Self-Tailing Winch

Abstract

Self-tailing winch with a release function, where said winch comprises: a stator body adapted to be fastened on a surface; a drum body arranged concentrically and rotatable around said stator body; a self-tailing device arranged concentrically to said drum body, where said self-tailing device comprises: two self-tailing jaws defining an opening suitable to receive a rope, sheet or halyard; a self-tailing cover which is rotatable relative to the drum body and the self-tailing jaws; a releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws, said coupling being able to couple the self-tailing jaws to the drum body and by manipulating the self-tailing cover completely releasing the self-tailing jaws from their engagement with the drum body, allowing the self-tailing jaws to rotate relative to the drum.

Claims

1. Self-tailing winch with a release function, where said winch comprises: a stator body adapted to be fastened on a surface; a drum body arranged concentrically and rotatable around said stator body; a self-tailing device arranged concentrically to said drum body, where said self-tailing device comprises: two self-tailing jaws defining an opening suitable to receive a rope, sheet or halyard; a self-tailing cover which is rotatable relative to the drum body and the self-tailing jaws; a releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws, said coupling being able to couple the self-tailing jaws to the drum body and by manipulating the self-tailing cover completely releasing the self-tailing jaws from their engagement with the drum body, allowing the self-tailing jaws to rotate relative to the drum.

2. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein the self-tailing jaws are provided with a surface facing towards the rotation axis around which the drum and jaws rotate, and where indentations are provided in said surface, and where the drum on a part of the drum being covered by the self-tailing jaws is provided with one or more locking pins, said locking pins being movable radially with respect to the rotation axis, and where the self-tailing cover is provided with radially extending cams said cams having a varying radial curvature with respect to the rotation axis, and that the cams by rotating the self-tailing cover into a first position can urge the engaging pins radially outward and into the indentations, thereby locking the jaws and drum together, and in another position can allow the engaging pins to be free of the indentations, thereby allowing the jaws to rotate freely with respect to the drum.

3. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein the self-tailing jaws are provided with a surface facing towards the rotation axis around which the drum and jaws rotate, and where indentations are provided in said surface, and where the drum on a part of the drum being covered by the self-tailing jaws is provided with one or more balls, held such that a diameter of the balls extends on either side of the balls holding means, said balls being movable radially with respect to the rotation axis, and where the self-tailing cover is provided with radially extending cams said cams having a varying radial curvature with respect to the rotation axis, and that the cams by rotating the self-tailing cover into a first position can urge the balls radially outward and into the indentations, thereby locking the jaws and drum together, and in another position can allow the balls to be free of the indentations, thereby allowing the jaws to rotate freely with respect to the drum.

4. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein the self-tailing jaws are provided with a surface facing towards the rotation axis around which the drum and jaws rotate, and where indentations are provided in said surface, and where the drum on a part of the drum being covered by the self-tailing jaws is provided with one or more locking pawls, said pawls being rotatable with respect to the rotation axis parallel to the axis around which the drum rotates, and where the self-tailing cover is provided with radially extending cams said cams having a varying radial curvature with respect to the rotation axis of the drum, and where the cams by rotating the self-tailing cover into a first position pivots the pawls, such that a part of the pawls is introduced into the indentations, thereby locking the jaws and drum together, and in another position the cams can allow the pawls to rotate free of the indentations, thereby allowing the jaws to rotate freely with respect to the drum.

5. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein a top part of the drum has a flange which flange extends above the jaws, and radially over the jaws with respect to the drum's rotation axis, and where a number of holes having a through-going axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drum is provided substantially evenly distributed in said flange, said holes being superposed a part of the jaws, and where in an upper surface of the jaws a plurality of blind holes are provided, having an axis parallel to the drum's axis of rotation, and where biased locking pins are provided in said blind holes, such that the locking pins when not influenced by a force extend partly above the upper surface of the jaws and partly into a hole in the flange, and where the diameter of the locking pins is smaller than the diameter of the holes, and where the self-tailing cover on its underside is provided with a plurality of projections, which projections may be inserted in one or more of the plurality of holes in the flange, thereby urging the locking pin out of the hole, releasing the coupling between the flange and the jaws.

6. Self-tailing winch according to claim 5, wherein the number of projections projecting from the self-tailing cover is less or the same as the number of holes in the flange, and where the number of locking pins corresponds to the number of projections.

7. Self-tailing winch according to claim 2, wherein means are provided between the drum and the self-tailing cover urging the self-tailing cover into a position where the pins, balls or pawls are extending into the indentations, and the cams on the self-tailing cover, locks the pins, balls or pawls into engagement with the drum, and where this engagement between the pins, balls or pawls and the indentations is unlocked by a user urging the self-tailing cover against the means urging the self-tailing cover into the locking position.

8. Self-tailing winch according to claim 2, wherein the indentations in a radial direction has the shape as part of a circle, and that two adjacent indentations create a point pointing towards the axis of rotation, where the distance from the point to the axis is shorter that the distance from the furthest point in the indentation to the axis.

9. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein a self-tailer arm is provided outside the diameter of the jaws, said self-tailer arm being suitable to guide a rope, sheet or halyard from the drum and into the jaws.

10. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein a winch handle is provided, which winch handle may be inserted in an engagement opening in the top of the self-tailing winch, which engagement opening is in connection with appropriate gears for driving the drum when the handle is being rotated, where said winch handle further comprises a lever, which lever can be brought from a storage position to an engagement position, where when the winch handle is inserted into the engagement opening, the lever may be brought into an engagement position where a distal end of the lever engages the self-tailing cover such that the self-tailing cover is manipulated by manipulating the winch handle.

11. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein said self-tailing jaws are urged towards each other by resilient means and able to engage a rope, sheet or halyard inserted into the opening between the jaws.

12. Self-tailing winch according to claim 1, wherein a lock-out feature is provided, in the shape of one or more removable means, which means when installed locking the self-tailer cover to the drum, and when the means are removed allowing the self-tailing cover to be manipulated relative to the drum.

13. Method of operating a self-tailing winch with a release function in order to either tighten or loosen a rope, sheet or halyard where the winch comprises: a stator body adapted to be fastened on a surface; a drum body arranged concentrically and rotatable around said stator body, where a mechanism is provided for allowing the drum body only to rotate in one direction; a self-tailing device arranged concentrically to said drum body, where said self-tailing device comprises: two self-tailing jaws defining an opening suitable to receive a rope, sheet or halyard; a self-tailing cover which is rotatable relative to the drum body and the self-tailing jaws; a releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws, said coupling being able to couple the self-tailing jaws to the drum body and by manipulating the self-tailing cover completely releasing the self-tailing jaws from their engagement with the drum body, allowing the self-tailing jaws to rotate relative to the drum, where the rope, sheet or halyard to be handled is wound around the outside of the drum, and guided into the opening between the self-tailing jaws such that the rope, sheet or halyard may be tightened by rotating the drum, and locked by the jaws, and by manipulating the releasable coupling the jaws are liberated from their engagement with the drum, and allowed to rotate against the rotation direction of the drum, thereby letting rope, sheet or halyard off the self-tailing winch.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0053] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates a self-tailing winch with a release function

[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the self-tailing device

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates 3 the top section of the winch

[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axis of rotation

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axis of rotation

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates an analogous embodiment where the locking pins are replaced by balls

[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates an analogous embodiment where the locking pins are replaced by balls

[0061] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment where the coupling mechanism includes pawls

[0062] FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment with a push-button mechanism

[0063] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment where a winch handle is used to control the winch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] In FIG. 1 is illustrated a self-tailing winch with a release function according to the present invention. The self-tailing winch 1 comprises a drum 10, a self-tailing device 20, a self-tailing arm 30 and an aperture 40 suitable to receive a handle for manual operation of the self-tailing winch 1.

[0065] Winches of this type typically used on sail boats may either be purely manual, i.e. a handle needs to be inserted into the aperture 40 and rotated in order to rotate the drum. Inside the winch 1 is arranged a stator which stator is usually fastened to a surface such as for example coamings, deckhouse or the deck on a sailboat and at a lower portion of the stator is arranged a gear mechanism which by means of gear wheels and spindles translates the rotating action of the handle inserted into the aperture 40 into a mechanical motion rotating the drum 10. The lower bulging portion of the drum 10 usually covers the gear mechanism as well as the foot of the stator suitable to be fastened to a surface. Further it guides the rope around the drum.

[0066] Alternatively, and increasingly common, the winch is operated by electrical means such that the gear mechanism is connected to an electrical motor such that by pushing an activation button the drum may be rotated in order to tension a rope.

[0067] In this description the winch is described as being suitable to tension a rope, sheet, halyard or wire, but for ease of reading reference will be made to a rope in the ensuing detailed description. However, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that these types of winches are suitable for use with at least all of the above-mentioned.

[0068] In operation the winch 1 is used by guiding a rope a number of times around the body of the drum 10 before using the self-tailing arm 30 to guide the rope from the drum onto the self-tailing device 20. The self-tailing device comprises as is illustrated with reference to the cross-section of the self-tailing device illustrated in FIG. 2 a rope receiving groove 22. The groove is delimited by upper and lower jaws 24, 26 which by means of a spring are urged towards each other and against the rope.

[0069] Therefore, when inserting a rope into the groove 22 the distance between the jaws 24 and 26 will increase a small amount in order to establish a firm grip with the rope inserted into the groove 22. This grip may be further enhanced by providing ribs 23 inside the groove 22 as illustrated in FIG. 1. As the drum is rotated, for example by inserting a handle into the aperture 40 and activating the gears by rotating the handle as discussed above the jaws will grip the rope and create tension such that the rope arranged a number of times around the outer surface of the drum will likewise be tensioned thereby transferring the tension to the rope in order to tension the rope, for example connected to a sail.

[0070] In FIG. 3 the top section of the winch is illustrated. The top section includes the self-tailing device 20. In this view illustrated in FIG. 3 the uppermost jaw 24 is hidden by a self-tailing cover 29. In this embodiment the cover is provided with slight indentations 27 such that it is easy to grip and manipulate by a user. The self-tailing cover is as should be explained above used to manipulate the release function of the self-tailing winch and as such shall be readily available and accessible to persons using the winch.

[0071] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate cross-sections taken perpendicular to the axis of rotation illustrated by the dashed line 32. The cross-sections are furthermore situated through the self-tailing cover such that it is possible to see the construction of the releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws.

[0072] In FIG. 4 is illustrated a cross-section illustrating a situation where the jaws 24, 26 are free to rotate relative to the drum 10. The jaws 24, 26 are provided on a side facing the axis of rotation with plurality of indentations 34. The shape of the indentations is in this embodiment in the shape of parts of circles where adjacent indentations form a point 36 such that the point 36 is closer to the axis of rotation 32 than the bottom of the indentation 34. As is evident from the cross-section in FIG. 2 the jaws 24, 26 are arranged at least partially outside the drum 10.

[0073] Turning back to FIG. 4 the jaws 24, 26 encircle the drum 10. In the top of the drum 10 are provided housings 12 which housings in this embodiment accommodate a number of locking pins 14. In this embodiment three housings are provided with three locking pins evenly distributed along the circumference at the top of the drum 10. The locking pins 14 are radially movable within the housing 12 relative to the axis of rotation 32. Any number of housings/pins may be arranged around the periphery.

[0074] The self-tailing cover has a part projecting downwards onto the top of the drum 10 such that this part 42 as illustrated by the hatched section has a number of sections. A first curved section 44 where the diameter from the axis of rotation 32 to the surface 44 is such that the surface does not engage the locking pin 14. The downwards projecting part 42 of the cover has a second curvature with a larger diameter from this second curvature 46 to the axis of rotation 32 which may come into contact with the locking pins 14 and thereby radially displace the locking pins into the indentations 34 as will be explained with reference to FIG. 5. When the locking pins 14 are fully displaced the drum will be locked to the jaws.

[0075] The downwards projecting part 42 is biased by means of a spring 50 such that a biasing force is established between the top of the drum 10 and the downwards projecting part 42 of the cover.

[0076] Turning to FIG. 5 like features are provided with like reference numbers.

[0077] In this position the self-tailing cover has been manually released such that spring forces have been released as well. Consequently, the springs 50 are enlarged. This in turn rotates the self-tailing cover such that the second cam surface 46 engages the locking pins 14 and forces these radially outwards and into the indentations 34. In this position the locking pins 14 ensures that there is a firm coupling between the jaws 24, 26 and the top of the drum such that the self-tailing winch may be used in its normal way, i.e. for tensioning a rope where the rope has been wound several times around the drum 10 and inserted into the groove 22 in the self-tailing device.

[0078] When it is desirable to ease off rope from the winch the self-tailing cover 29 is manipulated whereby the downwards projecting part of the cover moves against the springs 50 and allows the locking pins to be moved radially inwards towards the first cam surface 44. The locking pins 14 are being urged radially inwards due to the design of the indentation, i.e. the locking pins 14 will slide along the surface of the indentations 34 until they reach the point 36 adjoining adjacent indentations 34. At this point 36 the jaws 24, 26 are able to rotate free of the engagement from the locking pins and thereby also free with respect to the drum.

[0079] Therefore, by manipulating the self-tailing cover 29 and thereby the downwards projecting part 42 it is possible for a user to manipulate the locking pins into or out of engagement with the jaws such that coupling or decoupling may be achieved between the jaws and the drum.

[0080] In FIGS. 6 and 7 are illustrated an analogous embodiment where the locking pins described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are replaced by balls 52. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 functions in the exact same manner as the embodiments in FIGS. 4 and 5 and therefore FIG. 6 fully corresponds to an embodiment where the balls have engaged the jaws 24, 26 corresponding to the description with reference to FIG. 5.

[0081] Also FIG. 7 corresponds to a situation where the self-tailing cover 29 has been manipulated thereby compressing the springs 50 allowing the balls to move radially inwards towards the first cam surface thereby coming out of contact with the indentations provided in the jaws 24, 26.

[0082] In FIGS. 8 and 9 is illustrated an embodiment where the coupling mechanism includes pawls which are activated in order to either lock the jaws to the drum or in an unlocked position allow the jaws to rotate freely relative to the drum.

[0083] Both FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sections through a top part of a self-tailing winch in order to illustrate the construction of the releasable coupling.

[0084] In FIG. 8 is illustrated a situation where the jaws 24, 26 are free to rotate with respect to the drum 10. On an inner surface of the jaws 24, 26 arranged towards the axis of rotation 32 of the winch is provided a number of indentations 34′. On a downwards projecting part of the self-tailing cover 42′ is provided radially extending cams 44′, 46′ where the cams 44′, 46′ have varying radial curvature such that a radius to the further point from the rotation axis 32 to a radial cam surface 46′ is larger than the radial distance from the rotation axis 32 to the cam surface 44′.

[0085] Between the inner surface of the jaws provided with the indentations 34′ and the cams 44′, 46′ are arranged a number of pawls 80. In the illustrated embodiment three pawls are arranged substantially evenly distributed along the circumference of the surface with the indentations 34′. Each pawl 80 is arranged such that it may rotate around an axis. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 it is clear that the cam surface 46′ is in contact with a side of the pawl 80 such that no part of the pawl extends beyond the surface with the indentations 34′ and consequently does not engage the indentations 34′.

[0086] However, turning to FIG. 9 the self-tailing cover 42′ extending downwards has been rotated such that the pawls 80 are arranged next to the cam surface 44′ whereby it becomes possible for the pawl 80 to rotate and engage an indentation 34′. In this position it will not be possible to rotate the jaws in the direction indicated by the arrow 81 without the drum moving in the same direction. Due to the construction with the pawls it will be possible to rotate the jaws relative to the drum in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 81.

[0087] In a further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 an alternative embodiment is illustrated where the self-tailing cover 29 is movable in a direction as indicated by the arrow 82, i.e. in normal use vertically up and down. On the underside of the self-tailing cover 29 are provided a number of projections 84. Each projection has an extent from the underside of the self-tailing cover 29 such that it will be able to push a locking pin 85 against a spring 86 arranged in a blind hole 87. The top of the drum 10′ is provided with a flange 11 which flange extends radially from the drum 10′ and over at least part of the jaws 24, 26. In the flange is provided a plurality of holes 13 where the diameter of the holes 13 is such that they are able to accommodate the projections 84 and also the locking pins 85.

[0088] In the situation illustrated in FIG. 10 the self-tailing cover 29 has not been depressed which means that the locking pins 85 are elevated or urged upwards by the spring 86 such that part of the locking pin 85 is situated inside the hole 13 provided in the flange 11 and part of the locking pin is situated in the blind hole 87 provided in the jaws. Consequently, the drum 10′ and the jaws 24, 26 are locked together due to the provision of the locking pins 85.

[0089] By forcing the self-tailing cover 29 downwards in the direction indicated by the arrow 82 the projections 84 will push the locking pins 85 down into the blind holes 87 thereby compressing the springs 86. The projections 84 are dimensioned such that when the self-tailing cover is depressed, the projections will have a distal part which when depressed is flush with the underside of the flange 11 whereby the locking pins will be completely disengaged from the hole provided in the flange 11. Thereby the jaws 24, 26 are decoupled from the flange and thereby the drum 10′, whereby the jaws 24, 26 will be able to rotate freely with respect to the flange 11 and thereby also the drum 10′.

[0090] Turning to FIG. 11 a solution is disclosed for manipulating the self-tailing cover 29 by means of a handle 90. As already discussed above winches particularly on sailboats may either be operated manually or be operated by electrical means. Particularly for race applications it is desirable to operate them manually since the operation may be carried out much faster which is an important aspect of racing.

[0091] A winch handle 90 is therefore inserted in an engagement opening 94 which is in contact with gears connected to the drum such that by rotating the handle 90 around the rotation axis 32 the drum is made to rotate.

[0092] If or when it becomes desirable to ease off rope from the drum by activating one of the mechanisms discussed above, a lever 92 arranged in the handle 90 may be displaced such that it comes into contact with the self-tailing cover 29 as illustrated in FIG. 11. The distal end 96 of the lever 92 is as illustrated, in engagement with the self-tailing cover and by further rotating the handle 90 it is possible to manipulate the self-tailing cover 29 and thereby release the jaws 24, 26 from their engagement with a drum 10 as described above.

[0093] With this construction the handle 90 may be removed from the engagement opening 94 which is traditional in the technical field.

[0094] Considering that a self-tailing winch with a release function will not be immediately recognisable to a new user of the winch, it is considered an advantage to have the release mechanism locked out so that the first time the winch is used the release mechanism will only be operable to a knowledgeable user that has read the instructions regarding the working of the release mechanism, safety aspects to be aware of, and has removed the lock-out feature to enable the release mechanism. A preferred lock out mechanism may be a screw (or screws) that lock the self-tailer cover from being manipulated. By removing the locking screws, the user must have read the instructions and is aware of the safety implications, and is ready to use the self-tailing winch and the release mechanism.

[0095] If a user is unaware of the release mechanism, the lock remains in place and the winch may used as a common self-tailing winch, until the user consciously removes the lock(s).