US3834670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat anchor winch mechanism
Assignee: REEL POWER EQUIPMENT Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-11
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A fully enclosed housing for recuction gearing and clutch means is secured to the bottom of a boat deck with only a vertical axis winch spool and shaft projecting above deck. An electric motor attached to one side of the housing below deck forms a right angular drive through the reduction gearing with the winch spool shaft. A winch spool clutch is normally engaged by a spring means and can be disengaged remotely by a mechanical device or by the operation of a motor reversing switch and an associated solenoid to allow free-falling of the anchor.
Inventors
- 👤 A Pityo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:03
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66D; B66D1/00; B66D1/02; B66D1/14; B66D1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A boat anchor winch mechanism comprising a housing attachable to the bottom of a boat deck, an upright shaft journaled for rotation on the housing and projecting above the housing and above a deck to which the housing is attached, a winch spool on the shaft to turn therewith, said spool disposed above said deck, an anchor and flexible anchor line attached to said spool, guide means for the anchor line remote from said spool, a motor attached to said housing below said deck, a drive gear on the armature shaft of said motor within said housing, reduction gearing in said housing engaged with said drive gear and driven thereby including a worm, a worm gear in mesh with the worm and freely rotatably mounted upon said upright shaft within said housing, a first jaw clutch element carried by said worm gear in said housing, a mating jaw clutch element in said housing and on said upright shaft below the worm gear and turning with the upright shaft but shiftable axially thereon toward and away from the worm gear and first-named jaw clutch element, a spring connected with the mating shiftable jaw clutch element in said housing and urging it into active engagement with the first-named jaw clutch element, a pivoted shifter member for the mating jaw clutch element within the housing, and a normally inactive solenoid connected with said pivoted shifter member and adapted when energized to move the shifter member in a direction which disengages the mating jaw clutch element from the first-named jaw clutch element to thereby allow a free-fall descent of said anchor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
A boat anchor winch mechanism comprising a housing attachable to the bottom of a boat deck, an upright shaft journaled for rotation on the housing and projecting above the housing and above a deck to which the housing is attached, a winch spool on the shaft to turn therewith, said spool disposed above said deck, an anchor and flexible anchor line attached to said spool, guide means for the anchor line remote from said spool, a motor attached to said housing below said deck, a drive gear on the armature shaft of said motor within said housing, reduction gearing in said housing engaged with said drive gear and driven thereby including a worm, a worm gear in mesh with the worm and freely rotatably mounted upon said upright shaft within said housing, a first jaw clutch element carried by said worm gear in said housing, a mating jaw clutch element in said housing and on said upright shaft below the worm gear and turning with the upright shaft but shiftable axially thereon toward and away from the worm gear and first-named jaw clutch element, a spring connected with the mating shiftable jaw clutch element in said housing and urging it into active engagement with the first-named jaw clutch element, a pivoted shifter member for the mating jaw clutch element within the housing, and a normally inactive solenoid connected with said pivoted shifter member and adapted when energized to move the shifter member in a direction which disengages the mating jaw clutch element from the first-named jaw clutch element to thereby allow a free-fall descent of said anchor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure of claim 1, and a friction element below the bottom flange of said winch spool, a variable tension element above the upper flange of said spool, and an adjusting nut means on said upright shaft engaging said variable tension element to regulate the tension thereof, thereby regulating the degree of friction between said friction element and bottom flange.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 2, and said variable tension element comprising a wavy spring washer surrounding said upright shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The structure of claim 1, and said guide means for said anchor line comprising a pivoted vertically swingable guide arm, and a deck mounted limit switch below said guide arm and normally engaged thereby and maintained in a closed condition by the guide arm to complete a circuit with said motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 1, and said motor comprising an electric motor attached to a side wall of the housing with the armature shaft of the motor at right angles to said upright shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 5, and said reduction gearing including a spur gear on the shaft of said worm in mesh with said drive gear on said armature shaft, said drive gear being a spur gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure of claim 1, and said pivoted shifter member comprising a yoke which straddles said mating shiftable clutch element and has a lost motion connection therewith, one end of said yoke pivoted to said housing on one side of said upright shaft, and the other end of said yoke pivoted to the armature of said solenoid, the armature of said solenoid having an upright axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
A boat anchor winch mechanism comprising a gear and clutch housing attachable to the bottom of a boat deck and having a driven shaft extending above the deck with a winch spool mounted thereon to turn therewith on an upright axis, gearing within said housing including a free-turning gear on said driven shaft, an electric motor connected with said housing below said deck and having its armature shaft coupled with said gearing, a first clutch element on said free-turning gear, a second clutch element mounted on said driven shaft and turning therewith and shiftable thereon toward and away from the first clutch element, a sPring means maintaining said first and second clutch elements normally engaged whereby said motor may posiively drive said driven shaft, a shifter means for the second clutch element opposing said spring means and operable to disengage the first and second clutch elements so that an anchor connected with said winch spool may free-fall, and means coupled with said shifter means to operate the same at desired times.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
A boat anchor winch mechanism comprising a gear and clutch housing attachable to the bottom of a boat deck and having a driven shaft extending above the deck with a winch spool mounted thereon to turn therewith on an upright axis, gearing within said housing including a free-turning gear on said driven shaft, an electric motor connected with said housing below said deck and having its armature shaft coupled with said gearing, a first clutch element on said free-turning gear, a second clutch element mounted on said driven shaft and turning therewith and shiftable thereon toward and away from the first clutch element, a sPring means maintaining said first and second clutch elements normally engaged whereby said motor may posiively drive said driven shaft, a shifter means for the second clutch element opposing said spring means and operable to disengage the first and second clutch elements so that an anchor connected with said winch spool may free-fall, and means coupled with said shifter means to operate the same at desired times.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 8, and said means comprising an electrical means including an initiating switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 9, and said electrical means comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said shifter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 10, and said shifter means comprising a pivoted member on said housing having a lost motion connection with the second clutch element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure of claim 10, and said initiating switch comprising a reversing switch for said electric motor, and an isolated relay to control the energizing of said solenoid to separate the second clutch element from the first clutch element, said reversing switch in one operative position energizing and closing said relay to thereby energize said solenoid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 8, and said means coupled with said shifter means comprising a manually operated mechanical means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 13, and said mechanical means consisting of a cable operable from a remote station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |