Tire lift/carrier

Abstract

The illustrated embodiment which is in the form of a winch (or hoist) comprises a reel including a spool and embodying a portion thereof through which it may be driven for its raising and lowering functions. The reel mounts in bearing relation to a drive shaft between parallel relatively closely spaced side walls of its housing. This embodiment features an overload clutch including a drive plate mounted for rotation with said shaft within said housing. The drive plate nests within a shallow cup-shaped plate firmly and resiliently coupled by springs, parts of which have an interfit relation with portions of the bounding wall. Upon rotation of the shaft the nature and direction thereof is transmitted through the clutch and successive drive transmission elements to the portion of the reel provided for this purpose. The spool includes a narrow track the base of which is formed in a special arcuate pattern, an interior pocket which is formed to anchor one end of a cable and a restricted passage leading from the pocket, to open from said base, the line of which is lateral to a line radial to the spool. The form of the base and the track dictates a natural stress free coil of the cable on the base and smooth extension of the cable from the winch housing. Additional features include a guide system for the cable providing not only a minimalizing of the wear, tear, and stress normally incident to the use of such apparatus but facilitating a most efficient use thereof where the winch is offset from the applied load. Controls are incorporated through the medium of which the rotation of the reel may be interrupted before the cable is completely unwrapped from the base of the spool.

Description

sprial spiral configuration. This spiral is formed to gradually approach more closely the central aperture of the plate 96 and extends to a point short of, opposite and spaced inwardly of that point at which the reverse curve 105 terminates at the outer end of the one side of the passage 106 which defines its extension. From this point the spiral arc 107 is extended by a short, straight line edge portion of the plate 96 which is in a parallel closely spaced relation to the straight line extension of the curve 105 and forms the opposite side of the passage 106.

As will be seen, the spacing between the sides of the passage 106 is less than the length of the side of the cutout through which the inner end of the passage 106 opens. Accordingly there are portions of this side of the cutout to either side of the inner end of the passage which are perpendicular thereto.

The effect of the shaping of the outer peripheral edges of the plates 96, their cutouts and their common passages 106 which open to and from one end of the cutout 97 in each case causes the plates 96, when oriented in a vertical elevation such as shown in FIG. 2 to resemble in profile a head having a mouth and lips which are defined by the cutouts 97 and the sides of the passage 106. As will be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, the upper lip is extended by a portion of the spiral curve 107 and the lower appears as part of a jaw when viewed with the reverse curve 105 and the underlying end portion of the approximately 270° arc which this curve extends.

By virtue of the alignment of plates 90, 92, and 96 in successive face abutting relation in the assembly of the reel and its spool, the cutouts 97 together with the generally rectangular aperture 94 provide a socket or pocket within the interior of the spool in which one end portion of the lift cable 100, about which a metal sleeve 112 is in this case fixed, is nested and retained by the application of the plates 99 and 102 as the plates of the reel are assembled and sandwiched together by the application of the rivets 83. As the sleeve 112 and the end of the cable to which it is fixed is dropped into the pocket defined in the plates 96 by their cutouts 97 and the extension thereof provided by the aperture 94, prior to the application of the plates 99, the portion of the cable immediately following the end mounting the sleeve 112 is laid in the groove defined by the common passages 106. From this point the remaining portion of the cable is projected outwardly of the plates 96 so that on application the plates 99 and 102 to complete the reel, and the interconnection of its plates by rivets 83, the outer portion of the cable can be smoothly wrapped on itself in a natural configuration to first follow the pattern of the outer surface of the plates 96 defined initially by the spiral curve 107 and then extend from the winch housing by way of its exit passage in the cable guide 114, which is preferably of plastic material. It should be noted that in the application and containment of the one end of the cable 100 including the sleeve 112 in the pocket formed within the spool, it is inherently restrained from dislodgement because of the limiting abutment surfaces to either end thereof. However, it is enabled to have a small amount of endwise movement though very restricted in this respect also.

It is further noted that in the provision of holes for the rivets applied, they are so arranged in the plates which comprise the sub-assemblies of the invention structure that such plates can be assembled only in one way. This enables a simple and economical fabrication of embodiments of the present invention.

Also, clamped between the facing plates 92 and 99 which immediately bound the plates 96 is a horseshoe shaped cable guide 120, preferably of plastic, the inner surface of which positions in outwardly displaced bounding relation to about 270° of the outer peripheral edges of the plates 96. The side plates 12 and 14 of the housing 10 are each provided with an identical series of slots, the respective slots therein being opposed and paired to receive rectangular tab-like extensions from opposite edge portions of plates 130 which together form an encompassing peripheral wall for the winch assembly mounted to the portions 32 and 34 of the shaft 24. One end of the horseshoe shaped guide 120 has a rectangular projection on the outer peripheral surface portion thereof which hooks into a recess provided in an inner portion of the plastic guide 114. The space between the opposite end of the guide 120 and the guide 114 is bridged by the finger 127 of a cable follower 126 which is also preferably of plastic. The group of elements 120, 114 and 126 produces a bearing surface of essentially 360° which encompasses the portion of the cable 100 on the spool (92, 96, 99) and lends a most protective and efficient means which particularly together with the shape of the plates 96 insure a trouble free movement of the cable to and from the spool which is protective thereof as well as rendering the winch more efficient in use.

As seen FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, which illustrate a clockwise drive of the shaft 24, the rivet 15' bridging and interconnecting the plates 12 and 14 at approximately a 4 o'clock position with reference to the clockwise movement of the spool, defined by the plates 96 and the bounding plates 92 and 99, is in this instance provided with a sleeve 125. Mounting about the sleeve 125 is a coil spring 129 one end of which seats in abutment to the inner surface of the housing side plate 14. By virtue of a plastic lined aperture the follower 126 mounts about the sleeve 125 to seat to the other end of the spring 129, in the process of which a tangentially directed right-angled extremity of the spring hooks into a recess in the body thereof in a position radially displaced from the sleeve 125. The opposite end portion of the spring 129 which seats to the plate 14 includes a portion thereof extending tangentially to and outwardly from its coil the projected extremity of which is bent at right angles to the preceding portion and projects from and perpendicular the plate 14. This part of the spring which bears against the plate 14 and its right angled projected extremity is biased to bear against the peripheral wall of the winch housing in a manner not only to be contained thereby but to cause a bias of the follower 126 to which it is hooked inwardly of the spool of the reel, between the facing plates 92 and 99 thereof, in the direction of the base of the track of the spool, defined by the plates 96, on which base the lift cable 100 is limited to be wrapping on itself. The construction and arrangement is such to produce a constant bias of the projected extremity of the finger portion 127 of the follower 126 against the outer coil of the cable wrapped on the base of the track of the spool at any given time.

Coupled to and coaxially with the follower 126, by mating, press fit male-female parts thereof is the body of a stop pawl 128 which has an aperture aligned with that of the follower 126 providing for its common mount and rotation with the follower, in abutment with a portion of the face thereof and remote from the spring 129. The stop pawl 128 the body of which has a plate form includes a finger-like portion 131 co-planar with the internal gear 82, the projected extremity of which finger is normally positioned immediately outward of the ratchet teeth 84 on its peripherally outermost surface. As will be further seen, the bias of the spring 129 is to induce a conjoint rotation of the follower 126 and the stop pawl 128 to provide that the stop pawl is caused to so position as to lodge behind the back edge 85 of a ratchet tooth 84 on the outer periphery of the internal gear 82 precisely at such time as the lift cable 100 has been unwrapped from the spool to the point (in the particular preferred embodiment illustrated) that approximately 180° to 270° of a single wrap of the cable is left on the spool.

As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 the stop pawl 128 and follower 126 are so interconnected that in the clockwise drive of the spool the finger 131 of the stop pawl is fixed counterclockwise of the finger 127 to trail this finger by an angle which may vary but in this instance is shown to approach 30°. As will be obvious, a stop of the rotation of the gear 82 will occur at a time prior to the complete discharge of the cable. The provision of this control is to insure that in no instance will the cable totally unwrap from the spool and produce unnecessary stress or strain. Beyond the spool the cable portion within the housing being encompassed by its essentially 360° bearing structure will optimally configure as it is passed from the winch housing through the cable guide 114. The benefits of this should be readily apparent, since it affords insurance as to preservation of the integrity of the cable per se.

The foregoing structure is that provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the present instance providing for its most advantageous application as a tire lift/carrier. FIG. 2 illustrates this embodiment to provide apparatus which can readily be used in a conventional application, i.e. where the load is in a direct vertical alignment with the winch and in particular the spool thereof. In such attitude of use the benefits of the improvements of the invention will be readily apparent. However, the unit apparatus of the invention, by reason of the presently embodied improvements, are most advantageous in difficult applications where the load of necessity is offset from the line of the track of the spool of the winch. Such an application is graphically illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings to which all the other Figures thereof can be referenced.

FIG. 11 of the drawings is a view of the elements of the reel which exhibit the wrapping of the cable 100 about the outer periphery of the plates 96. As there seen the outer limit of the wrap and a limited portion of the cable extending counterclockwise therefrom is peripherally bounded by the immediate surface of the cable guide 120, the finger 127 of the follower 126 and the cable guide 114 on which the cable is adapted to bear as it is paid out. The cable issues from the winch housing by way of a passage defined in the body of the cable guide 114. Note that only a single track, defined within the spool of the reel, dictates that the cable is maintained in a single plane within the limits of the housing 10. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the cable remains in the same plane as it is extends in a straight line through the major extent of a length of tubing 132 the entrance end of which is aligned with and immediately of the exit opening of the cable passage in the guide 114. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, the virtue of the horizontal attitude of the winch 10 and the same horizontal attitude of the major extent of the length of tubing 132, which forms an immediate extension of the passage in the cable guide 114, one can place the winch in one location and lead the cable therefrom laterally and horizontally in whatever direction required to the point of a 90° curve provided in the end portion of the tube 132 remote from the housing 10. A short vertical extension of the 90° curve is directly over the center of the load to be carried, lifted and/or lowered as it is controlled by an operation of the winch.

FIGS. 1 and 11 show the tire lift/carrier of the embodiment and installation of the invention just described in the attitude in which it is connected to the frame of a truck and a fragment of the spare wheel, the outer periphery of which mounts a tire, called by and supported from the cable 100 in their normally stored position with reference to the truck to which the lift/carrier is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, for the purpose of mounting the wheel, and tire applied thereto, so that the structure may be stably supported in connection with the lift cable, in this instance, as schematically illustrated, the lower or dependent extremity of the cable mounts, by suitable means, and in known manner, a narrow rectangular plate 142. This plate applied lengthwise through the center of the aperture in the wheel mounting the tire is positioned in an attitude perpendicular to the cable after it is passed through the wheel to diametrically bridge the opening in the wheel and have its respective end portions positioned under and in supporting relation to the wheel and the interconnected tire.

When it is desired to lower the wheel and included tire from their stored position, in which they are illustrated in FIG. 1, through the medium of an interconnected handle (not shown), the crankshaft 28 will be manually cranked counterclockwise to extend the cable 100 and lower the supported wheel and tire. The drive of the reel, and accordingly the spool, which will be directed through the drive shaft 24, in particular the portion 32 thereof, will induce a rotation of the plate 40 and the assembled co-planar springs 62, thereby to resultingly drive the plate 52 very firmly, positively and uniformly by the engagement therein of the tits 63. This produces an oscillation of the external gear 68, a corresponding drive of the internal gear 82 and through it a counterclockwise rotation of the spool on which the cable 100 is wrapped on itself. As will be obvious, the result is that the cable will, by virtue of the present construction and configuration of the plates 96 and the cable guides 120, 126 and 114 smoothly and uniformly move from the winch housing. The spiral contour of the arc 107 forming the extension of the passage 46 in the plates 96 provides assurance that as the cable unwinds from the spool it will smoothly bear against the inner surface of the horseshoe shaped guide 120 as its contact is induced therewith. The cable will at this point be caused to assume a configuration which eliminates kinking, adverse bends and friction of the type that would produce objectionable wear and tear of the components of the winch. More than this, the construction and arrangement of the guide structure exterior to the winch in the installation shown in FIG. 1, details of which are illustrated in FIG. 13, eliminates serious problems heretofore found to exist in use of prior art devices applied to similar purposes where the load to be lifted and carried is out of direct line with the apparatus by which it is to be lifted, loaded and carried. The efficiency found in use of the noted improvements of the invention are particularly evidenced in such instances where the cable is lowered in absence of an applied load.

Attention is directed to the fact that as the cable 100 is paid out, the finger portion 127 of the cable follower 126, under the influence of the bias of the spring 129, moves inwardly between the plates 92 and 99 of the spool to constantly bear on the outer layer of the wrapped cable. At that point that only a single partial winding of the cable remains on the outer periphery of the plates 96, encompassing approximately 180° to 270° thereof, (when this point is reached, and not before) the projected extremity of the finger 131 of the stop pawl 128 is rotated sufficiently with the follower 126 under the influence of the spring 129 to move inwardly of the outer peripheral surface of the internal gear 82 and lodge behind the radially projected rear edge 85 of one of its ratchet teeth 84. This precludes a total unwrapping of the cable during the lowering thereof under load and provides a predetermined level of the load in its lowermost portion in connection with the cable 100. Additional benefits derive from such arrangement in that is precludes undue stress and strain at the point at which the cable is anchored to the plates 96 which might inadvertently cause damage to or dislodgement of the cable from its spool.

As will be obvious, noting FIG. 12, for lifting the drive shaft 24 is cranked clockwise. If for any reason a load is applied to the lower end of the cable for lifting thereof and its weight is more than the maximum limit prescribed, when the plate 40 and the interconnected springs 62 are driven clockwise, the tits 63 of the springs 62 will be felt to smoothly displace from and out of the notches 56 in the bounding wall 54 of the plate 52 and move onto the inner surface of the wall 54 from notch to notch without any perceptible strain of the cable resulting.

When the load is within prescribed limits, and the shaft 24 is driven clockwise, the tits 63 of the springs 62 will transmit the drive produced on rotation of the crankshaft and cause the spool to turn and the cable to smoothly wrap on the base of the track defined therein by the outer periphery of the plates 96, even with remoteness of the load as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1. The construction and arrangement is such that when by virtue of the degree of torque applied in drive of the spool it should by reason of carlessness or negligence exceed a predetermined, preset maximum limit, this will be reflected by the springs dislodging their tits 63 from the notches 56 in the driven plate at that point corresponding to the limit of the upward movement prescribed for the load. In other words, the load will have been lifted to that position in which it is prescribed that the load be carried. At such time, where there is a manual cranking as described, the operator of the winch will be able to feel that a smooth but pressured displacement of the tits from the notches in the wall 54, as would be the case when there is an overload. Note that the torque applied to the springs 62 will not in such cases drop to zero, under which conditions there could be danger to the operator. The torque will in such instance merely reduce a limited degree, sufficient only to distinguish from a condition such as exists when there is a driving of the plate 52. As indicated previously, in the event of an overload, such as would occur in the manner described, the tits 63 bear between the notches 56 against the inner wall surface of the plate 52. This safety feature positively precludes inadvertent damage to the winch or its parts where the operator applies himself or herself violently to the drive of the crankshaft. Thus the overload clutch structure of the invention serves admirably and most effectively in a dual capacity.

Referring to FIG. 13, the length of tubing 132 is fastened to the underside of the frame of the truck to which the lift/carrier apparatus is applied, by means of two longitudinally spaced brackets 136 and 138, each of which is generally U-shaped in transverse section and has co-planar wing-like flanges extending outwardly from, laterally of and perpendicular to the projected ends of the parallel arms of its cross sectional configuration.

As seen in FIG. 13, the bracket 136, the vertical extent of which is shorter than that of the bracket 138, has the U-shaped portion thereof in underlying and cupped relation to the tubing 132 adjacent its entrance end. As will be obvious, the flanges thereof are uppermost and suitably apertured for application therethrough of bolts or the like to fix it to the immediately overlying truck frame to which it is fastened.

The bracket 138 is applied to the end of the tubing 132 including the portion 134 thereof. The vertical extent of the U-shape of the bracket 138 is suitable to this end. In the case of this bracket the base of its U-shape is at right angles to its upwardly projected, closely spaced parallel arms and has a central aperture. In the application of the bracket 138, its parallel arms immediately bound opposite sides of the curved portion of the tubing 132 and its vertically dependent portion 134. The projected extremity of the portion 134 projects through and into the upper end of a coaxially aligned bushing the flange of which is abutted to the undersurface of the bracket base in rimming relation to its central aperture. The bushing 140 projects, in turn, through the central opening of a retention plate 144 which abuts the underside of its flange and holds it in a clamped relation to the underside of the bracket base as oppositely projected tabs thereof are bent upwardly and over the upper surface of the ends of the base of bracket 138 between the upstanding sides of its U shape. The bushing 140 is thereby clamped in connection with the base of the bracket to form a coaxial extension of the tubing portion 134. To either side of the plate 144, at a position spaced 90° from its tabs, are upstanding flanges enabling it to cup about opposite surfaces of the lower ends of the upstanding arms of the bracket. Attention is directed to the fact that the bushing 140 has a counterbore in the end thereof which disposes uppermost forming therein an annular shoulder to which the dependent extremity of the tubing portion 134 is seated. The bore of the bushing 140 in this instance is reduced in diameter with respect to that of the tubing 132 to accommodate the cable 100 being threaded therethrough in substantially bearing relation to the bounding portion of the inner wall surface thereof. As may be seen, this provides stability to the cable 100 as it extends downwardly from the tubing 132 to connect therebelow to the applied load. The benefits of this are seen both in respect to the lifting and lowering of the cable in use thereof for its intended purpose.

Note also should be taken of the fact that the very nature of the shaping and interrelation of the parts of the winch enables that it may be assembled with the drive shaft reversed end to end, as may be desired in a particular application. This contributes to the economy and efficiency of the construction provided in the embodiment of the invention here illustrated.

One further note should be made with reference to the fact that the flanges 60 provided on the driven plate 52 distinguish this structure from prior art driven elements applied heretofore for same purposes in that the flanges 60 provide increased thrust bearing surface in respect to the plate 12. This together with the whole arrangement of the improvements and construction of the winch provides that the parts thereof, including the cable 100, will have a most balanced operation throughout the various aspects of their functions. The winch unit, therefore, provides an extremely durable construction which is most effective for use in difficult applications, particularly with reference to the provision of a tire lift/carrier such as herein described.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tire lift/carrier or the like including a spool, said spool comprising a plurality of plate elements fixed in side by side face abutting relation, one portion of said plate elements intermediate others thereof having its outer peripheral surface recessed relative that of other plate elements by which it is bounded to define therewith a narrow track the base of which is provided by the outer periphery of said portion of said plate elements, said one portion of said plate elements being apertured to form therein a generally rectangular opening to provide a pocket in said spool which is laterally expanded by apertures in said bounding plate elements, one end of a cable having means providing an enlargement thereof anchored in said pocket, a restricted passage defined in said one portion of said plate elements, said passage being open at one end thereof to said pocket and having the other end thereof opening from said base of said track, the direction of said passage being laterally of and substantially at a right angle to a line radial to said spool, said passage providing a path through which said cable extends from said pocket, the configuration of said outer peripheral surface of said one portion of said plate elements, to one side of the opening of said restricted passage from said base, being formed in an essentially spiral arc, facilitating a natural, smooth wrap of said cable about said base and a smooth extension thereof from said spool.

2. Apparatus including a clutch for use in connecting a drive shaft to a device mounted thereon for rotation relative thereto which is used to lift or maintain a load not in excess of a predetermined limit, for example a tire lift/carrier, comprising a clutch plate connected to the shaft for rotation therewith, a further plate mounted to and for rotation on said shaft in an immediately following relation to said clutch plate, said further plate having the shape of a cup comprising a base portion and generally perpendicular thereto a shallow wall portion, said clutch plate being nested in said cup and having springs engaged thereto in a generally circular arrangement thereof, a plurality of said springs each having a portion thereof projecting outwardly of the outer peripheral boundary of said clutch plate and formed on a uniform radius and to include a further projection centered between its ends which has the shape of a tit, said projecting portions being in a substantially co-planar relation, said shallow wall portion presenting to the interior of said cup at each of a number of locations which are circularly spaced a wall formation arranged to receive and lodge one of said tits, each said tit being normally lodged and laterally contained in one of said wall formations to provide a normally positive and secure drive of said further plate and the device to which it is connected, on rotation of said shaft, absent said device being subjected to a load in excess of said predetermined limit.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said clutch plate includes a series of flats defined on its outer periphery each of which is laterally bounded by two slots directed inwardly of said clutch plate the radial innermost extremity of each of which is laterally expanded, each of said springs is bow shaped, bounds one of said flats intermediate its respective ends and has its respective extremities projected into the expanded portions of the two slots which laterally bound said one flat to engage therein to said clutch plate, thereby to preclude the circular displacement thereof with reference to said clutch plate.

4. Tire lift/carrier apparatus including a drive shaft, a clutch plate mounted on and connected for rotation with said shaft, a spool mounted in bearing relation to said shaft to accommodate relative rotation therebetween, said clutch plate being normally in driving relation to said spool through interposed means which mount to and about said shaft, said spool being formed to define therein a narrow track having a base which is recessed relative to portions of said spool which define the sides of said track and bound said base thereof, a cable one end portion of which is anchored to said spool to align it with said base of said track, said interposed means including a further plate mounted to and for rotation on said shaft in an immediately following relation to said clutch plate, said further plate having the shape of a cup comprising a base portion and generally perpendicular thereto a shallow wall portion, said clutch plate being nested in said cup and having springs engaged thereto in a generally circular arrangement thereof, a plurality of said springs each having a portion thereof projecting outwardly of the outer peripheral boundary of said clutch plate and formed on a uniform radius and to include a further projection centered between its ends which has the shape of a tit, said projecting portions being in a substantially co-planar relation, said shallow wall portion presenting to the interior of said cup at each of a number of locations which are circularly spaced a wall formation arranged to receive and lodge therein one of said tits, each said tit being normally lodged and laterally contained in one of said wall formations to provide a normally positive and secure drive of said further plate and, therethrough, the other of said interposed portions and said spool on rotation of said shaft, absent said spool being subjected to a load in excess of prescribed limit.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 comprising a housing including parallel side plates between which said clutch plate, said interposed means and said spool and anchored cable are laterally contained and said shallow wall portion of said further plate embodies integral, external, radially projected, flange means which on rotation of said shaft bear on the most adjacent surface of one of said side plates to maintain a balanced drive of the following interposed means and said spool.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 comprising a housing including parallel side plates between which said clutch plate, said interposed means and said spool and anchored cable are laterally contained, means defining a cable guide contained in said housing at a location immediately of the periphery of said spool, said cable guide being formed to include a passage for exit of said cable from said housing the entrance to which is in a direct alignment with said base of said track, said cable being threaded through said passage, which provides in bounding relation thereto a plastic bearing surface for said cable as it is wrapped on or unwrapped from said spool and provides a smooth and controlled alignment of said cable with said track in its exit from and the wrap thereof on the base of said track.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 including a further cable guide releasably connected at one end thereof to said first mentioned cable guide and extending therefrom to position within the outer peripheral portion of said track and set in circularly bounding relation to an excess of 180 degrees of the base of said track and the cable which is wrapped thereon to encompass the major extent of said cable between the side portions of said track.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said passage for exit of said cable from said housing is extended by a tubular member one portion of which is bent in a smoothly curving arc to place the following portion thereof so as to extend in a direction different than that of said preceding portion of said cable.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said apparatus is installed in connection wth a vehicle, said housing is mounted in a substantially horizontal position, said tubular member initially extends from said housing in a substantially horizontal line and said bent portion thereafter smoothly directs said cable from said horizontal to depend vertically therefrom for the engagement thereof to a load to be carried thereby or otherwise applied thereto.

10. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said side plates are bridged by a wall structure which forms its outer periphery and said peripheral wall structure provides means in backing relation to a least a portion of said cable guide means to maintain its required position in reference to said cable within the limits of said housing.

11. Apparatus as in claim 7 including a spring biased cable follower at the outer periphery of said track the bias of which provides that a portion thereof bears on the outermost layer of said cable which is wrapped on said base at any given time and said follower is mounted in connection with means which together with both the aforementioned cable guides is positioned to provide an essentially 360° bearing surface for the cable which is wrapped on the spool as it exits from, returns to said housing.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 including means in connection with said spool the outer peripheral surface of which includes a plurality of relatively spaced ratchet teeth, the last said means rotating with said spool in the wrapping and unwrapping of said cable, and means movable in correspondence with the movement of said follower to interengage with and prevent the rotation of said means including said ratchet teeth and said spool on a predetermined portion of cable being left on said base as the cable is unwrapped therefrom and extended form said housing.

13. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said passage for exit of said cable from said housing is extended by a tubular member one portion of which is bent in a smoothly curving arc to place the following portion thereof so as to have the cable therein extend in a generally horizontal direction and then further bent to place the cable therein in a vertical orientation as it

passes therethrough. 14. Tire lift/carrier apparatus comprising a drive shaft, a housing supporting said drive shaft for rotation, a clutch plate within said housing and mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, a set of annular sheet metal plates forming a spool mounted on said drive shaft for relative rotation within said housing and defining a narrow annular track, said clutch plate being normally in driving relation to said spool through interposed means surrounding said shaft, an elongated flexible cable having opposite end portions, means mounted on one end portion of said cable for supporting a tire, means connecting the opposite end portion of said cable to said spool, said annular track of said spool having a width slightly greater than the diameter of said cable to confine said cable for wrapping radially outwardly in a spiral overlapping manner within said track, said interposed means including a drive plate supported for rotation relative to said shaft and adjacent said clutch plate, said drive plate including circumferentially spaced projections disposed around said clutch plate, spring elements mounted on said clutch plate and having portions projecting outwardly into engagement with said projections on said drive plate, said spring elements being deformable inwardly by said projections spring bias means interconnecting said clutch plate and said drive plate and being deformable in response to relative rotation between said clutch plate and said drive plate and providing for driving said drive plate by said clutch plate with a predetermined limiting torque, said interposed means further including an eccentric cam member rotatable with said drive plate, an annular drive gear mounted on said cam member and supported for orbital movement in response to rotation of said cam member, a ring gear surrounding said drive gear, and means for rigidly securing said ring gear to said spool to effect rotation of said spool in response to rotation of

said shaft and said clutch plate through said interposed means. 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 and including compressible plate means surrounding said shaft and disposed for limiting axial movement within said housing of the components surrounding said shaft.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said spring elements encompass substantially the outer periphery of said clutch plate.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said clutch plate is substantially flat and has a plurality of periphery spaced openings, and said spring elements have hooked end portions disposed within said openings.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 and including a cable guide member mounted on said housing and defining an exit for said cable from said housing, and said guide member comprises a body of molded

plastics material. 19. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 and including a sheet metal generally C-shaped plate disposed within said housing and projecting into said track of said spool for confining said cable within

said track. 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said ring gear has peripherally spaced stop surfaces, a spring biased stop pawl is supported by said housing for engaging said stop surfaces, and means for sensing said cable within said track and for pivoting said stop pawl to

assure winding of said cable on said spool in only one direction. 21. Tire lift/carrier apparatus comprising a drive shaft, a housing supporting said drive shaft for rotation, a clutch plate within said housing and mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, a set of annular sheet metal plates forming a spool mounted on said drive shaft for relative rotation within said housing and defining a narrow annular track, said clutch plate being normally in driving relation to said spool through interposed means surrounding said shaft, an elongated flexible cable having opposite end portions, means mounted on one end portion of said cable for supporting a tire, means connecting the opposite end portion of said cable to said spool, said annular track of said spool having a width slightly greater than the diameter of said cable to confine said cable for wrapping radially outwardly in a spiral overlapping manner within said track, said interposed means including a drive plate supported for rotation relative to said shaft and adjacent said clutch plate, said drive plate including circumferentially spaced projections disposed around said clutch plate, spring elements mounted on said clutch plate and having portions projecting outwardly into engagement with said projections on said drive plate, said spring elements being deformable inwardly by said projections spring bias means interconnecting said clutch plate and said drive plate and being deformable in response to relative rotation between said clutch plate and said drive plate and providing for driving said drive plate by said clutch plate with a predetermined limiting torque, said interposed means further including an eccentric cam member rotatable with said drive plate, an annular drive gear mounted on said cam member, a plate connected to said housing and supporting said drive gear for orbital movement in response to rotation of said cam member, a ring gear surrounding said drive gear and having at least one tooth more than the number of teeth on said drive gear, and means for rigidly securing said ring gear to said spool to effect rotation of said spool in response to rotation of said shaft and said clutch plate through said interposed means.