Abstract:
An improved line hauler is provided that has a dualler plate located between the two plates of the sheave. The dualler plate creates two V-channels for the line and the line therefore can be directed on a path that results in a hands free line hauler that is slip free. A line coiler is also provided that promotes coiling of the line as it drops to the boat deck.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/663,891, filed Jun. 25, 2012. The above-identified priority patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present technology relates to a line hauler having a dualler plate and deflector to allow for hands free hauling of lines. More specifically, the technology is a kit comprising a dualler plate and a deflector as an improvement over existing line haulers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Line haulers are used on commercial fishing vessels to haul in crab pots, prawn pots and fish. They are usually very large and have features that are necessary for hauling in very large catches. There are also line haulers for individuals to use on a much smaller scale. One such hauler is the Ace Line Hauler Brutus Plus 40®. 
         [0004]    Regardless of the size of the hauler, there are a number of features that are common. A typical hauler generally has a motor for driving a sheave, which hauls the line in. The sheave is usually V-shaped sheave for gripping the line. Pulleys and various positioners are disclosed. Some have line coilers. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,667 discloses pivotal support bearings that permit the unit to revolve freely about a fixed bearing axis in addressing itself to the incoming line being hauled and that restrain the unit against other bodily motion. 
         [0006]    The V-shaped sheave can cause the line to remain in the sheave, especially if there are knots along the line. U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,767 discloses a separator that projects upwardly into the sheave, to separate the line from the V groove of the sheave. It also comprises a sloping shoulder to deflect and direct the outgoing line from the bight before it leaves the sheave in the normal direction in which the sheave rotates. 
         [0007]    One prior device for laying up hauled lines in coils is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,970. In that case the line fed downwardly into the receiving barrel or tub was guided through a rotating deflection tube or slinger directing the line outwardly by centrifugal force so as to form a descending spiral to make up the accumulating coil. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,830 it is disclosed that the line thrust fed downwardly from a generally central position into a cylindrical bin by a combination of two sheaves and a pneumatic tire roller means will assume a coiled configuration in the container of sufficient orderliness for practical purposes and that in performing this operation the apparatus accommodates also the heavy and bulky shot-connecting knots, even at the highest hauling rates used in this fishery. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A line hauler with dualler plate is provided to assist a user in hauling lines holding seafood traps. The line hauler reduces the need for the user to haul in the lines as it reduces or eliminates slippage of the line. The line hauler comprises a stand, a first pulley, a second pulley and a sheave, the sheave comprising two sides and a groove therebetween, a drive shaft, an electric motor for driving the sheave rotationally with the drive shaft, the improvement being a dualler plate and retainers, the dualler plate comprising a circular stainless steel plate, a central aperture for accepting the drive shaft and apertures corresponding to apertures in the sheave for accepting the retainers, the dualler plate dividing the groove into a first V-channel and a second V-channel, such that in use, a line is fed from the upper side of the first pulley to an upper side of the first V-channel, to a lower side of the second pulley, and returning to the sheave on an upper side of the second V-channel. 
         [0010]    In use, the line hauler further comprises the line, the line being fed from the upper side of the first pulley to the upper side of the first V-channel, to the lower side of the second pulley, and returning to the sheave on the upper side of the second V-channel. 
         [0011]    The V-channels of the line hauler are preferably 0.5 inches wide at the outer edge and about 1.5 inches deep. 
         [0012]    It is preferred that the dualler plate is sized to match the plates, and is therefore about 8 inches to about 11 inches in diameter. 
         [0013]    The line hauler preferably comprises a line coiler, the line coiler comprising a first section affixed to the line hauler, a second section at right angles to the first section, sloped about 16 to about 21 degrees towards the sheave and adjacent at least the second V-channel and an end section at about 43 to about 47 degrees to the second section, proximate the second V-channel and angled away from the sheave, wherein the line is threaded between the first V-channel and line coiler and is fed over the line coiler from the second V-channel, such that in use, the line coiler is urged to coil. 
         [0014]    The line coiler can alternatively be described as having an attachment member attached to the line hauler, a directing member extending therefrom proximate the second V-channel and configured to direct a line from the second V-channel, and an end member extending from the second member, the end member essentially parallel to the V-channels. 
         [0015]    The line coiler may also include an O-ring seated in the second V-channel. 
         [0016]    As fishers may already have a line hauler, it is advantageous to provide a kit for use with a line hauler, the line hauler comprising a stand, a first pulley, a second pulley and a sheave, the sheave comprising two sides and a groove therebetween, a drive shaft, an electric motor for driving the sheave rotationally with the drive shaft, the kit comprising: a rotatable member for increasing friction on a line; retainers; and a line coiler. 
         [0017]    The line coiler comprises a first section for affixing to the line hauler, a second section angled at about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees to the first section and a third section that is angled at about 43 to about 90 degrees from the second section to encourage a line to remain on the line coiler and return back over the second section, such that in use, the line coiler extends outward and downward from the line hauler. 
         [0018]    More specifically, the rotatable member is a dualler plate, the dualler plate comprising a circular stainless steel plate, a central aperture for accepting the drive shaft and apertures corresponding to apertures in the sheave for accepting the retainers, the dualler plate for dividing the groove into a first V-channel and a second V-channel, such that in use, a line is fed from the upper side of the first pulley to an upper side of the first V-channel, to a lower side of the second pulley, and returning to the sheave on an upper side of the second V-channel. 
         [0019]    The line coiler of the kit is further defined as follows: the first section is about 4 to about 6 inches long, the second section is at about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees to the first section, sloped about 16 to about 21 degrees from the plane of the first section and about 1.25 inches to about 2.25 inches long and the third section at about 43 to about 47 degrees to the second section and about 0.4 to about 1 inch long. 
         [0020]    The kit of claim further comprises an O-ring for seating in the second V-channel. 
         [0021]    A line coiler for use with a line hauler is also provided. The line coiler comprises a first section for affixing to the line hauler, a second section angled at about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees to the first section and a third section that is angled at about 43 to about 90 degrees from the second section to encourage a line to remain on the line coiler and return back over the second section, such that in use, the line coiler extends outward and downward from the line hauler. 
         [0022]    A method of preparing and using a line hauler with a dualler plate is also provided, the method comprising:
       attaching the dualler plate between a first plate and a second plate of a sheave to provide a first V-channel and a second V-channel;   feeding a line over a first pulley to the first V-channel, to an upper side of the first V-channel, to a lower side of the second pulley, and returning to the sheave on an upper side of the second V-channel.       
 
         [0025]    Preferably, the line hauler comprises a line coiler, and therefore the method further comprises threading the line between the line coiler and the first V-channel, to a lower side of the second pulley, returning to the sheave on an upper side of the second V-channel and over the line coiler. 
     
    
     
       FIGURES 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a prior art line hauler. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a view of the sheave with dualler plate and line coiler. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the dualler plate and the line coiler. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a view of the sheave with the dualler plate and line coiler. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing routing of the line. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    A line hauler, generally referred to as  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The line hauler has a stand  12 , a sheave  14 , a first pulley  16 , a second pulley  18  and a motor  20 . The stand  12  has a base plate  26 , a saddle  28  for mounting onto the base plate  26  and for adjustably mounting an upright  30 . The upright  30  is generally triangular in shape to accommodate the sheave  14  and motor  20 . An aperture  32  extends through the upright  30  to accept a drive shaft  34 . An arm  36  extends from the upright  30  and is braced with a brace  38 . The arm  36  is retained with a cotter pin  40  to allow for easy folding. An arm extension  42  is housed in a sleeve  44  at the distal end of the arm  36 . A cotter pin  46  retains the arm extension  42 . 
         [0032]    A standard prior art sheave  14 , as provided by Ace Line Hauler™ can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The sheave  14  has a first plate  50  and second plate  52  and a V-groove  54  therebetween. The groove is 1.5 inches deep and 1 inch wide at the outer edge  55 . The plates  50 ,  52  are bolted to one another by a series of bolts  56  that fit through a series of apertures  58 . The drive shaft  34  is centrally located in the sheave  14  and is directly connected to the motor  20  to drive the sheave  14 . The sheave  14 , drive shaft  34  and motor  20  are mounted on the stand  12 . 
         [0033]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , a first pulley  60  is suspended from the distal end  62  of the arm extension  42  by a swivel  64 , link  66  and hanger  68 . A second pulley  70  is mounted on the upright  30 . The hanger  68  has an aperture  72  to accept a pulley axle  74 . The second pulley  70  is mounted on a pulley shaft  76  that is housed in an aperture  78  in the upright  30 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the line hauler  10  is provided with a dualler plate  80  and a line coiler  82 . The dualler plate  80  is located between the first plate  50  and the second plate  52  and divides the V-groove  54 , hence providing two V-channels, a first V-channel  84  and a second V-channel  85 , each having a much reduced angle at the bottom  89  of the V-channel (rather than the angle defined as 1 inch wide at the outer edge  55  over 1.5 inches of depth, the angle is about 0.5 inch wide at the outer edge  55  over about 1.5 inches of depth) (see  FIG. 4  where angle  200  is about 32 to about 35 degrees, preferably about 33 degrees and angle  300  [the angle without the dualler plate] is about 66 degrees). The dualler plate  80  is a flat 11 inch diameter by 1/16 inch thick stainless steel plate (essentially the same dimensions as the plates  50 ,  52  of the sheave  14 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , apertures  90  are for aligning with the apertures  58  of the standard sheave  14 . A central aperture  59  is for accepting the drive shaft  34 . The second V-channel  85  may be provided with a 3/16 inch to about ¼ inch O-ring  87  that seats in the bottom  89  of the V-channel  85 . 
         [0035]    The line coiler  82  is mounted on the motor frame  92  with 2.25 inch bolts  94  and nuts  96 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . It extends straight from the frame  92 . As shown in  FIG. 3  it has a first section  98  that is about 5 inches long by about 1.5 inches wide by about 0.25 inches deep, a second section  100  approximately at right angles to the first section  98  that is about 1.75 inches long by about 1.5 inches wide by about 0.25 inches deep and is sloped about 0.5 inch down over its width, in other words, is at about an 18 degree angle relative to the first section  98 , with the lower side  102  away from the sheave  14  and the upper side  104  proximate the sheave  14 , and an end section  106  that is about 0.5 inches long by about 1.5 inches wide by about 0.25 inches deep that is bent away from the sheave  14  at about a 45 degree angle. Returning to  FIG. 4 , the line coiler  82  is positioned such that the second section  100  is aligned with at least the second V-channel  85  of the sheave  14 . 
         [0036]    The first section  98  is sized to extend from the frame  92  a sufficient distance to allow the second section  100  to be in front of the sheave  14 , hence, depending on the mounting location, the section could be longer or shorter, but preferably it is about 4 inches to about 6 inches long, more preferably about 4.5 to about 6.5 inches long, and most preferably about 5 inches long. The second section  100  is sized to extend over at least the second V-channel  85  and therefore is about 1.25 inches to about 2.25 inches long, preferably about 1.5 inches to about 2 inches long and most preferably about 1.75 inches long. The end section  106  is designed to ensure that the line  110  does not skip over the end  112  and therefore it is at least about 0.4 inches long, preferably at least about 0.45 inches long and most preferably at least about 0.5 inches long. As it could catch a user&#39;s clothing, it is best to not be any longer than about 1 inch long. All the sections are made from 1.5 inch stock, however, the sections may be about 1 inch wide to about 2 inches wide, preferably about 1.25 inches to about 1.75 inches wide and most preferably about 1.5 inches wide. The thickness of the material should allow for bending of the stock and is therefore about 0.05 inches to about 0.15 inches thick, preferably about 0.07 to about 0.1 inches thick and most preferably about 0.09 inches thick. 
         [0037]    The angle between the first section  98  and the second section  100  is disclosed as a right angle, which may be about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees, preferably about 87 degrees to about 92 degrees and most preferably about 90 degrees, however, if the first section  98  is mounted in an alternative location, the angle will be different and therefore is better described as an angle that permits mounting of the first section  98  such that the second section  100  is normal to the V-channels  84 ,  85 . 
         [0038]    The angle that the second section  100  is sloped away from the sheave  14  can be about 16 degrees to about 21 degrees, preferably about 17 degrees to about 20 degrees and most preferably about 18 degrees to about 19 degrees. The distance between the second section  100  and the outer edge  55  of the sheave is about 0.4 inches to about 0.7 inches, preferably about 0.5 inches to about 0.625 inches on the upper side  104  of the second section  100  and is preferably about 0.9 inches to about 1.35 inches, preferably 1 inch to about 1.25 inches on the lower side  102  of the second section  100 . This can also be described as the angle from the plane  99  of the first section  98 . 
         [0039]    The angle between the second section  100  and end section  106  can be about 43 degrees to about 47 degrees, preferably about 44 degrees to about 46 degrees and most preferably about 45 degrees. The end section  106 , therefore, is essentially parallel to the V-channels  84  and  85  and to the line  110  as it leaves the sheave  14 . 
         [0040]    The angle that the second section  100  is sloped and the angle of the end section  106  relative to the second section  100  determines the efficiency of the line coiler  82 . Experimentation has shown that the range of angles that can be used effectively is very small. Angles outside of the cited range will not result in the line coiling as it comes off the sheave  14 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the line  110  is routed through the line hauler  10  as follows: The line  110  enters into the first pulley  60  on an upper side  120  and then enters the first V-channel  84  of the sheave  14 , which is the innermost V-channel, passing over the upper side  124  of the sheave  14  and down to the second pulley  70  on a lower side  122 . From the lower side  122  of the second pulley  70 , the line returns to the sheave  14 , entering the second V-channel  85 , passing over the upper side  124  of the sheave  14 . The line is then fed over the second section  100  of the line coiler  82 . The line  110  then self-coils on the floor of the boat, without requiring a bin or other circular vessel to assist in coiling the line  110 . 
         [0042]    The path of the line  110  on the pulleys  60 ,  70  and sheave  14  stops slippage of the line  110 , which can trap the line, and without any human intervention. The line coiler coils the line, again without human intervention. Therefore, the two components provide for “hands free” operation of a line hauler. Without the dualler plate and the rope coiler, a user who has 4 prawn traps with 400 ft of line on each trap, would have to assist normal hauler operation, moving their hands, arms and shoulders 1200 to 1600 repetitions, each time they pulled the traps. 
         [0043]    The foregoing is a description of an embodiment of the present technology. As would be known to one skilled in the art, variations that do not alter the scope of the technology are contemplated. For example, the line coiler may be attached to another component, or a different frame and therefore may be attached to the side opposite the motor, the requirement being that the second section be adjacent the second V-channel and that the end section be proximate the second V-channel and be angled away from the sheave.