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US 9,102,259 B2Granted
Chain winch apparatus and methods of using the same
AssigneeHolland Company
InventorsJohn B. Brewster, Mark B. Eenigenburg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a chain winch apparatus useful for utilizing, for example, as tie-downs for heavy equipment on the decks of railcars, trucks, or other vehicles, although the invention should not be limited to its preferred application. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chain winch apparatus for winching and holding a chain, such as a ½″ chain, and for tensioning the chain for the afore-mentioned tie-down applications. Methods of use are further provided.
Claims19
A chain winch apparatus comprising:
- a chain having an end link;
- and
- a base and a chain winch housing connected to the base, wherein within the chain winch housing is a pulley for allowing the chain to travel thereunder, and a drum, the drum having, on a first side, a connection point for connecting to the chain, and on an opposite side thereof, a plurality of teeth for engaging a pawl, the drum rotatable for pulling the chain through the chain winch housing under the pulley, the end link of the chain connected to the drum at the connection point, the chain running in contact with the pulley between the pulley and the base from a first side of the pulley to a second side of the pulley, and extending at an angle away from the base on the second side of the pulley.
A method of tying an article to a transportation deck comprising the steps of:
- providing a deck on which an article is disposed for transport;
- providing a chain winch apparatus connected to the deck and a chain extending from the chain winch apparatus, the chain having an end link, the chain winch apparatus comprising a base and a chain winch housing connected to the base, wherein within the chain winch housing is a pulley for allowing the chain to travel thereunder, and a drum, the drum having, on a first side, a connection point connected to the end link of the chain, and on an opposite side thereof, a plurality of teeth engaging a pawl, the drum rotatable for pulling the chain through the chain winch housing under the pulley, the chain running in contact with the pulley from a first side of the pulley to a second side of the pulley and disposed between the pulley and the base, the chain further extending at an angle away from the base on the second side of the pulley;
- connecting the chain to the article on the deck;
- rotating the drum in a first direction, whereby rotating the drum causes the chain to rotate about the drum and travel in contact with the pulley between the pulley and the base;
- and
- engaging one of the teeth with the pawl to prevent movement of the drum in a second direction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.