US 4,542,883 A · Device for tensioning straps

Abstract

A tensioner for straps, especially for systems for keeping loads in position, has an anchoring means for the fixed end of the strap and a strap drum worked by a ratchet, the drum then acting as a winch for tensioning the strap. The drum has a locking pawl that may be moved clear of it. The tensioning ratchet has tooth means on the side of the strap drum so that a driving pawl fixed on the ratchet lever and loaded towards the strap drum by a spring, may be put into driving connection with the tooth means. The ratchet lever further has means limiting the torque that may be transmitted to the tooth means on operation of the ratchet lever by having the driving pawl spring-pre-loaded tangentially in relation to the strap drum. In keeping with another possible design the ratchet is made in two parts that are separated in the length direction of the ratchet lever and are joined together by a mechanism which makes the ratchet lever foldingly give way when the torque acting on the free end of the ratchet lever is greater than a limiting lever. The tensioner may be simply taken to pieces for replacement of its parts.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A strap tensioner, particularly for stowing loads, comprising:

a strap (2), anchoring means for a fixed end (13) of said strap (2), a strap drum (28), a ratchet mechanism comprising ratchet wheels (38, 39) placed at each side of said strap drum (28), a drive pawl (58) and a stop pawl (23) cooperating with said ratchet wheels (38, 39), spring means for urging said drive pawl and said stop pawl in the direction of said ratchet wheels, a ratchet lever (42) which is pivoted about the axis of said strap drum, wherein said drive pawl is movably mounted on said ratchet lever characterized in that said ratchet lever (42) is divided into inner and outer parts (47a, 47b, 48a, 48b) said parts being linked together by an axle (73), wherein each part is connected to a pair of tooth means (79, 80) which are pivotally mounted on said axle, and wherein at least one of said tooth means (79, 80) is axially movable with respect to the other tooth means, said pair of tooth means being tensioned against each other by means of an actuating spring (86), and wherein said strap drum (28) is actuated by said ratchet mechanism in said tensioning direction and is prevented from being overloaded by the pivotal movement of said inner and outer parts about said axle.

A strap tensioner, particularly for stowing loads, comprising:

a strap (2), an anchoring means for a fixed end (13) of said strap (2), a strap drum (28), a ratchet mechanism comprising ratchet wheels (38, 39) placed at each side of said strap drum (28), a drive pawl (58) and a stop pawl (23) cooperating with said ratchet wheels (38, 39), spring means for urging said drive pawl and said stop pawl in the direction of said ratchet wheels, a ratchet lever (42) which is pivoted about the axis of said strap drum, wherein said drive pawl is movably mounted on said ratchet lever characterized in that said drive pawl (58), in addition to being movable in a direction substantially radial to the ratchet wheels (38, 39) is also movable in a direction tangential to the circumference of said ratchet wheels with respect to the ratchet lever, and a tangential spring means (102) for urging said drive pawl (58) in a tangential tensioning direction of the strap drum (28) so that said drive pawl may rotate in said tangential direction against the urging of said tangential spring means so as to prevent overloading of said strap, and wherein said strap drum (28) is actuated by said ratchet mechanism in said tensioning direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for tensioning straps

Life of this patent

Device for tensioning straps

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15