Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
  • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
  • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
  • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
  • B65H75/44—Constructional details
  • B65H75/4481—Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material
  • B65H75/4492—Manual drives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
  • B65H2403/70—Clutches; Couplings
  • B65H2403/72—Clutches, brakes, e.g. one-way clutch +F204
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
  • B65H2403/90—Machine drive
  • B65H2403/94—Other features of machine drive
  • B65H2403/941—Manually powered handling device

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to reels for spooling linear material, and specifically to hand cranks for reels.
• Reels for spooling linear materials typically comprise a cylindrical drum and a means for rotating the drum. The linear material is spooled onto the drum as it is rotated.
• Some reels are equipped with a motor for rotating the reel. However, in some cases motors add undesired cost, weight, and complexity to the reel.
• Another means for rotating the drum is a hand crank.
• a typical hand crank comprises an L-shaped handle coupled to a shaft.
• the shaft is ordinarily coupled to the reel such that the shaft is co-linear with the rotation axis of the drum.
• spinning of the shaft causes the drum to rotate about the drum rotation axis.
• the reel is rotated by moving the L-shaped handle in a circle to spin the shaft and thus rotate the drum.
• the system comprises a torque transfer mechanism comprising an engagement clutch configured to engage and transfer a torque to the reel drum when operated in a first rotational direction, but configured to not operate nor transfer a torque to the reel drum when operated in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
• the torque transfer mechanism is configured to convert back and forth pivoting of the lever into the rotation of the reel drum in the first rotational direction.
• the method comprises the steps of pivoting the lever in the first lever direction to transfer a torque generated form said pivoting of the lever onto the reel drum to rotate the reel drum in the first rotational direction, and pivoting the lever in the second lever direction to transfer a torque generated from said pivoting of the lever onto the reel drum to rotate the reel drum in the first rotational direction.
• a system for spooling linear material comprising a reel drum onto which a lineai" material can be spooled and a lever movable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reel for spooling linear material
• Figure 2 is a side view of a reel having a preferred embodiment of a hand crank assembly.
• Figure 3 is a front view of the hand crank assembly of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a reel having another preferred embodiment of a hand crank assembly.
• Figure 4A is an enlarged front view of an engagement clutch of the hand crank assembly shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 4B is a side view of a portion of the engagement clutch shown in Figure 4A.
• Figure 4C is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an engagement clutch for use with an embodiment of the hand crank assembly.
• Figure 5A is a front view of the hand crank assembly of Figure 4.
• Figure 5B is a schematic configuration of a portion of one embodiment of a hand crank assembly.
• Figure 5C is a schematic configuration of a portion of another embodiment of a hand crank assembly.
• Figures 6A and 6B are schematic drawings of the operation of the hand crank embodiment shown in Figure 5B.
• Figures 7A and 7B are schematic drawings of the operation of the hand crank embodiment shown in Figure 5C.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a reel having another preferred embodiment of a hand crank assembly.
• Figure 8A is a front view of the hand crank assembly shown in Figure 8.
• Figures 9A and 9B are schematic drawings of the operation of the hand crank embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 8A.
• Figure 1 shows a reel 5 of the type that can be equipped with a hand crank assembly, in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein.
• the reel 5 comprises a preferably cylindrical drum 10 and two disc-shaped side plates 12 and 14.
• the side plates 12 and 14 are affixed to opposite ends of the dram 10.
• the side plates 12 and 14 are rigidly affixed to the dram 10, such that the elements 10, 12, and 14 rotate in unison about a rotation axis 16.
• a linear material such as hose or wire
• the reel 5 is typically enclosed or housed inside a stable outer frame (not shown).
• Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a hand crank assembly 20.
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the reel 5 of Figure 1, wherein the hand crank assembly 20 is coupled to the reel 5 and positioned on the outer side of the side plate 14 (in the view of Figure 1, to the right side of the side plate 14).
• Figure 3 shows a front view of the hand crank assembly 20. hi Figure 3, the dram 10 and side plate 12 are omitted for clarity. If shown, the drum 10 and side plate 12 would be positioned to the left of the side plate 14.
• the reel 5 can advantageously be rotated continually in one direction about the rotation axis 16 by reciprocal back and forth pivoting movement of a lever 30 in the direction of the arrows 36 and 38.
• the reel 5 is preferably housed within a stable structure or frame.
• FIG. 3 depicts a frame portion 40, which can be a plate or crossbar.
• the housing or frame structure is preferably configured such that the frame portion 40 remains parallel to the side plate 14 as the side plate 14 rotates about the rotation axis 16.
• the top and bottom ends of the frame portion 40 are shown broken to indicate that the frame portion 40 extends as part of a larger structure.
• the housing and the illustrated frame portion 40 can have any of a large variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations.
• the frame portion 40 is omitted from Figure 2 for clarity.
• the hand crank assembly 20 comprises a first gear 22, a second gear 24, a first sprocket 26, a second sprocket 28, the lever 30, a chain 32, and a spring 34.
• the first gear 22 is coupled to the side plate 14 so that rotation of the first gear 22 in either direction about the axis 16 ( Figure 1) causes the side plate 14, and hence the entire reel 5, to rotate in the same direction about the axis 16.
• the first gear 22 is rigidly affixed to the side plate 14 so that they rotate together in unison.
• the first sprocket 26 is coupled to the first gear 22 via a first one-way clutch mechanism.
• the first one-way clutch is configured so that when the first sprocket 26 is rotated counter-clockwise, the first one-way clutch is engaged, thereby causing the first gear 22 to rotate counter-clockwise in unison with the first sprocket 26. However, when the first sprocket 26 is rotated clockwise, the first one-way clutch is disengaged, permitting the first sprocket 26 to rotate clockwise freely with respect to the first gear 22.
• the second sprocket 28 is rotatably mounted onto the inner side of the frame portion 40 (as shown in Figure 3, to the left side of the frame portion 40).
• the second gear 24 is coupled to the second sprocket 28 by a second one-way clutch mechanism.
• the directions of engagement and disengagement of the second one-way clutch are opposite to those of the first one-way clutch.
• the second one-way clutch is configured so that the second one-way clutch is engaged when the second sprocket 28 is rotated clockwise, thereby causing the second gear 24 to rotate clockwise in unison with the second sprocket 28.
• the second one-way clutch is disengaged, permitting the second sprocket 28 to rotate counter-clockwise freely with respect to the second gear 24.
• the lever 30 is coupled to the second sprocket 28 (in the illustrated embodiment, via a rod 31 extending through the frame portion 40), so that pivoting of the lever 30 in either of the directions 36 or 38 produces rotation of the second sprocket 28 in the same direction.
• the frame portion 40 could be on the other side of the lever 30 or on the other side of part or all of the hand crank assembly 20.
• the first and second gears 22 and 24 have teeth that mesh together. Thus, rotation of one of the gears in one direction produces rotation of the other gear in the opposite direction.
• the sprockets 26 and 28 also have teeth, which engage the links of the chain 32.
• the chain 32 has a first end fixed to the second sprocket 28. From that point, the chain 32 wraps around the first sprocket 26 and has a second end attached to a first end of the spring 34.
• the spring 34 has a second end fixed to the reel housing, perhaps to the frame portion 40.
• the chain 32 and the spring 34 are sized and configured so that, during normal operation of the crank assembly 20, the spring 34 is always somewhat stretched.
• the illustrated spring 34 is a coil spring. However, other suitable springs could be used alternatively. [0029] As mentioned above, reciprocal back and forth movement, or pivoting, of the lever 30 causes the reel 5 to rotate continually in one direction and preferably drives the reel in that direction with each back movement and each forth movement.
• pivoting of the lever 30 in either direction 36 or 38 causes the reel 5 to rotate counter-clockwise.
• the second sprocket 28 rotates clockwise. This causes the second one-way clutch to engage.
• the second gear 24 rotates clockwise in unison with the second sprocket 28.
• the clockwise rotation of the second gear 24 produces counterclockwise rotation of the first gear 22, due to the meshing of the teeth of the two gears.
• the first gear 22 is coupled to the reel 5, producing counter-clockwise rotation of the reel.
• the counter-clockwise rotation of the first gear 22 does not cause the first one-way clutch to engage. Rather, the first one-way clutch remains disengaged.
• the counter-clockwise rotation of the first gear 22 does not affect the first sprocket 26, which is free to rotate clockwise.
• the second sprocket 28 rotates clockwise, the chain 32 tends to become slackened in the region between the two sprockets.
• the spring 34 which is always somewhat stretched, pulls the chain 32 (to the right in Figure 2) until the chain becomes taut.
• the first sprocket 26 rotates clockwise to permit the tautening of the chain 32.
• the second sprocket 28 rotates counter-cloclcwise. This causes the second one-way clutch to disengage, so that the rotation of the second sprocket 28 does not affect the second gear 24.
• the counter-clockwise rotation of the second sprocket 28 pulls the chain 32 (which is taut as explained above), producing counter-clockwise rotation of the first sprocket 26.
• the counter-clockwise rotation of the first sprocket 26 causes the first one-way clutch to engage.
• first gear 22 This causes the first gear 22 to rotate counter-clockwise in unison with the first sprocket 26. Since the first gear 22 is coupled to the reel 5, the reel rotates counter-clockwise. It will be appreciated that the counter-clockwise rotation of the first gear 22 produces clockwise rotation of the second gear 24. However, this clockwise rotation of the second gear 24 does not affect the second sprocket 28, because the second one-way clutch remains disengaged. , [0032] Thus it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the hand crank assembly 20 permits continual rotation of the reel 5 in one direction, driven by each stroke of reciprocal back and forth movement of the lever 30.
• the chain 32 can comprise a continuous loop and be looped around the two sprockets 26 and 28.
• the spring 34 is omitted from the design.
• the chain 32 is looped around both sprockets so that the chain is always relatively taut.
• the reel 5 is provided with a disengaging mechanism for disengaging the lever 30 from the second sprocket 28 when the linear material is unwound from the reel. This permits the linear material to be freely unwound without causing movement of the lever 30.
• one suitable type of disengaging mechanism involves employing a spline and groove interconnection between the rod 31 and the second sprocket 28.
• the rod 31 can include a spline receivable within a groove on the inside of the second sprocket 28, such that the two elements transfer torque to one another only when the spline and groove are engaged.
• a pair of cam-type washers are employed, one connected to the rod 31 and the other set against the frame portion 40 so that their inclined or cam surfaces confront one another.
• the reel may be configured to have a second hand crank assembly or a motor to drive the unwinding rotation of the reel.
• the second hand crank assembly or motor could be positioned on the opposite side of the reel (in Figure 1, to the left of the side plate 12) and would be operatively coupled to the reel drum 10.
• a second hand crank assembly or motor would be especially useful for heavier linear materials, such as fire hose.
• the reel 5 can also have a reciprocating mechanism for converting rotation of the reel dram 10 into reciprocal back and forth translation of a guide aperture for the linear material, the guide aperture being within the reel housing or frame. Translation of such a guide aperture across the reel dram 10 can facilitate more uniform spooling of the linear material onto the drum.
• U.S. Patent No. 6,279,848 discloses a reciprocating mechanism for such a guide aperture.
• this patent discloses a spiral groove within one of the side plates (e.g., side plate 12 or 14 of Figure 1 of the present application), wherein the groove interacts with other elements to produce the aforementioned reciprocal translation of the guide aperture.
• the spiral groove mechanism of U.S. Patent No. 6,279,848 could be employed on side plate 12.
• any of a variety of different types of reciprocating mechanisms, such as the spiral groove design of U.S. Patent No. 6,279,848, can be employed.
• the extent and rate of rotation of the reel 5 per each back and forth stroke of the lever 30 are determined by the relative sizes of the first and second gears and the first and second sprockets.
• FIGS 4 through 5A illustrate another preferred embodiment of a hand crank assembly 50 for use with a reel 60 onto which linear material may be spooled.
• the reel 60 has two side plates 62, 64 on either side of a reel dram 66.
• the reel 60 also preferably has a reel shaft 68 extending along the rotation axis of the reel R.
• At least one end 68a of the reel shaft has a hollow portion 69.
• the reel shaft 68 preferably selectively couples to a twisting engagement clutch 100 on one end of the reel shaft 68.
• the twisting engagement clutch 100 preferably comprises a driven part 102 fixed onto the reel shaft 68 and a driving part 104 fixed onto a first or driven shaft 110, wherein the driven shaft 110 is rotatably coupled to the reel shaft 68.
• the driven shaft 110 has a bushing 112 on one end 110a, said bushing 112 configured to be inserted through a hole (not shown) in the driven part 102 of the twisting engagement clutch 100 and into the hollow portion 69 of the real shaft 68.
• the bushing 112 preferably rotates freely within the hollow portion 69.
• the driving part 104 of the twisting engagement clutch 100 is preferably configured to move relative to the driven shaft 110 without rotating relative to the driven shaft 110.
• the driving part 104 is preferably movably coupled to the driven shaft 110 so as to be laterally movable along the driven shaft 110.
• a spline 110b on the driven shaft 110 slides within a key hole 104a in the driving part 104, thus substantially preventing the rotation of the driving part 104 relative to the driven shaft 110 as the driven shaft 110 rotates.
• other suitable mechanisms can be used to substantially prevent the rotation of the driving part 104 relative to the driven shaft 110.
• a spring 114 such as a coil spring, is preferably disposed between the driving part 104 of the engagement clutch 100 and a frame portion 116 of a housing that encloses the reel 60, a section of which is shown.
• the spring 114 is configured to apply a generally constant lateral force onto the driving part 104, so as to push the driven part 104 into a position substantially adjacent the driven part 102 of the engagement clutch 100.
• the driving and driven parts 104, 102 of the engagement clutch 100 are substantially adjacent each other during the use of the hand crank assembly 50.
• the spring 114 is preferably strong enough to constantly maintain the driving part 104 substantially adjacent the driven part 102.
• the driving part 104 of the engagement clutch 100 preferably has teeth 104b configured to engage with teeth 102b of the driven part 102 when the driving and driven parts 104, 102 are generally adjacent each other.
• the teeth 102b, 104b of the driven and driving parts 102, 104 are angled so that the driving part 104 meshes and transfers torque to the driven part 102 when rotated in a first rotational direction (e.g., clockwise), but does not mesh nor transfer torque when rotated in a second rotational direction (e.g., counter clockwise) opposite the first rotational direction.
• the driving part 104 When the driven shaft 100 is rotated in a clockwise direction (from the vantage of the right side of the drawing looking leftward), the driving part 104 also rotates in a clockwise direction due to the spline 110b and key hole 104a connection between the driving part 104 and the driven shaft 110.
• the teeth 104b of the driving part 104 mesh with the teeth 102b of the driven part so as to transfer clockwise torque to the driven part 102, causing the driven part 102, and the reel shaft 68 attached to it, to rotate clockwise. Accordingly, the torque from the driving part 104 is transferred to the reel shaft 68 to rotate the reel drum 66.
• FIG. 1 illustrates another embodiment of a twisting engagement clutch 100.
• the engagement clutch 100 includes a collar 106, which is disposed about a portion of the driving part 104.
• the collar 106 preferably houses a one-way clutch 108 configured to engage in the first rotational direction, but spin freely, or slip, in the second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, hi the illustrated embodiment, the one way clutch 108 is configured to engage when rotated in the clockwise direction (from the vantage of the right side of the drawing looking leftward), but to spin freely or slip in the counter clockwise direction.
• the one-way clutch 108 couples to a resistance bushing 108a disposed about a portion of the driving part 104.
• the resistance bushing 108a preferably has a surface that substantially contacts the portion of the driving part 104, and which provides resistance to the rotation of the driving part 104 relative to the bushing 108a. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the driving part 104 and the one-way clutch 108 rotate at generally the same rate. More preferably, the surface of the resistance bushing 108a readily allows translation of the driving part 104 therethrough.
• the driven shaft 110 has a threaded portion 110b, which engages with threads 104c on the driving part of the engagement clutch 100.
• the threads on the threaded portion 110 and the threads 104c on the driving part 104 are oriented such that rotation of the threaded portion 110 in the first rotational direction applies a forward driving force to the driving part 104.
• a spring 109 such as a torsion spring, couples the driven shaft 110 to the driving part 104, with one end 109a of the spring 109 fastened to the driven shaft 110 and the other end 109b of the spring 109 fastened to the driving part 104.
• the first rotational direction is the cloclcwise direction.
• rotation of the driven shaft 110 in a cloclcwise direction rotates the threaded portion 110b cloclcwise.
• the threaded portion 110b engages the threads 104c of the driven part 104 and exerts a forward driving force on the driving part 104.
• the surface of the bushing 108a provides sufficient resistance to the clockwise rotation of the driving part 104 to allow the driving part 104 to translate forward relative to the threaded portion 110 as the driving part 104 rotates along with the one-way clutch 108.
• the torque applied to the driven shaft 110 to rotate it cloclcwise is transferred to the driven part 102 and onto the reel shaft 68 for rotation of the reel dram 66 in the cloclcwise direction.
• the forward driving force provided by the threaded portion 110 along with the resistance provided by the bushing 108a overcome the retraction force applied by the spring 109 to move the driving part 104 forward.
• the retraction force applied by the spring 109 overcomes the resistance force applied by the bushing 108a and retracts the driving part 104 through the bushing 108a, rotating the driving part 104 counter clockwise out of engagement with the driven part 102.
• the one-way clutch 108 slips or spins in the counter cloclcwise direction, thus allowing the driving part to be readily retracted onto the threaded portion 110b.
• the embodiment of the engagement clutch 100 illustrated in Figure 4C can be used with any of the embodiments disclosed herein for a hand cranlc assembly 50.
• the illustrated embodiment of the engagement clutch 100 can be used with the embodiments of the hand crank assembly 50 illustrated in Figures 5A and 8A, without the need to use the spring 114 to urge the driving and driven 104, 102 parts into engagement.
• suitable means can be used for transferring torque from the driven shaft 110 to the reel shaft 68 when rotated in the first rotational direction, but to disengage the driven shaft 110 from the reel shaft 68 when the driven shaft 110 is not rotated.
• a first pulley member 150 and a second pulley member 152 are preferably rigidly coupled to the driven shaft 110, each of said first and second pulley members 150, 152 configured to transfer a torque onto the driven shaft 110, as discussed further below, hi the illustrated embodiment, the first pulley member 150 is operatively coupled to a third pulley member 154 via a first belt 160. Similarly, the second pulley member 152 is operatively coupled to a fourth pulley member 156 via a second belt 162. The third and fourth pulley members 154, 156 are coupled to a second or driving shaft 170. A lever 180 is coupled to one end 170a of the driving shaft 170.
• the first and second pulley members 150, 152 are disposed on either side of a first one-way clutch 200 coupled to the driven shaft 110.
• the first one-way clutch 200 is configured to operate in a first rotational direction, but not in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction.
• the first one-way clutch 200 is configured to engage and operate in a clockwise (CW) direction, but not in a counter-cloclcwise (CCW) direction.
• the third and fourth pulley members 154, 156 are disposed on either side of a second one-way clutch 210 coupled to the driving shaft 170.
• the second one-way clutch 210 is configured to engage and operate in a counter-cloclcwise (CCW) direction, but not in a clockwise (CW) direction.
• a first lever direction e.g., a cloclcwise direction
• the fourth pulley member 156 rotates in the clockwise direction as well because it is coupled to the driving shaft 170.
• the second one-way clutch 210 only operates in the counter clock- wise direction, rotation of the section of the driving shaft 170 to which the fourth pulley member 156 is attached is not transferred onto a second section of the driving shaft 170 to which the third pulley member 154 is coupled.
• the third pulley member 154 is not affected by the cloclcwise rotation of the lever 180.
• the cloclcwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 results in the cloclcwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 via the motion of the second belt 162, which converts the cloclcwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 into the cloclcwise rotation of the second pulley member 152.
• the cloclcwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 is subsequently transferred to the first pulley member 150 via the first one-way clutch 200, which transfers the torque from the second pulley member 152 onto the first pulley member 150.
• the driven shaft 110 also rotates cloclcwise since it is coupled to the first one-way clutch 200.
• the cloclcwise rotation is then transferred to the reel shaft 68 via the engagement clutch 100 (see Figure 5 A) to rotate the reel 60 in the first rotational direction (i.e., cloclcwise).
• the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 causes the third pulley member 154 to rotate counter cloclcwise due to the belt 160.
• the second one-way clutch 210 remains disengaged as the third pulley member 154 rotates counter cloclcwise and the fourth pulley member 156 rotates cloclcwise.
• the counter cloclcwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 results in the counter clockwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 via the motion of the second belt 162.
• the counter cloclcwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 is not transfen-ed to the first pulley member 150 via the first one-way clutch 200, which engages and operates only in a cloclcwise direction.
• the counter clockwise rotation of the third pulley member 154 results in the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 via the motion of the first belt 160, which converts the counter cloclcwise rotation of the third pulley member 156 into the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150.
• the clockwise rotation is then transferred to the reel shaft 68 via the engagement clutch 100 (see Figure 5 A) to rotate the reel 60 in a first rotational direction (i.e., cloclcwise).
• the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 does not affect the second pulley member 152 because the first one-way clutch 200 remains disengaged as the first pulley member 150 rotates clockwise and the second pulley member 152 rotates counter cloclcwise.
• the fourth pulley member 156 is coupled to the driving shaft 170 via the first one way clutch 200, while the third pulley member 154 is coupled to the driving shaft 170 via the second one-way clutch 210.
• the first one-way clutch 200 is configured to engage and operate in a cloclcwise (CW) direction, but not in a counter-cloclcwise (CCW) direction.
• the clockwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 results in the cloclcwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 via the motion of the second belt 162, which converts the cloclcwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 into the clockwise rotation of the second pulley member 152.
• the clockwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 also results in the clockwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 since both the first and second pulley members 150, 152 are substantially rigidly fixed on the driven shaft 110.
• the clockwise rotation is then transferred to the reel shaft 68 via the engagement clutch 100 (see Figure 5 A) to rotate the reel 60 in the first rotational direction (i.e., clockwise).
• the clockwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 causes the third pulley member 154 to rotate counter clockwise due to the belt 160.
• the second one-way clutch 210 remains disengaged as the third pulley member 154 rotates counter clockwise and the fourth pulley member 156 rotates clockwise.
• the lever 180 is moved or pivoted in a second lever direction (e.g., a counter cloclcwise direction)
• the fourth pulley member 156 does not rotate in the counter clockwise direction because it is coupled to the driving shaft 170 via the first one-way clutch, which does not operate in the counter clockwise direction.
• the second one-way clutch 210 operates in the counter clock- wise direction
• the counter clockwise rotation of the driving shaft 170 via the lever 180 is transferred onto the third pulley member 154.
• the third pulley member 154 also rotates counter cloclcwise.
• the counter cloclcwise rotation of the third pulley member 154 results in the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 via the motion of the first belt 160, which converts the counter cloclcwise rotation of the third pulley member 156 into the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150.
• FIG. 8 and 8A illustrate still another preferred embodiment of a hand cranlc assembly 50 for use with a reel 60 onto which linear material may be spooled.
• the first and second pulley members 150, 152 are coupled to the driven shaft 110 via a first and second one-way clutch 220a, 220b, respectively.
• the one-way clutches 220a, b are preferably configured to operate in a first rotational direction, but not in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction. That is, the one-way clutches 220a, b can engage and transfer torque in the first rotational direction, but slip and do not transfer torque in the second rotational direction.
• the one-way clutches 200a, b are configured to engage and operate in a cloclcwise (CW) direction, but not in a counter-clockwise (CCW).
• the third and fourth pulley members 154, 156 are rigidly coupled to the driving shaft 170.
• the first belt 160 couples the first and third pulley members 150, 154.
• the first belt 160 does not extend completely around the first and third pulley members 150, 154. histead, the first belt 160 is fastened at a location on the first and third pulley members 150, 154.
• the second belt 162 couples the second and fourth pulley members 152, 156.
• the second belt 162 does not extend completely around the second and fourth pulley members 152, 156. Instead, the second belt 162 is fastened at a location on the second and fourth pulley members 152, 156.
• the first pulley member 150 is preferably coupled to the frame portion 116 of the housing via a first torsion spring 114b.
• the first torsion spring 114b is pre-tensioned so as to maintain the first belt 160 in a taut position.
• the first torsion spring 114b applies a torque to the first pulley member 150, rotating the first pulley member 150 in the same direction as the third pulley member 154 to take up said slack.
• the second pulley member 152 is preferably coupled to a second frame portion 118 of the housing via a second torsion spring 114c.
• the second torsion spring 114c is pre-tensioned so as to maintain the second belt 162 in a taut position.
• the second torsion spring 114c applies a torque to the second pulley member 152, rotating the second pulley member 152 in the same direction as the fourth pulley member 156 to take up said slack.
• a first lever direction e.g., a cloclcwise direction
• the fourth pulley member 156 rotates cloclcwise as well because it is coupled to the driving shaft 170, which also rotates cloclcwise.
• the third pulley member 154 also rotates cloclcwise because it is coupled to the driving shaft 170, which causes the first belt 160 to slacken.
• the pre-tensioned first torsion spring 114b takes up the slack by rotating the first pulley member 150 counter clockwise.
• the counter cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member 150 is not transferred to the driven shaft 110 because the first one-way clutch 220a engages in the cloclcwise direction, but slips in the counter clockwise direction.
• the clockwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 pulls the second belt 162 so as to rotate the second pulley member 152 cloclcwise.
• the third pulley member 154 also rotates counter cloclcwise because it is coupled to the driving shaft 170, which pulls the first belt 160, causing the first pulley member 150 to rotate cloclcwise.
• the cloclcwise rotation of the first pulley member in rum causes the driven shaft 110 to also rotate clockwise since the first one-way clutch 220a is configured to engage in the cloclcwise direction.
• the torque from the rotating driven shaft 110 is then transferred to the reel shaft 68 via the twisting engagement clutch 100 as discussed above.
• the counter cloclcwise rotation of the fourth pulley member 156 causes the second belt 162 to slacken.
• the pre-tensioned second torsion spring 114c takes up the slack by rotating the second pulley member 152 counter cloclcwise.
• the counter clockwise rotation of the second pulley member 152 is not transferred to the driven shaft 110 because the second one-way clutch 220b engages in the cloclcwise direction, but slips in the counter cloclcwise direction.
• the twisting engagement clutch 100 provides for easily unspooling of linear material from the reel drum 66 without affecting the operation of the hand cran assembly 50.
• the hand crank assembly advantageously provides for the efficient spooling of linear material onto the reel dram via the movement of a lever, while also allowing the reel to be rotated so as to unspool the linear material from the reel without any effect on the hand cranlc assembly.
• the hand crank assembly 50 embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or arranged in any suitable way to result in the rotation of the reel dram in a desired direction.
• the embodiments of the hand cranlc assembly 50 illustrated herein are configured to rotate the reel drum in a cloclcwise direction upon the pivoting or movement of the lever 180.
• the hand cranlc assembly 50 can easily be arranged or modified to result in the counterclockwise rotation of the reel dram 66.
• the first and second one-way clutches 200, 210 can be chosen such that the movement of the lever 180 in the first and second lever directions results in the counterclockwise rotation of the reel shaft 68 and the resulting counterclockwise rotation of the reel drum 66.
• the belts connecting the first and second pulley members 150, 152 with the third and fourth pulley members 154, 156 can be replaced with other suitable means, such as chains, to transfer the rotation of the third and/or fourth pulley members 154, 156 onto the first and/or second pulley members 150, 152.

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• 2004
  • 2004-10-12 BR BRPI0415095-3A patent/BRPI0415095A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-10-12 AU AU2004279872A patent/AU2004279872A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-12 CA CA002541070A patent/CA2541070A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-12 US US10/962,905 patent/US20050087645A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-12 WO PCT/US2004/033508 patent/WO2005035416A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-10-12 EP EP04794775A patent/EP1680344A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-12 RU RU2006114171/12A patent/RU2006114171A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-10-12 MX MXPA06003885A patent/MXPA06003885A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2006
  • 2006-04-04 IL IL174768A patent/IL174768A0/en unknown

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