Title: Winch valve drag brake control

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Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a winch and fluid control system. The preferred system which is improved comprises (1) a rotatable drum for receiving and releasing a cable, (2) a drive train for supporting said drum and for selectively transmitting rotary drive thereto, said drive train including a brake, (3) a source of pressurized fluid, (4) a control valve having an inlet communicating with the source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet system and a valving element which is shiftable between at least three positions including a Brake-On position, a Reel-In position and a Brake-Off position, and (5) a winch lubricating system which communicate said source of pressurized fluid with said winch. Preferably the valving element is also shiftable to a Free-Spool position. The improvement of the present invention comprises a one-way clutch associated with said brake which allows said drum to rotate in a reel-in direction when said brake is engaged; an auxiliary drag brake for stopping reel-in rotation of said drum caused by viscous drag of hydraulic fluid on said drive means when said valving element is in said Brake-On position; and a fluid flow directing system intermediate said winch lubricating system and said auxiliary drag brake which directs a flow of pressurized fluid from said winch lubricating system to said auxiliary drag brake responsive to shifting of said valving element to said Brake-On position and blocks said flow of pressurized fluid from said winch lubricating system to said auxiliary drag brake responsive to shifting of said valving element to any of said Brake-Off and Reel-In positions and, when applicable, said Free-Spool position.


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