Patent Application
20230354794
The present invention relates in general to the field of the fishing reels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fishing reel of the rotar-spool type.
As it is known, there are basically two categories of fishing reels, namely the reels with a fixed spool (or so-called spinning reels) and the reels with a rotary spool (or so-called casting reels). In the fixed-spool reels the spool on which the fishing line is wound is fixedly mounted on the fishing rod, with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. Winding of the fishing line on the spool and unwinding of the fishing line from the spool are allowed by the rotation in either direction of a bail arm, driven by the user by means of a suitable handle, about an axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of the spool. On the other hand, in case of a rotary-spool reel the spool is mounted on the fishing rod so as to be rotatable about its axis, which in this case is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fishing rod. Furthermore, while in the fixed-spool version the reel is mounted underneath the fishing rod, i.e. on a side of the fishing rod which in the condition of use is facing downwards, in the rotary-spool version the reel is mounted on the upper side of the fishing rod, i.e. on the side which in use is facing upwards.
A problem connected with the use of rotary-spool reels is tangling of the fishing line (i.e. the creation of the so-called “wigs”) that may occur during launch of the fishing line, in particular in case of a non-skilled user and in case of changes in the speed of the fishing line, due for example to the wind or to the contact of the fishing line with the water. The fishing line may be so tangled up as to compel the user to replace the entire spool. It is therefore a particularly annoying problem, for which some solutions are already known, but are not fully effective.
A first solution consists in braking the spool with the thumb during launch of the fishing line. Such a solution requires, however, a certain level of expertise of the user and, in any case, is not able to completely prevent the generation of wigs.
Other solutions are based on the use of braking systems integrated in the reel, which braking systems apply a braking action onto the spool during launch of the fishing line. For example, mechanical braking systems are known, which use the centrifugal force generated as a result of the rotation of the spool during launch of the fishing line to urge a number of friction elements mounted on the spool against a stationary braking surface. As an alternative to mechanical braking systems, magnetic braking systems are known, in which braking of the spool is obtained in contactless mode due to the eddy currents generated by electromagnetic induction in the spool (which in this case is made of metal) by one or more magnets carried by the body of the reel. Hybrid braking systems are also known, which comprise both a centrifugal braking device and a magnetic braking device which can be suitably controlled by the user independently of each other to operate along with each other or alternatively to each other.
Finally, a rotary-spool fishing reel is also known, which is provided with a “smart” braking system able to automatically control braking of the spool. It is the Metanium DC fishing reel manufactured by Shimano, in which the braking system comprises copper coils which, when crossed by current, generate a magnetic field, and an electronic control unit configured to establish, at any given time during the launch phase, the correct braking force to be applied onto the spool and to generate electric pulses in the copper coils accordingly, so as to apply the calculated braking force onto the spool. Such an automatic braking system produces a braking action which has turned out to be “jerky”, i.e. not very smooth. Furthermore, the average user, which is used to put his thumb onto the fishing line to brake the spool, tends to brake in this manner also when using a reel provided with an automatic braking system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a braking system for a rotary-spool fishing reel which is improved over the prior art discussed above.
This and other objects are fully achieved according to the present invention by virtue of a braking system as defined in the enclosed independent claim 1. The present invention also relates to a fishing reel provided with a rotary spool as defined in claim 13.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
In short, the invention is based on the idea of associating to the rotary spool, made of metal, of the fishing reel a magnetic braking system comprising
By virtue of such a braking system it is possible to adjust the braking force applied onto the spool in a more precise and smooth manner than in the above-discussed prior art.
According to an embodiment, the braking system further comprises detecting means for detecting an initial tangling condition of the fishing line on the spool and generating a corresponding warning signal, and first sensor means for generating first measure signals indicative of the rotational speed of the spool. In this case, the electronic control means are programmed to control the adjusting means, in case of generation of the warning signal by the detecting means, so as to adjust, based on the first measure signals, the distance of said at least one magnet from the spool, and hence the braking force applied onto the spool, to prevent tangling of the fishing line on the spool.
By virtue of such a configuration, the braking system is able to automatically adjust the braking force to be applied onto the spool to prevent tangling of the fishing line, promptly acting on the spool as soon as the detecting means detect an initial tangling condition.
Preferably, the detecting means are optical means, and more in particular they include a so-called ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.
The first sensor means include for example an optical angular position transducer.
According to an embodiment, the adjusting means comprise an electric motor, in particular a brushed DC motor, and a motion conversion mechanism including a rotating input member connected to the rotor of the electric motor and a translating output member connected to the magnet(s) to cause it/them to move towards or away from the spool, in particular along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the spool.
Preferably, the braking system further comprises a button arranged to be pressed by the user and second sensor means for generating second measure signals indicative of the pressure applied by the user onto the button. In this case, the electronic control means are programmed to control the adjusting means so as to apply onto the spool a braking force proportional to the pressure applied by the user onto the button.
Advantageously, the braking system further comprises third sensor means for providing a signal indicative of the distance of the magnet (or magnets) from the spool, in which case the electronic control means are programmed to control the adjusting means using as feedback signal the signal provided by the third sensor means.
Preferably, the third sensor means comprise an angular position transducer, for example a magnetic one, arranged to detect the angular position of the rotor of the electric motor or of the input member of the motion conversion mechanism.
According to an embodiment, the braking system further comprises fourth sensor means arranged to provide a signal indicative of the current absorbed by the electric motor, in which case the electronic control means are programmed to check the signal received from the fourth sensor means and to stop power supply of the electric motor when the current absorbed by the electric motor exceeds a given threshold value.
Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limiting example.
In the following detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the attached drawings, where:
With reference first to
The reel 10 basically comprises a body 12 arranged to be mounted on a fishing rod 14 (only partially shown in dashed line), a spool 16 carried by the body 12 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation y substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (indicated x) of the fishing rod 14 and a magnetic braking system arranged to apply a braking force onto the spool 16.
The spool 16 is made of metal, in particular metal with good properties in terms of electrical conductivity.
A fishing line 18 is wound on the spool 16 and is guided, when it leaves the spool 16, in a slot 20 of a line-guiding member 22.
A handle (not shown, but of per-se-known type) is connected to the spool 16 and, by means of the handle, the user is able to control rotation of the spool 16 in a given direction to wind the fishing line 18.
As can be seen in particular in
According to the embodiment illustrated herein, the magnetic member 24 comprises a head 24a, for example of disc-like shape, on which the magnets 26 are mounted, and a pair of cylindrical guide elements 24b slidably guided in respective openings 28 provided in a bearing plate 30 mounted on the body 12. The magnetic member 24 is arranged coaxially with the spool 16, in particular in a seat 16a provided inside the spool, and hence in this case the shift direction of the magnetic member 24 coincides with the axis of rotation y of the spool 16.
The magnetic braking system further comprises an adjustment device arranged to move the magnetic member 24 along the aforementioned shift direction to adjust the distance thereof from the spool 16, thereby changing the intensity of the braking force applied onto the spool. The adjustment device comprises an electric motor 32, in particular a brushed DC electric motor supplied by a battery 34 (which may be recharged by means of a USB connector 36). The adjustment device further comprises a motion conversion mechanism 38, with an input member 40 drivingly connected for rotation with the rotor of the electric motor 32 and with an output member 42 able to shift along the aforementioned shift direction. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the electric motor 32 is arranged with its rotor coaxial with the magnetic member 24 and the spool 16 and the motion conversion mechanism 38 is a screw and nut mechanism, wherein the input member 40 is configured as a screw and the output member 42 is configured as a nut. Therefore, by causing the rotor of the electric motor 32 to rotate in either direction, translation of the magnetic member 24 in either direction is obtained by means of the motion conversion mechanism 38, and hence an increase or a reduction in the distance between the magnetic member 24 and the spool 16 is obtained, which results in an increase or a reduction, respectively, in the intensity of the braking force applied onto the spool 16.
In particular,
The braking system further comprises an electronic control unit 44, which is made in the present case as an electronic board, programmed to control the electric motor 32 in order to adjust the braking force applied onto the spool 16 based on input signals provided by a number of sensors.
The electronic control unit 44, as well as the electric motor 32 and the battery 34, are mounted on the bearing plate 30 and enclosed by a cover 46 (which in
The aforementioned sensors include an optical sensor 48 which is arranged in front of the fishing line 18 leaving the spool 16, in particular upstream of the line-guiding member 22, and is arranged to detect an initial tangling condition of the fishing line on the spool and to send, accordingly, a warning signal to the electronic control unit 44. In particular, the optical sensor 48 is able to detect an increase in the volume of the fishing line 18 in a given working area, due for example to the formation of a bend, which indicates that the fishing line is about to tangle up. The optical sensor 48 is advantageously formed by a so-called ToF (Time of Flight) sensor. In order to avoid detection errors due to the sun light, the working area of the optical sensor 48 is protected against the light by means of a sunshade wing 50 mounted on the body 12.
Instead of an optical sensor as detecting means for detecting an initial tangling condition of the fishing line 18, other types of sensor might be used, such as for example a sensor arranged to detect the tension of the fishing line or a sensor arranged to detect the linear speed of the fishing line leaving the spool. In fact, if a reduction in the tension of the fishing line leaving the spool occurred, this would indicate that the fishing line is beginning to tangling up on the spool. Likewise, if the linear speed of the fishing line leaving the spool was lower than the one expected on the basis of the rotational speed of the spool, this would indicate that the fishing line is about to tangle up on the spool.
An angular speed sensor 52 is also provided, which is advantageously formed by an optical encoder, for detecting the angular speed of the spool 16.
Based on the signals provided by the optical sensor 48 and by the angular speed sensor 52, the electronic control unit 44 suitably controls the electric motor 32 so as to adjust the braking force applied onto the spool 16 in order to prevent the fishing line 18 from tangling up on the spool. If the optical sensor 48 detects an initial tangling condition, then the electronic control unit 44 suitably adjusts the braking force applied onto the spool 16 so as to avoid tangling up of the fishing line and ensure that the fishing line 18 is smoothly unwound from the spool.
Advantageously, the electronic control unit 44 also receives, as input, the signal provided by an angular position sensor (not shown, but of per-se-known type), advantageously formed by a magnetic encoder, arranged to detect the angular position of the rotor of the electric motor 32, that is to say, the angular position of the input member 40 of the motion conversion mechanism 38, and hence to provide the electronic control unit 44 with a signal indicative of the distance of the magnetic member 24 from the spool 16. The electronic control unit 44 is thus able to carry out a closed-loop control of the braking force based on the position signal provided by this angular position sensor.
Preferably, the braking system further comprises, mounted on the body 12, a button 54 arranged to be pressed by the user and a pressure sensor (not shown, but of per-se-known type) connected to the electronic control unit 44 to provide the latter with a measure signal indicative of the pressure applied by the user onto the button 54. In this case, the electronic control unit 44 is programmed to control the electric motor 32 in such a manner as to apply onto the spool 16 a braking force proportional to the pressure applied by the user onto the button 54. The user provides therefore a braking command by pressing the button 54 with a given force and this command is detected and interpreted by the electronic control unit 44 to be converted into a suitable control signal for the electric motor 32. In particular, if the pressure on the button 54 increases the electric motor 32 will be controlled by the electronic control unit 44 to move the magnetic member 24 towards the spool 16 so as to increase the braking force, whereas if the pressure on the button 54 decreases the electric motor 32 will be controlled by the electronic control unit 44 to move the magnetic member 24 away from the spool 16 so as to reduce the braking force.
Advantageously, the button 54 is configured as a haptic button, i.e. a button able to give to the user a tactile feedback depending on the intensity of the braking force applied onto the spool 16.
Preferably, the braking system further comprises a current sensor (not shown, but of per-se-known type) arranged to provide the electronic control unit 44 with a signal indicative of the current absorbed by the electric motor 32. The electronic control unit 44 is in this case programmed to check this signal and, in case it exceeds a given threshold value (indicating an excessive absorption of current), to stop power supply of the electric motor 32. Furthermore, the current sensor is used every time the device is switched on, to carry out the calibration of the zero position of the angular position sensor associated to the electric motor 32.
The braking system of the present invention may advantageously be provided also as a kit to be mounted on existing rotary-spool reels with no braking system.
Finally, with reference to the diagram of
The control block BC1, configured as a closed-loop control block, is activated by the warning signal generated by the optical sensor 48 in case of detection of an initial tangling condition of the fishing line 18 on the spool 16. The control block BC1 remains therefore “sleeping” until a warning signal is generated by the optical sensor 48. Once activated, the control block BC1 generates, as output, a first reference value pos_ref1 for the position of the magnetic member 24 relative to the spool 16, and hence a reference value for the braking force applied onto the spool, depending on the angular speed of the spool (indicated ωs) detected by the angular speed sensor 52.
The control block BC2 is configured to control the electric motor 32 based on the command provided by the user by pressing on the button 54, so as to generate a braking force onto the spool 16 whose intensity is proportional to the pressure with which the button 54 is pressed. The value of the pressure on the button 54 (indicated p), provided by the pressure sensor associated to the button, is converted with a suitable gain G into a second reference value pos_ref2 for the position of the magnetic member 24 relative to the spool 16, which is compared with the first reference value pos_ref1 (if provided by the control block BC1, that is to say, in case of activation of this control block) to generate the input signal for the controller (made in particular as a PWM circuit) of the electric motor 32. Based on this input signal, the controller outputs a reference speed signal vref for the electric motor 32. Preferably, the controller operates by receiving, as feedback signal, the position of the magnetic member 24 relative to the spool 16 obtained from the information about the angular position of the rotor of the electric motor 32 provided by the associated angular position sensor.
Finally, the control block BC3 acts as a monitoring block that checks the current absorbed by the electric motor 32 (via the measure signal provided by the current sensor associated to the electric motor 32), as well as the linear position of the magnetic member 24, and generates a stop signal for the controller of the electric motor 32 if operation anomalies in the control flow are detected, in particular if a value of the current absorbed by the electric motor 32 higher than a given threshold value is detected.
A further embodiment of a fishing reel provided with a magnetic braking system is shown in
In the following description of that embodiment, only those aspects of the fishing reel, in particular of the relating magnetic braking system, will be illustrated which differ from what has been illustrated above with reference to the preceding Figures. As regards the other aspects, what has been already explained in connection with the embodiment of
With reference first to
With reference now to
In the example of
In the example of
In the example of
The present invention has been described herein with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is to be intended that other embodiments may be envisaged, which share with those described herein the same inventive concept, as defined by the scope of the enclosed claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020000022192 | Sep 2020 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/058566 | 9/21/2021 | WO |
