Fishing reel drive mechanism

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank shaft, means supporting the crank shaft for rotation on the frame, a main rotary drive drivingly connected to the crank shaft, a crank handle being fixed to the crank shaft for rotating the rotary drive, a rotatable line spool, the crank shaft serving as a bearing supporting the spool for rotation, a rotary input drivingly connected to the rotary drive, a rotary output drivingly connected to the spool, means supporting the rotary input and output for rotation on the frame, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device, means supporting the no-back device on the frame, the no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling between the rotary input and rotary output operable upon relative rotation of the rotary input and rotary output, and a direct drive coupling selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the direct drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out.

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank operated main rotary drive, a rotatable line spool, means for supporting the main rotary drive and the spool for rotation on the frame in coaxial relation to one another, a rotary input drivingly connected to the rotary drive, a rotary output drivingly connected to the spool, the rotary input and rotary output being supported for rotation about an axle establishing a rotational axis in offset parallel relation to the rotational axis of the main rotary drive and the spool, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device, means supporting the no-back device on the frame, the no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling comprising a friction disc coaxially disposed between the rotary input and rotary output and operable upon relative rotation of the rotary input and rotary output, and a direct drive coupling selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the direct drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out.

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank, a crank operated main drive gear, a line spool, a first axle supporting the crank, the main drive gear and the spool for rotation on the frame, a second axle supported on the frame, a rotary input supported on the second axle and drivingly connected to the main drive gear, a rotary output supported on the second axle and drivingly connected to the spool, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device, means supporting the no-back device on the frame, the no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling between the rotary input and rotary output operable upon relative rotation of the rotary input and rotary output, a drive and brake operator, means for mounting the drive and brake operator for movement on the frame, a drive coupling supported for rotation on the operator and selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out, and a limit stop on the frame cooperating with the drive and brake operator for establishing first and second limit positions for the operator, the operator in its first limit position establishing said engaged position of the direct drive coupling, and the operator in its second limit position establishing said disengaged position of the direct drive coupling, the no-back device including a ratchet wheel in continuous meshing engagement with the main drive gear and a no-back pawl supported on the drive and brake operator for pivotal movement and biased toward the ratchet wheel for operative engagement therewith, whereby reverse movement of the spool in a line unwinding direction, initiated by any pull on the line with the operator in said first limit position and the crank released, causes the main drive gear to rotate to apply a driving force to the operator through the ratchet wheel and the pawl to an extent limited by the limit stop to shift the operator from its first limit position to its second limit position and thereby move the direct drive coupling into its disengaged position to operate the brake and tension the line during run-out.

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank operated main rotary drive, a rotatable line spool, a first axle supporting the rotary drive and spool for rotation on the frame, a second axle supported on the frame, a rotary input supported on the second axle and drivingly connected to the rotary drive, a rotary output supported on the second axle and drivingly connected to the spool, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device, means supporting the no-back device on the frame, the no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling between the rotary input and rotary output operable upon relative rotation of the rotary input and rotary output, a drive and brake operator, means for mounting the drive and brake operator for movement on the frame, a direct drive coupling supported for rotation on the operator and selectively moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out, a limit stop on the frame cooperating with the drive and brake operator for establishing first and second limit positions for the operator, the operator in its first limit position establishing said engaged position of the direct drive coupling, and the operator in its second limit position establishing said disengaged position of the direct drive coupling, a control cam mounted on the side wall of the frame, the control cam being engageable with the drive and brake operator for selectively moving it between its first and second limit positions, and a direct drive throw-out lever connected to the control cam and located outside the side wall of the frame for manually shifting the operator between its first and second limit positions to alternatively effect direct driving and braking of the spool respectively for line winding and unwinding.

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank operated main drive gear, a rotatable line spool, means supporting the drive gear and spool for rotation on the frame, a rotary input drivingly connected to the main drive gear, a rotary output drivingly connected to the spool, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling between the rotary input and rotary output operable upon relative rotation of the rotary input and rotary output, and a direct drive coupling selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the direct drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out, the rotary input and rotary output being coaxially aligned compound gears, the rotary input and the rotary output having corresponding gears interconnected to effect a direct drive to the spool upon meshing engagement with an idler gear comprising the direct drive coupling, the spool having a pinion secured thereto in continuous meshing engagement with a second gear of the compound rotary output gear, and the compound rotary input gear having a second gear in continuous meshing engagement with the main drive gear.

A fishing reel comprising a frame, a crank operated main rotary drive, a rotatable line spool, means supporting the main rotary drive and spool for rotation on the frame, a rotary input drivingly connected to the rotary drive, a rotary output drivingly connected to the spool, means supporting the rotary input and rotary output for rotation in adjacent coaxial relation to one another, the rotary input being rotatable in a first angular direction for driving the rotary output to rotate the spool in a line winding direction, a no-back device drivingly connected to the rotary input and limiting its movement against rotation in a direction opposite said first angular direction, a drag brake friction coupling comprising a disc of frictional material mounted between the rotary input and rotary output to be pressed into frictional engagement therewith for applying a braking force to the spool upon rotation of the rotary output relative to the rotary input, a direct drive coupling selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the direct drive coupling in engaged position drivingly connecting the rotary input and rotary output to drive the spool in a line winding direction, the drive coupling in disengaged position permitting reverse rotation of the rotary output responsive to rotation of the spool in a line unwinding direction such that with the no-back device locking the rotary input against rotation in said opposite angular direction, the drag brake friction coupling operates to apply a controlled braking force to the spool, tensioning the line during run-out, and drag brake adjustment means including a control lever movably mounted outside the frame for varying the compressive engagement of the friction disc by the rotary input and rotary output, and detent means between the lever and the frame for maintaining the control lever in a desired brake adjustment position during operation of the reel to establish a preselected brake force to be applied to the spool to preset the drag imposed on the line during run-out.