| 摘要 |
A hydraulic winch assembly is attached to a motor vehicle and hydraulically powered by the vehicle's power steering system. A four-way, dual solenoid-operated valve controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. During normal driving operations while the winch is not in use, hydraulic fluid flows through the valve with no diversion of fluid away from the power steering system. With either of the solenoid coils energized, the valve diverts hydraulic fluid to the winch motor for operation of the winch. Return hydraulic flow from the winch motor maintains sufficiently high pressure to enable the power steering system to function safely during operation of the winch. In this manner, the winch is fail-safe because power steering system operation will not be adversely affected in the event of an inadvertent activation of the winch. Hydraulic fluid is continuously cooled by a cooler, even when the winch is not in operation. The winch is remotely operated by means of a hand-held controller attached to an extended length of electrical cord. By plugging the cord into a recessed connector mounted to the vehicle's bumper, continuity is established between the vehicle battery and valve solenoids when a rocker switch on the controller is manually depressed. Electrical continuity cannot be established unless the controller is plugged into the system. As an added safety feature, continuous depression of the rocker switch is required for winch operation.
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