Universal apparatus for cargo lash tensioning

A system for lashing a cargo to a deck, deck being of the type having a lash coupler affixed thereto, the system being of the type having a lashing strap for securing the cargo, the system comprising:

• a coupler arranged as a frame having first and second portions coupled to one another, said first portion being adapted to couple with the lash coupler, and said second portion being arranged to couple to the lashing strap, said second portion being further provided with;
• a spindle having a slot for engaging with the lashing strap, said spindle being arranged to traverse said frame of said coupler and further being rotatable with respect thereto;
• a ratchet wheel coupled to said spindle and arranged external of said frame;
• a pawl shaft arranged to traverse said frame, said pawl shaft being rotatable with respect to said frame of said coupler, and being provided with a substantially central portion arranged to be disposed within said frame and adapted to receive a bias force applied thereto;
• pawl means coupled to said pawl shaft, for rotating with said pawl shaft between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to said ratchet wheel;
• resilient biasing means for applying the bias force to said central portion of said pawl shaft and urging said pawl shaft toward a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to said coupler means, whereby said pawl means is urged toward said engaged position with respect to said ratchet wheel;
• and
• handle means for facilitating application of a force counter to that of said resilient biasing means whereby said pawl means is urged toward said disengaged position with respect to said ratchet wheel.

A tensioning apparatus for a cargo lashing strap, the cargo lashing strap being of the type that secures a cargo to a cargo deck, the tensioning apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a first portion adapted to couple said frame to the cargo deck, an intermediate portion, and a second portion, said frame being further provided with first and second side walls each extending continuously along said first, intermediate, and second portions of said frame, said first and second side walls being parallel to one another in said first and second portions and tapering in said intermediate portion, there being further provided a first cross member coupling said first and second side walls to one another in the vicinity of the juncture between said first and intermediate portions of said frame, and a second cross member coupling said first and second side walls to one another in the vicinity of the juncture between said second and intermediate portions of said frame;
• spindle means for receiving the cargo lashing strap, said spindle means having first and second spindle ends and being arranged to extend through apertures in said first and second side walls in said second portion of said frame, whereby said first and second spindle ends extend outward of respective ones of said first and second side walls, said spindle means being further provided with an axial slot therethrough for engaging the cargo lashing strap;
• adapter means coupled to said spindle means for facilitating engagement and disengagement of a torquing lever;
• a ratchet wheel arranged on one of said first and second spindle ends, for rotating with said spindle means;
• a pawl shaft having first and second pawl shaft ends and being arranged to extend through apertures in said first and second side walls in said second portion of said frame, whereby said first and second pawl shaft ends extend outward of respective ones of said first and second side walls, said pawl shaft being rotatively coupled to said second cross member, said pawl shaft being adapted to receive a biasing force toward a predetermined rotatory orientation with respect to said first and second side walls;
• pawl means arranged on one of said pawl shaft ends, for rotating with said pawl shaft between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to said ratchet wheel, said pawl means having integrally formed therewith a manipulable handle portion for facilitating manipulated rotatory movement of said pawl means with respect to first and second side walls, between said engaged and disengaged positions with respect to said ratchet wheel;
• biasing means coupled to said second cross member for applying the biasing force to said pawl shaft so as to urge said pawl means toward said engaged position;
• and
• cargo lash guide means coupled to said first and second side walls in said second portion of said frame, and arranged on the other side of said pawl shaft with respect to said spindle means.