Boat Winch Base for Manual to Motorized Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conversion of manually actuated winches to motorized winches on boats requires significant time and manpower due to the need for adapter plates, shaft replacements, and disassembly of the gearbox, making the process inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A winch design with a base that allows motorization without removing the winch from the deck, featuring a second fixing portion and main hole integrated into the base, enabling motor connection and shaft replacement without disassembling the gearbox, and a method for converting winches from manual to motorized actuation by accessing these features from below the deck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adapter plate is applied between the base of the winch and the deck to fix motor means, then the winch can be motorized, but the winch must be removed from the boat and remounted, increasing time and manpower
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed in advance with integrated motor fixing portions and a main hole for shaft passage, so that when motorization is needed, the motor can be directly mounted without requiring adapter plates or winch removal. The preliminary design of the base structure eliminates the need for subsequent modification operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main shaft is replaced with a longer shaft for motorized actuation, then the winch can be motorized, but the gearbox must be disassembled to free the main shaft, increasing time and manpower
Solution Approach 1:
The main shaft is designed as a separable component that can be independently removed from the gearbox assembly. The shaft features extraction grooves or interfaces that allow it to be detached without disassembling the gearbox housing or other internal components, thereby simplifying the motorization conversion process.
3Ease of manufacture
If the second fixing portion and main hole are formed in portions of the base not projecting below the bottom surface, then no additional deck operations are required, but the base design must accommodate both manual and motorized configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate both manual and motorized configurations. The second fixing portion and main hole are integrated into the base structure at locations that do not project below the bottom surface, allowing the same base to serve dual purposes without requiring additional deck operations or modifications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A winch (100) for nautical use comprises a base (1) for fixing the winch (100) to a deck wall (200) of a boat, and the base (1) comprises: a bottom surface (10) intended to rest on the deck wall (200), a first fixing portion (11) for fixing the winch (100) to the deck wall (200), a second fixing portion (12) for fixing motor means (300) of the winch (100) to the base (1), and a main hole (13) for allowing the passage through the base (1) of a main shaft of the winch (100), said second fixing portion (12) and said main hole (13) being formed in portions of the base (1) not projecting below the bottom surface (10). The winch 100 is also configured so that the main shaft is axially extractable from the winch (100) when it is in an operative configuration. A method for converting the winch 100 from manual to motorised is also described.