The present invention relates to centrifugal brake systems on fishing reels and, more particularly, to an automatic brake system wherein braking action on the spool is dependent upon the rotation speed of the spool in addition to an infinitive external adjustment brake system.
Centrifugal brake systems are commonly used on casting reels to prevent backlash. Backlash may frequently occur when the line-carrying spool is rotating at high velocities. Commonly, a brake mechanism is mounted on the spool for rotation therewith. The brake mechanism has an associated brake pad that is urged radially outwardly against a brake surface on the reel housing by centrifugal forces produced by the rotation of the spool.
Centrifugal braking may have an adverse effect on casting distance. Therefore, with the development of easily adjustable brake systems, many fishermen set the brake control to “free” when pitching, which could result in backlash.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system wherein additional braking is provided at high spool spin velocities, but not at lower speed velocities, so as to maximize casting distance and to minimize backlash under conditions of long casting when brake control adjustments are set to “free”.
A reel of the invention has a spool mounted on a spool shaft. A brake assembly is mounted on the spool shaft. The brake assembly has a plurality of brake shoes and a plurality of speed adjust shoes and is slidably mounted on the spool shaft. A brake ring selectively engages the brake shoes to provide a braking action to the spool. Preferably, braking force from the brake shoes against the brake ring is infinitely adjustable.
In a preferred embodiment, the spool has a conical surface for selectively engaging the speed adjust shoes. The brake assembly is slidably mounted on the spool shaft. The speed adjust shoes migrate outwardly to make contact with the conical surface when the spool and brake assembly are spun with sufficient velocity. When spun with sufficient velocity, the speed adjust shoes, acting against the conical surface, impart an axial force to the brake assembly for moving the brake assembly towards the brake ring. A speed adjust spring is provided for biasing the brake assembly away from the brake ring and towards the spool. The speed adjust shoes are sized so that the speed adjust shoes apply a centrifugal force against the conical surface at high rotational speeds of the spool and brake assembly, thereby causing the brake assembly to move towards the brake ring. At relatively lower rotational speeds of the spool, the speed adjust shoes cease to provide sufficient centrifugal force against the conical surface of the spool. Therefore, the speed adjust spring pushes the brake assembly away from the brake ring.
The automatic adjustable spool brake system of the invention automatically adjusts braking action on the spool dependent upon the spool rotation speed in addition to an infinitive externally adjustable brake system.
The result is better brake control to prevent backlash on casting and an ability to achieve better distance by reducing spool braking force when the spool rotation slows down, i.e., when the brake assembly returns to its original position by spring force.
Another benefit of the invention relates to the pitching function and casting combination. During pitching, many users set the brake to permit free spin of the spool assembly. A “free” setting may result in backlash when pitching without the benefit of traditional brake control adjust. Therefore, the apparatus of the invention addresses this difficulty by controlling backlash when pitching with the brake control adjust set at “free” by providing additional braking at high spool rotation velocities.
Shown in
Crank shaft 26 (
Spool shaft ball bearing 36 is mounted in gear side 16 of frame 12 for supporting gear end 40 of spool shaft 38. Spool shaft 38 has a gear end 40 and a palm end 42. Pin 43 protrudes from a side wall of spool shaft 38. Gear end 40 is supported by spool shaft bearing 36. Spool shaft 38 defines a clip receptacle 44 (
Palm side spool shaft ball bearing 45 supports palm end 42 of spool shaft 38. Palm side ball bearing 34 is received within central member 84 of brake spool cover 82, discussed below.
Spool assembly 46 is mounted on spool shaft 38. Spool assembly 46 defines conical surface 48 (
Referring now primarily to
Brake shoe holder 64 is affixed to gear side 66 of brake shoe retainer 56 and surrounds spool shaft 38. Brake shoe holder 64 has a central orifice 68 for receiving central protuberance 58 of brake shoe retainer 56. Brake shoe holder 64 additionally defines a smooth gear side surface 70 (best seen in
Brake shoes 74 are slidably retained within each of a plurality of brake shoe receptacles 72. Brake shoes 74 are free to slide in a radial direction. Movement of brake shoes 74 is restricted in an axial or thrust direction by brake shoe holder 64 and brake shoe retainer 56. A speed adjust shoe 76 is retained within each of the plurality of speed adjust shoe retainers 60 defined by the central protuberance 58 of brake shoe retainer 56. Speed adjust shoes 76 have a surface in sliding contact with conical exterior surface 52 of palm side 54 of spool assembly 46. Speed adjust shoe 76 additionally has a surface in sliding contact with smooth gear side surface 70 of brake shoe holder 64.
Speed adjust retainer clip 78 (
Brake spool cover 82 (
Still referring to
Continuing with reference to
Infinitely adjustable brake control dial 102 defines cam surface 104 on gear side 106. Cam surface 104 is received within a space defined in part by a palm side surface of central member 84 and in part by legs 85 to make contact with cam follower 92 of brake ring support 88, which passes therethrough. A plurality of brake frame assembly springs 108 are in contact with brake ring slider spring retainer 100 and bias cam follower 92 of brake ring support 88 into contact with cam surface 104 of brake control dial 102.
By turning infinitely adjustable brake control dial 102, a location of brake ring support 88 can be set to any position depending on the orientation of cam surfaces 104. Brake ring support 88 is biased against cam surfaces 104 by springs 108. The result is that the position of brake ring 96 may be infinitely adjustable with regard to brake shoe retainer 56.
The brake shoe assembly, including brake shoe retainer 56 and brake shoe holder 64, is free to slide in an axial or thrust direction along spool shaft 38. The axial movement results in pin 43 moving within pin slot 59. The brake shoe retainer 56 is biased towards gear side 16 by speed adjust spring 80. Therefore, brake shoe retainer 56 can slide forward when a thrust force from speed adjust shoes 76 is greater than the spring force from speed adjust spring 80. When spool rotation speed slows and the axial thrust force generated by speed adjust shoes 76 diminishes, brake shoe retainer 56 then returns to its original position due to the spring force from speed adjust spring 80. Auto adjusting speed adjust shoes 76 slide within adjust shoe retainers 60, so speed adjust shoes 76 may extend in a radial direction for applying force to conical surface 52 of spool 46.
In greater detail, when spool assembly 46 over spins when casting, speed adjust shoes 76 move outwardly and push against conical surface 52 of spool assembly 46. The outwardly directed force of auto speed adjust shoes 76 causes speed adjust shoes 76 to slide along conical surface 52 outwardly and in the direction of brake ring support 88. Brake shoe retainer 56 is, therefore, moved when the axial vector force is greater than the spring force from speed adjust spring 80. Braking force is then generated when brake shoes 74 move to engage brake ring support 88.
Referring now to the section views of
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.