FR2680748A1 - Device for actuating the winches serving for operations on the deck of boats - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device making it possible to use the winches which serve for operation on the deck of boats (especially sailboats), without effort, at a distance, and with fewer hands. It consists of a casing (1) enclosing a train of reducing gears (2). It accommodates an electric motor (4) which gives the movement and the power to this train of gears (2), the final shaft (3) of which has the function of power, movement and locking connector on the winch used. The motor (4) is remotely controlled by the contactor (5), the relay (6) the control cable with switch (7). The casing is equipped with a rope guide (8) and with a sprung pulley (9) for tensioning the rope. The device according to the invention is particularly intended for the persons who carry out manoeuvres on boats equipped with winches.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for actuating the winches used for maneuvers on the deck of a boat.

 Traditionally the winches are operated manually with a crank. Some are fitted at their base with an electric or hydraulic motor.

Those which are actuated with the crank are the most numerous, they require a physical effort which can be very important, moreover they mobilize the operator at least with one hand and more often than not both.

Those which are equipped with motors are rarer because they require an installation and a very important financing, especially if one wants that all the winches are equipped with it, and, remote-controlled. What is more, it would still be necessary to provide facilities for maneuvers, such as going up to the mast.

The device according to the invention covers the head of a crank winch overcomes most of these drawbacks,
It consists of a housing (1), made of metal, in molded materials or other materials, containing and maintaining a gear reduction gear (2), (with teeth, chains or belts) making it possible to reduce the speed of a electric motor (4) which would rotate at around 4000 rpm to have an output movement (3) of approximately 50 rpm. The movement output controls a square axis (3) with the characteristics of the winch handle squares with their own locking system.

 The direction of rotation is that requested by the winch, either clockwise.

The power for the motor (4) is supplied by the on-board energy, to the port by the quay terminals. It can also be powered by a mobile battery. The current used is optional: 12 volts - 24 volts - 220 volts,
A motor powered by a direct current of 12 volts and a nominal power of 1500 watts is a good average power.

 This power will be adapted according to the size and needs of the boat.

 The starting of the motor (4) is controlled by a remote control (7) with or without cable (the drawings Fig. 1 and fig 2 represent the cable model with contactor (5) relay (6) cable with switch (7 ).

 The dimensions and shapes of the casing (1) will vary depending on the arrangement of the pinions (2), their drives and the desired power. However, by way of nonlimiting example, the following dimensions: 40 cm x 25 cm x 4 cm, represent the average size of the housing, of the device of the invention.

 A single device designed with the device of the invention can operate any winch. It arises and settles very easily. The appliance removed from the winch has not undergone any modification and has returned to its original use.

 The device of the invention will provide comfort and safety in good numbers of maneuvers.

Non-limiting examples
a) - Go up to the mast, frequent, dangerous exercise, requiring a lot of agility and physical strength. Can be a vital maneuver for the boat and the crew. Xais which may prove to be impossible under certain navigation conditions with a reduced crew having only the usual solutions. With the device of the invention a single person, who would even be physically reduced, can go up and down several times if necessary from the mast. Sitting on the caulking chair, all he needs to do is go up, press the button on the remote control (7), release the button to stop at the desired level, give the halyard some slack to descend at speed desired. For this exercise we use the winch, the main halyard and the caulking chair. The device of the invention comprises a guide (8) and a spring pulley (9) to guide and tension the halyard on the drum. winch. The end of the halyard is brought back to the caulking chair in a cleat cleat (10) which keeps the halyard at the tension useful for raising and lowering.

 b) - Easily rig with the boom a load mast that can be used effortlessly by one person to hoist on board a man who has fallen overboard, embark and disembark the tender, or any other load.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended to avoid large efforts or to make maneuvers with fewer team members.

 The remote control cable (7) will have a length close to the height of the mast.

 The guide (8) could be a simple trigger guard in the log or have movable parts to avoid wear of the halyard.

 The halyard tensioner model (9) may be different from the model shown in fig. 2-. Other devices are possible.

 The device of the invention has on its casing (1) several fixing points making it possible to adapt thereon, supports, fixings, or accessories.

 To give more clarity to this description I specify that: the locking of the cranks on the winches consists of a square plate, movable by 1/4 of a turn, held at the end of the movement transmission square by an axis crossing the center square and dot at the other end with a tiny handle. It is this same system which is reused on the axis (3) of the device of the invention.

Claims (5)

 1) Device for actuating boat winches without a team member and characterized in that it comprises a casing (1) enclosing and supporting a gear train (2) speed reducers, mAs by an electric motor (4) remotely controlled (7).  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the axis (3) of movement output extends outside the housing (1) by a square with the same mechanical characteristics as the square of a winch handle, including including the locking system allowing the device of the invention to transmit wind, force and attachment to a winch.  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cartst equipped with a guide (8) halyard allowing good positioning of the halyard on the winch.  4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the housing (1) is equipped with a movable spring pulley (9) allowing to obtain the tension or the relaxation required so that the halyard can be wound or unwound on the winch drum.  5) Device according to the invention which equips the caulking chair with a halyard blocker or a cleat cleat to adjust and keep the halyard at the different tensioning operations for raising, stopping or lowering the mast.  Protection for a French Patent with priority right (one year deadline for filing abroad).