Patent ID: 7325259

Claim:
An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover for a pool, said apparatus comprising in combination: a) a roller for wrapping the cover thereabout during retraction and for extending the cover therefrom during extension; b) a motor selectively rotatable in one direction for extending the cover and in the other direction for retracting the cover; c) a set of pulleys for wrapping a pair of cords thereabout, which cords are attached to the edge of the cover, in response to rotation of said motor in the one direction and for accommodating unwrapping the pair of cords from thereabout in response to rotation of said motor in the other direction; d) a clutch for selectively interconnecting in the alternative said roller and said set of pulleys; e) said clutch including a first pawl acting upon a first cam for engaging said set of pulleys upon rotation of said motor in the one direction and a second pawl acting upon a second cam engaging said roller upon rotation of said motor in the other direction whereby either said set of pulleys and said roller is caused to rotate as a function of the direction of rotation of said motor, a shaft coupled with said motor, a cylinder non rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a pair of opposed brake shoes for engaging said cylinder and adjustable springs for setting the amount of friction between said cylinder and said pair of brake shoes, a first lift arm having a lobe and being positionable to a first position for pivoting said first pawl out of engagement with said first cam and a second lift arm having a lobe and being positionable to a first position for pivoting said second pawl out of engagement with said second cam, a first slidably engageable element for engaging said first lift arm to relocate and repetitively maintain said first lift arm in the first position upon rotation of said motor in the one direction and a second slidably engageable element for engaging said second lift arm to relocate and repetitively maintain said second lift arm in the first position upon rotation of said motor in the other direction.