BOAT ANCHOR WINCH

• US 20140239871A1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savwinch Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Savwinch Pty LT
• Inventors: Savva, Nick, Strzelczyk, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,284,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/504
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/16 using winches winches per se B66D
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/22 Handling or lashing of anchors
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/12 incorporating electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/40 Control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/72 Anchor-chain sprockets; Anchor capstans
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/06 for regulating or controlling an individual dc dynamo-electric motor by varying field or armature current

Abstract

The invention provides a winch and method for raising and lowering a boat anchor attached to an anchor rope, comprising: an electric motor (10) operable to turn the winch in a rope raising direction or a rope lowering direction and powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage; and a boost controller (CB1-3,S1-2,K1-6,Kx1-4,25,30) for applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor (10) so as to increase a turning speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope lowering direction.

Claims

1. A winch for raising and lowering a boat anchor attached to an anchor rope, comprising:

an electric motor operable to turn the winch in a rope raising direction or a rope lowering direction and powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage; and

a boost controller for applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor so as to increase a turning speed of the motor when the motor is operating in the rope lowering direction.

2. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the voltages are DC voltages.

3. A winch as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a selector switch to enable or disable the boosted voltage.

4. A winch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the boosted voltage is produced with the aid of a boost converter.

5. A winch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the boost controller further comprises a motor speed controller electrically connected between the boost converter and the motor.

6. A winch as claimed in claim 5 wherein the motor speed controller further comprises a potentiometer for user adjustment of the boosted DC voltage.

7. A winch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a soft start circuit to enable smooth engagement of the boosted voltage to the motor on startup.

8. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the boost controller is unable to apply the boosted voltage when the motor is operating in the rope raising direction.

9. A winch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power source is a 12V or 24V DC battery.

10. A method of providing a motorized anchor winch powered from a power source supplying a supply voltage with the capability of lowering the anchor faster than raising the anchor, the method comprising the step of applying a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage to the motor when the motor is operating in a rope lowering direction.