| CPC F16G 11/12 (2013.01) [F16G 3/006 (2013.01); F16H 25/20 (2013.01); F16H 31/005 (2013.01)] | 35 Claims |
|
1. A ratchet load binder comprising:
a) an elongated tube having opposing open ends and internal threads, a first end having right-hand internal threads and a second end having left-hand internal threads, a gear encircling the tube, the gear rigidly attached to the tube, the gear having externally facing gear teeth;
b) a first rod comprising right hand external threads mating to the threads in the first end of the tube, the threads starting at a first end of the first rod and extending along the first rod, a second rod comprising left hand external threads mating to the threads in the second end of the tube, the threads starting at a first end of the second rod and extending along the second rod, the first rod threading into the first end of the tube, the second rod threading into the second end of the tube, the tube movable in a first-rotational-direction and the tube movable in a second-rotational-direction, the first-rotational-direction of the tube moves the rods closer to each other while the rods are stationary in rotation, the second-rotational-direction of the tube moves the rods farther away from each other while the rods are stationary in rotation, each second end of each of the rod having a connection device;
c) a handle assembly comprising a shaft and two separated sides, the sides rotatably mounted around the tube to rotate completely around the tube while straddling the gear, the handle assembly generally perpendicular to the tube, the handle assembly having a first side positioned on one side of the gear and a second side positioned on the opposing side of the gear, the handle assembly the first and second sides encircling the tube;
d) a pivotal attached U-shaped-pawl referred herein as the U-pawl with a first tooth on one end of the U-pawl and a second tooth on the opposing end of the U-pawl, the first tooth for driving rotation of the tube in the first-rotational-direction and the second tooth for driving rotation of the tube in the second-rotational-direction, the U-pawl teeth for engaging the gear teeth, the U-pawl attached to the handle assembly between the first side and the second side, the U-pawl pivoting on a pivot axle inserted at a pivot hole on the U-pawl, the axle being attached to the handle assembly the first side and the second side that straddles the gear, the pivot axle on the U-pawl being generally centered between the first tooth and the second tooth of the U-pawl, the U-pawl comprising;
i) a first-driving-position;
ii) a second-driving-position;
iii) a middle-neutral-position, and wherein either i) the middle-neutral-position is not securely held in position, or ii) the middle-neutral-position is securely held in position;
e) a means for applying flexible pressure on the U-pawl causing the U-pawl to be held securely in either the first-driving-position or the second-driving-position, the means for applying flexible pressure on the U-pawl keeping the first tooth of the U-pawl or the second tooth of the U-pawl engaged with the gear teeth during ratcheting rotation of the tube, the means for applying flexible pressure on the U-pawl allowing flexible pivotal movement of the first tooth of the U-pawl or the second tooth of the U-pawl around gear teeth roots and gear teeth tips for incremental back and forth movement of the handle assembly and the U-pawl during a ratcheting rotational movement of the tube, wherein moving the U-pawl from the first-driving-position to the second-driving-position or vice versa requires the U-pawl to be manually and forcefully pivoted;
f) means for insertion of a blocking device in the handle assembly wherein the insertion of the blocking device in the handle assembly prevents the U-pawl from pivoting from the first-driving-position into the second-driving-position while allowing the U-pawl movement in the first-driving-position, and wherein the insertion of the blocking device allows normal back and forth operation of the U-pawl in the first-driving-position while ratchet turning the tube in the first-rotational-direction; and
g) a tension-detecting-device connected directly or indirectly to at least one of the rods, the tension-detecting-device being a means to detect or measure tension on the ratchet load binder when pulling tension is applied to the connection devices.
|