METHOD IN BRAKING THE SPOOL IN A REEL AND BRAKE METHOD FOR APPLYING THE METHOD

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in braking the spool of a fishing reel wherein the reel, when slack in the line is sensed initially, is pre-braked by friction braking and when increasing slack in the line is sensed, is abruptly braked by wedge braking. For working the method the invention also relates to a brake mechanism in a fishing reel comprising a brake drum (24) provided on the spool (14) and a line sensor (23) provided for operative co-operation with the line (48) said line sensor being connected with the brake mechanism which controlled by the line sensor (23) is constructed to initially at arising and successively increasing slack in the line effect pre-braking of the spool by friction engagement with the brake drum (24) and then to provide abrupt stopping of the spool by wedge engagement with the brake drum.

Description: METHOD IN BRAKING THE SPOOL IN A REEL AND BRAKE METHOD FOR APPLYING THE METHOD The invention relates to a method in braking the spool of a fishing reel in dependence of arising slack in the fishing line running from the spool when the line is paid out therefrom, and a brake mechanism for working the method. It is a previously known technique to control braking of the rotation of the spool when the line is being paid out therefrom, by a line sensor which is actuated by the line and is operatively connected to a brake mechanism. Thus, US-A-2 262 462 and US-A-5 289 992 disclose reels having a brake shoe which is kept engaged with a brake disc or brake drum by means of a spring and operates as a friction brake and which is disengaged from the brake disc or the brake drum, respectively, by a line sensor connected to the brake shoe being lifted when the line running from the spool is taut, and reducing the pressure of the brake shoe against the brake disc or the brake drum, respectively, to release the spool for withdrawal of the line therefrom. Should the line slack when the spool is rotating in the pay out direction the brake shoe will be engaged for frictional braking of the spool in order to prevent a great number of loose line windings being formed on the spool, which leads to line tangling, so called backlash. US-A-1 609 684 discloses a brake mechanism for a fishing reel wherein a brake shoe which can be engaged with a brake drum on the spool and is so shaped that, when engaged with the brake drum, the brake shoe provides wedging against the drum, is engaged with the brake drum by means of spring bias and then allows rotation of the spool in the pay out direction but not in the wind up direction. By means of a line sensor which is actuated by the line when this is being taut the brake shoe is disengaged from the brake drum to allow rotation of the spool in the wind up direction. Should the line slack when being wound up the spool is stopped abruptly by the brake mechanism which, however, has no influence on the spool when this is rotating in the pay out direction. US-A-2 326 645 also discloses a brake mechanism for a reel having a brake shoe which is spring biased to effect wedging against a brake drum connected with the spool in the rotational direction thereof wherein the line is paid out from the spool, but is lifted from the brake drum by a line sensor being actuated by the line when it is being taut so that the spool can rotate freely in said direction. If the line should slack when being paid out the brake operates and stops abruptly rotation of the spool. As far as line sensor controlled wedge brake mechanisms have been used so far in reels in order to stop the rotation of the spool when the outrunning line is slacking they have been too sensitive and rather momentarily have abruptly stopped the spool already at beginning slack in the line, while line sensor controlled friction brake mechanisms are not operating sufficiently rapidly or are not sufficiently effective in order to prevent backlash. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a brake mechanism of the kind referred to above, which prevents effectively backlash when there is an imminent risk for backlash to arise as in rapidly accelerating slacking of the line or at abrupt stopping of the line during casting while the brake mechanism, however, at minor tendency of slacking of the line tries to initially inhibit the slacking so that the risk of backlash is removed before such risk will be imminent and a momentary abrupt stop of the spool must be effected. For said purpose the method of the invention has obtained the characterizing features according to claim 1 and the brake mechanism for working the method according to the invention has obtained the characterizing features of claim 2. The pre-braking thus obtained in many cases can be sufficient in order to eliminate the risk of backlash for example at existing pulsating tension in the line due to the inherent elasticity of the line and/or due to swaying of the fishing rod during the cast as a consequence of the fishing rod being tensioned under resilient bending in an initial phase of the cast. Any imminent risk of backlash is however removed by the wedge brake operating momentarily as soon as the risk of backlash will be imminent. The brake mechanism according to the invention is not intended to be a substitute for the manually adjustable brakes which are normally provided in reels viz. a friction brake in order to provide some resistance against the rotation of the spool, and a centrifugal brake in order to prevent the spool from rotating too rapidly. The brake mechanism according to the invention is intended as a complement of these brakes. The invention will be described in more detail below reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reel, FIG. 2 is an end view of the left hand end plate of the reel a shield provided on the end plate being shown in cross-section along line II-II in FIG. 1, and shows the brake mechanism according to the invention located inside the shield, in a first functional position, FIGS. 3 to 5 are corresponding views as FIG. 2 but in reduced scale and show the brake mechanism in three other functional positions, FIG. 6 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the bearing pin for the primary brake arm of the brake mechanism, FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a line sensor providing operating means for the brake mechanism of the invention, FIG. 8 is an end view similar to that in FIG. 2 but in reduced scale and shows the brake mechanism with operating means for switching the brake mechanism on and off said mechanism being shown in the switched off position, FIG. 9 is a corresponding view as that in FIG. 8 with the brake mechanism in switched on position, FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the circumferential edge flange of the shield and a lock slide displaceably mounted therein along line X- X in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the lock slide in disengaged position with the edge flange of the shield shown in cross section. Referring to FIG. 1 the reel comprises in a known manner two end plates 10 and 11 which are interconnected and are mutually spaced by means of a number, for example four, parallel rods 12 which are fixed by screw connection to the end plates and together with these form the frame of the reel. To two of the rods an elongated plate 13 is connected for mounting the reel to a fishing rod. A spool 14 is provided between the end plates and is rotatably mounted in said plates. The spool has a shaft passing coaxially therethrough and attached to the spool, said shaft being shown at 15 in FIG. 2 (and the other corresponding figures) . In the left end of the reel as seen in FIG. 1 the shaft is provided with a gear wheel 16 which engages a gear wheel indicated diagrammatically by a dot and dash line 17 in FIG. 2 and rotatably mounted on the inside of a shield 18 mounted over the left hand end plate 10. Gear wheel 17 over a gear is connected with a line guide in order to reciprocate said guide axially in parallel with the axis of the spool at the rotation thereof. The right hand end plate 11 as seen in FIG. 1 is also on the outside thereof provided with a shield 19 which in a conventional manner encloses a gear mechanism connecting shaft 15 with a crank 20 rotatably mounted in end plate 11 as well as a centrifugal brake and a friction brake which can be operated by means of adjusting elements 21 and 22, respectively. Between the end plates a line sensor 23 is provided, which is fixedly connected with a shaft rotatably mounted in the end plates said shaft being parallel with the axis of the spool. This line sensor forms an operating member for the brake mechanism according to the invention and the construction and function thereof will be described in more detail below. Reference is now made to FIG. 2 in the drawings. A brake drum 24 which is concentric with shaft 15 is fixedly mounted to the spool and projects at the outside of end plate 10. The brake mechanism according to the invention when engaged shall operate against this brake drum by friction engagement and then by wedge engagement when the spool is rotating to reel off the fishing line therefrom the rotational direction of the spool being that indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, i.e. counter-clockwise. The brake mechanism in its entirety is mounted to a plate 25 which is fixedly mounted to the outside surface of the end plate 10 by means of the same screw connection interconnecting the rods with the end plates. A primary brake arm 26 formed as a double-armed lever is pivotally mounted between the ends thereof on a pin 27 integral with plate 25 by means of a bearing bushing 28 integral with brake arm 26; cf . also FIG. 6. At the left end of brake arm 26 a rack 29 formed by pins is provided engaging a gear wheel 30 attached to the shaft of the line sensor said shaft being shown at 31 in FIG. 2. Between a pin 32 at the right hand end of brake arm 26 and the portion of one of rods 12 projecting from plate 25 a relatively weak helical spring 33 is provided which effects tension at the right hand end of brake arm 26 which as a consequence thereof tends to swing counter-clockwise about pin 27. A socket 34 is rotatably mounted on bushing 28. This socket is eccentric at the outside surface thereof, and over the socket a brake shoe 35 is rotatably mounted which can consist of carbon or another friction material. FIG. 6 shows that socket 34 shown in section in FIG. 2 has the shape of a cap having an end wall 36 with an aperture 37 for passing a screw therethrough, if any, which is screwed into pin 27 in order to keep the elements mounted to the pin together. Brake shoe 35 has a projection 37 which is displaceably received between two pins 38 on brake arm 26 in order that the brake shoe shall follow the swinging movement of the brake arm when rotated about pin 27. On the side of the brake shoe facing brake drum 24 the edge surface of the brake shoe has a radius which increases successively in the clock-wise direction of the brake drum, and the distance of this surface portion to the brake drum can be adjusted by turning the eccentric socket 34 which can pass through an aperture in shield 18 to be available at the outside thereof for manual adjustment. A cam 39 is provided on brake arm 26 for co-operation with one end of a secondary brake arm 40 pivotally mounted on a pin 41 integral with plate 25. A spring blade 42 is attached to this brake arm said spring blade engaging that portion of one of rods 12 which projects from end plate 10 and thus biasing brake arm 40 to swing counter-clockwise against brake drum 24 with which the brake arm can be engaged at a brake lining 43 which is provided on the brake arm and can consist of carbon or another friction material. Referring to FIG. 7 the line sensor comprises a plate 44 having longitudinal edge flanges one of which is shown at 45 in FIG. 7. Shaft 31 passes through the edge flanges and is attached to these flanges at the left hand end of the line sensor. In order that a safe connection shall be provided the edge flanges can have studs on the outside thereof through which the shaft passes and in which the attachment is provided. Plate 44 is bent around shaft 31 at 46 as will be seen in PIG. 7. At the right hand end the line sensor is provided with a bar 47 attached to edge flanges 45 said bar being parallel with shaft 31. The fishing line is extended in operative co-operation with line sensor 23 as indicated in FIG. 2 to 5 by a dot-and- dash line 48, and the fishing line is shown also in FIG. 7 by a solid line having the same reference. It will be seen that the fishing line passes from the spool over bar 47 in order then to pass below portion 46 and from there to the eyes on the fishing rod. Said portion shall have a gently rounded edge in order not to damage the line. Regarding the arrangement of line sensor 23 in this embodiment it should be particularly noted that it has the free end thereof where bar 47 is provided directed against the rotational direction of the spool when the line is reeled off from the spool (counter-clockwise) . When the line sensor is in the position shown which can be determined by the right hand end of brake arm 26 engages that portion of one of rods 12, viz. the same rod as that engaged by spring blade 42, which projects from end plate 10 brake lining 43 and brake shoe 35 are not engaged with brake drum 43; the brake mechanism is inoperative. When line sensor 23 is swung counter-clockwise a swinging movement in clockwise direction will be imparted to brake arm 26 via gear wheel 30 and rack 29 brake shoe 35 being moved against brake drum 24. When swung clockwise brake arm 26 successively releases brake arm 40 biased by spring blade 42 so that said arm under the pressure of spring blade 42 will be displaced towards brake drum 24 at the same time as brake shoe 35 is also displaced in this way. However, according to the invention the operative connection between brake arms 26 and 40 should be such that brake lining 43 when the line sensor is being swung counter-clockwise will be engaged with brake drum 24 before engagement of brake shoe 35, which can be achieved by giving cam 39 a suitable shape. Brake arm 40 with brake lining 43 operates as a pure friction brake: the harder the brake lining is pressed against the brake drum the heavier brake effect will be obtained. A soft braking of the spool accordingly can be obtained by this brake function. Brake shoe 35 when engaged with the brake drum initially will provide friction braking but by the shape of the brake shoe this friction braking will be momentary only and will rapidly change over into a wedge engagement between brake shoe and brake drum so that the rotation of the brake drum will be stopped abruptly. Brake arm 40 with brake lining 43 thus operates as a pre- brake when the line sensor is swung counter-clockwise while brake arm 26 with brake shoe 35 operates as an emergency brake which will not be operative until an initial pre- braking has taken place. If the fishing line is taut and runs out from the reel the line being paid out from the spool the line sensor will take the position according to FIG. 2 because the right hand end of the line sensor will be held depressed by the taut line at bar 47 and thus will be prevented from swinging counter-clockwise about shaft 31. Therefore, the spool can rotate freely in counter-clockwise direction, and as long as this condition prevails nothing happens with the brake mechanism which will remain inoperative. Should now the line for some reason slack - the line "lifts" - while the spool is rotating in pay out direction so that there will be a great number of loose windings on the spool, so called "backlash", this will cause line tangling and therefore should be avoided, which is also the case when the reel is provided with the brake mechanism according to the invention as described. When the line is slacking the line sensor will be swung counter-clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2. The gap between brake lining 43 and brake shoe 35 at one hand and brake drum 24 at the other hand should however be dimensioned such that at slacking of the line the brake mechanism will not be actuated immediately via line sensor 23 to initiate braking of spool 14 at brake lining 43. According to the invention it has been found that initial swinging of the line sensor counter-clockwise over an angle of the order of 20° can provide an idle distance. The line sensor then has reached substantially the position disclosed in FIG. 3 and in this position brake lining 43 has come into light contact with brake drum 24 while brake shoe 35 is still lifted therefrom. If the fishing line then continues to lift, line sensor 23 will continue to swing counter-clockwise friction lining 43 being still more powerfully engaged with the brake drum at friction lining 43. As a consequence thereof the spool will be retarded while brake shoe 35 has not yet contacted the brake drum during swinging of the line sensor from the position in FIG. 3 to the position in FIG. 4. According to the invention it has been found that the angle between these two positions of the line sensor preferably is of the order of 60°. During this swinging movement of the line sensor a gentle braking of the spool takes place, and as a consequence thereof the slack of the line may disappear and the line will again be taut so that the line sensor will be returned to the position in FIG. 3 or will approach the position in FIG. 2 and the spool can again rotate freely without being impeded by the brake mechanism. If however the slack of the line increases successively and line sensor 23 as a consequence thereof continues to swing counter-clockwise from the position in FIG. 4 towards the position in FIG. 5 which is an end position for the line sensor and is defined by a suitable abutment which can be formed by one of rods 12, brake shoe 35 will be engaged with the brake drum. Initially there will be a light friction engagement between brake shoe and brake drum but very soon the friction force will be so great that the brake shoe will be carried along by the brake drum and due to the manner in which the brake shoe is shaped will be wedged against the brake drum. As a consequence thereof the drum and thus the spool will be abruptly stopped in the position according to FIG. 5. The swinging range of the line sensor between the position in FIG. 4 and the position in FIG. 5 is suitably about 30°. The spool will not always be abruptly stopped after pre-braking according to the description above. If the fishing line at a cast with the fishing rod for some reason will be stopped abruptly the line very rapidly will slack and the position according to FIG. 5 will be achieved practically momentarily. The brake shoe accordingly operates as an emergency brake. In this respect the brake mechanism according to the invention is intelligent as it senses by means of the line sensor the existing need of braking and adjusts the braking effect in accordance therewith. At fishing a pulsating tension can arise in the fishing line at cast due to sway in the fishing rod and elasticity in the fishing line and this may lead to varying slack in the line. The brake mechanism according to the invention is well suited to compensate for this by the pre- braking initiated as soon as there is beginning slack ever so small in the line. At jigging the lure is drained into the water and the line is allowed to unwind until the lure strikes against the bottom. Then, the spool is locked and the lure is lifted about half a meter from the bottom. At this manoeuvre the brake mechanism according to the invention considerably facilitates the positioning of the lure by automatically effecting abrupt braking of the spool when the lure strikes against the bottom. The individual angler for one reason or the other may want to make the brake mechanism described inoperative, and in order that this can be done a lock according to FIGS. 8 to 11 has been developed. On brake arm 26 a pin 49 is provided for co-operation with a displaceable slide 50 provided on the edge flange of shield 18. The slide has T- shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 10. The transverse portion 51 is located on the outside surface of the edge flange of the shield while the trunk portion 52 extends through a slot 53 in the edge flange said slot having insignificantly larger width than portion 52. Said latter portion is slotted from both ends in order to receive in the slots the edge flange the non-slotted part of portion 52 having a shorter length than slot 53 in the edge flange so that the slide can be displaced between two end positions in the slot. Portion 52 forms at the base thereof a projection 54 which in one position, FIG. 8, engages pin 49 and keeps line sensor 23 in the position according to FIG. 2 preventing the line sensor from swinging upwards. With the slide in this position the brake mechanism cannot be engaged with the brake drum and is completely inoperative. By displacing the slide to the other end position, FIG. 9, the projection is disengaged from the pin and is now free to swing counter-clockwise for engaging the brake mechanism. The slide can be made of plastic and can be resiliently flexible and it has at the upper side surface thereof ribs 55 facilitating the manual displacement . The tab of portion 52 defined by slotting at the right hand end of the slide, FIG. 11, has such a length that it can be passed through slot 53 when the slide is passed through the slot at the tab which is defined at the opposite end of the slide where projection 54 is provided, in order that the slide can be mounted and demounted.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method in braking the spool in a fishing reel in dependence of arising slack in the fishing line running out from the spool when the line is paid out therefrom, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spool when slack in the line is being sensed initially is pre-braked by friction braking and when increasing slack in the line is sensed is abruptly braked by wedge braking. 2. Brake mechanism in a fishing reel comprising a brake drum (24) on the spool (14) and a line sensor (23) for operative co-operation with the line (48) , which is connected with the brake mechanism for engaging said mechanism in dependence of arising slack in the line when the line is paid out from the spool, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the brake mechanism controlled by the line sensor (23) is constructed to provide initially at arising and successively increasing slack in the line pre-braking of the spool by friction engagement with the brake drum (24) and to provide thereafter abrupt stopping of the spool by wedge engagement with the brake drum. 3. Brake mechanism as in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a friction brake member (40, 43) and a wedge brake member (26, 35) which can both be engaged with the brake drum (24) said wedge brake member being connected with the friction brake member to initiate at movement thereof towards the brake drum engagement of the friction brake member with the brake drum. 4. Brake mechanism as in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the wedge brake member (26, 35) is connected with the line sensor (23) pivotably mounted to be actuated directly by swinging movement of the line sensor, that the friction brake member (40, 43) is spring biased towards the brake drum (24) and that the wedge brake member by means of a cam mechanism (39) is operatively connected with the friction brake member to hold said member back against the spring bias and successively release the friction brake member when moving towards the brake drum. 5. Brake mechanism as in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the wedge brake member (26, 35) is spring biased to swing away from the brake drum (24) . 6. Brake mechanism as in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the line sensor (23) comprises an arm which is pivotally mounted at one end thereof, and that the line (48) is passed over the other end of the arm and is extended below said one end in order that said other end shall be held down by the line when it is taut. 7. Brake mechanism as in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the line sensor (23) connected with the wedge brake member (26, 35) due to the spring bias of the wedge brake member tends to swing upwards at said other end. 8. Brake mechanism as in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the shaft (31) of the line sensor (23) is fixedly connected with the line sensor and is in gear engagement with the wedge brake member (26, 35) for transmission of the movement of the line sensor to the wedge brake member. 9. Brake mechanism as in claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that gear engagement is provided between the shaft (31) of the line sensor (23) and the wedge brake member (26, 35) pivotally mounted. 10. Brake mechanism as in claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a brake shoe (35) provided on the wedge brake member (26, 35) is adjustable by means of an eccentric for adjusting the gap of the wedge brake member in relation to the brake drum (24) . 11. Brake mechanism as in any of claims 2 to 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the brake mechanism is mounted to a plate (25) mounted by screw connection to the outside surface of one of two end plates (10, 11) of the reel between which the spool (14) is mounted. 12. Brake mechanism as in any of claims 12-11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a manually operable member (50) for arresting the line sensor (23) in a position corresponding to taut line wherein the brake mechanism is made inoperative.

Inventors: AXELSSON ROBERT, SVENSON JAN, AXELSSON, ROBERT, SVENSON, JAN
Applicants: AXELSSON ROBERT, BERKLEY INC, SVENSON JAN, AXELSSON, ROBERT, BERKLEY, INC., SVENSON, JAN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01K89
IPC codes: A01K89