Winch system safety device controlled by towrope angle
First Claim
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1. A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the towrope winch with a safety shutoff device comprising:
- a winch mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the winch being configured to wind a rope; and
a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if;
the rope moves outside a designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch;
ora designated amount of tension is not applied to the rope;
in which the safety shutoff device comprises a roller which closes a circuit to provide power to the winch when the rope is under a designated amount of tension or the rope is within an acceptable designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch, and wherein the circuit is broken, deactivating the winch, when a force on the roller decreases as a result of a designated amount of tension not being applied to the rope or as a result of the rope moving outside the designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch.
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Abstract
A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device includes a winch configured to wind a rope; and a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if the rope moves outside a designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the towrope winch with a safety shutoff device comprising:
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a winch mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the winch being configured to wind a rope; and a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if; the rope moves outside a designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch;
ora designated amount of tension is not applied to the rope; in which the safety shutoff device comprises a roller which closes a circuit to provide power to the winch when the rope is under a designated amount of tension or the rope is within an acceptable designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch, and wherein the circuit is broken, deactivating the winch, when a force on the roller decreases as a result of a designated amount of tension not being applied to the rope or as a result of the rope moving outside the designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the towrope winch with a safety shutoff device comprising:
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a winch mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, the winch being configured to wind a rope; and a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if a designated amount of tension is not applied to the rope; in which the safety shutoff device comprises a roller which closes a circuit to provide power to the winch when the rope is under a designated amount of tension, and wherein the circuit is broken, deactivating the winch, when a force on the roller decreases as a result of a designated amount of tension not being applied to the rope. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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- 10. A method of operating a towrope winch with a safety shutoff device mountable to a watercraft for towing a rider, where the winch is configured to wind a rope, and wherein the safety shutoff device comprises a roller which closes a circuit to provide power to the winch when the rope is under a designated amount of tension, and wherein the circuit is broken, deactivating the winch, when a force on the roller decreases as a result of a designated amount of tension not being applied to the rope the method comprising, with the safety shutoff device, deactivating the winch if a designated amount of tension is not applied to the rope.
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14. A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device for use in towing a rider from a watercraft, the towrope winch with a safety shutoff device comprising:
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a winch configured to wind a rope; and a safety shutoff device which determines whether tension is applied to the rope; from a rider outside and to a rear of the watercraft;
orfrom inside or toward a front of the watercraft; the safety shutoff device enabling operation of the winch if the tension indicates use by a rider from outside and to the rear of the watercraft, and the safety shutoff device deactivating the winch if the tension is from inside or toward a front of the watercraft.
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Specification