Tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap
First Claim
1. A tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap comprising:
- a wind-up spindle to receive the strap;
a ratchet wheel connected to the wind-up spindle, the ratchet wheel having teeth;
a first locking pawl;
a second locking pawl;
a frame on which the wind-up spindle is rotatably mounted, the frame having first guide means for movably supporting the first locking pawl s that the first locking pawl is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel, the frame additionally having second guide means for movably supporting the second locking pawl so that the second locking pawl is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel and is offset from the first locking pawl in the circumferential direction of the ratchet wheel, the second guide means being separate from the first guide means;
means for biasing the first locking pawl toward the ratchet wheel;
means for biasing the second locking pawl toward the ratchet wheel;
a tensioning lever having a handle end and having a bearing end, the tensioning lever being pivotably mounted on the wind-up spindle adjacent the bearing end thereof, the handle end of the tensioning lever being manually movable in a tensioning direction and in a return direction that is opposite the tensioning direction, the bearing end of the tensioning lever having an unlatching cam which is configured to move the first locking pawl away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a first predetermined position and to move the second locking pawl away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a second predetermined position, the bearing end of the tensioning lever additionally having an isolating cam adjacent the unlatching cam, the isolating cam being configured to move both locking pawls away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a third predetermined position; and
driving means for tensioning the strap during a tensioning operation by rotating the wind-up spindle when the handle of the tensioning lever is manually moved in the tensioning direction during the tensioning operation, the driving means includinga driving pawl,means for movably mounting the driving pawl onthe tensioning lever at a position to engage the ratchet wheel, andmeans for biasing the driving pawl toward the ratchet wheel,wherein the first and second locking pawls engage the ratchet wheel during the tensioning operation to prevent reverse rotation of the wind-up spindle when the handle end of the tensioning lever is manually moved in the return direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tensioning assembly for the stepwise tightening and releasing of a tensioning strap includes a frame (1), a tensioning lever (2), and a wind-up spindle (4) supporting ratchet wheels (3, 3'"'"'). A driving pawl (19) which is movably mounted on the tensioning lever (2) serves to rotate the wind-up spindle (4) when the strap is being tightened. Reverse rotation of the wind-up spindle (4) is prevented by a pair of locking pawls (5, 5'"'"') which are movably mounted on the frame (1). The lower or bearing end of the tensioning lever (2) has an unlatching cam (37) which permits the locking pawls (5, 5'"'"') to be alternatingly moved out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels (3, 3'"'"'), thus promoting safety by relieving the strap tension in stages. An isolating cam (40) at the bearing end of the tensioning lever (2) permits both locking pawls (5, 5'"'"') to be disengaged after the strap tension has been reduced.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap comprising:
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a wind-up spindle to receive the strap; a ratchet wheel connected to the wind-up spindle, the ratchet wheel having teeth; a first locking pawl; a second locking pawl; a frame on which the wind-up spindle is rotatably mounted, the frame having first guide means for movably supporting the first locking pawl s that the first locking pawl is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel, the frame additionally having second guide means for movably supporting the second locking pawl so that the second locking pawl is positioned to engage the ratchet wheel and is offset from the first locking pawl in the circumferential direction of the ratchet wheel, the second guide means being separate from the first guide means; means for biasing the first locking pawl toward the ratchet wheel; means for biasing the second locking pawl toward the ratchet wheel; a tensioning lever having a handle end and having a bearing end, the tensioning lever being pivotably mounted on the wind-up spindle adjacent the bearing end thereof, the handle end of the tensioning lever being manually movable in a tensioning direction and in a return direction that is opposite the tensioning direction, the bearing end of the tensioning lever having an unlatching cam which is configured to move the first locking pawl away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a first predetermined position and to move the second locking pawl away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a second predetermined position, the bearing end of the tensioning lever additionally having an isolating cam adjacent the unlatching cam, the isolating cam being configured to move both locking pawls away from the ratchet wheel when the tensioning lever is in a third predetermined position; and driving means for tensioning the strap during a tensioning operation by rotating the wind-up spindle when the handle of the tensioning lever is manually moved in the tensioning direction during the tensioning operation, the driving means including a driving pawl, means for movably mounting the driving pawl on the tensioning lever at a position to engage the ratchet wheel, and means for biasing the driving pawl toward the ratchet wheel, wherein the first and second locking pawls engage the ratchet wheel during the tensioning operation to prevent reverse rotation of the wind-up spindle when the handle end of the tensioning lever is manually moved in the return direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
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17. The tensioning apparatus of claim I, wherein the locking pawls are elongated and are disposed at an acute angle to one another, the acute angle having a vertex that lies approximately on the axis of the wind-up spindle.
Specification