WO2003086068A1

WO2003086068A1 - Automatic fishing device

Info

Publication number: WO2003086068A1
Application number: PCT/HR2003/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vinko Karelovic
Original assignee: Vinko Karelovic
Priority date: 2002-04-12
Filing date: 2003-04-02
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Also published as: AU2003214485A1; HRP20020320B1; HRP20020320A2

Abstract

Electrically powered, automatic fishing device, that performs fishing operations, especially while catching cephalopods, automatically, thus replacing the fisherman. The device performs automatically the following operations: lowering the fishing line (33) with the lure (34) into the sea or fresh water, rhythmically hoisting and lowering the line and the lure when catching cephalopods, lifting the catch to the boat or land, stopping the device, winding the line to the drum (4) when moving the boat to another fishing location or terminating the fishing. To perform the above mentioned operations, it comprises the powering, the operating and the controlling assemblies. All the three assemblies are located on the carrying console (1) with the front (2) and the aft (3) covers. The controlling assembly is equipped with the electronic programmer (17) with the micro-switches (20, 21), the magnets (23), the position sensor (22), and the selective switch (25), that control performance of automatic operations of the device. The device is powered from a low-voltage DC electric source on board the boat or land.

Description

AUTOMATIC FISHING DEVICE

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to fishing gears.

In the International Patent Classification, it is classified as A 01 K 91/02: devices for casting lines, or 91/06: automatic hookers.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

It is well known that in catching of some sorts of fish, the line with the lure is to pulled and relieved rhythmically in order to call the attention of the fish. This particularly relates to catching of cephalopods, such as squids, cuttlefish and octopuses in the seas, and eels in rivers and lakes. Fishermen pull and relieve the line rhythmically manually, which is very exhausting since it is to be done over a long period of time and continuously. As soon as the animal is hooked, it is to be pulled out, since otherwise it will free and escape. The technical problem that is solved by this invention is providing a device that will perform rhythmical line movements during fishing automatically. This way, fishing is performed with no effort, the catch is safer, and while the device is fishing, the fisherman may engage in other activities.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Presently, squids and other cephalopods are being caught with lures with hooks, requiring no bite. One or more lures are hung at a fishing line with some plumb weight at the end. The lures are usually shaped as small glittering fishes. The line with lures is hoisted into the sea until the plumb weight reaches the sea bed, and than lifted a little to stay above sea weeds. At this depth, the line is constantly, manually, pulled and released, until a fish or cephalopod is caught. When the catch is pulled out, the procedure is repeated.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of invention is an electric-powered, automatic fishing device that performs main fishing operations, especially in cephalopods fishing, automatically, instead of the fisherman. The automatic fishing device performs the following operations: lowering of the line with lure into the sea or fresh water, rhythmical hoisting and lowering of the line, lifting of the catch to the boat or land, stopping of the device, collecting the line when moving the boat to another fishing location or termination of fishing.

The fisherman is to perform the following operations manually: preparing of the device for fishing and connecting it to the power source, lifting the lure to a proper distance from the sea bed where the rhythmical hoisting and lowering will be performed, fixing the line to the drum, and removing the catch from the lure.

To perform the above operations, the device comprises the powering, the working and the controlling assemblies. The three assemblies are placed on a carrying console with front and aft covers. The controlling assembly is provided with electronic programmer with mechanical and magnetic switches, relays and sensors, that perform the automatic operations of the device.

The device is powered from a low-voltage DC source.

In case of black-out, all the above operations may be performed manually.

The automatic fishing device, according to this invention, enables fishing of cephalopods and fish, with hooks, with more or less manual work.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows the automatic fishing device - front view.

Figure 2. shows the device shown in Fig. 1. - left side view.

Figure 3. shows the device shown in Fig. 1. - right side view.

Figure 4. shows the device shown in Fig. 1. - with front cover removed.

Figure 5. shows the device shown in Fig. 1. - with aft cover removed.

Figure 6. shows positions of the selective switch.

Figure 7. shows the device shown in Fig. 1. - cross-section A-A.

Figure 8. shows the device while leaned for automatic unrolling the line.

6. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION EMBODIMENT AND FUNCTIONING

The automatic fishing device, according to this invention, comprises: console plate, front cover, aft cover, powering assembly, working assembly and controlling assembly. As evident in Figs. 1. to 7., all parts of the automatic fishing device are placed at the outer, front and aft sides of the carrying console 1 , and are covered with the front cover 2 and the aft cover 3, which is not a condition.

The powering assembly, as shown in Fig. 7., comprises the electric motor 15 with reducing gears 16, at the axle of which there is the powering pulley 12 with the belt 14 that conveys the power to the working pulley 13.

The working assembly, Fig. 7., comprises the working pulley 13, the hollow axle 8, the bearing 8b, the pushing spring 8c, the drum carrier 6 with the bolt 6a, the pushing bolt 9, the thruster 10, the drum 4, the nut 7, the break 5 and the line 33 with the lure 34. The working pulley is firmly connected to the hollow axle 8. In the hollow axle 8 wall, there is the opening 8a for the pushing bolt 9, firmly connected to the drum carrier 6. Inside the hollow axle 8 there is the thruster 10, at the outer surface of which there is the longitudinal arched groove 11. Onto the carrier 6, provided with the bolt 6a, there is pulled the drum 4, fixed with the nut 7. Between the drum 6 and the hollow axle 8, there is the pushing spring 8c that returns the drum into its initial position after termination of the fishing line pulling force. On the drum 4 there is wound the fishing line 33. On the drum there is the break 5 that enables fixing of the line with the lure 34 at a certain distance from the sea bed.

The controlling assembly, Figs. 5. and 7., comprises the electronic programmer 17, the relay switch 18, the main switch 20, the micro-switch 21, the weight adjuster 27 with the connecting lever 27a, the leaning lever 27b and the return spring 27c, the position sensor 22, the magnets 23 positioned perpendicularly, which is not a condition, placed at the powering pulley 12, the starting switch 24, the selective switch 25, the signal diode 26, the turning lever 19 positioned at the outer side of the front cover 2, used to turn the micro- switch 20 on.

The adjuster 27, by the lever 27a, the return spring 27c and the leaning lever 27b, regulate the micro-switch 21 timing, depending on the weight of the catch.

At the outer under side of the carrying console 1 , Fig. 1., there is fixed the articulated holder 29 with the fixing bolt 30, and the plate 31 by which the device is fixed to a boat or another object. At the upper outer side of the hanging plate 1 , there is the handle 28 for carrying and leaning of the device. The device is connected to a source of electricity with the cable 32. The device is connected to and disconnected from the source of electricity by the switch 24. Electricity is conducted by the relay switch 18 to the programmer 17 that controls the device. The selective switch has four positions, enabling automatic activation of particular operations that are to be performed by the device:

0 - device switched off,

1 - automatic catching of cephalopods,

2 - automatic catching of fishes, including trolling, and

3 - winding the line onto the drum when moving to another fishing location or terminating the fishing.

The device functions as follows: the device is fixed to the boat 35 or an object ashore by the plate 31 and the articulated holder 29, and is connected to a source of electricity (12V battery - not a condition). The device is then turned from vertical position, Fig. 8., so that the fishing line 33 with lures 34, or hooks and plumb weight, unwinds freely from the drum

4 into the sea. The fisherman holds the line with his hand until the lure or the plumb weight reaches the sea bed, lifts it then to a wanted distance from the sea bed and fixes it with the break 5 on the drum 4. This operation will make the lure stop at the same distance from the sea bed at repeated lowering of the line. After that, the device is returned into the vertical position and the starting switch 24 is turned on, whereas the selective switch 25 is turned to the wanted programme. If cephalopods are being fished, the switch is turned into the position 1.

If the selective switch 25, Fig. 6., is turned into the position 1 , the drum 4 will turn rhythmically left and right by a certain angle, thus hoisting and lowering the fishing line 33 with the lures 34. The rhythmical turning of the drum 4 is enabled by the position sensor 22, which acts as a magnetic switch activated by the magnets 23, positioned on the powering pulley 12, reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor. This way, the powering pulley turns the drum 4 rhythmically in one and the other direction, thus hoisting and lowering the line with the lures that, this way, attract cephalopods. When a cephalopod or a fish is caught to the lure hooks and pulls the line 23, the drum 4 with the drum carrier 6 will suddenly move towards the working pulley 13, overpowering thereby resistance of the spring 8c. At the same time, the pushing bolt 9 will, through the opening 8a at the hollow axle 8, reach the longitudinal arched groove 11 on the thruster 10. Having entered the arched groove 11 , the pushing bolt 9 will push the thruster 10 through the hollow axle 8. At the hollow-axle exit, the thruster will press the leaning lever 27b and, thus, switch the micro-switch 21 and the electric motor 15 on, which will, in turn, stop the rhythmical movements and will continue rotating in one direction only. After this, the drum 4 rotates freely and winds the line with the catch. When the catch reaches and turns the lever 19, the main switch 20 will turn the electro-engine off. Following manual removal of the catch from the lure, the fishing is continued in the above described manner. The device is reactivated by the starting switch 24.

When other sorts of fish are being fished, either by lowering the hook to the sea bed or by trolling, the selective switch 25 is turned into the position 2. In this position, the drum 4 rests until fish is caught and pulls suddenly the fishing line 33, which turns the drum 4 and, by the micro-switch 21 , starts the electro-engine 15. The drum 4 rotates constantly and winds the line until the catch, or another obstacle, turns the lever 19 and activates the micro-switch 20 which turns the electric motor off.

At moving to another fishing location or terminating the fishing, the selective switch 25 is turned to the position 3. The electric motor 15 rotates constantly in a single direction and the drum 4 winds the fishing line.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

Device for automatic fishing of all sorts of fishes. Particularly practical for fishing cephalopods. While the device is operated automatically, the fisherman may engage in other activities. The device enables fatigue free fishing. It is simple to operate and maintain. It is made of materials and parts that are easily available in the market.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Electrically powered, automatic fishing device, comprising a carrying console with fore and aft covers, to which there are fixed parts of powering, working and controlling assemblies that, depending on the sort of fishing, enable automatic, continuous or rhythmical turning of drum left and right by a certain angle, thus hoisting and lowering the fishing line, w h e re i n . the powering assembly powers the device, and comprises the electric motor (15) with the reducing gears (16), at the axle of which there is fitted the powering pulley (12) with the belt (14), conveying the power to the working pulley (13); the working assembly automatically hoists and lovers the fishing line, and comprises the working pulley (13) fitted on the hollow axle (8), the drum carrier (6) with the pushing bolt (9) fitted on the carrier (6), the pushing spring (8c), the drum (4) fixed by the nut (7) to the carrier (6) and the thruster (10); all parts of the working assembly rotate in the bearing (8b); the controlling assembly controls all operations of the device and comprises the electronic programmer (17), the relay switch (18), the main switch (20), the micro- switch (21), the weight adjuster (27) with the connecting lever (27a), the leaning lever (27b) and the return spring (27c), the position sensor (22), the magnets (23), the starting switch (24), the selective switch (25), the signal diode (26) and the turning lever (19) over which passes the fishing line (33) and which is located on the outer side of the front cover (2), its task being switching the micro-switch (20) on.

2. The device as claimed in Claim 1., w h e re i n , when the selective switch is turned to the position 1 for automatic catching of cephalopods, the two magnets (23), positioned mutually perpendicularly at the powering pulley (12), which is not a condition, when passing in front of the position sensor (22) change the direction of rotation of the electric motor (15) thus enabling rhythmical turning of the drum (4) left and right by a certain angle, that is, rhythmical hoisting and lowering of the fishing line (33) with the lure (34).

3. The device as claimed in Claims 1. and 2., w h e r e i n the drum (4) with the drum carrier (6), when the fishing line (33) is suddenly pulled, overpowers resistance of the pushing spring (8c) and moves towards the working pulley (13), which returns the drum into its initial position when the force is terminated.

4. The device as claimed in Claim ., w h e re i n at the side wall of the hollow axle (8) there is the longitudinal opening (8a) through which, at sudden turning of the drum (4), the pushing bolt (9) moves to the thruster (10).

5. The device as claimed in Claims 1. and 4., w h re i n at the thruster (10) there is the longitudinal arched groove (11) into which, when the drum (4) is suddenly pulled, enters the pushing bolt (9) pushing the thruster through the hollow axle to the micro- switch (21).

6. The device as claimed in Claim ., w h e r i n , when the selective switch is turned in positions 1 or 2, the turning lever (19), connected to the main switch (20) and over which passes the fishing line (33), automatically switches the electric motor (15) off when a caught fish, while being pulled out, activates the turning lever (19).

7. The device as claimed in Claim 1., w h e re i n at the drum (4) there is fitted the break (5) that enables fixing of the fishing line (33) with the lure (34) at a wanted distance from the sea or other water bed.

8. The device as claimed in Claim 1., w h e r e i n the weight adjuster (27), by the connecting lever (27a), the leaning lever (27b) and the returning spring (27c) enables adjusting the electric motor (15) timing, depending on the weight of the catch.

9. The device as claimed in Claim 1., w h e r e i n the selective switch (25), with its four positions, enables automatic activating of particular operations that the device is to perform:

0 - device switched off,

1 - automatic fishing of cephalopods,

2 - automatic fishing of fishes, including trolling, and

10. The device as claimed in Claims 1. to 9., w h e r e i n it is equipped with the articulated holder (29) that enables leaning of the device to the position where the fishing line (33) with the lure (34), unwinds from the drum (4) by its own weight.