. Each drive unit includes a carrier, a spool and a flywheel. The one way bearing and the clutch assembly are axial on the drive shaft. A pressure locking nut is threaded on to a threaded end of the crank shaft to exert pressure on the clutch assembly. The sun gear is fixed on the drive shaft. The at least one drive unit is axial with the drive shaft, and fixed with the carrier of the planetary gear set. The pressure locking nut is tightened against the clutch assembly to frictionally engage the drive shaft with the at least one drive unit.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:
 a drive shaft includes a sun gear;   a carrier rotatably retains a plurality of planet gears, said sun gear drives said plurality of planet gears;   an internal ring gear includes a spool winding surface formed on an outer perimeter, said plurality of planet gears drive said internal ring gear, wherein one end of a strap is retained on said spool winding surface;   a first spool side and a second spool side, said internal ring gear is retained between said first and second spool sides, said carrier is rotatably retained in said first and second spool sides; and   a one-way rotation device is retained on said drive shaft, wherein said one-way rotation device only allows said drive shaft to be rotated in one direction unless said one-way rotation device is operably released.   
     
     
         2 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bowstring drawing device is connected to an opposing end of the strap, the bowstring drawing device is one of a sled, a hook, or a bowstring latch assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said drive shaft is terminated with a threaded end;   a compression nut is threaded on to said threaded end; and   a handle includes a cavity to receive said compression nut.   
     
     
         4 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said bowstring latch assembly is coupled to the crossbow frame, said retainment device selectively retains said bowstring latch assembly in a cocked position, or selectively releases said bowstring latch assembly from the cocked position.   
     
     
         5 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 said handle is retained on a driven end of said drive shaft.   
     
     
         6 . A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:
 a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear includes a spool winding surface on an outer perimeter thereof;   a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is integrated into said drive shaft;   said carrier includes a plurality of axles to rotatably retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft;   a strap includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a winding diameter of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds said strap on said winding diameter;   a clutch is retained on said drive shaft;   a one-way bearing rotation device is engaged with said clutch, axial tension is applied to said one-way bearing and said clutch in a first direction through said driven end to wind said strap on said spool winding surface; and   wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow.   
     
     
         7 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bowstring drawing device is connected to said strap at an end said spool end, said bowstring drawing device is one of a sled, a hook, and a bowstring latch assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a bowstring latch assembly retainment device coupled to the crossbow frame, said retainment device selectively retains said bowstring latch assembly in a cocked position, or selectively releases said bowstring latch assembly from the cocked position.   
     
     
         9 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tension nut is threaded on to said first driven end of said drive shaft; and   a handle includes a cavity to receive said tension nut.   
     
     
         10 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6  wherein:
 said clutch includes a pressure plate and a friction plate, said pressure plate is engaged with said one-way bearing, said friction plate makes contact with said pressure plate and said spool. 
 
     
     
         11 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6  wherein:
 said driven end is rotated in a second direction to disengage said clutch to allow said strap to be unwound from said spool; 
 wherein ceasing rotation in said second direction re-engages said clutch and prevents unwinding of said strap. 
 
     
     
         12 . The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6  wherein:
 said driven end is rotated in a second direction to disengage said clutch to allow said strap to be unwound from said spool, wherein ceasing rotation in said second direction re-engages said clutch and prevents unwinding of said strap; and wherein rotation in the first direction to re-engage clutch allowing said strap to wind on the winding surface. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device, wherein:
 coupling operably providing a planetary gear set and drive shaft to a spool winding surface, one end of a strap is operably coupled to said spool winding surface, a bowstring latch assembly is retained on an opposing end of the strap;   coupling a bowstring latch assembly retainment device to the crossbow frame, the bowstring latch assembly engages and retains the bowstring;   coupling operably a crank handle with the drive shaft, the crank handle rotates the drive shaft and the sun gear in a first direction winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface and moving the bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a proximal position as to engage said bowstring latch assembly with said bowstring latch assembly retainment means;   said crank handle is rotated a second direction releasing tension of the strap, said bowstring latch assembly retainment device retains the bowstring and the bowstring latch assembly in a cocked position;   de-cocking the crossbow with the crank handle by rotating the crank handle in is rotated the first direction to impart tension on the strap, the user selectively disengaging the bowstring latch assembly retainment device from the bowstring latch assembly, then rotating the crank handle in the second direction to unwind the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to the distal position of the crossbow.   
     
     
         14 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 13  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 13  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing, a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 13  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing and clutch assembly operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device wherein;
 coupling operably a planetary gear set and drive shaft to a spool winding surface;   coupling operably a drive shaft to said spool winding surface and to a bowstring latch assembly, a sun gear is retained on said drive shaft;   engaging the bowstring latch assembly with the bowstring, retaining the bowstring in the bowstring latch assembly;   coupling operably a handle with the drive shaft;   rotating the drive shaft and the sun gear with the crank handle in a first direction, winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface, moving the bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a cocked position; and   rotating the crank handle in the second direction to uwind the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to a distal position of the crossbow.   
     
     
         18 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 17  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 17  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing, a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 17  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing and a clutch assembly operably coupled with the planetary gear set.