Drag washer and fishing reel

Abstract

To cope with both high durability and securement of brake force suitable for fishing drag; and to suppress cost.SOLUTION: A drag washer 44 in which a bearing surface works as a sliding surface 44a by being rotated relatively to a drag metal washer, is used for a fishing reel, and has longitudinal fibers 4A in which a fiber length direction is faced to a direction along a main gear shaft, and lateral fibers 4B in which the fiber length direction is faced to a direction along the sliding surface 44a, The drag washer comprises a felt material formed by intertwining the longitudinal fibers 4A and the lateral fibers 4B, and has a constitution in which the length in the fiber length direction of the longitudinal fibers 4A is 0.5 mm or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drag washer and a fishing reel. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Known drag washers for conventional fishing reels include those that use carbon cloth washers made of woven carbon fiber fabric and felt washers made of entangled wool or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2662735 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Among the drag washers used in conventional fishing reels, carbon cross washers are highly durable and can achieve high braking force. However, carbon cross washers are expensive in terms of material cost, and because of their high elasticity, the braking force increases too much relative to the pressing force, resulting in a so-called "peaky" behavior.

[0005] On the other hand, felt washers such as those shown in Patent Document 1 have relatively low component costs and are capable of gradually changing the braking force in response to pressing force, making them suitable for fishing that requires fine adjustments (especially lure fishing in mountain streams using thin lines).However, they have poor durability and the washer itself is prone to breaking under heavy loads, so there is room for improvement in this regard.

[0006] The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a drag washer and fishing reel that can achieve both high durability and ensure braking force suitable for use as a fishing drag, while also reducing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The drag washer of the present invention is used in a fishing reel, and rotates relative to a drag washer, so that the seat surface becomes a sliding surface. The drag washer has first fibers whose fiber length direction is along the rotation axis, and second fibers whose fiber length direction is along the sliding surface, and is made of a felt material formed by the first fibers and the second fibers being intertwined.

[0008] The drag washer according to the present invention includes not only second fibers aligned along the sliding surface but also first fibers intersecting the second fibers, and the first and second fibers, which have different fiber length directions, are intertwined to form a felt material, thereby increasing fiber density not only along the sliding surface but in all directions. As a result, even when a high load is applied to the sliding surface due to drag, shear wear can be suppressed, and breakage and damage can be suppressed, improving the durability of the drag washer. Specifically, in the drag washer of the present invention, the first fibers, which are arranged vertically, are entangled with the second fibers, which are arranged horizontally, compared to conventional drag washers, which have only the second fibers arranged horizontally along the sliding surface, causing the fibers on the sliding surface to fall out due to sliding.This reduces the fallout of the second fibers due to sliding, and improves durability. Furthermore, the drag washer of the present invention can also have the performance of a felt material, which allows for fine adjustment by gradually changing the braking force in response to the pressing force, and can also be made less expensive than components such as carbon cross washers made of woven carbon fiber fabric.

[0009] (2) The length of the first fibers in the fiber length direction is preferably 0.5 mm or more.

[0010] In this case, by using the first fibers having a length in the fiber length direction of 0.5 mm or more, it is possible to form a suitable felt material that is easy to entangle with the second fibers and has excellent durability.

[0011] (3) The length of the first fibers in the fiber length direction may be 0.8 mm or more.

[0012] In this case, a more suitable felt material with excellent durability can be formed.

[0013] (4) The angle of the fiber length direction of the first fibers with respect to the sliding surface may be in the range of 60° to 90°.

[0014] In this case, the first fibers are more likely to be entangled with the second fibers, and the durability of the felt material can be more reliably exhibited.

[0015] (5) The first fibers may be stronger than the second fibers.

[0016] In this case, the fiber direction of the first fibers intersects with the sliding direction, so by increasing the strength of the first fibers, which are effective in resisting shear during sliding, a highly durable felt material can be constructed that can reduce wear.

[0017] (6) The first fiber and the second fiber may be a single fiber.

[0018] In this case, the first fibers and the second fibers are formed from the same fibers, and can be easily produced by entangling the same fibers in the thickness direction by, for example, a needle punching method.

[0019] (7) The density of the felt material is 0.35 g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 The present invention may be characterized in that:

[0020] In this case, the felt material is 0.35g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 Since the density of the felt material is 0.8 g / cm or less, the wear resistance during sliding can be improved. 3Since the thickness is less than 1 / 2 mm, the material does not become too hard and cushioning performance can be ensured.

[0021] (8) A fishing reel according to the present invention is characterized by using the drag washer according to any one of (1) to (7).

[0022] The present invention can provide a fishing reel that has the effects of the drag washer described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The drag washer and fishing reel according to the present invention can achieve both high durability and a braking force suitable for use in fishing drags, while also reducing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a double-axis reel according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the double-axis reel taken along line AA shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of vertical fibers and horizontal fibers inside the drag washer. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the warp fibers and weft fibers, showing the state before wear. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the warp fibers and weft fibers in a worn state. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a graph showing drag durability as a function of the number of test cycles. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of vertical fibers and horizontal fibers inside a modified drag washer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of a drag washer and a fishing reel according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the scale of each component may be changed as necessary to make each component large enough to be visible.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drag washer 44 of this embodiment is used in, for example, a double-axis reel 1 (fishing reel), which is a medium-sized round reel.

[0027] <Overall structure> The double-axis reel 1 comprises a reel body 10, a handle assembly 20 for rotating the spool that is disposed to the side of the reel body 10, and a star drag 30 that is disposed on the reel body 10 side of the handle assembly 20. A spool 15 that reels out and winds fishing line when rotated is rotatably attached to the reel body 10. The reel body 10 is attached to a fishing rod via a rod attachment portion.

[0028] In the following description, the "left-right direction" refers to the left-right direction as seen by an angler holding a fishing rod equipped with a double-axis reel 1. In this embodiment, the handle assembly 20 is located on the right side of the reel body 10.

[0029] The handle assembly 20 has a crank arm 21 non-rotatably attached to the tip 41a of a main gear shaft 41 (described later) that protrudes to the right side of the reel body 10, and a handle grip 22 attached to one end of the crank arm 21 so as to be rotatable around an axis perpendicular to one end of the crank arm 21.

[0030] The reel body 10 has a frame 11, a right cover 12, and a left cover 13. The frame 11 has a right side plate 11A and a left side plate 11B arranged at a predetermined distance, and a plurality of connecting members 11C connecting the right side plate 11A and the left side plate 11B. The right side cover 12 is formed integrally with the right side plate 11A so as to cover the outside of the right side plate 11A. The left side cover 13 is fixed to the left side plate 11B so as to cover the outside of the left side plate 11B. A space is formed between the right side plate 11A and the right cover 12 to accommodate various mechanisms, which will be described later.

[0031] The right side plate 11A and the right side cover 12 are generally elliptical in shape when viewed from the side, bulging outward in the axial direction from the mounting portion of the main gear shaft 41 (described later). The left side plate 11B and the left side cover 13 are circular in shape when viewed from the side. The multiple connecting members 11C are plate-like members formed integrally with the right side plate 11A and the left side plate 11B, and connect them to the right side plate 11A and the left side plate 11B at three locations: the top, bottom, and rear of the reel body 10. By providing these connecting members 11C, deformation such as bending is less likely to occur even when a large load is applied to the reel body 10, and a decrease in winding efficiency is suppressed. A rod mounting leg is fixed to the lower connecting member 11C, and a thumb rest 14 made of synthetic resin is attached to the rear connecting member 11C to hold the reel together with the fishing rod.

[0032] A spool 15 is rotatably disposed between the right side plate 11A and the left side plate 11B. A spool shaft (not shown) passes through and is fixed to the center of the spool 15. This spool shaft is rotatably supported by the right side plate 11A and the left side plate 11B via bearings.

[0033] In the space between the right side plate 11A and the right side cover 12, there are arranged a rotation transmission mechanism 40 for transmitting torque from the handle assembly 20 to the spool 15, and a clutch mechanism 50 provided within the rotation transmission mechanism 40.

[0034] The rotation transmission mechanism 40 has a function of regulating torque when it is transmitted in the opposite direction from the spool 15 to the handle assembly 20. In addition, a centrifugal brake mechanism is disposed in the center of the left side plate 11B for braking the spool 15, which rotates freely in the line-releasing direction. The rotation transmission mechanism 40 has a main gear shaft 41 (rotating shaft) to one end (tip end 41a) of which the handle assembly 20 is fixed, a main gear 42 connected to the other end (base end 41b) of the main gear shaft 41, and a pinion gear (not shown) that meshes with the main gear 42. The main gear 42 has a gear 42a on its outer periphery and is rotatably mounted on the main gear shaft 41. The pinion gear constitutes the rotation transmission mechanism 40 and also functions as a clutch mechanism 50.

[0035] The main gear shaft 41 is disposed parallel to the spool shaft, and one end thereof is rotatably supported on the right side plate 11A. The main gear 42 is connected to one end of the main gear shaft 41 so as to rotate integrally with it. In this configuration, when the clutch mechanism 50 is engaged, torque from the handle assembly 20 is transmitted directly to the spool 15.

[0036] The clutch mechanism 50 has a meshing groove disposed in a portion of the cylindrical pinion gear described above, which is slidably mounted on the outer periphery of the spool shaft, and a clutch pin (not shown) disposed on the spool shaft. In the clutch mechanism 50, rotational force is transmitted between the spool shaft and the pinion gear by sliding the pinion gear along the spool shaft and engaging the meshing groove with the clutch pin. This state is the engaged state (clutch-on state). When the meshing groove and the clutch pin are disengaged, no rotational force is transmitted between the spool shaft and the pinion gear. This state is the disengaged state (clutch-off state). In the clutch-off state, the spool 15 rotates freely. The pinion gear is biased by a clutch operating unit 51 disposed outside the right cover 12 in a direction in which the meshing groove and the clutch pin engage, i.e., the clutch-on state. In this manner, the clutch operating unit 51 is used to switch the clutch mechanism 50 on and off.

[0037] Next, the drag mechanism 40A provided in the rotation transmission mechanism 40 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the handle assembly 20, star drag 30, drag mechanism 40A, etc., disassembled along the main gear shaft 41 (shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3). The main gear shaft 41, shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, is inserted through all of these components shown in FIG.

[0038] The drag mechanism 40A includes, in this order from the base end 41b to the tip 41a of the main gear shaft 41, a stopper gear 43, a first drag washer 44A (44), a main gear 42, a second drag washer 44B (44), a first plate washer 45A (45), a third drag washer 44C (44), a second plate washer 45B (45), a fourth drag washer 44D (44), and a star drag plate 46, which are stacked in the axial direction of the main gear shaft 41. The stopper gear 43, the first plate washer 45A, the second plate washer 45B, and the star drag plate 46 are each made of a thin metal plate, and are attached to the main gear shaft 41 so as to be non-rotatable.

[0039] As described above, the four drag washers 44A to 44D are each sandwiched between metal plates such as plate washers 45 (including the main gear 42). For example, the first drag washer 44A is sandwiched between the metal stopper gear 43 and the metal main gear 42. The third drag washer 44C is sandwiched between the metal first plate washer 45A and the metal second plate washer 45B. In the drag mechanism 40A, frictional force on both surfaces (sliding surfaces 44a) of each drag washer 44 transmits rotational power from the handle assembly 20 to the spool 15, thereby exerting drag performance.

[0040] Furthermore, on the base end side of the star drag plate 46, a tube 31, a nut 32, a bearing 33, and multiple washers 34 are provided in this order from the base end 41b to the tip end 41a of the main gear shaft 41, stacked in the axial direction of the main gear shaft 41. The parts from the stopper gear 43 on the tip side to the bearing 33 are housed in the right cover 12, and the multiple washers 34 are housed in the shaft portion of the star drag 30. As shown in Figure 2, the bearing 33 is fitted into the insertion hole 12a of the main gear shaft 41 in the right cover 12.

[0041] In the double-spindle reel 1 configured in this manner, power is transmitted from the handle assembly 20 in the following order: handle assembly 20, main gear shaft 41, drag washer 44, main gear 42, pinion gear (not shown), and spool 15 (with the clutch engaged). When the fishing line is pulled strongly in the reeling direction, a force greater than the pressure (frictional force) of the drag is applied to the main gear 42, i.e., the force acts in the following order: spool 15, pinion gear, and main gear 42. At this time, slippage occurs between the main gear 42, drag washer 44, stopper gear 43, and plate washer 45, causing the fishing line to be reeled out.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drag washer 44 (44A, 44B, 44C, 44D) has an insertion hole 44b in the center through which the main gear shaft 41 can be inserted, and by rotating relative to the plate washer 45, the seat surface becomes the sliding surface 44a.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the drag washer 44 is provided with a large number of identical fibers 440 each having vertical fibers 4A (first fibers) and horizontal fibers 4B (second fibers). Each fiber 440 constituting the drag washer 44 is bent, for example, at an angle θ of 60° to 90° as described above. One of the bent vertical fibers 4A is oriented with its fiber length direction aligned with the main gear shaft 41. The other horizontal fiber 4B is oriented with its fiber length direction aligned approximately parallel to the surface direction of the sliding surface 44a. As shown in FIG. 5, the multiple fibers 440 form a felt material by intertwining the vertical fibers 4A of one fiber 440 with the horizontal fibers 4B of another fiber 440.

[0044] A single fiber 440 that forms such vertical fibers 4A and horizontal fibers 4B can be formed, for example, by using a needle punching method to intertwine the same fibers in the thickness direction of the drag washer 44. Also, a single fiber may contain vertical fibers 4A and horizontal fibers 4B, or a single fiber may be cut into vertical fibers 4A and horizontal fibers 4B during the manufacturing process.

[0045] The felt material of the drag washer 44 in this embodiment has a density of 0.35 g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 The following wools are used: 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 The felt material (below) has sufficient vertical fibers 4A and horizontal fibers 4B intertwined, making it durable. The density of the felt material is 0.8 g / cm 3 If the hardness exceeds 100%, the hardness becomes too high and the cushioning performance deteriorates.

[0046] The length L of the vertical fibers 4A in the fiber length direction is 0.5 mm or more, preferably 0.8 mm or more, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less. If the length L of the vertical fibers 4A is less than 0.5 mm, they cannot be sufficiently connected to the horizontal fibers 4B, and the vertical fibers 4A and the horizontal fibers 4B are not entangled. If the length L of the vertical fibers 4A is 0.8 mm or more, the vertical fibers 4A and the horizontal fibers 4B are more likely to entangle. If the length L of the vertical fibers 4A exceeds 1.5 mm, the thickness of the drag washer 44 itself increases, and the length of the drag mechanism (the axial direction of the main gear shaft 41) becomes longer.

[0047] In addition, the angle θ of the fiber length direction of the vertical fibers 4A relative to the sliding surface 44a of the drag washer 44 is in the range of 60° to 90°. If the angle θ of the vertical fibers 4A is less than 60°, the vertical fibers 4A approach the surface direction of the sliding surface 44a, resulting in insufficient entanglement of the horizontal fibers 4B and making it difficult to improve the durability of the drag washer 44.

[0048] In this case, the drag washer 44 has a ratio of vertical fibers 4A of 3% or more, preferably 5% or more, to the entire drag washer 44. If the ratio of vertical fibers 4A is less than 3%, the drag washer 44 will not have the sufficient durability required. Furthermore, as the vertical fibers 4A increase, the longitudinal elastic modulus increases, resulting in behavior similar to that of a carbon washer. Therefore, it is preferable that the upper limit of the ratio of vertical fibers 4A be, for example, about 30%.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, the drag washer 44 of this embodiment wears due to friction caused by sliding on the sliding surface 44a, but the presence of the vertical fibers 4A reduces the frequency with which the horizontal fibers 4B fall out, thereby improving durability.

[0050] 8 shows the effect of the drag washer 44 according to this embodiment, showing the drag durability (number of test cycles) of a comparative example, which is a conventional product, and an example according to this embodiment. The comparative example lasted about 10 times, while the example exceeded 150 times. In other words, it was confirmed that the example had drag durability 10 times or more that of the comparative example. The 10 test cycles impose a load equivalent to that of a fisherman continuing to fish for a year while maintaining a relatively high drag force.

[0051] Next, the operation of the drag washer and fishing reel thus configured will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0052] 5 and 6, the drag washer 44 according to this embodiment includes not only weft fibers 4B aligned along the sliding surface 44a but also vertical fibers 4A intersecting the weft fibers 4B, and the vertical fibers 4A and weft fibers 4B, which have different fiber length directions, are intertwined to form a felt material, thereby increasing the fiber density not only along the sliding surface 44a but in all directions. Therefore, even when a high load is applied to the sliding surface 44a by the star drag 30, shear wear can be suppressed, and the occurrence of breakage or damage can be suppressed, thereby improving the durability of the drag washer 44.

[0053] Specifically, in the drag washer 44 of this embodiment, the vertically arranged vertical fibers 4A are intertwined with the horizontally arranged horizontal fibers 4B, which reduces the shedding of the horizontal fibers 4B due to sliding, compared to conventional drag washers that only have horizontally arranged horizontal fibers 4B along the sliding surface 44a, causing the fibers on the sliding surface 44a to fall out due to sliding, thereby improving durability.

[0054] Furthermore, the drag washer 44 of this embodiment can also have the performance of a felt material, which allows for fine adjustment by gradually changing the braking force in response to the pressing force, and can also be made less expensive than components such as carbon cross washers made of woven carbon fiber fabric.

[0055] In this embodiment, by using the vertical fibers 4A having a length in the fiber length direction of 0.5 mm or more, it is possible to form a suitable felt material that is easy to entangle with the horizontal fibers 4B and has excellent durability.

[0056] In this embodiment, the length of the vertical fibers 4A in the fiber length direction is set to 0.8 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, thereby making it possible to form a more suitable felt material with even better durability.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the angle of the fiber length direction of the vertical fibers 4A relative to the sliding surface 44a is in the range of 60° to 90°, making it easier for the vertical fibers 4A to become entangled with the horizontal fibers 4B, thereby more reliably demonstrating the durability of the felt material.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vertical fibers 4A are stronger than the horizontal fibers 4B, and the fiber direction of the vertical fibers 4A intersects the sliding direction, so by increasing the strength of the vertical fibers 4A, which are effective against shear during sliding, a highly durable felt material can be constructed that can reduce wear.

[0059] In this embodiment, the warp fibers 4A and the weft fibers 4B are formed from the same fibers, and can be easily manufactured by entangling the same fibers in the thickness direction by, for example, a needle punching method.

[0060] In addition, in the drag washer 44 of this embodiment, the felt material has a density of 0.35 g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 Since the density of the felt material is 0.8 g / cm or less, the wear resistance during sliding can be improved. 3 Since the thickness is less than 1 / 2 mm, the material does not become too hard and cushioning performance can be ensured.

[0061] The drag washer 44 and spindle reel 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above can achieve both high durability and a braking force suitable for use as a fishing drag, while also reducing costs.

[0062] Although the drag washer and fishing reel according to the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications include, for example, those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent.

[0063] For example, in this embodiment, the length of the vertical fibers 4A in the drag washer 44 in the fiber length direction is set to 0.5 mm or more, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, but is not limited to these numerical ranges.

[0064] Furthermore, the angle of the fiber length direction of the vertical fibers 4A with respect to the sliding surface 44a is not limited to the range of 60° to 90° in the above-described embodiment, as long as the vertical fibers 4A and the horizontal fibers 4B intersect with each other.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vertical fibers 4A are made to have higher strength than the horizontal fibers 4B, but this is not limited thereto, and the vertical fibers 4A may have the same strength as the horizontal fibers 4B. For example, as described above, when the vertical fibers 4A and the horizontal fibers 4B are made of the same single fiber, they have the same strength.

[0066] Furthermore, in the drag washer of this embodiment, the density of the felt material is 0.35 g / cm 3 More than 0.8g / cm 3 The following wools are used, but the felt material is not limited to these densities.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the drag washer 44 is made up of a single fiber 440 that is bent to form the vertical fibers 4A and the horizontal fibers 4B, but the shape is not limited to a single bent fiber 440. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, first fibers 440A whose fiber length direction is oriented in the direction along the rotation shaft (main gear shaft 41) and second fibers 440B whose fiber length direction is oriented in the direction along the sliding surface 44a may each be separate fibers rather than a single fiber.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a fishing reel, which is a medium-sized round reel, is used as an example of an application of the drag washer, but the application is not limited to a reel, and it can also be applied to, for example, a spinning reel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1. Double-axis reel (fishing reel) 4A Vertical Fiber (First Fiber) 4B horizontal fiber (second fiber) 10 Reel body 15 spools 20 Handle assembly 30 Star Drag 40 Rotation transmission mechanism 40A Drag mechanism 41 Main gear shaft (rotating shaft) 42 Main Gear 44(44A~44D) Drag washer 44a Sliding surface 45 (45A, 45B) Plate washer (drag washer) 50 Clutch mechanism 440 Fiber 440A First Fiber 440B Second Fiber

Claims

1. A drag washer used in a fishing reel, in which the front and back bearing surfaces become sliding surfaces by rotating relative to the drag washer, second fibers whose fiber length direction is oriented substantially parallel to the sliding surface; First fibers intersecting the second fibers and having the fiber length direction aligned along the rotation axis; and the first fibers and the second fibers are intertwined with each other between the sliding surfaces located on both the front and back sides of the sliding surface, the angle of the fiber length direction of the first fibers with respect to the sliding surface is in the range of 60° to 90°; The drag washer, wherein the first fibers and the second fibers are felt materials made of wool.

2. The drag washer according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the first fibers in the fiber length direction is 0.5 mm or more.

3. The drag washer according to claim 2 , wherein the length of the first fibers in the fiber length direction is 0.8 mm or more.

4. The drag washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first fibers are fibers having higher strength than the second fibers.

5. The drag washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first fiber and the second fiber are a single fiber.

6. The felt material has a density of 0.35 g / cm ３ 0.8g / cm or more ３ 6. The drag washer according to claim 1, wherein the wool is:

7. A fishing reel using the drag washer according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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