Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-11-20
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318665
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a novel adjustable latching device for use with spring tensioned self-recoiling reeling assemblies. In particular, the invention relates to an adjustable latching device for use with spring energised recoiling reelers which are used to recoil linear extendable members such as hoses, cables and the like and which latching devices can automatically latch a linear member so as to hold the member at any desired length.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Recoiling reeling assemblies have an elongated element which is normally stored on a drum wheel. These recoiling reeling assemblies have a spring loaded mechanism for rewinding the elongated element onto the drum wheel after that element has been unwound.
For example, domestic garden hoses and electrical cords may be stored in this way, and are arranged to automatically tension a spring as they are unwound. The energy which is thus stored in the spring rewinds the elements onto the reel when the element is released.
These known reeling assemblies include a latching device which operates to retain the elongated element at a particular degree of extension which is chosen by the user.
In order to latch the elongated element when it has been unwound to the required degree of extension, the user slows the rate of unwinding and the device latches. To rewind the elongated element, the user applies sufficient tension to the elongated element to slightly unwind it and thus overcome the latching, and the spring-loaded mechanism rewinds the element back onto the drum. If the user wants to re-latch the elongated element at another position, the user slows the rate of rewinding by manually applying tension to the elongated element, and the latch device operates to again latch the elongated element at the desired extension.
At various elongated elements such as hoses, cables and ropes will require different rates of re-winding, the present invention aims to provide a suitable recoil rotation rate at which the latching device will operate.
It is a subsidiary aim of the present invention to provide a latch device which may be disabled by the user so that it does not operate regardless of how low the rewind speed is.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention accordingly provides an adjustable latching device for use with a spring actuated self-recoiling reeling assembly, which latching device includes
a reeler drum rim;
a reeler casing central disk;
a slotted cam plate, which cam plate
provides at least one latching slot; and wherein
the length of each slot can be varied, and
at least one latching pawl, which is pivotally mounted to the reeler drum and which is adapted to abut with the slot in the cam plate.
PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is preferred that the latching pawl is pivotally mounted to a recess in the reeler drum so that centrifugal force generated by rotation of the reeler drum holds the latching pawl clear of the surface of the cam plate.
Preferably the slotted cam plate is circular. When the slotted cam plate is circular, it is preferred that the cam plate is provided with two latching slots which are displaced from each other along the circumference of the cam plate by substantially 90°.
It is preferred that the device further include a sliding cam plate which can move relative to the slotted cam plate to vary the length of each slot in the slotted cam plate.
It is preferred that the slotted cam plate is moveable to a preset position prior to any reeling or unreeling action. It is further preferred that the sliding cam plate is moveable relative to the slotted cam plate during any reeling or unreeling action.
Preferably the sliding cam plate is moveable to cover the latching slots to over-ride the latching function.
Preferably the sliding cam plate is moveable by movement of an actuator which is external to the reeling assembly. A particularly preferred form of actuator is a thumb press button.
Preferably the sliding cam plate and the reeler casing central disk each carry a series of interlocking serrations.
Preferably each latching pawl is provided with a counter balance configuration beyond the pivot point. This balance can be varied by adding slugged weight where a particular type of linear extendable member being used requires further variation to a desired latching sensitivity.
Preferably the adjustable latching device is constructed of engineering grade moulded plastic parts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3596849 (1971-08-01), Tamarin
patent: 3848827 (1974-11-01), Tamarin
patent: 4227661 (1980-10-01), King et al.
patent: 4487380 (1984-12-01), King
patent: 4511101 (1985-04-01), King
patent: 4854522 (1989-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5632453 (1997-05-01), Hioki et al.
patent: 5769349 (1998-06-01), Grosselin
patent: 1198641 (1965-08-01), None
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