Ratchet assembly
AssigneeSeaboard International Inc.
InventorRobert K. Meek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a ratchet assembly having a ratchet nut, a shaft at least partially disposed within the ratchet nut and a first and second pawl disposed within the ratchet nut and supported by the shaft. The first and second pawls are movable along a common central axis. The assembly further includes a biasing mechanism, the biasing mechanism biasing the first and second pawls in an engaged position to maintain contact with the ratchet nut to prevent relative rotation between the shaft and the ratchet nut. The assembly also includes an alignment pin extending at least partially within the first and second pawls to maintain alignment and to facilitate movement of the pawls along the common central axis.
Claims25
A ratchet assembly, comprising:
- a ratchet nut;
- a shaft at least partially disposed within the ratchet nut;
- a first and a second pawl disposed within the ratchet nut and supported by the shaft, the first and second pawls movable along a common central axis;
- a biasing mechanism, the biasing mechanism biasing the first and second pawls in an engaged position to maintain contact with the ratchet nut to prevent relative rotation between the shaft and the ratchet nut;
- and
- an alignment pin extending at least partially within the first and second pawls to maintain alignment and to facilitate movement of the pawls along the common central axis.
A ratchet assembly, comprising:
- a ratchet nut comprising a central opening and an interior surface comprising a plurality of teeth;
- a first pawl comprising an engagement surface and a non-engagement surface opposite the engagement surface, wherein the non-engagement surface comprises an alignment bore;
- second pawl comprising an engagement surface and a non-engagement surface opposite the engagement surface, wherein the non-engagement surface comprises an alignment bore;
- and
- an alignment pin disposed at least partially within the alignment bores to constrain movement of the pawls along a common axis to engage the engagement surfaces of the first and second pawls with opposed teeth of the ratchet nut.
A method of manufacturing a ratchet assembly, comprising:
- providing a first pawl and forming an alignment bore and a biasing mechanism bore therein;
- providing a second pawl and forming an alignment bore and a biasing mechanism bore therein;
- inserting an alignment pin between the first pawl and the second pawl so that the pin is at least partially positioned within the alignment bores;
- and
- inserting a biasing mechanism between the first pawl the second pawl so that the biasing mechanism is at least partially positioned within the biasing mechanism bores of the first and second pawls.
A pawl for use with a ratchet assembly, the ratchet assembly including a ratchet nut and first and second pawls disposed within a slot of a rotating shaft, the shaft positioned such that the slot is aligned within an opening of the ratchet nut, the pawls positioned between an engaged position, to engage the ratchet nut and prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the ratchet nut, and a retracted position, to enable rotation of the shaft relative to the ratchet nut, the pawl comprising:
- an engagement surface configured to engage the ratchet nut and a non-engagement surface opposite the engagement surface, the non-engagement surface including an alignment bore configured to receive an alignment pin.
A method of assembling a ratchet assembly, comprising:
- inserting an alignment pin within an alignment bore of a first pawl;
- inserting a biasing mechanism in a biasing mechanism bore of the first pawl;
- aligning an alignment bore and a biasing mechanism bore of a second pawl with the alignment pin and the biasing mechanism;
- and
- positioning the first pawl with respect to the second pawl such that the alignment pin and the biasing mechanism are disposed within the alignment bore and the biasing mechanism bore of the second pawl;
- applying a force to compress the biasing mechanism;
- inserting the first and second pawls within a ratchet nut;
- and
- releasing the force such that the biasing mechanism biases the first and second pawls against the ratchet nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.