Patent Publication Number: US-2022232812-A1

Title: Fly fishing reel with brake assembly and methods

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to fishing reels, and more particularly relates to fly fishing reels with brake assembly and related methods of use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is common for fishing reels, rods and fly lines to brake when a fish first is on the line. As the fish pulls the line, conventional reels allow the fly line tippet to unreel subject to settings on the reel-cast brake. The bulk of the stress on the line and rod come within the first 5 revolutions of the reel, due to start-up inertia resulting from overcoming the friction applied by the reel-cast brake. The line quickly goes from a steady state to a released/unwinding state as the fish pulls the line. On the other hand, if the reel is permitted to freely spin in response to line tension, when that tension ends, the inertia will continue to unreel the line, causing the line to “backlash” or “bird nest” (i.e., come all unwound, loose and tangled within the reel). Other solutions are cumbersome, such as an option to adjust the “drag” on the line to loosen then tighten, or use of a slack line or palming the reel. Other solutions may exist for closed reels, such as the use of disk drags or clasping the line between the angler&#39;s finger and the rod handle. 
     Opportunities exist for improvements in fishing reels to avoid the problems with backlash while also reducing the start-up inertia on the line or rod when a fish first is on the line. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fishing reel that provides a fishing line to unreel while minimizing the start-up inertia when a fish first pulls on the line. In response to centrifugal forces, the brake pawls (and brake pads at the outer ends of the pawls) move outward to contact the housing and thereby slow the rotational speed of the spool. Biasing members, such as cantilever springs, may be used to urge the brake pawls back toward the center of rotation, away from contact with the housing. A damping member, such as an O-ring or rubber band may provide a stop for the pawls as they return toward the center of rotation under the biasing forces of the spring, thus preventing noise and rattling. Spring-loaded detent may travel into and out of recesses to slow rotation, such as rotation that leads to backlash. The brake assembly in the reel may be reversibly mounted to the spool to convert the fishing reel between left hand and right hand arrangements. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fishing reel that includes a housing, a spool, and a brake assembly. The housing includes an external circumferential surface and an internal circumferential surface. The spool is configured to have a length of fishing line wound thereon, and is rotatable relative to the housing about a rotation shaft. The brake assembly is mounted to and rotatable with the spool, and includes a mounting plate and a plurality of pawls pivotally mounted to the mounting plate. The plurality of pawls each include a contact surface arranged facing the internal circumferential surface. Rotation of the fishing reel upon the fishing line being pulled out of the fishing reel when a fish pulls on the fishing line causes a centrifugal force that moves the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the internal circumferential surface to reduce a rotational speed of the spool relative to the housing. 
     The plurality of pawls may be biased away from contacting the internal circumferential surface by a plurality of biasing members. The plurality of biasing members may include a flexible wire. The plurality of pawls may include at least two pawls. The contact surface of each of the plurality of pawls may be defined by a brake pad. The brake pad may include a polymer material or natural material such as cork. The brake pad may be formed separately and attached to an elongate arm portion of a respective one of the plurality of pawls. 
     The fishing reel may include at least one detent member removably positioned in a plurality of recesses as the spool rotates relative to the housing. The at least one detent member may be carried by the spool, the plurality of recesses may be formed in the housing, and the at least one detent member may be biased into a position extending into one of the plurality of recesses. The brake assembly may be reversibly mounted to the spool to change the fishing reel from a left handed reel to a right handed reel. The spool may include a hollow tube and first and second side plates positioned at opposite ends of the hollow tube, and the spool may be configured to have the length of fishing line wound on the hollow tube between the first and second side plates. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fishing reel that includes a housing having a radially inward facing surface, a spool configured to have a length of fishing line wound thereon and being rotatably mounted to the housing, and a brake assembly. The brake assembly includes at least one pawl, the at least one pawl has a contact surface arranged to contact the radially inward facing surface to create a braking force that reduces a rotation speed of the spool relative to the housing, and the brake assembly is reversibly mounted to the spool in a first position providing a right hand arrangement for the fishing reel and a second position providing a left hand arrangement for the fishing reel. 
     The at least one pawl may be pivotally mounted to a mounting plate. The at least one pawl may include at least four pawls arranged circumferentially. The at least one pawl may be movable into contact with the radially inward facing surface upon application of a centrifugal force when fishing line is drawn out of the fishing reel by a caught fish. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of operating a fishing reel. The method includes providing a housing, a spool, and a brake assembly mounted to the spool. The spool is rotatably mounted to the housing and has fishing line wound thereon. The brake assembly including a plurality of pivotally mounted pawls that each include a contact surface, and the spool is configured to have a length of fishing line wound thereon. The method also includes moving the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the housing to create a braking force that slows down rotation of the spool upon application of a centrifugal force when the fishing line is pulled by a fish. 
     Moving the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the housing may include engaging the contact surface against a contoured, radially inward facing surface of the housing. The brake assembly may be reversibly mounted to the spool, and the method further includes mounting the brake assembly to the spool in a first orientation to provide a right handed fishing reel, detaching the brake assembly from the spool, flipping the brake assembly relative to the spool, and attaching the brake assembly to the spool in a second orientation to provide a left handed fishing reel. 
     Moving the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the housing may include moving the plurality of pawls in a radially outward direction. The fishing reel may further include at least one detent member biased into at least one recess, and rotation of the spool relative to the housing may move the at least one detent member into and out of the at least one recess. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings and figures illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the present description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of this disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example fishing reel mounted to a fishing rod in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 1 . In a right hand arrangement. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the reel arrangement shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1  with the brake assembly flipped to provide a left hand reel. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 5  taken along cross-section indicators 8-8, with the brake assembly in a disengaged position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 5  taken along cross-section indicators 8-8, with the brake assembly in the engaged position. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing reel shown in  FIG. 4 , taken along cross-section indicators 10-10. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another example fishing reel in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the reel arrangement shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is another exploded perspective view of the reel arrangement shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This description provides examples, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements. 
     Thus, various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that the methods may be performed in an order different than that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, aspects and elements described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. It should also be appreciated that the following systems, methods, and devices may individually or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over or otherwise modify their application. 
     The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. 
     In various embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, the present disclosure generally is directed to a fishing reel, and particularly a fly fishing reel. In its basic form, the fishing reel includes a reel housing, a reel spool, and a brake mechanism. The spool may include a hollow tube that can be manufactured in various diameters. The larger the diameter the more line that the reel retrieves per revolution. These reels are called large arbor reels. The reel spool has multiple purposes, including to retrieve the line after it is pulled from the spool, and to hold the fishing line and backing once it is retrieved. 
     The reel spool may also include two plates on the sides of the tube. These plates extend upward from the outer diameter of the tube. The function of the plates is to guide the line back onto the spool and then keep the line on the spool after the line is retrieved. The reel spool also includes a bearing housing receptive of a set of bearings. The bearings allow the spool to freely rotate relative to the reel housing. The reel spool may further include a reel handle to rotate the spool to wind the fishing line on the spool, and a reel counterweight to maintain balance in the rotating spool. 
     The line may be pulled from the reel spool due to several events. One event is when the fish pulls the line from the reel during the fish&#39;s fight to get off the line. The other event is when the angler pulls the line off of the spool. 
     The reel housing is a component that brings the rod and the spool together to function as one unit. The reel housing may include a reel cage, a spindle around which the bearing spins, and a reel foot. The reel spool spins inside the reel cage. The reel cage has a spindle, which the bearing slides over in a manner that will allow the reel spool to spin freely. The reel foot attaches the rod to the reel. 
     The brake mechanism is mounted to the spool and interposed between the housing and spool. A brake mechanism in a fly fishing rod is often referred to by fishermen as a “drag system.” Drag systems for fly fishing reels come in two major types: a click and pawl system, and a disk drag system. The click and pawl system typically provides ample braking force; however, it typically does not provide a smooth start up. The disk drag system has become more popular over time such that most reels used for fly fishing today include the disk drag system. 
     There are two types of disk drag systems: the draw bar system, and the enclosed disk drag system. Both of these disk drag brake systems provide adequate braking power, so selection between them is typically based on the type of environment in which the reel is being used. The disk drag system has become popular in the saltwater fishing world because of its reliable stopping power and because the parts are sealed. Being sealed simply allows less corrosion from the environment. 
     Research has shown that there is no single method among anglers to set drag tension. Regardless of the targeted fish species or the skill level of the angler, the desired outcome is not to break the line while fighting the fish. There are many scenarios that will break the line, but the major purpose of this invention is to reduce the risk of the line breaking due to the drag system at startup (i.e., when the fishing line begins to unwind from the spool when a fish first pulls on the line) and/or to add additional braking force over time and distance. 
     Along with the numerous advantages of the click and pawl and the disk drag brake systems, there is one disadvantage. The inherent problem with both systems is what is known as “startup inertia” when the spool goes from a rest state to a fast rotating state. Naturally, the force applied to put an object into motion or stop an object has to be larger than the forces acting on that object before starting/stopping. A reel spool at rest could be difficult to start if the drag on the reel were set too high. If the drag system is set too low, startup inertia is avoided, but then there is insufficient force provided by the reel to slow down the fish and/or to avoid backlash. In either situation, the fish may break the line by swimming too far away or swimming into a snag, to name a few scenarios. 
     The fishing reels of the present disclosure address the challenges associated with “startup inertia” in existing reels. The fishing reels disclosed herein limit the amount of startup inertia required to overcome the reel&#39;s brake system. The reels of the present disclosure also can apply a variable braking force in a controlled manner over a period of time and/or over a given distance. The brake system applies braking forces in a way that are determined by how fast the fish swims (i.e., the rotation speed of the spool). 
     The reel housing provides multiple functions, one of which is to act as a brake drum for the brake system. The brake pawls, which are attached to the reel spool, will gradually apply pressure to the brake drum as the reel spool spins faster. The centrifugal forces acting on the pawls as the spool rotates moves the pawls radially outward into contact with the housing, thereby applying a braking forces that gradually slows down the spool rotation speed and reducing the speed of the fleeing fish. 
     The reel housing may also include a plurality of detect recesses that receive a detent follower that is carried by the spool. In other embodiments, the spool includes the recesses and the follower is carried by the housing. The follower typically is biased into the recesses by a biasing member. Moving the follower into and out of the recesses as the spool rotates relative to the housing provides rotational resistance. The recesses may be arranged in a circle. 
     The spool and brake mechanism may be attached to each other at a plurality of connection points. For example, the spool may include a plurality of threaded holes on an inside circumference that are receptive of a plurality of fasteners used to connect a mounting plate of the brake mechanism to the spool. 
     The brake mechanism includes an inner plate and an outer plate. The pawls are sandwiched between the plates. The assembly of the inner and outer plates and the pawls can be connected to the spool in reversible orientations to create a left hand reel arrangement or a right hand reel arrangement. 
     The brake pawls are arranged and configured to provide greater braking force as the spool velocity increases. The greater the spool velocity, the more the pawls move radially outward into contact with the housing to increase the braking force applied. Several variables may influence the amount of braking force for a given spool velocity, such as a diameter of a spring that biases the pawl toward the rotation axis, a weight of the pawl, and a hardness and composition of a brake pad carried by the pawl. The pawl moves in a radially outward direction toward the reel housing to create a frictional force on the reel housing. This force will cause a redirected force to the reel spool and in return more braking force to the line. By balancing the spring force, the pawl weight, and the brake pad properties, among other things, it is possible to create a gradual application of a braking force applied to the line, thus minimizing the risk of breaking the line. 
     A spring stop may protrude from one of the plates of the brake mechanism. A free end of the spring stop may rest on the inside of the opposite plate. The spring stop gives the spring a structure to “pull” against when the brake pawl is activated. Typically, there is one spring stop for each spring and associated pawl. However, in some embodiments there may be multiple springs associated with a given spring stop and/or pawl. 
     A brake pawl stop may be located inside the brake mechanism. The brake pawl stop allows the brake pawl to stop its downward (i.e., radially inward) motion after activation (i.e., contacting the housing to create a braking force). The stop may provide a dampening effect that reduces the noise of the brake pawl returning to position after activation. The brake pawl stop position may be on a radius surface of the brake mechanism plates. In one example, the brake pawl stop is an O-ring or similar structure that is mounted to one of the plates of the brake mechanism. 
     Each pawl includes an arm portion that is pivotally connected to one of the brake mechanism plates. In one example, the arm portion has a hole at one end and is attached to a post or fastener to the plate. The arm portion is allowed to pivot at this point in a radially outward motion and then back radially inward after activation. In one example, the arm portion has a length in the range of about 2 cm to about 15 cm. Depending on the materials used for the pawls and the number of pawls used (e.g., their size), the pawls may vary in weight between about 3 grams and about 10 grams, and more particularly about 6 grams each. 
     The brake pads positioned on the pawls may include any braking material, such as, for example, urethane, cork, carbon fiber, rubber, Delron®, or Rulon®. In one example, the brake pads have a length in the range of about 0.05 cm to about 5.0 cm. The brake pad may have a groove molded therein that allows the brake pad to be placed in a groove in between one of the brake mechanism plates and a brake weight. The plates of the brake mechanism, when secured together, hold the brake pads in the grooves. In some examples, the brake pad is situated on an end of the pawl arm so as to be as far away from its pivot point as possible. 
     A weight plate may be a permanent fixture attached to the end of the pawl arm. The weight plate may include multiple holes that are used to attach the weight plate to the weight and receive a set screw to hold the spring into a spring groove. The spring groove may be formed on an inside radius of the weight plate. 
     A pawl weight may be positioned over the weight plate and have a corresponding weight plate shape. The pawl weight may include a groove formed from one end to the other in a diagonal direction (i.e., from outside top to inside bottom). The return spring is placed in this groove and held in place by the set screw. The pawl weight can vary in weight from, for example, about 0.5 grams to about 10 or more grams. The pawl weight can be formed from various materials such as, for example, brass, aluminum or stainless steel. A groove may be formed on an inside radius of the pawl weight to allow the brake pad to fit therein. This groove corresponds with the weight plate groove. In at least some examples, the weight is situated on the end of the pawl arm as to be as far away from its pivot point as possible. The weight may include multiple holes formed therein for the purpose of attaching and securing the weight to the weight plate. 
     The return spring may be made from, for example, a high carbon wire. The return spring may have a diameter in the range of, for example, about 0.009 inches to about 0.03 inches. The spring may be placed in the groove formed in the pawl weight and held in place by the spring wire set screw when the pawl weight and weight plate are fastened together. The spring wire protrudes beyond the inside edge of the pawl weight and weight plate. The spring wire extends toward the pawl arm pivot point and is placed under the spring stop. The spring may hold the pawl in place and help bring the pawl back into position after activation. 
     Another variable in fly fishing reels is whether the fisherman reels with the right hand or left hand. The reels of the present disclosure may be configured to permit switching between a right hand reel arrangement and a left hand reel arrangement by flipping the brake mechanism relative to the housing and spool. By flipping the brake assembly over, the brake pawls will now rotate in the opposition direction. After rewinding the line on the reel spool in the opposite direction, the angler can now use the reel for the opposite hand. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example fishing reel in accordance with the present disclosure. The reel is mounted to a handle portion of a fishing rod  24 . Fishing line  26  is wrapped around a spool member of the fishing reel  10  and extends through eyelets of the rod  24 . A free end of the line  26  shown in  FIG. 1  may have a hook, bait, lure, or other fishing tackle mounted thereto. Typically, when the rod and reel combo shown in  FIG. 1  is in use, a user casts the line without onto a body of water where a fish engages the line and the user operates the reel  10  to bring the fish closer to the user. 
     The fishing reel  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  arranged for a right handed use where the user holds the handle portion of the rod  24  with the right hand and operates the reel  10  using the left hand. This arrangement is further shown in  FIGS. 2-5 and 8-10 . The reel  10  may be adapted into a left hand arrangement wherein the user grasps the handle of the rod  24  with his left hand and operates the reel with the right hand. Further details regarding the reversibility of the reel between left and right handed arrangements is discussed below. 
       FIG. 1  shows the reel  10  attached to a fly fishing rod. Generally, the example shown in the figures illustrates a fishing reel  10  that is used primarily for fly fishing and/or in combination with a fly fishing rod. However, the general principles and various features of the fly reels disclosed herein may be used for other types of fishing rods and various types of fishing styles. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the fishing reel  10  is shown including a housing  12 , a spool  14 , and a brake assembly  16 . A handle  20  may be mounted to the spool  14  and used by the user to rotate the spool  14  relative to the housing  12  to wrap the fishing line around a portion of the spool  14 . The housing  12  may include a rod mount  42 , used to secure the fishing reel  10  to a fishing rod, such as the rod  24  shown in FIG.  1 . The brake assembly  16  is typically mounted directly to the spool  14 , as described in further detail below. The spool  14  with brake assembly  16  mounted thereto is rotatably mounted to the housing  12  via one or more bearings  22 . Thus, the housing  12  remains fixed relative to the fishing rod via the rod mount  42 , and the spool  14  and brake assembly  16  rotate relative to the housing  12 . 
     As noted above, the fishing reel  10  shown in  FIG. 2  is configured as a right handed fishing reel. The fishing reel  10  is oriented in the right hand or left hand position relative to the rod orientation shown in  FIG. 1 . When the fishing rod  24  is in an operational position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the handle  20  is positioned on the left hand side, so that the user&#39;s left hand can rotate a spool  14  while holding the rod  24  in his right hand, the fishing reel is considered a right handed reel. The fishing reel is considered a left handed reel when the fishing reel is arranged such that the handle  20  is exposed on the right hand side of the rod  24  such that the user can hold the rod  24  in his left hand and rotate the spool  14  via the handle  20  with his right hand. 
       FIG. 3  shows the fishing reel components in an exploded perspective view with the components spaced apart along a longitudinal axis  28 . The housing  12  includes a spindle  30 , a plurality of spaced apart supports  32 , a rim or cage  34  having outer and inner surfaces  36 ,  38 , a plurality of spaced apart detent recesses  40 , the rod mount  42  described above, and a bearing shaft  44 . The supports  32  interconnect the spindle  30  with the rim or cage  34 . Three supports  32  are shown, but other embodiments may include fewer or more supports, or the supports  32  may be replaced with a plate-like structure that is solid and continuous. The use of a plurality of spaced apart supports may help reduce the weight of the housing  12 , as compared to using a solid or semi-solid plate structure. 
     The inner surface  38  of the rim or cage  34  may function as a brake surface against which features of the brake assembly  16  intermittently engage with to provide a braking force that slows down rotation of the spool  14 . The detent recesses  40  may releasably receive a detent follower  18  to provide a resistance to rotation of the spool  14  relative to the housing  12  that is separate from the braking force applied by the brake assembly  16 . Further details regarding the detent follower  18  and detent recesses  40  and their interface and related function are described in further detail below. 
     The bearing shaft  44  may provide an interface and supporting structure for the bearings  22 . In at least one example, the bearings  22  are mounted to the bearing shaft  44 . Two bearings  22  are shown in the drawings, and the bearings  22  are positioned axially relative to each other. Other embodiments may include a single bearing or three or more bearings. In at least one example, the bearings  22  are press fit or secured with an interference fit to the bearing shaft  44 . In other examples, the bearings  22  are secured to the spool  14  using, for example, a press fit or interference fit connection. Other types of connections, such as welding or fasteners, may be possible between the bearings  22  and one or both of the housing  12  and spool  14 . 
     The spool  14  includes a base plate  50 , a tube  52 , a bearing mount  54 , a brake mount  58  and a handle seat  56 . The base plate  50  may include a plurality of holes or cavities that may be provided in order to reduce the overall weight of the spool  14 . The tube  52  may be configured to have the fishing line  26  wound thereon. The tube  52  may have a variety of different diameters. Typically, the diameter of tube  52  is in the range of about 1 inch to about 3 inches. The diameter of the tube  52  may influence the functionality of the fishing reel  10  such as, for example, the ease of and/or speed of wrapping up the fishing line  26  on the spool  14  relative to the number of rotations of the spool. 
     The bearing mount  54  may be sized to receive one or both of the bearings  22  therein. The bearing mount  54  may be secured to the tube  52  with one or more struts or supports  55 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The use of struts  55  instead of a solid structure, such as a plate-type structure, may help reduce the overall weight of the spool  14  and may provide preferred strength versus weight ratio for the spool  14  generally. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the brake assembly  16  includes a mounting plate  60 , a backing plate  62 , and a plurality of pawls  64 .  FIG. 3  shows the mounting plate  60 , backing plate  62  and pawls  64 . These components may be assembled together as the brake assembly  16  and secured together using, for example, fasteners or the like to provide an assembly that is releasably mounted to the spool  14 . As discussed above, the brake assembly  16  may be detached from the spool and flipped between the orientation shown in  FIGS. 2-4  (i.e., the right hand arrangement for the fishing reel  10 ) and the arrangement show in  FIGS. 6 and 7  (i.e., the left hand arrangement for the fishing reel  10 ). The brake assembly  16  is mounted to the spool  14  at the plurality of brake mounts  58  shown in  FIG. 3 . The spool  14  includes a plurality of brake mounts  58  to which the brake assembly  16  is mounted. The brake assembly  16  is mounted using the spool mounts  78  of the backing plate  62  when in the right hand position, or the spool mounts  72  when the brake assembly  16  is in the left hand position relative to the spool  14 . 
     In at least some arrangements, the brake assembly includes, at a minimum, the plurality of pawls  64 . The pawls  64  may be reversibly mounted relative to the spool to provide left hand or right hand arrangements for the fishing reel  10 . The brake assembly  16  may or may not also include one or both of the mounting plate  60  and backing plate  62 . The pawls  64  may be mounted directly to the one or both of the mounting plate  60  and backing plate  62 , or mounted directly to the spool  14 . In some arrangements, the mounting plate  60  and/or the backing plate  62  may be integrated into the spool  14 , such as being integrally formed as a single piece with spool  14 . 
     The mounting plate  60  includes a plurality of pawl posts  70  and the spool mount  72 . The pawl posts  70  may be mounted within openings  71  in the mounting plate  60 . The pawls  64  may be pivotally connected to the mounting plate  60  with the pawl posts  70 . In at least some examples, the pawl posts  70  are mounted to the backing plate  62  rather than the mounting plate  60 . Generally, the features of mounting plate  60  may be interchangeable with the features of backing plate  62 . 
     The backing plate  62  includes post seats  74 , spring stops  76 , and spool mounts  78  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In at least some examples, the backing plate  62  may also include a pawl contact surface  68 . The surface  68  may provide a dampening function for dampening forces when the pawls  64  move into a radially inward direction. The surface  68  may comprise dampening material such as rubber or foam in the form of, for example, an O-ring or similar replaceable dampening member. The surface  68  may also be defined at least in part by the mounting plate  60 . 
     The post seats  74  of the backing plate  62  may be receptive of a portion of the pawl post  70  for alignment or other purposes. The spring stops  76  may define a surface against which a plurality of spring wires  66  may contact. The spring wires  66  may be releasably mounted to the pawls  64  using, for example, a spring wire set screw  67  (see  FIGS. 3 and 7 ). The spring wires  66  may be mounted to the pawls  64  at one end, thereby providing a cantilevered, resilient spring member, the free end of which contacts one of the spring stops  76  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     When assembled, the pawls  64  move radially outward under centrifugal forces generated when the spool  14  is rotating. The pawls move against the biasing forces of the spring wires  66 . A comparison of  FIGS. 8 and 9  shows that the spring wires  66  are further bent when the pawls  64  are in the radially outward position and in contact with the inner surface  38  of the housing  12 . The spring wires  66  provide a biasing force that biases the pawl  64  radially inward and out of contact with the inner surface  38  of housing  12 , thereby releasing the braking force when the spool  14  drops below a minimum rotational speed. Typically, the spring wire  66  moves the pawl  64  into contact with the surface  68  of the mounting plate  60  and/or backing plate  62 . The dampening material of the surface  68  may reduce the amount of noise, chatter, vibration, or the like when the pawl  64  comes in contact with the surface  68 . 
     The spring wires  66  may comprise a wire material such as, for example, metal piano wire having a diameter in the range of about 0.009 inches to about 0.03 inches. The spring wire may comprise a variety of different materials including, for example, high strength carbon wire or a polymer-based wire. 
     The pawls  64  may each include first and second ends  80 ,  82 , a mounting aperture  84  at the first end  80 , and brake member  86  at the second end  82 . The mounting aperture  84  is receptive of one of the pawl posts  70 . The brake member  86  defines a contact surface  88 , which may be referred to as a brake surface  88 . An additional weight member such as a weighted plate may also be positioned at the second end  82 . In some arrangements, the weighted plate is mounted at the second end  82 , the brake member  86  is mounted to the weighted plate, and one or both of the weighted plate and brake member  86  may be releasably mounted to the elongate pawl  64 . The removable mounting of the brake member  86  and/or weighted plate may make it possible to customize performance of the pawl  64 . For example, different weights may be added to the pawls, thereby changing the timing of when the pawls  64  move into contact with the inner surface  38  of the housing  12  to create a braking force relative to the rotational speed of the spool  14 , and/or changing the amount of braking force applied by the pawls  64  for a given rotation speed of the spool  14 . The brake member  86  may have different types of brake material, sizes and/or shapes that influence the braking force and other properties of the brake assembly  16 . 
     The contact surface  88  may have a contoured shape that matches an inner diameter of the inner surface  38  as shown in at least  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The contact surface  88  may have a generally elongate shape as shown in at least  FIGS. 3 and 7 . Other embodiments may include other shapes such as a square or circular shape. In at least one example, the brake member  86  comprises a polymer material such as nylon or a natural material such as cork. 
       FIGS. 2-5  show the brake assembly  16  in a right handed arrangement in which the backing plate  62  is closest to the spool  14 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  show the brake assembly  16  flipped 180 degrees such that the mounting plate  60  is positioned closest to the spool  14  so that the fishing reel is in a left handed arrangement. The brake assembly  16  is intended to perform substantially the same whether in a left handed or right handed arrangement. 
       FIG. 10  shows the detent follower  18 , which is carried by the spool  14  and biased by a spring  19  into one of the detent recesses  40  formed in the spindle  30  of the housing  12 . The biasing force applied by the spring  19  permits the detent follower  18  to move into and out of the detent recesses  40  as the spool  14  rotates relative to the housing  12 . The spring  19  provides sufficient biasing force resist free rotation of the spool  14  relative to the housing  12  such that the spool  14  will not freely spin without application of a rotation force (e.g., applied via the handle  20  or by manually pulling on the line). The resistant to rotation provided by the detent follower  18  may eliminate a free unwinding of the spool  14  relative to the housing  12  that might otherwise cause a loosening or build-up of untensioned line  26  on the spool  14 . In one example, the detent follower  18  provides a limited amount of resistance to rotation that permits the user to cast the line  26  with a lure at the free end thereof out onto the water and/or withdrawing of the line  26  by grasping and pulling on the line  26 , but stops the spool  14  from rotating once that external force is released. The biasing force applied by the spring  19  may be adjusted using different sizes, shapes or numbers of springs  19 . The amount of resistance to rotation provided by the detent follower  18  may also be influenced by the size, shape or arrangement of the detent recesses  40 . For example, the smaller the diameter of the ring of detent recesses  40 , the more difficult it may be to move the detent follower  18  from one detent recess  40  into another. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , another example fishing reel  100  is shown and described.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view fishing reel  100 , and  FIGS. 12 and 13  are separate exploded perspective views. The reel  100  is intended to be mounted to a fishing rod, such as rod  24  shown in  FIG. 1 . A length of fishing line (e.g., fishing line  26  shown in  FIG. 1 ) is intended to be housed by the reel  100  and fed through the eyelets of the rod. 
     The fishing reel  100  is shown in  FIGS. 11-13  arranged for a right handed use where the user holds the handle portion of the rod  24  with the right hand and operates the reel  100  using the left hand. The reel  100  may be adapted into a left hand arrangement wherein the user grasps the handle of the rod  24  with his left hand and operates the reel  100  with the right hand. Further details regarding the reversibility of the reel  100  between left and right handed arrangements is discussed below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the fishing reel  100  is shown including a housing  112 , a spool  114 , and a brake assembly  116  which are connected together using a hub fastener assembly  192 . A handle  120  may be mounted to the spool  114  and used by the user to rotate the spool  114  relative to the housing  112  to wrap the fishing line around a portion of the spool  114 . The housing  112  may include a rod mount  142 , used to secure the fishing reel  100  to a fishing rod, such as the rod  24  shown in  FIG. 1 . The brake assembly  116  is typically mounted directly to the spool  114 , as described in further detail below. The spool  114  with brake assembly  116  mounted thereto is rotatably mounted to the housing  112  via one or more bearings  122 . Thus, the housing  112  remains fixed relative to the fishing rod via the rod mount  142 , and the spool  114  and brake assembly  116  rotate relative to the housing  112 . When the reel  100  is assembled, the brake assembly  116  is enclosed between the housing  112  and spool  114 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show the components of fishing reel  100  in exploded perspective views with the components spaced apart along a longitudinal axis  128 . The housing  112  includes a spindle  130 , a rim or cage  134  having outer and inner surfaces  136 ,  138 , the rod mount  142  described above, and a bearing shaft  144 . 
     The inner surface  138  of the rim or cage  134  may function as a brake surface against which features of the brake assembly  116  intermittently engage with to provide a braking force that slows down rotation of the spool  114 . 
     The bearing shaft  144  may provide an interface and supporting structure for the bearings  122 . In at least one example, the bearings  122  are mounted to the bearing shaft  144 . In at least one example, the bearings  122  are press fit or secured with an interference fit to the bearing shaft  144 . In other examples, the bearings  122  are secured to the spool  114  using, for example, a press fit or interference fit connection. Other types of connections, such as welding or fasteners, may be possible between the bearings  122  and one or both of the housing  112  and spool  114 . 
     The spool  114  includes a base plate  150 , a tube  152 , a bearing mount  154 , a brake mounting plate  158 , and a handle seat  56 . The base plate  150  may include a plurality of holes or cavities that may be provided in order to reduce the overall weight of the spool  114 . The tube  152  may be configured to have the fishing line  26  wound thereon. The tube  152  may have a variety of different diameters. Typically, the diameter of tube  152  is in the range of about 1 inch to about 3 inches. The diameter of the tube  152  may influence the functionality of the fishing reel  100  such as, for example, the ease of and/or speed of wrapping up the fishing line  26  on the spool  114  relative to the number of rotations of the spool. 
     The bearing mount  154  may be sized to receive one or both of the bearings  122  therein. The bearing mount  154  may be secured to the tube  152  with one or more struts or supports. 
     The brake mounting plate  158  may include a plurality of pawl posts  170  that are used to pivotally connected pawls  164  of the brake assembly  116  to the brake mounting plate  158 . The brake mounting plate  158  may also include a plurality of spring stops  176  against which spring wires of the brake assembly  116  contact to provide a biasing force to the pawls  164 . 
     The brake mounting plate  158  may be integrally formed as a single piece with the tube  152  and/or other features of the spool  114 . In some arrangements, the brake mounting plate  158  is formed as a separate piece that is connected to remaining portions of the spool (e.g., the tube  152 ) in an assembly step. The brake mounting plate  158  may be permanently mounted to the remaining portions of the spool  114 . 
     The brake assembly  116  includes a plurality of pawls  164  that are mounted to the brake mounting plate  158 . Each pawl  164  may be mounted to one of the pawl posts  170  using a fastener  190  that extends through a mounting aperture  184  in the pawls  164 . The spring wires  166  associated with each pawl engage the spring stops  176  of the brake mounting plate  158  to bias the pawls into a radially inward position out of contact with the inner surface  138  of the housing  112 . The spring wires  166  may be releasably mounted to the pawls  164  using, for example, a spring wire set screw. The spring wires  166  may be mounted to the pawls  164  at one end, thereby providing a cantilevered, resilient spring member, the free end of which contacts one of the spring stops  176  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     The pawls  164  may be detached from the brake mounting plate  158 , flipped 180°, and remounted to the brake mounting plate  158  two switch the reel  100  between the right hand arrangement shown in  FIGS. 11-13  and a left hand arrangement for the fishing reel  100 . 
     The pawls  164  and spring wires  166  may have any of the features and functionality of the pawls  64  and spring wires  66  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . 
     The brake assembly  116  may be free of mounting plates (e.g., plates  60 ,  62 , and  158  described herein) to which the pawls  164  and other features of the brake assembly  116  are mounted. Changing the reel  100  between right hand and left hand arrangements may require individually disconnecting and flipping each pawl and its associated spring wire  166  relative to the brake mounting plate  158 . 
     An example method related to operating a fishing reel in accordance with the present disclosure is described. The method may be performed using any of the features or functionality disclosed herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-13 . The method may include providing a housing, a spool, and a brake assembly mounted to the spool. The spool may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The brake assembly may include a plurality of pivotally mounted pawls. The plurality of pawls may each include a contact surface. The spool may be configured to have a length of fishing line wound thereon. The method may include moving the contact surface of the plurality of the pawls into contact with the housing to create a brake force that slows down rotation of the spool upon application of a centrifugal force when the fishing line is pulled by a fish. Moving the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the housing may include engaging the contact surface against a contoured, radially inward facing surface of the housing. The brake assembly may be reversibly mounted to the spool, and the method may further include mounting the brake assembly to the spool in a first orientation to provide a right-handed fishing reel, detaching the brake assembly from the spool, rotating the brake assembly relative to the spool (i.e., flipping over the brake assembly), and attaching the brake assembly to the spool in a second orientation to provide a left-handed fishing reel. Moving the contact surface of the plurality of pawls into contact with the housing may include moving the plurality of pawls in a radially outward direction. The method may include moving the pawls out of contact with the housing upon reaching a threshold reduced rotational speed for the spool. The fishing reel may further include at least one detent member biased into at least one recess, and rotation of the spool relative to the housing moves the detent into and out of the at least one recess. 
     The fishing reel and related methods of operation disclosed herein may provide a number of advantages over existing fishing reels. For example, fishing reels disclosed herein may provide, among other things, the following advantages:
         Provide little to no startup inertia while providing enough resistance to avoid backlash.   Because there is no official setting that can be controlled by the angler, the guesswork of setting the drag (i.e., adjusting the startup inertia or braking force against the fish) created by conventional reels is eliminated. The reel provides a “real time” braking system rather than a setting from previous fishing trips that may have targeted other species of fish, a setting used for a different size or species of fish on any given fishing trip, or even a setting that the angler believes would be appropriate for a given fishing scenario.   By decreasing startup inertia, the incidence of the line breaking when the fish initially pulls the line is decreased.   The reel will gradually add more braking force as the fish increases speed rather than an immediate, significant braking force as is common with click and pawl reels or disk brake reels. The mechanical advantage of this type of brake system is that the braking force is applied to the line over time and/or a distance the reel spool has traveled during rotation, thus allowing more force to be applied to the line.   Allows the rod to act like a spring that has a constant increase in force rather than a spring that is being pulled hard then allowed to relax and then pulled hard again (i.e., jerky motions).   A design that allows advanced anglers to assemble the parts in a way that allows specific amounts of force for the targeted species (i.e., force that will accommodate the strength of the weakest part of the tackle (i.e., knots in the line)).   The features and function of the reel may encourage anglers to put more and different types of fish on the line using the reel rather considering a reel that is something that “just holds line,” thus alleviating the angler&#39;s concerns about putting a given fish on line using the reel because there is a fear of the reel breaking the line.       

     Many other methods related to manufacturing, assembly, operating and adjusting an actuated sand dump system may be carried out using the various embodiments and functionality disclosed herein. This method is exemplary only and may include more or fewer steps in other embodiments. 
     The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples. 
     In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label. 
     Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations. Also, as used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (for example, a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.” 
     The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.