The present invention relates generally to cranking a line and more specifically to a cranking mechanism, which utilizes a one way bearing instead of a ratchet mechanism to lock rotation of a reel.
Cranking devices typically use a ratchet mechanism to lock tension on a line, string or rope. However, it appears that the prior art does not teach or suggest a cranking mechanism, which utilizes a one way bearing instead of a ratchet mechanism.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a cranking mechanism, which utilizes a one way bearing instead of ratchet mechanism to lock rotation of a reel.
The present invention provides a cranking mechanism, which utilizes a one way bearing instead of a ratchet mechanism to lock rotation of a reel. The cranking mechanism preferably includes a crankshaft, a one way bearing, a clutch, a reel shaft, a driven gear and at least one reel. The crankshaft includes a drive end, a bearing diameter, a clutch disc portion, a clutch housing portion and an opposed threaded end. A crank is removably engagable with the drive end. The threaded end is sized to threadably receive a hand knob. The one way bearing is pressed on to the bearing diameter. The clutch preferably includes a clutch housing, a clutch pack and a pressure washer. The clutch housing includes a clutch pack housing and a drive gear. A clutch cavity is formed in one end of the clutch pack housing and a drive gear extends from an opposing end of the clutch pack housing. A shaft bore is formed through the clutch pack housing and the drive gear to rotabably receive the crankshaft. A clutch bearing is preferably pressed onto an outer diameter of the clutch pack housing to rotatably retain crankshaft.
The clutch pack includes a plurality of stationary discs, a plurality of rotating discs and a plurality of friction discs. A single friction disc is located between a rotating disc and a stationary disc. Each rotating disc preferably includes a square shaft opening. The clutch disc portion of the drive shaft includes a square shaped perimeter to receive the square shaft opening. The stationary disc and the friction disc each include a round hole, which is greater than a perimeter of the clutch pack portion of the crank shaft. At least one projection extends from an outer perimeter of the stationary plate. The at least one projection is sized to be received by at least one clutch disc notch in the clutch cavity.
A pressure washer is slipped on to the opposing end of the crankshaft. The pressure washer preferably includes a trapezoidal cross section. The pressure washer includes a small side and an opposing large side. The large side exerts pressure against the clutch pack and the small side is in contact with a compression spring. The hand knob is threaded on to the threaded end of the crankshaft to exert pressure on the clutch pack. The clutch pack exerts pressure on a thrust bearing, which is in contact with the one way bearing.
The reel shaft preferably includes a gear perimeter, a recoil spring notch and a flat surface formed on at least one end to receive at least one reel. The driven gear is pressed onto the gear perimeter. The reel shaft is rotatably retained by a pair of reel shaft bearings located on opposing sides of the driven gear. One end of a recoil spring is attached to the spring notch with a fastener. The other end is secured to any suitable location in a housing to bias the reels to retract a line retained in the at least one reel.
In use, a line, string or rope is retained in the at least one reel. One end of the line, string or rope is inserted through a hole in the at least one reel and secured to the at least one reel. An opposing end of the line, string or rope is attached to some object to be pulled. The hand knob is tightened against the compression spring and clutch pack to frictionally engage the crankshaft with the drive gear. The crank is turned to rotate the drive gear. The drive gear rotates the driven gear which pulls the line, string or rope to an object. The one way bearing prevents the at least one reel from reversing direction and releasing the line, string or rope. The at least one reel is allowed to unreel the line, string or rope by unscrewing the hand knob to disengage the crankshaft from the drive gear.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cranking mechanism, which utilizes a one way bearing instead of ratchet mechanism to lock rotation of a reel.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to
With reference to
With reference to
The pressure washer 42 is slipped on to the opposing end of the crankshaft 12. The pressure washer 42 preferably includes a trapezoidal cross section. The pressure washer 42 includes a small side and an opposing large side. The large side exerts pressure against the clutch pack 40 and the small side is in contact with the compression spring 18. The hand knob 36 is threaded on to the threaded end 32 of the crank shaft 12 to exert pressure on the clutch pack 40. The clutch pack 40 exerts pressure on a thrust bearing 74, which is in contact with the one way bearing 14 and a thrust washer 76.
With reference to
With reference to
In use, a line, string or rope is retained in the at least one reel 24. One end of the line, string or rope is inserted through a hole 86 in the at least one reel 24 and secured to the at least one reel 24. The opposing end of the line, string or rope is attached to some object to be pulled. The hand knob 36 is tightened against the compression spring 18 and the clutch pack 40 to frictionally engage the crankshaft 12 with the drive gear 46. The crank 34 is turned to rotate the drive gear 46. The drive gear 46 rotates the driven gear 22, which pulls the line, string or rope. The one way bearing 14 prevents the at least one reel 24 from reversing direction and releasing the line, string or rope. The at least one reel 24 is allowed to unreel the line, string or rope by loosening the hand knob 36 to disengage the crank shaft 12 from the drive gear 22.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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