Patent ID: 8256574

Claim:
A centrifugally-operated apparatus, comprising: a shaft with an axis of rotation generally aligned with the long axis of the shaft; a pawl that is coaxially mounted on the shaft and at least a portion of which is movable radially inwardly and outwardly from the shaft and that comprises an engaging end; and, a biasing mechanism that biases the engaging end of the pawl radially inwards toward the shaft toward a first radial position in which the engaging end of the pawl does not engage a ratchet ring that is located radially outwardly from the shaft, and wherein rotating the shaft and the pawl mounted thereupon above a predetermined speed overcomes the biasing mechanism and causes the engaging end of the pawl to be centrifugally urged radially outward to a second radial position in which the engaging end of the pawl engages the ratchet ring, wherein the axis of rotation of the shaft passes through the pawl, wherein the pawl comprises a center of mass that is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the shaft and wherein the entirety of the pawl is movable radially inward and outward from the shaft, wherein an axial length of the shaft passes through a first portion of a shaft-receiving slot of the pawl and wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a biasing spring positioned in a second, remaining portion of the shaft-receiving slot, wherein the apparatus further comprises a drum that is coaxially mounted on the shaft and that comprises first and second flanges that each extend generally radially outward from the shaft and that are positioned generally parallel to each other to define a space therebetween and wherein the drum is positioned axially adjacent the pawl along the shaft, wherein at least one of the drum flanges comprises a guide pin and wherein the pawl comprises an elongated guigding slot with a long ds that is generally aligned with the direction in which the pawl is movable relative to the shaft, and wherein the guide pin of the flange resides within the elongated guiding slot of the pawl.