Line retrieval apparatus and methods

Abstract

An exemplary line retrieval apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise: a motor comprising an output shaft; a hand crank; a spool; and a driveshaft. The apparatus may further comprise a selector operable to shift the apparatus between, at least: a manual mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the hand crank such that rotation of the hand crank causes rotation of the spool; and a motor mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the output shaft of the motor such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the spool. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

1 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A line retrieval apparatus comprising:
 a motor comprising an output shaft;   a hand crank;   a spool;   a driveshaft; and   a selector operable to shift the apparatus between, at least:
 a manual mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the hand crank such that rotation of the hand crank causes rotation of the spool; and 
 a motor mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the output shaft of the motor such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the spool. 
   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the selector is further operable to shift the apparatus into a neutral mode, in which the driveshaft is disengaged from the output shaft and the hand crank, and the spool is rotatable independently from the output shaft and the hand crank. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the driveshaft is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the selector is operable to move the driveshaft along the axis of rotation when shifting between the manual mode and the motor mode. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising a brake operable to impede rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the selector is operable to operate the brake. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein:
 the selector is movable in a first direction to shift the apparatus, and a   second direction to operate the brake; and   the second direction is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein:
 the manual mode comprises:
 a first manual mode, in which the driveshaft is operable with the hand crank to rotate the spool according to a first manual ratio of rotational speeds of the spool and the hand crank; and 
 a second manual mode, in which the driveshaft is operable with the hand crank to rotate the spool according to a second manual ratio of rotational speeds of the spool and the hand crank; and 
   the first manual ratio is different from the second manual ratio.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein, in the motor mode, the driveshaft is operable with the motor to rotate the spool according to a motor ratio of rotational speeds of the spool and the output shaft. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein:
 in the motor mode, the driveshaft is operable with the motor to rotate the spool according to a motor ratio of rotational speeds of the spool and the output shaft; and   the motor ratio is different from the first and second manual ratios.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the hand crank is removably mountable to a portion of the apparatus. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , further comprising a controller operable to modify a performance of the motor. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine at least one operating characteristic of the apparatus. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the controller is operable with the at least one sensor to modify the performance of the motor in response to one or more of the at least one operating characteristic. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the at least one operating characteristic comprises a load on a line on the spool. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the at least one operating characteristic comprises a length of line that is unwound from the spool. 
     
     
         66 . A method of operating a line retrieval apparatus, the method comprising:
 operating a selector to shift the apparatus between, at least:
 a manual mode, in which a driveshaft is engaged with a spool and a hand crank such that rotation of the hand crank causes rotation of the spool; and 
 a motor mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and an output shaft of a motor such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the spool. 
   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the driveshaft rotates about an axis of rotation, and operating the selector comprises moving the driveshaft along the axis of rotation to shift the apparatus between the manual mode and the motor mode. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising operating the selector to impede rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein:
 operating the selector comprises moving the selector in a first direction to shift the apparatus and a second direction to impede rotation of the spool; and   the second direction is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         70 . A line retrieval apparatus comprising:
 a motor comprising an output shaft;   a hand crank;   a means for winding a line; and   a means for shifting the apparatus between, at least:
 a manual mode, in which the means for winding is engaged with the hand crank such that rotation of the hand crank causes the means for winding to wind the line; and 
   a motor mode, in which the means for winding is engaged with the output shaft of the motor such that rotation of the output shaft causes the means for winding to wind the line.