US 10,328,840 B2Granted

Cargo strap tensioning and monitoring system

OwnerJohnny White, Lonny W. Rollinsinventors

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Abstract

A cargo strap monitoring system for real-time detection and reporting of cargo strap failure is provided. The cargo strap monitoring system may be a detector in the form of a cylinder that fits a winch slot. The cylinder provides a housing for circuitry operably linked to a pressure sensor. During normal operation a cargo strap is wrapped around and deployed from the spindle. The pressure sensor detects unsafe tension in the cargo strap. The circuitry includes a transceiver and a processor. Upon detection of an unsafe tension condition the transceiver transmits a warning to a remote monitor which may be located in a driver's truck cab. The remote monitor can be a mobile terminal such as a smart phone. The spindle with a slot and circuitry including the pressure sensor can be sold as a kit suitable for retrofitting to cargo strap winches.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A tension monitoring system for a set of one of more cargo straps on a transportation vehicle, comprising:

a base, said base including a power source, a computation device, a display, and a control screen, said base configured such that it receives signals;
a tension monitoring cylinder;
said tension monitoring cylinder including a power source, a computational device, a broadcaster, and a tension monitoring strip;
wherein said tension monitoring strip includes circuitry for detecting tension on a cargo strap while in use;
wherein said monitoring strip provides data to said computational device;
and
said computational device sends said data to said base using a wireless protocol;
and
wherein said base indicates on a display when a set of one or more of said cargo straps has met the conditions of a safety threshold, and wherein
said tension monitoring cylinder is placed into the axle of a winch to be monitored.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/544,879Filed 2 Mar 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 Feb 2014
Published: US 2017/0028901 A12 Feb 2017
Granted: 25 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60P 7/0861
Straps; Tighteners: measuring or identifying the tension in the securing element
G01L 5/04
Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes: for measuring tension…
G01L 5/101
Using electrical means: using sensors inserted into the flexible member
H04W 4/50
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: service provisioning or reconfiguring