Winding Apparatus

Abstract

The specification discloses a winding apparatus such as a capstan for use on sailboats and the like wherein the capstan has a water tight housing enclosing a gear train for rotating a winding drum in a single direction and wherein the gear train includes a plurality of cam clutch gears slidable in one direction of rotation for providing one multiple of force on the drum in one direction of rotation of the power handle and another multiple of force on the drum when the power handle is rotated in the opposite direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a winding apparatus including a drum carried on a spindle mounted in a housing with a plurality of seals for sealing the housing against the incursion of moisture into the housing which also contains a gear train having cam clutch gears to rotate the drum with one multiple of force when the spindle is rotated in one direction and a different multiple of force on the drum when the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction and with the drum rotating in the same direction regardless of which direction the spindle is rotated so as to enable one winding in a rope or sheet on the drum to change from a low torque, fast takeup to a high torque slow takeup simply by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive spindle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Deck winches or capstans have long been used on sailing vessels and other ships to provide a mechanical advantage in pulling in a rope or line for either lifting loads or, in many instances, to raise or set the sails on a sailing vessel. In such prior art devices, two stages of multiplication of torque have been provided. However, such devices have frequently used a pawl and ratchet type of driving arrangement which necessitated the use of many small parts in the manufacture of the devices. The difficulty with these prior art winches is further complicated by moisture getting into the gear train or drive mechanism thereby requiring periodic maintenance including disassembly, cleaning and reassembly to prevent rust or corrosion from so damaging the gears and drive mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the winding apparatus of the present invention provides a device having a gear train which provides a two-stage multiplication of torque on a drum which rotates in a single direction and wherein a shift can be made from one stage of torque multiplication to another instantaneously by reversing the direction of rotation on the drive spindle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved winding apparatus having seal means in the housing and also between the housing and the spindle to exclude water or moisture from the gear train housed therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1--1 of FIG. 2 showing details of construction of the winding apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing additional details of such apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Briefly, the winding apparatus of the present invention, designated generally A in FIG. 1 of the drawings, comprises a gear case or housing G which is secured to the deck or other portion of a boat by screws or other suitable securing means. The housing G includes a hollow tubular center port P having a drum D rotatably mounted thereon with a spindle S extending into the housing or gear case G where it is operably connected to a low torque gear train L and a high torque gear train H. With the apparatus of this invention, when the spindle S is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the high torque gear train H drives the drum D and a relatively high torque is imposed on the winding drum and, when the spindle is rotated in a clockwise direction, the winding drum D is turned by the low torque gear train L at a higher speed but a lower torque. Also, seals are provided between the drum and the center post and also in the housing to exclude water and moisture from the gear trains L and H in the housing as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Considering now the apparatus of the present invention in more detail, the gear case or housing G shown in the drawings comprises a cylindrical housing having a circular bottom 11 with a cylindrical side 12 extending therearound. Such gear case is preferably formed with the side 12 and the bottom 11 formed integrally, but it will be appreciated that the side may be attached to a circular plate bottom by welding other suitable means, as desired. The bottom 11 is provided with a plurality of bolt openings 13 which are formed in a bolt circle for receiving anchor bolts to secure the housing G to the deck or other portion of a boat structure. The bottom 11 is also provided with cylindrical recesses or holes 14 and 15 for receiving the gear shafts 16 and 17, respectively, as well as the hole 18 for receiving the shaft 19 connected to the lower end of the spindle S. As shown, the shaft 17 is journaled in upper bearing 17a and lower bearing 17b and similarly the shaft 19 is journaled in a bearing 19a which bearings are secured in the openings 15 and 18, respectively.

The cylindrical upstanding side 12 of the gear housing G is provided with an upper annular flange or shoulder 21 for supporting the base portion 22 of the hollow center post P. As shown in the drawings, a circular inclined web 24 connects the base 22 with the cylindrical shaft portion 23 of the center post P. Such base 22 is also provided with a downwardly extending projection 27 which extends below the tip of the lip or flange 21 and abutts the inner facing edge 28 of the flange 21. Such projection is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 30a which receives an O-ring or other suitable seal to form a seal between the base 22 and the flange 21 to exclude water or moisture from the gear case G. The hollow cylindrical shaft 23 is formed with a central passage or opening 23a extending therethrough and with an internal annular recess or counter bore 23b for receiving a bearing 23c which surrounds the external circumference of the ring gear shaft 30. A sealing ring 32 is mounted against the outside surface of cylindrical shaft 23 and against the inside wall 32a of drum D the bearings 33 which are positioned between the center post shaft 23 and the winding drum D as will be described in detail hereinafter, and further, for preventing the passage of fluid between the drum D and the cylindrical shaft 23.

The winding drum D, which is rotatably mounted on the center post P, comprises a central cylindrical housing 41 about which the line or rope is wrapped during use of the capstan or winding apparatus of the present invention. Such central portion has an outwardly and downwardly inclined annular skirt portion 42 that projects outwardly from the central cylindrical body 41 and an upper annular shoulder 43 which is provided above the central cylindrical housing or reel 41 for guiding the rope or line so as to maintain it in position on the central portion of the drum D. Such drum D is provided with a curved top portion 44 having a recess 45 therein for receiving the cap 46 which surrounds the upper end of the spindle S and covers the locking nut 47 that secures the drum D to the ring gear shaft 30.

In addition to the circular recess 45, the upper end of the drum D is provided with a counter bore 45a which receives the lower projection 46a of the cap 46 and which also receives the lock nut 47. In the preferred form of this invention, the cap 46 is provided with inner and outer circumferentially extending grooves 50 and 51 which are disposed on opposite sides of the openings (not shown) through which connecting bolts (not shown) extend that connect the cap 46 to the upper end of the drum D. Such grooves 50 and 51 are provided for receiving O-ring seals or other suitable seals 50a and 51a for forming a seal between the cap 46 and the upper end of the drum D to prevent water or moisture from entering the gear case G through the upper end of the drum D. Also, the cap 46 is provided with a central passage 46b for receiving the upper end of the spindle S as will be described in more detail hereinafter. An annular recess 53 is formed adjacent the central passage 46b for receiving an O-ring seal 55 for sealing between the cap 46 and the spindle S to exclude water and moisture from the center post P and drum D.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ring gear shaft 30 is provided with threads 70 adjacent its upper end for receiving the nut 47 which secures the drum D to such shaft 30. The ring gear shaft 30 is provided with a main bore 75 which extends longitudinally therethrough, an upper counter bore 76 for receiving the upper end of the spindle S, and an intermediate counter bore 77 for receiving the upper spindle bearing 78 and a lower counter bore 79 for receiving the lower spindle bearing 80. Also, the ring gear shaft is shown connected to and formed integrally with a circular plate 83 having a downwardly extending annular skirt or flange 84 formed at the outer periphery of the circular plate 83 for supporting the internally facing ring gear 85. An annular shoulder 87 is provided on the ring gear housing adjacent the lower end of the ring gear shaft 30 for receiving the bearing 23c.

The spindle S comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical shaft 89 having a head or enlarged diameter upper portion 90 thereon which is positioned in the upper counter bore 76. Such head 90 is provided with an internally faced opening 92 adapted to receive a drive shaft (not shown) for rotating the spindle S either clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired. As shown, such shaft 89 is carried in the bearings 78 and 80 and is provided with a smaller diameter, lower shaft portion 95 having a lower end 19 positioned in the bearing 19a in the opening 18 in the bottom member 11.

A washer 100 is positioned in the counter bore 101 in the lower end of the ring gear shaft 30 and such washer 100 is held in position by means of a ring 102 which surrounds the spindle shaft S.

The lower spindle shaft 95 is formed on the lower end of the spindle S adjacent the annular shoulder 104. A washer or spacer 105 is positioned on the shaft 95 adjacent shoulder 104. A cam clutch 110, which slides when rotated in a counterclockwise direction and which drives when rotated in a clockwise direction, is mounted on the shaft 95 below the washer 105. Such cam clutch 110 has gear 111 mounted thereon which, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, is immeshed with drive gear 114 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 17 and which in turn engages the ring gear 85. The gear 114 is keyed by key 115 to the ring gear drive shaft 17 and rotates the shaft 17 in the bearings 17a and 17b. Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 17 beneath the ring gear drive gear 114 is a gear 120 which is carried on a cam clutch 122 which slips when rotated in a clockwise direction and which drives the gear 120 when rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The gear 120 is driven by the idler gear 130 which is rotatably mounted on the bearing 131 on the fixed shaft 16. Such gear 130 intermeshes not only gear 120 but also the gear 140 which is keyed to the lower end of spindle drive shaft 95.

Thus, when in operation the spindle S is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 150 in FIG. 2 of the drawings, such shaft slides in the cam clutch 110 and rotates the lower gear 140 in a counterclockwise direction which in turn rotates the idler gear 130 in a clockwise direction. Such idler gear 130, which is immeshed with the gear 120, rotates that gear in a counterclockwise direction causing the cam clutch 122 to turn the shaft 17 and the gear 114 keyed thereto also in a counterclockwise direction. The gear 114 thus drives the ring gear 85 and the ring gear shaft 30 in a counterclockwise direction to rotate the drum D in a counterclockwise direction. Although the gear 114 is continuously intermeshed with the gear 111, such gear 111 slips on the cam clutch 110 as the cam clutch 110 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with the spindle shaft S. Thus, the gear 140, 130 and 120 comprise the relatively high torque, low speed drive train designated generally H for rotating the drum D in a counterclockwise direction.

The gears 110 and 114 comprise the low torque and higher speed drive, designated generally L, for rotating the drum D in a counterclockwise direction. When the spindle shaft S is rotated in a clockwise direction it causes the cam clutch 110 to drive the gear 111 in a clockwise direction which in turn drives the intermeshed gear 114 in a counterclockwise direction which drives the ring gear 85 also in a counterclockwise direction. As the shaft 17 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, it causes the cam clutch 122 to slide relative to the gear 120, which is being driven in a clockwise direction.

Thus, it will be appreciated that with the winding apparatus of the present invention, when the spindle S is driven or rotated in a counterclockwise direction by a suitable handle (not shown), which is connected at the head 90, the drum D will be caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with relatively high torque and at a low speed as compared to the low torque and relatively high speed of rotation, still in a counterclockwise direction, of the drum D when the spindle S is rotated in a clockwise direction. Thus, it will be appreciated that with the winding apparatus of the present invention, one may take up or wind up a line or sheet from the drum D with the benefit of either the high or low torque drive of the present invention and may shift instantaneously from either high torque to low torque or vice versa simply by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive spindle S.

It will be appreciated that with the seal 55 between the head 90 and the cap 46, and with the seal 32 between the center post P and the drum D, and with the seals 50a and 51a around the bolt 54, any water or moisture or other foreign matter will be excluded from the bearings and gears in the drum D and gear case G. Also, with the seal in groove 30a extending circumferentially of the annular flange 21, moisture is also excluded from the gear case G to thus provide a sealed, enclosed gear train which is not subject to rust and corrosion and which provides a two-stage or two-speed winding apparatus for use on boats and the like.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A winding apparatus for applying two stages of pulling force to a rope or line or the like comprising:

a. a gear housing adapted to be secured to a boat deck;

b. a center post on said housing having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;

c. a tubular shaft extending through said center post passage;

d. a drum secured to the upper end of said tubular shaft for rotation therewith;

e. a ring gear carried in the lower end of said tubular shaft;

f. a spindle rotatably mounted in said tubular shaft and extending therethrough;

g. a low torque gear train operably connected to said spindle and including gear means for rotating said ring gear when said spindle is rotated in one direction;

h. a high torque gear train operably connected to said spindle for rotating said ring gear when said spindle is rotated in the opposite direction; and

i. clutch means mounted with said high and low torque gear trains to render said high torque gear train inoperable when said spindle is rotated in said one direction and to render said low torque gear train inoperable when spindle is rotated in said opposite direction.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a lower case having a bottom and a cylindrical upstanding side with said center post mounted on an annular skirt and having seal means between said annular skirt and said side wall for excluding moisture from said gear housing.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said drum is provided with a cap which surrounds the upper end of said spindle and has a first seal means between said drum and said cap and a second seal means between said cap and the upper end of said spindle for excluding water or moisture therefrom.

4. The invention of claim 3 including a third seal means between the lower end of said drum and the lower end of said center post to provide a moisture barrier to exclude moisture from said drum and center post.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said low torque gear train includes:

a. a first gear means carried by said spindle;

b. a cam clutch means mounted on said spindle, said cam clutch means having means for connecting said first gear means to said spindle for rotation therewith when said spindle is rotated in a first direction and means for disconnecting said first gear means from said spindle when said spindle is rotated in the opposite direction; and

c. a ring gear drive gear engaged by said first gear means and said ring gear for rotating said ring gear when said spindle is rotated in said first direction.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said high torque gear train includes:

a. a spindle drive gear carried by said spindle and rotatable therewith;

b. an idler gear carried in said gear housing and engaged with said spindle drive gear;

c. a cam clutch gear operably connected to said idler gear and said ring gear drive gear for rotating said ring gear when said spindle is rotated.