Tensioning ratchet for a lashing strap

A tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap having a fixed end and a loose end, comprising:

• a frame having side walls;
• means for attaching the fixed end of the lashing strap to the frame;
• a spindle for winding up the lashing strap from its loose end, the spindle being mounted on the side walls of the frame and being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
• a tensioning lever pivotally mounted on the spindle;
• and
• a ratchet device to rotate the spindle when the tensioning lever is manually pivoted back and forth, the ratchet device including ratchet securing mechanism means for selectively preventing the spindle from rotating in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions,
• wherein the ratchet device comprises an externally toothed ratchet wheel fitted to the spindle, and
• wherein the ratchet securing mechanism means comprises a two-armed double pawl that is pivotally mounted on the frame to cooperate with the ratchet wheel, the double pawl being pivotal between two locking positions.

A tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap having a fixed end and a loose end, comprising:

• a frame having side walls;
• means for attaching the fixed end of the lashing strap to the frame;
• a spindle for winding up the lashing strap from its loose end, the spindle being mounted on the side walls of the frame and being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
• a tensioning lever pivotally mounted on the spindle;
• and
• a ratchet device to rotate the spindle when the tensioning lever is manually pivoted back and forth, the ratchet device including ratchet securing mechanism means for selectively preventing the spindle from rotating in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, an externally toothed ratchet wheel which is fixed to the spindle and which cooperates with the ratchet securing mechanism means, and tensioning ratchet mechanism means for cooperating with the ratchet wheel to rotate the spindle in the other of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions when the tensioning lever is manually pivoted back and forth, the tensioning ratchet mechanism means being mounted on the tensioning lever,
• wherein the tensioning ratchet mechanism means comprises a two-armed double catch element that is pivotally mounted on the tensioning lever, and switching means for selectively pivoting one of the arms of the double catch element into a catch position and for holding it there,
• wherein the switching means comprises a control slide mounted on the tensioning lever, and spring means for biasing the control slide toward the ratchet wheel,
• wherein the tensioning lever has a generally U-shaped control groove, and
• wherein the switching means further comprises a projection which is attached to the control slide and which extends through the generally U-shaped groove to engage the double catch element.

A tensioning apparatus for a lashing strap having a fixed end and a loose end, comprising:

• a frame having side walls;
• means for attaching the fixed end of the lashing strap to the frame;
• a spindle for winding up the lashing strap from its loose end, the spindle being mounted on the side walls of the frame and being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
• a tensioning lever pivotally mounted on the spindle, the tensioning lever having a generally U-shaped groove;
• and
• a ratchet device to rotate the spindle when the tensioning lever is manually pivoted back and forth, the ratchet device including ratchet securing mechanism means for selectively preventing the spindle from rotating in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, an externally toothed ratchet wheel which is fixed to the spindle and which cooperates with the ratchet securing mechanism means, and tensioning ratchet mechanism means for cooperating with the ratchet wheel to rotate the spindle in the other of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions when the tensioning lever is manually pivoted back and forth, the tensioning ratchet mechanism means being mounted on the tensioning lever,
• wherein the tensioning ratchet mechanism means comprises
• a double catch element pivotally mounted on the tensioning lever, the double catch element having a front portion which faces the ratchet wheel and a rear portion which faces away from the ratchet wheel, the front portion of the double catch element having two arms and the rear portion of the double catch element having a control recess which includes a pair of recess arms that are directed toward one another,
• a spring, and
• a control slide which is biased toward the ratchet wheel by the spring, the control slide having a projection which extends through the U-shaped groove in the tensioning lever and into the control recess of the double catch element to selectively pivot one of the arms of the double catch element into engagement with the ratchet wheel.