Electricity: transmission to vehicles – Flexible extensions – Reels
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-08-21
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Electricity: transmission to vehicles
Flexible extensions
Reels
C191S012400, C191S01220A, C367S191000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to reel systems and methods for extending and retracting cables and items towed on cables. More particularly, the invention is a portable reel apparatus and method for shipboard use with towed sonar devices and the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
Towed sonar devices and transducer arrays are widely used in marine applications for locating underwater objects. Typically, a derrick and winch assembly are mounted on the rear of a ship or boat and are used to deploy, tow and retrieve towed sonar devices. Such conventional assemblies generally require permanent commitment of deck space and cannot be easily placed, removed or repositioned.
Advances in transducer technology have allowed reduction in cost and size of towed sonar devices. As a result, many small private watercraft now utilize sonar “towfish” for part-time salvage operations. Small watercraft generally do not have sufficient deck space for a conventional, permanently-mounted winch and boom assembly for towfish deployment. As a result, small sonar towfish are often handled manually, with an operator physically deploying the towfish and hauling in the sonar cable and lifting the towfish out of the water. The manual deployment of sonar towfish in this manner is both fatiguing and time consuming.
There is accordingly a need for a portable reel apparatus and method suitable for use on small watercraft, which does not need to be fixedly mounted to the deck, and which can be quickly and easily moved and stored. The present invention satisfies these needs, as well as others, and generally overcomes the deficiencies found in the background art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a portable reel apparatus and method for use with towed sonar towfish and the like. The reel apparatus of the invention can be used on small watercraft without requiring permanent mounting to the deck, and can be quickly and easily moved and stored on-board or removed from the watercraft. In general terms, the invention comprises a frame assembly, a spool rotatably mounted within the frame assembly, an extensible boom, means for electronically interfacing a sonar cable through the spool to a computer, and means for moving or repositioning the frame assembly between a first, deploying position and a second, storage position. Preferably, the frame assembly includes wheels for transporting the frame assembly. A motor for driving the spool is preferably included within the frame assembly.
By way of example, and not of limitation, the frame assembly preferably comprises a base, a top, and front and back ends. The spool includes a hub and sidewalls, and is rotatably mounted in the frame assembly between the front and back ends. The spool is structured and configured to wind and unwind a length of sonar cable coiled thereabout.
The extensible boom preferably is coupled to the top of the frame assembly, and a pulley is pivotally mounted on the end of the boom to accommodate the sonar cable. A cable guide or alignment assembly is provided on the front of the frame assembly to facilitate the re-winding or coiling of sonar cable about the spool when sonar cable is reeled in with the apparatus.
The wheels are preferably mounted on the base of the frame assembly adjacent the back end thereof to provide a “dolly”-like motility to the frame assembly. The deploying extensible lever is preferably a T-bar handle positioned adjacent back end and base of the frame assembly to facilitate the positioning of the apparatus. A padded towfish rack or cradle may be included on the frame assembly. The drive motor is preferably included within the frame assembly and is mechanically interfaced with the spool by a belt and pulley or pulleys. Preferably, a manually actuated belt tensioner mechanism is provided in association with the belt and is positioned to control tension of the belt. Means for releasibly coupling the frame assembly to the deck of a watercraft are also preferably included adjacent the bottom of the frame assembly.
The electronic interfacing means preferably comprises a slip ring electronic coupling assembly associated with the hub of the spool. In the slip ring assembly, the plurality of electrical conductors at the end of the sonar cable are maintained in electrical contact with corresponding plurality of rotating, conductive rings. A port for a computer cable is provided with the slip ring assembly, and includes a set of spring conductors which are also maintained in electrical contact with the rotating conductive rings. When a computer interface cable is engaged in the interface port, the conductors in the sonar cable are operatively coupled to the corresponding conductors in the computer interface cable via their respective conductive rings. The slip ring coupling assembly may comprise four conductive rings and corresponding spring conductors for a standard towfish cable having four separate conductors. Alternatively, the slip ring coupling assembly may utilize six conductor rings and corresponding spring conductors for dual frequency towfish applications wherein six conductors are present in the sonar cable.
When not in use, the portable reel apparatus of the invention is generally maintained in a storage position wherein the frame assembly is positioned with the back adjacent to the ground or deck, and with the boom vertically oriented an in a retracted position. In operation, a user will use the T-bar lever to move the apparatus to a desired location, typically the stern of a watercraft. The apparatus is then pivoted or moved to the deploying position wherein the base of the frame assembly is adjacent the ground or deck, and the frame is releasibly coupled to the deck. The apparatus is pivotally moved to the stowed position and the towfish is attached to the sonar cable. The apparatus is then moved to the deploying position. The boom is extended, and the sonar towfish is removed from its cradle and allowed to depend from the sonar cable at the end of the boom. The opposite end of the sonar cable is coupled, through the electronic coupler assembly at the spool hub, to a computer interface cable. The spool is then disengaged from the drive motor so that the spool can “freewheel” to quickly unwind the sonar cable, and the sonar towfish is positioned to carry out sounding operations.
After sounding operations are completed, the drive motor rotates the spool to wind up or reel in the sonar cable. The towfish placed back into the cradle and the sonar cable is detached therefrom. The boom is retracted and the apparatus is released from the deck and returned to its storage location. In this manner, the apparatus of the invention is not permanently and inconveniently mounted on the deck of the watercraft when not in use, as occurs with prior art derrick devices.
An object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus and method suitable for use on small watercraft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus and method which does not require permanent mounting to the deck of a water craft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus which is portable and can be quickly and easily moved and stored.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus which is wheeled to provide “dolly”-like movability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus which allows disengagement of the cable spool from the drive motor so that a towfish can be quickly “free-wheeled” into the water.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus and method which allows electronic coupling of a computer interface cable to a sonar cable through a rotating spool hub.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus which includes a towfish holder or cradle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable reel apparatus which can be releasibly coupled to the deck of a water craft.
Another object of the invention is to provide
Jules Frantz F.
Morano S. Joseph
Sierra Patent Group Ltd.
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