US 2011/0030606 A1 · MECHANISM FOR ALTERNATIVE POWER OR MANUAL OPERATION OF A YACHT WINCH

Abstract

A power or manually operated winch mechanism for handling the running rigging lines of a sailing yacht. The winch includes a winding drum, which winds and stores the line during line retrieving operations and controllably releases the line when desired. The new winch, while intended to be driven by on-board electric or hydraulic power, includes a novel mechanism, actuated by a conventional winch handle, for converting the winch to a multi-speed manual operating mode in the event of failure of the on-board power system. A clutch mechanism enables controlled release of line from the winding drum during manual operation, and enables adjustments and emergency release operation when operating in a power mode. Novel level wind features enable the lines to be appropriately tensioned during retrieval, and positively drawn from the drum when the line is not under load. Significant improvement in the safety and convenience of the crew is enabled.

Claims11

Dependent claims

1-44. (canceled)

A sail managing winch for handling running rigging lines of a sailing yacht, primarily by power but with selective manual operation, which comprises

(a) a rotatable winding drum having for winding and storing a line,
(b) a primary drive member extending axially through said winding drum and drivingly engageable therewith,
(c) a gear box mechanism positioned below said winding drum and housing a plurality of interconnected drive gears,
(d) an upper portion of said primary drive member having a manual drive socket for engagement with a winch handle and a lower portion of said primary drive member extending downward into said gear box mechanism and mounting a main drive gear within said gear box mechanism,
(e) a powered drive motor mounted in fixed relation to said gear box mechanism and selectively engageable with said primary drive member, and
(f) a primary clutch mechanism having a first condition disconnecting said drive motor from said primary drive member and connecting said primary drive member with said main drive gear for rotation with and by said main drive gear, and having a second condition disconnecting said primary drive member from said main drive gear and connecting said drive motor to said primary drive member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/909,557Filed 21 Oct 2010

Priority

7 Jun 2007

Published

10 Feb 2011

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B66D 1/7484
Capstans: details concerning gearing arrangements, e.g. multi-speed
B66D 1/7426
Having a vertical rotation axis: driven by motor only
B63H 9/10
Connections of sails to masts, spars, or the like: running rigging, e.g. reefing equipment
B66D
Capstans

Family

Application11/759,398Division · filed 7 Jun 2007

Application12/722,285Division · filed 11 Mar 2010

Application12/909,557Division

US 2008/0302289 A1Published application

US 2010/0181542 A1Published application

US 7,717,402 B2Related patent

US 7,913,979 B2Related patent

US 8,066,261 B2Related patent

US 2011/0030606 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Mechanism for alternative power or manual operation of a yacht winch

Life of this patent

Mechanism for alternative power or manual operation of a yacht winch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11