US3608511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roller reef actuating mechanism and brake
Assignee: FAMET MARINE
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Filing: 1970-01-23
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1990-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A sail may be reefed by geared roller reefing whereby the lower end of the sail is wrapped around a horizontal boom pivotally attached to a mast. A housing is attached to the mast by a universal joint connection. Within the housing is a spiral worm gear held in position by a snapring engaging grooves in housing and gear. A hexagonal shaft extends from the gear and is received in the ''''bottle'''' formed on the adjacent end of the boom. A worm in the housing is turned by a crank to turn the gear and thus the boom with a low ratio of about 11:1. The worm carries adjacent either end an O-ring which fits against a bore in the housing and the hole in a hollow nut which is threaded into the housing and the hole in a hollow nut which is threaded into the housing over the opposite end of the worm to hold the latter in place. The Orings act as a brake to prevent reverse rotation of the boom which would otherwise occur because of the ratio and also to seal lubricant.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard R Katshen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:13
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04; B63H9/08; B63H9/10; B63H9/1021; B63H9/1042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
In a roller reef assembly for sailboats wherein a sail is supported by a mast and a boom transverse to said mast, an actuating mechanism to rotate said boom about its longitudinal axis transverse to said mast comprising a housing, support means for supporting said housing on said mast, said housing being formed with a closed end adjacent said support means and an open end opposite said closed end, a gear rotatable within said housing, cooperating means on said gear and said housing retaining said gear in place, said gear closing off said open end, means on said gear for attachment of said gear to said boom for rotating of said boom with said gear, said housing having a hollow boss formed with a second bore transverse to said firstmentioned bore, a pinion meshing with said gear rotatable within said second bore and having first and second ends, each said end formed with a groove, said first end rotatable within said second bore and exposed at one end of said boss and formed with means cooperating with a handle to rotate said pinion, means holding said second end in said boss and formed with a hole receiving said second end of said pinion, and an O-ring in each said groove, one said O-ring engaging said second bore and the other said O-ring engaging said hole, said O-rings retarding rotation of said pinion within said boss, whereby said O-rings brake rotation of said pinion, gear and boom against pressure on said boom tending to rotate said boom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a roller reef assembly for sailboats wherein a sail is supported by a mast and a boom transverse to said mast, an actuating mechanism to rotate said boom about its longitudinal axis transverse to said mast comprising a housing, support means for supporting said housing on said mast, said housing being formed with a closed end adjacent said support means and an open end opposite said closed end, a gear rotatable within said housing, cooperating means on said gear and said housing retaining said gear in place, said gear closing off said open end, means on said gear for attachment of said gear to said boom for rotating of said boom with said gear, said housing having a hollow boss formed with a second bore transverse to said firstmentioned bore, a pinion meshing with said gear rotatable within said second bore and having first and second ends, each said end formed with a groove, said first end rotatable within said second bore and exposed at one end of said boss and formed with means cooperating with a handle to rotate said pinion, means holding said second end in said boss and formed with a hole receiving said second end of said pinion, and an O-ring in each said groove, one said O-ring engaging said second bore and the other said O-ring engaging said hole, said O-rings retarding rotation of said pinion within said boss, whereby said O-rings brake rotation of said pinion, gear and boom against pressure on said boom tending to rotate said boom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, in which the gear ratio of said gear and pinion is approximately 11 to 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to claim 2, in which said gear has helical teeth of an angle of about 13*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mechanism according to claim 3, in which said pinion has a double thread.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, in which said gear is hollow having a third bore adjacent said closed end of said housing, said closed end having an internal boss fitting into said third bore and supporting said gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, in which said cooperating means comprises a deep groove in said gear, a groove in said housing opposite said deep groove and a snapring partially in each of said last-mentioned grooves, said snapring collapsible within said deep groove to permit insertion of said gear into said housing and expandable when said gear is in place to restrain removal of said gear from said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
The combination of claim 1 which further comprises a universal joint connection to connect said actuating mechanism to a mast comprising a pair of first clevis arms extending from said closed end of said housing, a transverse pin through said first clevis arms, a sleeve formed with a transverse boss, said transverse pin passing through said boSs and intersecting the bore of said sleeve, a clevis fitting having second clevis arms between which said sleeve extends, said clevis fitting having mast-engaging means to secure said clevis fitting to a mast, a second pin formed with a notch passing through said sleeve with said notch receiving said transverse pin, said second pin extending into holes in said second clevis arms, and removable retaining means retaining said transverse pin in said first clevis arms and said transverse pin retaining said second pin in said second clevis arms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3280780A
Cited
US3522786A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |