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A portable pulling tool is provided including an integrally formed one-piece gear case for positioning all of the gear train components. The gear train includes a combination of helical gears and a differential planetary gear unit in a unique configuration. A motor control system is provided to auto

A portable pulling tool is provided including an integrally formed one-piece gear case for positioning all of the gear train components. The gear train includes a combination of helical gears and a differential planetary gear unit in a unique configuration. A motor control system is provided to automatically shut off the motor when a predetermined current load is detected. A multi-segment LED is provided to indicate to the user the amount of load that is being applied.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A pulling tool, comprising: a bracket assembly including first and second brackets, said first and second brackets each having a planar portion, said planar portions disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other; a drum rotatably supported between said first and second b

What is claimed is: 1. A pulling tool, comprising: a bracket assembly including first and second brackets, said first and second brackets each having a planar portion, said planar portions disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other; a drum rotatably supported between said first and second bracket planar portions, said drum having a cable wound thereon; a motor supported by, and disposed between, each of said first and second bracket planar portions at a location laterally offset from an axis of said drum; and a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said motor to said drum, said drive train being supported by an integrally formed one piece gear housing including a first aperture for receiving a drive shaft of said motor, a second aperture for supporting at least one intermediate gear and a planetary gear housing portion rotatably supporting a sun gear, said sun gear being in meshing engagement with a planetary gear set disposed within said planetary gear housing portion. 2. The pulling tool according to claim 1, further comprising a first ring gear non-rotatably mounted in said planetary gear housing portion of said one-piece gear housing. 3. The pulling tool according to claim 1, wherein said planar portion of each of said first and second brackets includes a first surface and an opposite second surface, said first surfaces facing each other; and wherein said one piece gear housing is mounted to said second surface of said first bracket planar portion so as to be on an opposite side of said first bracket planar portion as said motor. 4. The pulling toll according to claim 3, wherein said drive shaft of said motor extends through an aperture in said first bracket. 5. The pulling tool according to claim 3, wherein said drive train is positioned adjacent to said second surface of said first bracket planar portion on an opposite side of said first bracket as said motor. 6. The pulling tool according to claim 3, wherein said first and second apertures of said one-piece gear housing are both positioned on the second side of the first bracket planar portion. 7. The pulling tool according to claim 3, further comprising a first ring gear non-rotatably mounted in said planetary gear housing portion and a second ring gear rotatably mounted in said planetary gear housing portion, said first and second ring gears each in direct meshing engagement with said planetary gear set. 8. The pulling tool according to claim 3, further comprising: a housing having first and second portions coupled together and defining a handle; and a trigger switch mounted to the handle; wherein said housing houses said bracket assembly, drum, motor and drive train. 9. A pulling tool, comprising: a bracket assembly including first and second brackets; a drum rotatably supported between said first and second brackets, said drum having a cable wound thereon; a motor supported by, and disposed between, said first and second brackets at a location laterally offset from an axis of said drum; and a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said motor to said drum, said drive train being supported by an integrally formed one piece gear housing including a first aperture for receiving a drive shaft of said motor, a first helical gear driven by said motor, a second aperture for supporting at least one intermediate gear and a planetary gear housing portion rotatably supporting a sun gear, said sun gear being in meshing engagement with a planetary gear set disposed within said planetary gear housing portion. 10. The pulling tool according to claim 9, wherein said drive train further includes a second helical gear in meshing engagement with said first helical gear, said second helical gear being non-rotatably connected to said at least one intermediate gear. 11. The pulling tool according to claim 10, further comprising a second intermediate gear in meshing engagement with said at least one intermediate gear and drivingly engaged with said sun gear. 12. The pulling tool according to claim 11, wherein said sun gear includes a first gear portion meshingly engaged with said second intermediate gear and a second gear portion engaged with said planetary gear set. 13. A pulling tool, comprising: a drive motor; a drum having a cable wound thereon; and a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said motor to said drum, said drive train including a first helical gear driven by said motor, a second helical gear in meshing engagement with said first helical gear, at least one intermediate gear in driving engagement with said second helical gear and a differential planetary gearset drivingly connected to said at least one intermediate gear, said differential planetary gearset including a sun gear in driving engagement with said at least one intermediate gear, a plurality of planetary gears in meshing engagement with said sun gear, a fixed ring gear in meshing engagement with said plurality of planetary gears and a rotatable ring gear in meshing engagement with said plurality of planetary gears, said rotatable ring gear being connected to said drum. 14. The pulling tool according to claim 13, further comprising a first bracket for rotatably supporting said drum. 15. The pulling tool according to claim 14, wherein said drive motor is disposed between said first bracket and an integrally formed one piece gear housing, said one-piece gear housing including a first aperture for receiving a drive shaft of said motor, a second aperture for supporting said at least one intermediate gear and a planetary gear housing portion rotatably supporting said sun gear, said planetary gear set being disposed within said planetary gear housing portion of said one-piece gear housing. 16. The pulling tool according to claim 15, further comprising a second bracket for rotatably supporting said drum. 17. The pulling tool according to claim 16, wherein said one-piece gear housing is mounted to said second bracket. 18. The pulling tool according to claim 14, further comprising a second bracket for rotatably supporting said drum, said drive motor being disposed between said first and second brackets. 19. The pulling tool according to claim 13, wherein said at least one intermediate gear is non-rotatably connected to said second helical gear. 20. The pulling tool according to claim 19, further comprising a second intermediate gear in engagement with said at least one intermediate gear and in further meshing engagement with a third intermediate gear which is non-rotatably connected with said sun gear. 21. A pulling tool, comprising: a drive motor; a drum having a cable wound thereon; a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said drive motor to said drum; and a motor control circuit including a control switch, a current limiter which disconnects said motor control circuit when a predetermined current level is achieved, and an indicator light bar having a plurality of indicator lights positioned in stacked spaced relation to each other and which are indicative of a load applied to said pulling tool, said light bar including a first indicator light and a last indicator light and a plurality of indicator lights therebetween such that as an increasing load is being applied to said pulling tool, a proportional number of the indicator lights are illuminated starting from the first light and progressing towards the last light to provide a visual indication of the amount of load being applied to the tool relative to a maximum applicable load, wherein illumination of all of the indicator lights including the last light provides a visual indication of the maximum load or predetermined current level being reached upon which the current limiter will disconnect said motor control circuit to disable said drive motor. 22. A pulling tool, comprising: a drive motor; a drum having a cable wound thereon; a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said drive motor to said drum; and a motor control circuit including a control switch and a current limiter which disconnects said motor control circuit when a predetermined current level is achieved, wherein said current limiter determines an average positive and an average negative peak current value, wherein a difference between the average positive peak current value and the average negative peak current value is compared to a predetermined value for determining whether the current limit is exceeded for disabling the drive motor. 23. A pulling tool, comprising: a bracket assembly including first and second brackets, said first and second brackets each having a planar portion, said planar portions disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other; a drum rotatably supported between said first and second bracket planar portions, said drum having a cable wound thereon; a motor supported by, and disposed between, each of said first and second bracket planar portions at a location laterally offset from an axis of said drum; a drive train connected between said drive motor and said drum for transmitting drive torque from said motor to said drum; and a hook secured between said first and second brackets. 24. The pulling tool according to claim 23, further comprising a housing covering said motor, said drum, said drive train and said planar portion of said first and second brackets. 25. The pulling tool according to claim 24, wherein said housing includes a handle. 26. The pulling tool according to claim 25, further comprising a trigger switch mounted to the handle. 27. The pulling tool according to claim 24, wherein said first and second brackets include end portions extending outward from said housing and said hook is attached to said end portions of said first and second brackets.