Systems and methods for controlling spooling of linear material
First Claim
1. An automatic reel for facilitating the spooling of linear material, the automatic reel comprising:
- a rotatable drum having a spool surface, the drum capable of winding a linear material around the spool surface as the drum rotates in a first direction, the drum further capable of deploying the linear material from around the spool surface as the drum rotates in a second direction;
a motor capable of interacting with the drum to selectively rotate the drum in the first direction or in the second direction; and
control circuitry capable of outputting a control signal to cause the motor to rotate the drum in the second direction to deploy the linear material when the control circuitry detects a tension of the linear material above a predetermined amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise an automatic reel capable assisting a user when attempting to unspool a linear material, such as a water hose. The automatic reel includes a control system having a motor controller capable of sensing a pulling of, or increased tension of, the linear material and capable of causing a motor to rotate to unspool the linear material. In certain embodiments, the motor controller tracks the length of the unspooled portion of the linear material and/or reduces the spooling speed of the motor when retracting a terminal portion of the linear material.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An automatic reel for facilitating the spooling of linear material, the automatic reel comprising:
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a rotatable drum having a spool surface, the drum capable of winding a linear material around the spool surface as the drum rotates in a first direction, the drum further capable of deploying the linear material from around the spool surface as the drum rotates in a second direction;
a motor capable of interacting with the drum to selectively rotate the drum in the first direction or in the second direction; and
control circuitry capable of outputting a control signal to cause the motor to rotate the drum in the second direction to deploy the linear material when the control circuitry detects a tension of the linear material above a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing a motorized reel for spooling linear material, the method comprising:
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providing a rotatable member capable of rotating to wind a linear material around the rotatable member;
providing a motor capable of interaction with the rotatable member to control a rotational velocity of the rotatable member; and
providing a motor controller capable of outputting at least one signal to the motor to decrease the rotational velocity of the rotatable member while winding a terminal portion of the linear material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A motorized reel for facilitating the spooling of linear material, the motorized reel comprising:
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a rotatable member capable of rotating to wind a linear material around the rotatable member;
a motor capable of interacting with the rotatable drum in at least a first direction; and
control circuitry capable of monitoring rotation of the rotatable drum by monitoring at least one motor signal to determine at least when an end of the linear material is approaching the rotatable drum. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A reel for automatically spooling a hose, the reel comprising:
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means for rotating to spool a hose;
means for interacting with the means for rotating to control a rotational velocity of the means for rotating; and
means for outputting at least one signal to the means for interacting to decrease the rotational velocity of the means for rotating while winding a terminal portion of the hose.
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Specification