GB1588850A - Fishing gear - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FISHING GEAR (71) We, FISH AND SHIPS GEAR A/S, a Norwegian body corporate, of Elling Ryans vei 2, 1620 Gressvik, Norway, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an ap- paratus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and paying-out two ropes attached to a Danish seine-fishing net.

To haul in the two ropes attached to a Danish seine-fishing net there has previously been proposed a capstan with an associated coiling apparatus or two winches with spools together with a coiling apparatus. Common to the use of both winches or capstans is the fact that hauling in the ropes is an arduous operation. It requires a person to carry away the coils of each rope and to ensure that the winch or capstan and coiling apparatus operate correctly. The ropes usually travel over three to four guide rollers, spools and pulleys. These devices all inflict wear and tear on the ropes, therefore reducing their useful life. Since sand is often carried up on the ropes, the spools and guide rollers also wear out quickly. This is especially true in Denmark, where most of the fishing is on sand banks, and rollers, spools and pulleys have to be replaced two or three times a year. Since these rollers, spools and pulleys are positioned at different places on deck, daily maintenance requires a great deal of time.

In addition, there is a danger of injury to a person on deck when the ropes are being hauled in, as the ropes run over the deck both lengthwise and crosswise.

The ropes which are guided in various directions over the deck, together with the winches or capstans and guide rollers occupy a significant part of the available space on deck. The pulling power of the winches and capstans has had to compensate for frictional losses in the rollers, spools and pulleys. This compensation by motors of the capstans and winches is often as much as 2040% of their total power.

When the ropes are being paid-out, they have to be supervised at all times to ensure that the ropes run smoothly out of the coils without becoming kinked or entangled. With the previously proposed devices mentioned above, it has been difficult to adjust the apparatus to correct for skewed hauling, as the two winches or capstans run synchronously.

In order to change over to another kind of fishing, an extensive dismantling operation has been required, which wastes valuable time.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and paying-out two ropes attached to a Danish seine-fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, mounted at spaced positions near the stern of the fishing boat, each pulley being drivable independently of the other pulley about an axis athwart the fishing boat to allow the ropes to be hauled in or paid-out at different rates, the pulleys being at such a height above the deck that, in use, the ropes do not contact the vessel between the sea and the pulleys, storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulley, and a net block situated between the two pulleys for hauling in the net.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and paying-out two ropes attached to a fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, so mounted on the fishing boat that ropes hauled in or paid-out thereby do not, in use, contact the fishing boat between the sea and the pulleys, the pulleys being so independently driven that the ropes can be hauled in or paidout at differing rates, and storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulleys.

The invention will be further explained, by way of example, in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, where Figures 1 and 2 show side and plan views respectively of a fishing boat on which an apparatus for hauling in, payingout and storing ropes is mounted; Figure 3 is a side view of a pulley of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 for hauling in a rope, and Figure 4 shows the pulley of Figure 3 from above, in partial cross-section; Figure 5 shows an alternative form of mounting of the pulley to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, and Figure 6 is a plan view of a payingout ring of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 5.

Figures 1 and 2 show a 50-foot fishing boat equipped with a trawl gallows 1.

Also mounted on a deck of the boat are two trawl winches 3 and 4 and a capstan 5. On the trawl gallows 1, a net roller 6 is mounted on an arm 7 extending along the centerline of the boat (see Figure 2).

The net roller 6 is used to haul in the net when the net reaches the stern of the boat.

Suspended from the gallows 1 at positions symmetrically spaced on either side of the centerline, are two power-driven pulleys 8 and 9. Referring next to Figure 3, each of the pulleys 8, 9 is rotatably supported in a holder 10 which depends rotatably from a horizontal shaft 11. The shaft 11 is supported by ears 12 which are fastened to a vertical sleeve 13 that is freely rotatable on a vertical journal 14. The journals 14 are fastened to a gallows cross yoke (not shown).

As shown in Figure 5, the journals 14 of the pulleys 8, 9 need not be mounted on the gal!ows 1, they can be mounted on respective upright supports 15 secured to the deck 16 of the boat The height above the deck 16 at which the pullevs are arranged in either embodiment is sufficient to prevent the ropes 26 from contacting the boat between the sea and the pulleys 8, 9.

The pulleys 8 and 9 are independently driven by respective hydraulic motors 17.

An arm lR is attached to each holder 10.

and a guide roller 19 is supported on and freelv rotntshle about the free end of said arm 18 and is co-planar with the plane of the associated pullevs 8, 9. On a dia metr;cauy opposite side of the holder 10 to the arm 18, a pendulum arm 20 is mounted, with a pressure roller 21 mounted on and freelv rotatable about a free end of the ann 20 and cn-nlanar with the associated pulleys 8. 9. The pressure roller 21 is at such a position that there is more than 1800 between a radius of each pulley 8, 9 passing through the centre of the guide roller 19 and a radius of said each pulley 8, 9 passing through the centre of the pressure roller 21 measured in the direction of travel of the associated rope 26 between the guide roller 19 and the pressure roller 21. The arm 20 and roller 21 are held pressed against the pulley 8 or 9 by means of a spring device 22, which, as shown in Figure 3, is a strong rubber cord. A groove 23 is provided in each of the pulleys 8 and 9. Each groove 23 is V-shaped and lined with heavy-duty rubber 24 or other material which increases the frictional grip between each groove and the associated rope. A groove 25 on each guide roller 19 is also lined with rubber. The periphery of each pressure roller 21 can also have a rubber coating.

To make sure that the ropes 26 do not wind around the grooves 23 in their respective pulleys 8, 9, there is a finger 27 which engages in the groove 23 in the non-rope-contacting portion of the circular path of each pulley 8, 9.

Each finger guides the associated rope 26 out of the groove during hauling in.

Owing to the sharp V shape of each groove, slippage between each rope and the associated pulley will be minimal.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a ring 28 is attached on the side of each sleeve 13 opposite the point of attachment of the associated pulley 8 or 9 to the sleeve. A coating of a plastics material can be fused onto the ring to give it the least posible coefficient of friction with the ropes. Each ring 28 has a spiral configuration so that an opening 29 is formed through which a rope 26 can be inserted into or withdrawn from the ring 28. When the ropes 26 are to be payed-out, the ropes are disconnected from the pulleys 8, 9 and the pulleys turned 1800 around the upright 15 such that the ring 28 lies directly above the coiled rope 30. A bight of rope is then guided into the ring 28 and the lines can be set. If a trawl gallows as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is used, the rings can be mounted on the gallows.

Practical experiments have demonstrated that the system of the invention requires se little work that the Danish seine can be set and hauled in by only one man.

The ropes run over the pulleys and coil themselves up on the deck, and the fisherman can remain in the pilot house where, by means of an indicator, he can check that the ropes are coming in correctly. If skewed hauling occurs, he can correct for this by driving one of the two pulleys 8 or 9 somewhat faster.

The pulleys 8. 9 are senarately driven by the motors 17 so adiusting the rate at which the ropes are hauled in involves no problems, thus making it possible to avoid skewed hauling. This can be controlled either by a marking on the ropes or by means of a known skewl haul indicator in the form, for example, of a counting device. Because the pulleys 8, 9 are lined with rubber, there will be less wear on the ropes, as there will be no slipping between a rope and an associated pulley 8, 9. Owing to the rubber lining of the pulleys, the pulley diameter can be minimised, thus allowing the use of relatively low-power hydraulic motors 17. The pulleys 8, 9 always align themselves with the direction of the rope, both in horizontal and vertical directions, and because they are mounted in the stern, no guide rollers are required. This in turn means less wear on the ropes. The fact that the blocks are mounted above the deck allows the ropes to be led directly in to the pulleys without guide rollers. The mounting of the pulleys also results in the fact that the ropes coil themselves on hauling in because they run directly down from the elevated pulleys. This system also makes it possible to avoid the extra wear occasioned by the use of coiling apparatus. This also results in a reduced power requirement.

The apparatus described above with reference to the drawings takes up a minimum amount of space on deck because the pulleys are suspended a distance above the deck and the ropes are not led back and forth across the deck over guide rollers. If another type of fishing is to be performed, the apparatus can be dismantled easily, if necessary. The pulleys 8, 9 can also be used to haul in the lines for fish pots and traps as well as smaller purse seines and other ropes The replacement of worn sections of rope is required infrequently because the ropes are subiected to less wear. This is an advantage because the replacement of worn rope is both difficult and time-consuming.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. An apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and payinp-out two ropes attached to a Danish seine-fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, mounted at spaced positions near the stern of the fishing boat, each pulley being drivable independently of the other pulley about an axis athwart the fishing boat to allow the ropes to be hauled in or paid-out at differing rates, the pulleys being at such a height above the deck that, in use, the ropes do not contact the vessel between the sea and the pulleys, storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulley, and a net block situated between the two pulleys for hauling in the net.

2. An apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and paying-out two ropes attached to a fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, so mounted on the fishing boat that ropes hauled in or payed-out thereby do not, in use, contact the fishing boat between the sea and the pulleys, the pulleys being so independently driven that the ropes can be hauled in or paid-out at differing rates, and storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulleys.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each pulley is carried in a respective holder which is mounted on a respective support extending upwardly from the deck of the fishing boat, each holder depending from the associated mounting and being rotatable relatively to the associated mounting about a horizontal and a vertical axis.

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each pulley has a rope-receiving groove which is lined with a material such as rubber for increasing the frictional grip between a rope and the pulley, wherein a guide roller is arranged in a plane co-planar with each pulley and with a peripheral portion thereof adjacent the periphery of the associated pulley for guiding the associated rope into and from the groove during hauling-in and paying-out respectively, and wherein a spring-loaded pressure roller is arranged in a plane co-planar with the plane of each pulley and adjacent the periphery of the associated pulley for guiding the associated rope as the rope leaves and enters the pulley, during hauling in and paying out respectively, there being more than 1800 between a radius of each pulley passing through the axis of the associated guide roller and a radius of said each pulley passing through the axis of the associated pressure roller, measured in the direction of the travel of the rope between the guide roller and the pressure roller, and a finger being provided which engages in the groove in the non-rope-contacting portion of the circular path of the pulley to ensure that, during hauling in, the associated rope leaves the groove after passing the pressure roller.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 and claim 3 wherein each guide roller and each pressure roller are freely rotatably mounted on respective arms which are connected to the holder of the associated pulley.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, claim 5 or to claim 4 when dependent on claim 3 wherein the rotation of each pulley holder about a vertical axis is by means of a bush or sleeve connected to each pulley holder and embracing a vertical

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. no problems, thus making it possible to avoid skewed hauling. This can be controlled either by a marking on the ropes or by means of a known skewl haul indicator in the form, for example, of a counting device. Because the pulleys 8, 9 are lined with rubber, there will be less wear on the ropes, as there will be no slipping between a rope and an associated pulley 8, 9. Owing to the rubber lining of the pulleys, the pulley diameter can be minimised, thus allowing the use of relatively low-power hydraulic motors 17. The pulleys 8, 9 always align themselves with the direction of the rope, both in horizontal and vertical directions, and because they are mounted in the stern, no guide rollers are required. This in turn means less wear on the ropes. The fact that the blocks are mounted above the deck allows the ropes to be led directly in to the pulleys without guide rollers. The mounting of the pulleys also results in the fact that the ropes coil themselves on hauling in because they run directly down from the elevated pulleys. This system also makes it possible to avoid the extra wear occasioned by the use of coiling apparatus. This also results in a reduced power requirement. The apparatus described above with reference to the drawings takes up a minimum amount of space on deck because the pulleys are suspended a distance above the deck and the ropes are not led back and forth across the deck over guide rollers. If another type of fishing is to be performed, the apparatus can be dismantled easily, if necessary. The pulleys 8, 9 can also be used to haul in the lines for fish pots and traps as well as smaller purse seines and other ropes The replacement of worn sections of rope is required infrequently because the ropes are subiected to less wear. This is an advantage because the replacement of worn rope is both difficult and time-consuming. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and payinp-out two ropes attached to a Danish seine-fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, mounted at spaced positions near the stern of the fishing boat, each pulley being drivable independently of the other pulley about an axis athwart the fishing boat to allow the ropes to be hauled in or paid-out at differing rates, the pulleys being at such a height above the deck that, in use, the ropes do not contact the vessel between the sea and the pulleys, storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulley, and a net block situated between the two pulleys for hauling in the net.

2. An apparatus on a fishing boat for hauling in, storing and paying-out two ropes attached to a fishing net, the apparatus comprising two pulleys, one for each rope, so mounted on the fishing boat that ropes hauled in or payed-out thereby do not, in use, contact the fishing boat between the sea and the pulleys, the pulleys being so independently driven that the ropes can be hauled in or paid-out at differing rates, and storage beneath each pulley for receiving rope hauled in by said pulleys.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each pulley is carried in a respective holder which is mounted on a respective support extending upwardly from the deck of the fishing boat, each holder depending from the associated mounting and being rotatable relatively to the associated mounting about a horizontal and a vertical axis.

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each pulley has a rope-receiving groove which is lined with a material such as rubber for increasing the frictional grip between a rope and the pulley, wherein a guide roller is arranged in a plane co-planar with each pulley and with a peripheral portion thereof adjacent the periphery of the associated pulley for guiding the associated rope into and from the groove during hauling-in and paying-out respectively, and wherein a spring-loaded pressure roller is arranged in a plane co-planar with the plane of each pulley and adjacent the periphery of the associated pulley for guiding the associated rope as the rope leaves and enters the pulley, during hauling in and paying out respectively, there being more than 1800 between a radius of each pulley passing through the axis of the associated guide roller and a radius of said each pulley passing through the axis of the associated pressure roller, measured in the direction of the travel of the rope between the guide roller and the pressure roller, and a finger being provided which engages in the groove in the non-rope-contacting portion of the circular path of the pulley to ensure that, during hauling in, the associated rope leaves the groove after passing the pressure roller.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 and claim 3 wherein each guide roller and each pressure roller are freely rotatably mounted on respective arms which are connected to the holder of the associated pulley.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, claim 5 or to claim 4 when dependent on claim 3 wherein the rotation of each pulley holder about a vertical axis is by means of a bush or sleeve connected to each pulley holder and embracing a vertical

upright support, a ring being mounted on the bush or sleeve at a point on the bush or sleeve opposite the point of connection thereto of the pulley holder, the ring being for guiding the associated rope during paying-out.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each ring includes an opening through which the associated rope can be inserted into or withdrawn from the ring.

8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the pulleys are disposed between 1 and 2 metres above the deck of the fishing vessel.

9. An apparatus substantially as here inbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.