Systems and methods for controlling spooling of linear material

• US 7,692,393 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Stuff, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Great Stuff, Inc.
• Inventors: Tracey, James B. A., Lee, Michael J., Koebler, Martin, Caamano, Ramon Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US12/054,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/266, 318/280, 318/284, 318/466, 254/264, 254/275, 254/323, 254/267, 254/256, 254/368, 414/21, 414/463, 212/283, 491/97
• US Class Current: 318/16
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/403 Carriage with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4436 Arrangements for yieldably braking the reel or the material for moderating speed of winding or unwinding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4471 Housing enclosing the reel
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4484 Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors

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.

Claims

1. An automated method for spooling or deploying linear material, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal;

instructing a motor to rotate a rotatable member so as to cause a linear material to spool onto or deploy from the rotatable member, wherein instructing comprises responding to the wireless signal by determining a number of revolutions, and instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member by the determined number of revolutions; and

using the motor to begin rotating the rotatable member by the determined number of revolutions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing further comprises determining a direction in which to rotate based at least in part on the received wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the number of revolutions comprises accessing a predefined value stored in a machine-readable memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the rotatable member is rotating, receiving a second wireless signal; and

responding to the second wireless signal by instructing the motor to cease rotating the rotatable member.

5. An automated method for spooling or deploying linear material, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal;

instructing a motor to rotate a rotatable member so as to cause a linear material to spool onto or deploy from the rotatable member, wherein instructing comprises responding to the wireless signal by determining a time period, and instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member at a said predefined speed for the determined time period; and

using the motor to begin rotating the rotatable member at said predefined speed for the determined time period.

6. The method of claim 5, farther comprising:

while the rotatable member is rotating, receiving a second wireless signal; and

responding to the second wireless signal by instructing the motor to cease rotating the rotatable member.

7. An automatic reel system for spooling or deploying linear material, comprising:

a rotatable member;

a motor configured to rotate the rotatable member so as to cause a linear material to spool onto or deploy from the rotatable member; and

a motor control system configured to receive a wireless signal and respond to the signal by one of;

determining a number of revolutions, and instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member by the determined number of revolutions; and

determining a time period, and instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member at a predefined speed for the determined time period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the motor control system is configured to respond to the signal by:

determining said number of revolutions; and

instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member by the determined number of revolutions.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the motor control system is configured to determine the number of revolutions by accessing a predefined value stored in a machine-readable memory.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the motor control system is configured to respond to the signal by:

determining said time period; and

instructing the motor to rotate the rotatable member at said predefined speed for the determined time period.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the motor control system is configured to determine the time period by accessing a predefined value stored in a machine-readable memory.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the motor control system is further configured to:

receive a second wireless signal while the rotatable member is rotating; and

respond to the second wireless signal by instructing the motor to cease rotating the rotatable member.