NZ623952B2 - Boat anchor winch - Google Patents
Boat anchor winch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ623952B2 NZ623952B2 NZ623952A NZ62395212A NZ623952B2 NZ 623952 B2 NZ623952 B2 NZ 623952B2 NZ 623952 A NZ623952 A NZ 623952A NZ 62395212 A NZ62395212 A NZ 62395212A NZ 623952 B2 NZ623952 B2 NZ 623952B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- motor
- winch
- anchor
- rope
- lowering
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000002965 rope Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000051 modifying Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/16—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring using winches
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/22—Handling or lashing of anchors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/02—Driving gear
- B66D1/12—Driving gear incorporating electric motors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/28—Other constructional details
- B66D1/40—Control devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/60—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans adapted for special purposes
- B66D1/72—Anchor-chain sprockets; Anchor capstans
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02P—CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- H02P7/00—Arrangements for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of electric DC motors
- H02P7/06—Arrangements for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of electric DC motors for regulating or controlling an individual dc dynamo-electric motor by varying field or armature current
Abstract
Disclosed is a winch and method for raising and lowering a boat anchor attached to an anchor rope. The winch includes an electric motor (10) operable to turn the winch in a rope raising direction or a rope lowering direction. The winch is powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage. The winch also includes a boost controller for applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor (10) so as to increase a turning speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope lowering direction to provide rapid lowering of the anchor. e winch also includes a boost controller for applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor (10) so as to increase a turning speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope lowering direction to provide rapid lowering of the anchor.
Description
BOAT ANCHOR WINCH
FIELD
The present invention relates to boat anchor winches
typically used in pleasure craft and other water vessels, and in
particular to an improved motorized winch.
BACKGROUND
Electrically powered boat anchor winches are a common
labour saving device on pleasure craft. The simplest and
cheapest form involves a winch with a single speed DC electric
motor wired into a 12V or 24V battery for raising and lowering
the anchor.
A disadvantage of this simple form is that it takes much
longer to deploy the anchor than with a manual winch, as the
safe speed for raising the anchor is much slower than the safe
speed for lowering the anchor.
A solution known in the art is to incorporate a clutch
release mechanism, whereby the motor can be disengaged and
anchor can be allowed to drop to the ocean floor unhindered by
the motor speed. Such mechanisms add considerable cost and
complexity and can be unreliable.
Variable or multiple speed electric winches are known,
but prior art variable speed winches either utilize complex
gears or operate only to variably reduce the voltage applied to
the motor from the 12V battery. In such devices the variable
speeds are typically used for the purpose of reduction of the
maximum raising speed for certain tasks.
There is therefore a need for an improved approach to the
provision of rapid anchor lowering in an electrically powered
boat anchor winch.
The inventors have realized that a relatively inexpensive
and highly reliable controller can be added to a simple one
speed electric winch to provide reliable rapid anchor lowering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first broad aspect of the invention there
is provided a winch for raising and lowering a boat anchor
attached to an anchor rope comprising:
an electric motor operable to turn the winch in a rope
raising direction or a rope lowering direction and powered from
a power source supplying a supply voltage; and
a boost controller for applying a boosted voltage higher
than the supply voltage to the motor so as to increase a turning
speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope
lowering direction, sufficient to provide rapid lowering of the
anchor.
In one embodiment, the voltages are DC voltages.
In one embodiment, the winch further comprises a selector
switch to enable or disable the boosted voltage.
In one embodiment, the boosted voltage is produced with
the aid of a boost converter. The boost controller may further
comprise a motor speed controller electrically connected between
the boost converter and the motor. The motor speed controller
may further comprise a potentiometer for user adjustment of the
boosted voltage.
In one embodiment, the boost controller may further
comprise a soft start circuit to enable smooth engagement of the
boosted voltage to the motor on startup. The soft start circuit
may be integral with the motor speed controller.
In one embodiment, the boost controller is unable to
apply the boosted voltage when the motor is operating in the
rope raising direction.
In one embodiment, the power source is a 12V or 24V DC
battery.
According to a second broad aspect of the invention there
is provided a method of providing a motorized anchor winch
powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage with the
capability of lowering the anchor faster than raising the
anchor, the method comprising the step of applying a boosted
voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor when the
motor is operating in a rope lowering direction, the boosted
voltage causing an increase in a turning speed of the motor
sufficient to provide rapid lowering of the anchor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a diagram of a typical motorized boat anchor
winch to which the invention may be applied;
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit part
of a boost controller in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a power circuit adapted
to operate with the control circuit of Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the current invention will now be
described.
Referring first to Figure 1, an electrically operated
boat anchor winch is shown, as included in embodiments of the
invention. 12 V DC electric motor 10 rated at 1000 Watts power
output has electrical power input lead 11. Motor 10 drives worm
drive gearbox 13 mounted on bracket 14. Bracket 14 has number of
attachment points such as 17, 18 for mounting to the boat by
screws. Mounted on bracket 14 by bearings and turned by an
output shaft of gearbox 13 is a winch drum with spindle 15, 16
around which the anchor rope is wound and unwound.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the boost controller of
an embodiment of the invention is exemplified, divided into a
control circuit (Figure 2) and a power circuit (Figure 3).
Labels + and – denote connection to the positive and negative
terminals of a 12 V DC battery. Control sides of a relay are
labelled with a rectangle with a diagonal line, and controlled
sides as a switch in a normally closed or normally open
position.
Circuit breaker CB3 (5A) protects the control circuit and
circuit breaker CB1 (50A) protects the power circuit. Up-down
switch S1 operates to switch the motor between a rope raising
direction in position U and a rope lowering direction in
position D.
When S1 is in position U, interlock relay Kx2 (3A, 12V)
is energized to open its normally closed switch, disconnecting
the down control circuitry. Similarly, interlock relay Kx1 is
de-energized and its normally-closed switch is kept closed.
Relays K1 and K2 (60A, 12V) are therefore energized, closing
their normally open switches and presenting 12V across motor 10
in an anchor raising polarity.
When S1 is in position D, the converse applies with the
interlock relays and the down control circuitry operates. If
switch S2 (manually operable by the user) is in the bypass B
position, the boosting circuitry is disabled, K5 and K6 (12V,
60A, normally open) being energized and closed and presenting 12
V across motor 10 in an anchor-lowering polarity. If switch S2
is in the fast fall F position, the boosting circuitry is
enabled with K3 and K4 energized (60A, 12V, normally open),
applying 12V across the inputs of 12V to 24 V (15A) DC to DC
boost (step up) converter 25, as are isolation relays Kx3 and
Kx4 (12VDC, 30A, normally open), applying the voltage output
from motor speed controller 30 through circuit breaker CB2 (20A)
across motor 10 in an anchor lowering polarity.
Motor speed controller 30 is a standard motor speed
controller (12V-36V DC, 50A) that can supply a reduced voltage
by pulse width modulation, to which may be fitted a
potentiometer for the user to adjust the pulse width and hence
the boosted voltage downwards from 24V, so as to suit the
particular anchor. Ideally, the boosted speed is as fast as is
allowable so that the anchor falls without slackening of the
anchor rope and potential tangling. Typically, the user will
adjust the potentiometer once on installation and thereafter use
the switch S2 to enable the boosted speed. A second advantage of
the motor speed controller 30 is that it incorporates a soft
start capacitor circuit that enables smoothed engagement of the
applied voltage to the motor over 1-3 seconds, reducing the high
current on startup which otherwise can damage the boost
converter.
By providing a boosted voltage to the motor when
operating in the rope lowering direction, equivalent
functionality to a clutch arrangement can be provided without
mechanical modification or mechanical enhancement of a single
speed base model winch, increasing simplicity and providing
increased reliability over a clutch. Electric motors rated for
12 V operation in the rope raising (loaded) condition are well
able to operate faster with 24 V input, particularly when this
is applied in the rope lowering condition, which is unloaded or
negatively loaded by the weight of the anchor.
Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that many
variations may be made to the invention without departing from
the scope of the invention.
For example, the invention applies to anchor motors of
various sizes and powers and normal operating voltages,
including but not limited to 12V and 24 V DC systems and also AC
systems. Also, although it is preferred to provide the voltage
boost only in the rope lowering direction, other embodiments can
also provide the voltage boost in both rope raising and lowering
directions.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding
description of the invention, except where the context requires
otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the
word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or
“comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the
presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence
or addition of further features in various embodiments of the
invention.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication
is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an
admission that the publication forms a part of the common
general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
Claims (10)
1. A winch for raising and lowering a boat anchor attached to an anchor rope, comprising: an electric motor operable to turn the winch in a rope raising direction or a rope lowering direction and powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage; and a boost controller for applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor so as to increase a turning speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope lowering direction, sufficient to provide rapid lowering of the anchor.
2. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the voltages are DC voltages.
3. A winch as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a selector switch to enable or disable the boosted voltage.
4. A winch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the boosted voltage is produced with the aid of a boost converter.
5. A winch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the boost controller further comprises a motor speed controller electrically connected between the boost converter and the motor.
6. A winch as claimed in claim 5 wherein the motor speed controller further comprises a potentiometer for user adjustment of the boosted DC voltage.
7. A winch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a soft start circuit to enable smooth engagement of the boosted voltage to the motor on startup.
8. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the boost controller is unable to apply the boosted voltage when the motor is operating in the rope raising direction.
9. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power source is a 12V or 24V DC battery.
10. A method of providing a motorized anchor winch powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage with the capability of lowering the anchor faster than raising the anchor, the method comprising the step of applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor when the motor is operating in a rope lowering direction, the boosted voltage causing an increase in a turning speed of the motor sufficient to provide rapid lowering of the anchor.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2011904420A AU2011904420A0 (en) | 2011-10-26 | Boat anchor winch | |
AU2011904420 | 2011-10-26 | ||
PCT/AU2012/001294 WO2013059862A1 (en) | 2011-10-26 | 2012-10-24 | Boat anchor winch |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ623952A NZ623952A (en) | 2015-09-25 |
NZ623952B2 true NZ623952B2 (en) | 2016-01-06 |
Family
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