HOOK CAPTURING DEVICE FOR LONGLINE HAULING APPARATUS

Abstract: A device for capturing hooks (28) for use in conjunction with longline hauling and stowage apparatus (20) includes a hook elevating ramp (52), an engagement plate (50), and a brush (54). The hook elevating ramp (52) elevates the hook (28) to the location of the guide track (34) by which the hook (28) is to be captured for storage, while the engagement plate (50) rotates the hook (28) to ensure its engagement on the guide track (34). The brush (54) serves to stabilize the hook (28) immediately prior to and during hook rotation.

Description: This invention relates to improved longline hauling apparatus useful in bottom fishing and particularly to apparatus for hauling longline equipped with hooks. Longlines utilized in fishing include a ground line, a continuous line typically running from 610 to 3048 m (2,000 to 10,000 feet) long, equipped with a plurality of gangions that are spaced at intervals along the ground line. Hooks are affixed to the free ends of the gangions. A longline hauling and stowage apparatus of the type typically employed today is disclosed in United States Patent No.4,505,062 issued to Harold T. Cook, Jr. The longline hauling and stowage apparatus is designed to capture and stow longlines equipped with conventional J hooks. While conventional J hooks are widely used, the circle hook has recently been gaining in popularity among fishermen. The circle hook differs from the conventional J hook in that its bend is much larger, relative to the length of the shank, and the point is curved so that in plan view the point is oriented nearly orthogonally to the shank as opposed to being parallel as it is in a conventional J hook. In addition, viewing the circle hook longitudinally, that is, viewed in the direction of the shank, the hook is offset from the shank. The capturing portion of the longline hauling and stowing apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned Cook patent, while having the capability of capturing circle hooks, does not do so optimally. GB-A-2,124,863 discloses apparatus for drawing in a longline , said longline including a ground line, a plurality of gangions, affixed to said ground line at spaced intervals, and hooks affixed to the respective free ends of said gangions, said apparatus including:- (a) a means for moving said longline along an advancement path. (b) a hook guide track positioned adjacent said advancement path for capturing and guiding hooks along a guide path defined by said guide track, said guide track having an initial portion spaced from and nonparallel with said advancement path and a primary portion smoothly joined with said initial portion and running adjacent to said advancement path. (c) hook-capturing means located immediately upstream from said initial portion of said guid track comprising:- hook-turning means located upstream from and adjacent to the initial portion of said hook guide track and arranged to orient successive hooks such that the shank of each hook passes on one side of said hook guide track between said hook guide track and said advancement path and the point of each said hook passes on the opposite side of said hook guide track whereby the interior of each successive hook bend is captured by the initial portion of said hook guide track, said hook-turning means including a guide for guiding hooks to a location adjacent said advancement path, and hook-impingement means comprising an impingement surface and a slot, said impingement surface having an edge defining a portion of the boundary of said impingement surface, said edge terminating adjacent said opposite side of said guide track. The present invention provides apparatus for drawing in a longline, as disclosed in GB-A-2,124,863, characterised in that said advancement path extends through said slot, said guide terminates upstream from said edge of said impingement surface and said impingement surface of said hook-impingement means extends from said edge away from said advancement path in the upstream direction and is inclined towards said guide whereby said hook impingement means and guide are arranged to orient successive hooks immediately prior to their capture by said initial portion of said hook guide track without said hook-impingement means engaging the interior of the hook bends. The invention also provides a method of drawing longline by means of such apparatus, the method comprising: moving said longline along said advancement path so as to capture and guide said hooks along said guide path. In operation the longline is hauled by the means for moving the longline so that the ground line and gangions travel through the slot defined by the hook impingement surface. As a gangion passes through the slot, the hook is pulled toward the hook-impingement surface. Since the hook-impingement surface is upstream from the guide track, the hook-impingement surface causes the hook to rotate in reaction to the forward advancement of the hook so that, as the hook reaches the location of the guide track, the point of the hook has been turned away from the advancement path and passes the side of the guide track opposite from the advancement path. In the preferred embodiment, the guide track is positioned below the advancement path so that the hook point is turned down by the hook engaging surface with the assistance of gravity. The invention is applicable particularly to capturing circle hooks, but may also be used for capturing conventional J hooks. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 18 of the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a plan view of longline hauling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the improved longline hauling apparatus; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the improved longline hauling apparatus taken along section line 3--3 of FIGURE 4. FIGURE 4 is an upstream view of the apparatus taken along section line 4--4 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the apparatus similar to FIGURE 2, showing the snag release feature; FIGURES 6 to 8 are plan, side and end views showing the circle hook point to the left of the shank prior to engaging the hook-capturing means; FIGURE 9 is an end view showing the circle hook with the point to the left of the shank engaging the hook-capturing means; FIGURES 10 to 12 are plan, side and end views of the circle hook after it has been turned and engages the side track; FIGURES 13 to 15 are plan, side and end views showing the circle hook point to the right of the shank prior to engaging the hook-capturing means; and FIGURES 16 to 18 are plan, side and end views showing the circle hook with the point to the right of the shank engaging the hook-capturing means. Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the hauling and stowage apparatus, generally designated 20, is employed to retrieve a longline 22, made up of the ground line 24, to which are attached a plurality of gangions 26. Circle hooks 28 are affixed to the free ends of the gangions. The ground line engages a hauler sheave 30 that advances the ground line, first between a pair of entrance guide members 32 (left and right respectively when viewed in a downstream direction) which are normally employed to remove fish from the hooks. The ground line then traverses an idler sheave 36, from which it travels in a generally straight advancement path to the hauler sheave 30. A circle hook turning device 38 is positioned between the idler sheave 36 and the hauler sheave 30. Prior to the time the hook engages the hook turning device 38, the hook and gangion hang freely from the ground line. Once passing the hook turning device 38, the hook 28 engages the guide track 34, the edge of which defines in plan view a guide surface. The guide track is preferably positioned below the advancement path of the ground line, and in plan view has an initial portion 34a which first intersects. the advancement path of the ground line and gradually curves into a primary portion 34b that is generally equidistantly spaced from the ground line as it traverses a portion of the circumference of the hauler sheave 30. Once passing the hauler sheaver 30, the ground line 24 is picked up by a pair of nip rolls 40, which pull the ground line from the hauler sheave 30 and deposit it in a stowage bin 42. While the ground line traverses the hauler sheave 30 and the nip rolls 40, the hook 28 remains engaged with the guide track 34 and is maintained in engagement with the guide track via an arcuate brush 44, having bristles that are oriented perpendicularly to the guide track. The hook traverses from the guide track 34 onto a stowage track 46 that is detachable from the hauling device, along with the stowage bin 42. The apparatus thus serves to retrieve the longline 22 and dispose the longline in coils in the stowage bin in an orderly manner so that it can be deployed without delay because of fouled hooks or tangled gangions. While the invention is disclosed in conjunction with a primary line hauler for retrieving a longline, the invention will function equally well with a secondary hauler used primarily to pick line from the deck of a ship and coil it in a storage bin. Referring now, conjunctively, to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the hook turning device 38 is positioned immediately upstream from the initial portion 34a of the guide track. The hook turning device 38 is mounted on a vertically oriented wall 39 that is positioned on the left side of the ground line advancement path when viewing in a downstream direction. The wall 39 is spaced from the advancement path. In its preferred embodiment, the hook capturing device includes a hook impingement plate 59 which will subsequently be referred to as a hook-engagement plate, having a left-hand section 50a and a right-hand section 50b when viewed in a downstream direction. The remaining components of the hook capturing device are a hook elevating ramp 52 positioned below the ground line advancement path, and a brush 54 having bristles that extend from a location above the ground line advancement path at an angle downstream and downwardly, so that the edges of the bristles project below the advancement path and engage the upper surface of the hook elevating ramp 52. The bristles of the brush 54 terminate upstream from the lower edge of the hook engagement plate. The hook elevating ramp 52 is also affixed to the vertical wall 39, but at a location below the hook engagement plate 50. The elevating ramp 52 extends from a position well below the ground line advancement path in a smooth curve upwardly and in a downstream direction. The hook 28 dangling from a gangion 26 engages the hook elevating ramp 52 as the gangion rounds the idler sheave 36. As the ground line advances, the elevating ramp elevates the hook to a location immediately below the ground line. A forward lip plate 56 forms a downstream extension of the elevating ramp 52 and terminates in a downstream edge 58 that lies upstream from the engagement plate 50 and is spaced upstream from the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34. Preferably, the downstream edge 58 of the lip plate 56 is horizontally spaced from the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34 by a distance slightly less than the length of a hook, that is, the distance from the hook eye to the hook bend. Preferably, the downstream edge 58 is spaced from the lower edge of the hook engagement plate 50 by only a distance sufficient to allow the hook point to rotate downwardly as it engages the engagement plate. The primary function of the ramp is to elevate or present the hook at the level of the guide track to impinging on the engagement plate. Alternatively, a horizontal plate can be substituted for the ramp if the line forwarding apparatus is constructed so that the hook is already presented at the guide track level. As the ground line, gangion and hook advance to the top of the elevating ramp 52, the ground line and the gangion pass through the bristles of the brush 54. Bristles of the brush 54 serve especially to contain the gangion, and this the hook, in close engagement with the elevating ramp 52 and the upper surface of the forward lip plate 56. In this manner, the hook is prevented from flying above the ground line advancement path, which might cause it to improperly engage with the hook engagement plate 50 or become entangled in the ground line. The brush also causes a hook that approaches it with the shank on the ramp, but the point in the air, to rotate one way or the other so that the hook lies flat on the ramp prior to contacting the engagement plate. A strong magnet positioned under the ramp at the brush location can function as a substitute for the brush. The hook engagement plate 50 comprises a left-hand section 50a and a right-hand section 50b. In its preferred embodiment, the left-hand section 50a has a lower edge that lies adjacent and parallel to and is in intimate contact with the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34. A slot 60 is formed in the hook engagement plate between the left-hand section 50a and the right-hand section 50b. The lower edge of the right-hand section 50b of the hook-engagement plate 50, positioned adjacent the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34, is spaced from the guide track by a distance sufficient to let the bend of the hook 28 pass in an unrestricted manner between the lower edge of the right-hand section and the surface of the guide track 34. From their lower edges, both sections 50a nd 50b extend upwardly and in an upstream direction. Thus, the upstream face of the sections 50a and 50b presents a hook-impinging surface of the hook engaging plate 50 that extends from a location above the ground line advancement path, downwardly and in a downstream direction. The slot 60 is sufficiently wide to allow the ground line and gangions to pass through the hook engagement plate 50, but is most preferably not wide enough to allow the hook 28 to pass through the slot when the hook point and shank are lying in a generally horizontal plane. That is, the width of the slot 60 is less than the distance across the hook bend. Thus, as the hook 28 is pulled up the elevating ramp 52, under the bristles of the brush 54, and onto the forward lip plate 56, it is lying in a generally horizontal position immediately upstream from the hook engaging surface of the engagement plate 50. As will be explained in more detail in conjunction with FIGURES 6 through 18, the hook 28, whether its point is lying to the left or the right of its shank, then engages the upstream surface of the engagement plate 50 and is rotated about its shank so that its point is then positioned below the lower edge of the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34, thus causing the hook to engage and be captured by the guide track. The engagement plate 50 is also canted from left to right in a downstream direction. This cant causes a hook that approaches the plate in a point up orientation to preferably rotate in a clockwise direction (looking downstream) as it contacts the engagement plate. Occasionally, a gangion becomes knotted or material is not removed from the hook sufficiently to allow the gangion to pass through the slot 60 in the engagement plate 50 or the hook to be properly captured by the guide track 34. So that the gangions and hooks are not injured or destroyed, the right-hand section 500 of the engagement plate 50 is hinged so that the downstream edge can rotate upwardly, thus allowing a knotted gangion or other material affixed to the hook to bypass the hook engagement device. To hinge the right-hand section 50b, the upstream end is affixed to a rod 64 which, in turn, is journaled in a bearing 66 affixed to the upstream end of the left-hand section 50a. The rod 64 extends through the wall 39 upon which the hook capturing device 38 is mounted and projects from its opposite side. Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 5, a radially and downwardly extending arm 68 is affixed to the portion of the rod 64 extending through the wall on the side opposite the hook capturing device. One end of a coiled tension spring 70 is affixed to the lower end of the arm 68. The other end of the coiled tension spring 70 is affixed to a bracket 72, which is in turn affixed to the wall 39 at a location upstream from the arm 68. In this manner the rod 64 is rotationally biased such that the lower edge of the right-hand section 50b is biased in a downward direction. The desired location of the lower edge of the section 50b is adjusted by a stop mechanism 74. As seen in FIGURE 4, stop mechanism 74 comprises an arm 76 having one end 78a affixed to the forward surface of right-hand section 50b and a second end 78b that is elevated above the first end and that projects over the forward surface of left-hand section 50a. A screw 80 is threaded into an aperture 82 located adjacent the second end 78b of the arm 76. The aperture 82 is oriented so that the end of the screw 80 engages the upper surface of the left-hand section 50a. By rotating the screw 80, the location of the lower edge of the right-hand section 50b can be adjusted to position the lower edge in a desired location relative to the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34. In its preferred embodiment, the lower edge of the right-hand section 50b is positioned so that it is slightly below the midpoint of the downstream edge of the guide track 34. As shown in FIGURE 5, the right-hand section 50b is elevated, exposing the brush 54 that is positioned immediately upstream from the hook engagement plate 50. In this position, a knotted gangion, or a hook having material still engaging it, can clear the engagement plate without harming the gangion or the hook. One of ordinary skill will recognize that a pair of rods, tines or stiff bristles can be substituted for the sections of the hook engagement plate 50 and would function nearly as well as the preferred embodiment just described. It is preferred, however, that a relatively broad engagement surface, such as that created by the upstream face at the hook engagement plate, be employed to optimize the turning of the hook to engage the guide track 34. The functioning of the engagement surface made up of the right-hand section 50b can be enhanced by positioning a projection 86 that extends below the hook engaging surface adjacent the slot 60 and immediately upstream from the lower edge of the right-hand section 50b. In its preferred embodiment, the projection 86 is in the form of a small rod having a diameter that is less than the distance across the bend of the hook and which extends slightly below the guide track. As will be described in more detail below in conjunction with FIGURES 13, 14 and 15, the projection aids in turning the hook 28 so that it properly engages the guide track 34 when the hook point is lying to the right-hand side of the hook shank upon entering the hook turning device 38. Referring now to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, a circle hook 28 is shown at a location lying atop the forward lip plate 56 with the point lying to the left of the shank just prior to engaging the upstream facing surface of the hook engagement plate 50. As the hook is pulled downstream by the gangion, the point engages the engagement surface as indicated in FIGURE 9. As the hook continues downstream, the downwardly sloped engagement surface causes the hook to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow 100, such that the tip of the point is brought to a location below the initial portion 34a of the guide track 34. As the gangion pulls the hook further downstream, the hook engages the guide track 34, as indicated in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12. Referring now to FIGURES 13, 14 and 15, a circle hook 28 is shown with the point lying to the right of the shank. Because of the hook offset, when the point is to the right of the shank, the coaction of the upstream facing surface of the hook engagement plate 50 and the hook point will not always result in the hook point being rotated sufficiently so that it will properly engage the initial portion 34a of the guide track. Thus, the projection 86 is employed to engage the bend of the hook prior to the time that the point engages the engagement surface to begin rotating the hook well in advance of its arrival adjacent the guide track 34, as shown in FIGURES 16, 17 and 18. This prerotation will cause the hook to be rotated so that the coaction of the gangions and the hook eye riding over the edge of the guide track will not cause a reversing of the hook rotation. As a result, the point is fully rotated so that it is below the intial portion 34a of the guide track, thus allowing the hook to fully engage the guide track 34 as previously shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12. The present invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment. One of ordinary skill will be able to effect various changes, alterations and substitutions of equivalents without departing from the basic concepts disclosed herein. For example, while the invention has been described in conjunction with capturing of circle hooks, it will function equally well to capture the conventional J hook.

Claims: Apparatus for drawing in a longline (22), said longline including a ground line (24), a plurality of gangions (26), affixed to said ground line at spaced intervals, and hooks (28) affixed to the respective free ends of said gangions, said apparatus including:- (a) a means (30, 36) for moving said longline along an advancement path, (b) a hook guide track (34) positioned adjacent said advancement path for capturing and guiding hooks along a guide path defined by said guide track, said guide track having an initial portion (34a) spaced from and nonparallel with said advancement path and a primary portion (34b) smoothly joined with said initial portion and running adjacent to said advancement path, (c) hook-capturing means located immediately upstream from said initial portion of said guide track comprising:- hook-turning means (38) located upstream from and adjacent to the initial portion of said hook guide track and arranged to orient successive hooks such that the shank of each hook (28) passes on one side of said hook guide track (34) between said hook guide track and said advancement path and the point of each said hook passes on the opposite side of said hook guide track whereby the interior of each successive hook bend is captured by the initial portion of said hook guide track, said hook-turning means including a guide (52) for guiding hooks (28) to a location adjacent said advancement path, and hook-impingement means (50) comprising an impingement surface and a slot(60), said impingement surface having an edge defining a portion of the boundary of said impingement surface, said edge terminating adjacent said opposite side of said guide track (34) characterised in that said advancement path extends through said slot (60), said guide (52) terminates upstream from said edge of said impingement surface, and said impingement surface of said hook-impingement means (50) extends from said edge toward said advancement path in the upstream direction and is inclined towards said guide (52) whereby said hook-impingement means (50) and guide (52) are arranged to orient successive hooks (28) immediately prior to their capture by said initial portion (34a) of said hook guide track (34) without said hook-impingement means (50) engaging the interior of the hook bends. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hook-impingement means (50) is divided into two separate portions (50a,50b) which lie on opposite sides of said advancement path. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said hook-impingement means (50) is mounted for swinging movement so that said edge of said hook-impingement means can swing downstream and towards said advancement path while swinging away from said guide track (34) Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said edge of said hook-impingement means (50) is substantially parallel to said initial portion (34a) of said guide track (34). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said guide track (34) crosses said advancement path on the side of said path which is opposite said hook-impingement means (50). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said guide comprises a ramp (52) that curves both upwardly and in a downstream direction, said ramp terminating in a forward edge (58) spaced upstream from said edge of said hook-impingement means (50). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising:- brush means (54) positioned upstream from said hook-engaging surface (50), said brush means having bristles oriented transversely to said advancement path and terminating at a location adjacent said edge of said hook-impingement means (50). Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 as dependent on claim 6 wherein said bristles terminate upstream from said forward edge (58) of said ramp (52). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising:- means positioned adjacent to at least one side of said advancement path and defining a projection (86) extending away from said hook-impingement means (50) in a downstream direction, said projection being positioned upstream from and extending slightly beyond the opposite side of said guide track (34) for engaging the bends of said hooks (28) to assist in rotating each said hook prior to its engagement with said guide track as said longline (22) moves along said advancement path. A method of drawing longline (22) by means of apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, said longline including a ground line (24), a plurality of gangions (26) affixed to said ground line at spaced intervals, and hooks (28) affixed to the respective free ends of said gangions, the method comprising moving said longline along said advancement path so as to capture and guide said hooks along said guide path. A method as claimed in claim 10, utilising apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said edge of said hook-impingement means (50) and said forward edge (58) of said ramp (52) are spaced by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the bend and the point of said hooks (28). A method as claimed in claim 11, utilising apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said forward edge (58) and said initial portion (34a) of said guide track (34) are spaced by a distance slightly less than the distance between th eye and the bend of said hooks (28). A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distance between said edge of said hook-impingement means (50) and said initial portion 34a) of said guide track (34) is less than the distance between the point and the bend of said hooks (28). A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said distance between said edge of said hook-impingement means (50) and initial portion (34a) is greater than the diameter of said hook at the bends of said hooks (28). A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14, wherein said hooks are circle hooks.

Inventors: COOK, HAROLD T., JR.
Applicants: MARCO SEATTLE, INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01K91
IPC codes: A01K91