(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2006/0013667 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 19, 2006
`Ruan
`
`US 20060013667A1
`
`(54) RAPID ROATATING DEVICE FOR RATCHET
`BELT SHAFT
`(76) Inventor: Bu Qin Ruan, Zhejiang (CN)
`Correspondence Address:
`BERGMAN KUTA LLP
`P. 0. BOX 400167
`CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`11/182,332
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 14, 2005
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jul. 14, 2004 (CN) ............................ .. 200410052805-7
`
`Jul. 14, 2004 (CN) ............................ .. 200420037526-9
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`B61D 45/00
`(52) US. Cl. ............................................................ ..410/103
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A ratchet mechanism for a cargo tie-doWn includes a uni
`directional coupling. The unidirectional coupling is adapted
`to receive a bidirectional torque at an input thereof, and
`provide a unidirectional torque to a belt shaft at an output
`thereof.
`
`11
`
`JW 10
`~\
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 19, 2006 Sheet 1 0f 3
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Figure 1
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 19, 2006 Sheet 2 0f 3
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Figure 2
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`Figure 3
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 19, 2006 Sheet 3 0f 3
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Figure 4
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`Figure 5
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`a,
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Jan. 19, 2006
`
`RAPID ROATATING DEVICE FOR RATCHET
`BELT SHAFT
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`[0001] The present application claims priority to Chinese
`patent
`application
`numbers 200410052805-7 and
`200420037526-9, both ?led Jul. 14, 2004, the disclosures of
`Which are hereWith incorporated by reference in their
`entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`[0002] The present invention relates to a tie-doWn, and
`more particularly to a ratchet tie-doWn.
`BACKGROUND
`[0003] When goods are transported by automobile, the
`goods need to be secured to prevent the goods from falling
`off the automobile, or colliding With one another to induce
`damage. It is a common practice to tie goods doWn to the bed
`of a truck With ropes. This may be a time consuming
`process, hoWever. Tying With ropes requires a lot of effort,
`and it is difficult to secure the goods properly.
`[0004] A ratchet is an advanced tying tool. Ratchets have
`been Well received among truck drivers due to their ease of
`use and to safety concerns When otherWise tying doWn the
`goods. As shoWn in FIG. 5, there is a frame 4 and belt shaft
`3 on the ratchet With belt shaft 3 located on the frame 4. The
`belt shaft can be turned. The tie-doWn belt is then Wrapped
`around the belt shaft 3, and can be tightened When turning
`the belt shaft 3, so as to retract the belt.
`[0005] The current method of tying involves turning the
`belt shaft 3 by using a croWbar to stick through a croWbar
`hole 9. Due to the fact that the ratchet is attached to the truck
`bed, it is necessary to remove the croWbar from the croWbar
`hole 9 after the belt shaft 3 has been turned through a certain
`angle, and re-insert the croWbar into the croWbar hole at a
`different angle.
`[0006] Obviously, this is a sloW process, and it takes a lot
`of effort. In the meantime, it is possible to cause harm to
`?ngers or other body parts due to frequent insertions and
`removals of the croWbar.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`[0007] The present invention resolves many of the issues
`mentioned above. This invention provides a rapid rotating
`device such that it Will not be necessary to remove and insert
`the croWbar during operation. Thus easy, effortless operation
`is achieved, and tie-doWn speed is increased While ensuring
`safe and reliable operation.
`[0008] This invention is realiZed through the folloWing
`technical solutions: the rapid rotating device for use With the
`ratchet belt shaft is arranged on a side of the belt shaft that
`is neXt to the ratchet frame. The characteristics of the rapid
`rotating device are: the device includes a ?xed base and a
`rotating body. The ?Xed base is attached ?rmly to the belt
`shaft, and the rotating device is ?t circumferentially around
`the ?Xed base on one side. A unidirectional link-drive
`mechanism is located at the contacting surface betWeen the
`?Xed base and the rotating body, and at least one croWbar
`hole is present on the rotating body.
`
`[0009] In the aforementioned ratchet belt shaft rapid rotat
`ing device, the unidirectional link-drive mechanism includes
`several spring holes located at the contacting surface
`betWeen the rotating body and the ?Xed base. Each spring
`hole includes one spring and a push-pin. The pushpin is
`adapted to push against the side of the ?Xed base due to
`spring force. An equal number of aligned slide grooves are
`located on the side of the ?Xed base. One side of each slide
`groove is inclined toWard the direction of rotation of the
`rotating device, and eXtended to a side surface of the ?Xed
`base, While the other side of each groove is disposed
`perpendicular to the side surface of the ?Xed base.
`[0010] While turning the rotating body toWard the inclined
`surfaces of the slide grooves during usage, the pushing-pins
`Will slide up along the inclined side of the grooves, and push
`the pushing-pins into the spring holes until the pushing-pins
`slide onto the side surface of the ?Xed base. The pushing
`pins Will fall into the neXt slide grooves if the rotating body
`is turned further, and the Whole slide-up-fall-in action of the
`pushing-pins Will be repeated. Obviously, turning the rotat
`ing body in one direction Will not drive the belt shaft since
`the ?Xed base is not turned by the rotating body.
`[0011] On the other hand, if turning the rotating body in
`the reverse direction, the pushing-pins Will be stopped by the
`perpendicular side of the slide grooves after sliding into the
`grooves. Thus the rotating body Will be unable to turn further
`Without turning the ?Xed base. This results in a link-drive
`relationship betWeen the ?Xed base and rotating body. Under
`the turning moment of the rotating body, the ?Xed base Will
`folloW accordingly and thus drive the belt shaft.
`[0012] When applying the rotating device toWard the
`ratchet, it is necessary to ensure the direction of rotation of
`the link-drive mechanism, betWeen ?Xed base and the rotat
`ing body, is the same as the tightening direction of the belt
`shaft. Thus it is only necessary to turn the croWbar back and
`forth, after putting the croWbar into the croWbar hole on the
`rotating body, to tighten the belt. Since the ?Xed base can
`only rotate unidirectionally, this back-and-forth motion Will
`be enough to tighten the belt. After the tightening is com
`plete, simply remove the croWbar from the hole.
`[0013] Compared to the current method of inserting a
`croWbar directly into a bore in the end of the belt shaft, a
`ratchet utiliZing the rapid rotating device of the invention
`possesses bene?ts such as safe, reliable and effortless opera
`tion; no need to remove and re-insert the croWbar, and Won’t
`harm the product or the operator. In the meantime, there is
`no restriction on the latitude of forWard and backWard
`motion on the croWbar, Which increases the ease of use of
`the ratchet, and improves the speed of tying, resulting in
`higher practical value.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`[0014] FIG. 1 is a mechanical schematic of the rapid
`rotating device for a ratchet;
`[0015] FIG. 2 is a side-vieW diagram of a ?Xed base for
`a rapid rotating device;
`[0016]
`FIG. 3 is a cross-section diagram along A-A line in
`FIG. 2;
`[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross section vieW of the ?Xed base for
`the rapid rotating device; and
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Jan. 19, 2006
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`[0018] FIG. 5 is a mechanical schematic of a regular
`ratchet along the belt shaft.
`[0019] In the ?gures, 1: Fixed base; 2. Rotating body; 3:
`Belt shaft; 4: Supporting frame; 5: Slide groove; 6: Spring
`hole; 7: Spring; 8: Pushing-pin; 9: CroWbar hole; 10: Locat
`ing plate; 11: ScreW.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`[0020] As shoWn in FIG. 1, the rapid rotating device is
`supported on the extended part of the belt shaft 3 that is
`disposed outWardly of the ratchet supporting frame 4. The
`device includes a ?xed base 1 and a rotating body 2. Belt
`shaft 3 can be rotated, and is installed on the ratchet
`supporting frame 4. When in use, belt shaft 3 is Wrapped
`With a belt. Fixed base 1 is ?rmly attached to belt shaft 3.
`[0021] Rotating body 2 is inserted circumferentially along
`the side of the ?xed base 1. In this example, a retaining plate
`10 is installed to capture the rotating body 2 adjacent ?xed
`base 1. Thus rotating body 2 is socketed onto the ?xed base
`1, and is attached onto the ?xed base 1 by means of
`bolt-doWn screWs 11 through locating plate 10. By adapting
`mechanisms as above, rotating body 2 is Well attached to the
`?xed base 1, and can be rotated against ?xed base 1.
`[0022] As shoWn in FIG. 1, rotating body 2 includes a
`croWbar hole. A straight side 52 is perpendicular to the side
`surface of the ?xed base as shoWn in FIG. 2. Inclined side
`of the groove 51 is inclined toWard the rotating direction of
`the rotating body 2, and extended to the side surface of the
`?xed base 1.
`[0023] As shoWn in FIG. 1, there are 6 equally spaced
`spring holes 6 that correspond to the slide grooves 5. Into
`each of the holes is disposed a spring 7 and a pushing-pin 8.
`The siZe of pushing-pin 8 is a little smaller than the siZe of
`slide groove 5, such that pushing-pin 8 can be inserted into
`slide groove 5. When the rotating body 2 is rotated to the
`location Where spring hole 6 is mated With slide groove 5,
`the pushing-pin 8 Will be pushed into the slide groove 5 by
`the acting force of spring 7.
`[0024] If the rotating body 2 is turned in the direction of
`the inclined side of the slide groove, pushing pin 8 Will be
`pushed up along the inclined face 51 of the slide groove 5
`until pushing-pin 8 is pressed against the side surface of
`?xed base 1. If the rotating body 2 is turned in the opposite
`direction, the pushing-pin 8 Will be blocked by the straight
`face 52 of the slide groove 5, and unable to slide out of
`groove 5. At this time, the rotating body 2 and ?xed base 1
`Will become a link-drive system, thus driving the belt shaft
`3.
`[0025] While turning the rotating body 2 back and forth,
`it is only possible to turn the ?xed base in one direction.
`Thus if a croWbar is inserted into the croWbar hole 9 and the
`croWbar is rotated in reciprocating fashion, the belt shaft 3
`Will be turned to tighten the belt.
`
`1. The connection betWeen the ratchet belt shaft and the
`rapid rotating device Will realiZe the functionality of unidi
`rectional belt shaft rotation driven by the rapid rotation
`device, While not rotating When rapid rotation device is
`turned in the other direction.
`
`2. The rapid rotating device includes a ?xed base that is
`connected to the belt shaft of the ratchet, and a rotating body
`Which ?ts circumferentially around the ?xed base on the
`side, With unidirectional link-drive mechanism. There
`should be at least one or more holes for croWbar.
`3. The unidirectional connecting mechanism includes:
`several spring holes located at the interface betWeen rotating
`body and ?xed base, for each spring hole a spring and a
`push-pin, Which Will act upon the spring force to press
`against the side of the ?xed base. On the side of the ?xed
`base there Will be several slide groove that correspond to the
`locations of the spring holes. One side of the slide groove is
`shaped as a slope that folloWing the rotating direction of the
`rotating body, and extend to the surface of the ?xed base,
`Whereas the other side Will be a vertical surface that is
`perpendicular to the ?xed base.
`4. A ratchet mechanism comprising:
`a belt shaft having a longitudinal axis;
`a ratchet coupled to said belt shaft; and
`a unidirectional coupling, said unidirectional coupling
`having a mechanical output coupled to said belt shaft
`and a mechanical input, said unidirectional coupling
`being adapted to receive a bidirectional torque at said
`mechanical input and produce a unidirectional torque at
`said mechanical output, said unidirectional coupling
`including a paWl, said paWl being adapted to move in
`direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.
`5. A ratchet mechanism as de?ned in claim 4 further
`comprising:
`a base having at least one bearing surface, said bearing
`surface being adapted to support said belt shaft.
`6. Aratchet mechanism as de?ned in claim 4 Wherein said
`mechanical input includes at least one aperture adapted to
`receive a portion of a croWbar thereWithin.
`7. A ratchet device comprising:
`a ?rst ratchet Wheel, said ?rst ratchet Wheel being sub
`stantially ?xedly coupled to a shaft;
`a ?rst paWl, said ?rst paWl being adapted to engage said
`?rst ratchet Wheel;
`a second ratchet Wheel, said second ratchet Wheel being
`substantially ?xedly coupled to said shaft; and
`a plurality of second paWls, said plurality of second paWls
`being adapted to engage said second ratchet Wheel, said
`plurality of second paWls being adapted to move inde
`pendently of one another and independently of said ?rst
`paWl.
`8. A ratchet device as de?ned in claim 7, further com
`prising a paWl support, said plurality of second paWls being
`movably coupled to said paWl support; said paWl support
`being adapted to receive an input torque and to transfer said
`input torque through said plurality of second paWls to said
`second ratchet Wheel.
`9. Aratchet device as de?ned in claim 8 Wherein said paWl
`support is rotatably coupled to said second ratchet Wheel.
`10. A ratchet device as de?ned in claim 8 Wherein said
`paWl support includes a bore, said bore being adapted to
`receive a drive handle for applying said input torque.
`11. A ratchet device as de?ned in claim 7, Wherein said
`second plurality of paWls are urged toWard said second
`ratchet Wheel by a respective plurality of springs.
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`US 2006/0013667 A1
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`Jan. 19, 2006
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`12. A ratchet device as de?ned in claim 7 Wherein said
`second ratchet Wheel comprises a ?rst surface, said ?rst
`surface having a plurality of apertures, said plurality of
`apertures bounding a respective plurality of recessed sur
`faces, each recessed surface of said plurality of recessed
`surfaces including a respective ?rst region disposed sub
`stantially perpendicular to said ?rst surface and a respective
`second region disposed substantially obliquely With respect
`to said ?rst surface.
`13. A ratchet tie doWn comprising:
`a shaft having a longitudinal aXis, said shaft being adapted
`to be coupled to a tensioning member;
`a driver, said driver having a ?rst portion and a second
`portion, said ?rst portion being substantially ?Xedly
`coupled to said shaft and said second portion being
`rotatably coupled to said ?rst portion; and
`a slider, said slider being slidingly coupled to one of said
`?rst and second portions, said slider being adapted to
`slide in a direction substantially parallel to said longi
`tudinal aXis, Whereupon a rotation of one of said ?rst
`and second portions engages said slider to the other of
`said ?rst and second portions and a counter-rotation of
`said one of said ?rst and second portions disengages
`said slider from said other of said ?rst and second
`portions.
`14. Aratchet tie doWn as de?ned in claim 13 Wherein said
`slider includes a substantially rigid member having a sub
`stantially cylindrical outer surface.
`
`15. A ratchet tie doWn as de?ned in claim 13, further
`comprising a spring, said spring being adapted to urge said
`slider in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal
`axis.
`16. Aratchet tie doWn as de?ned in claim 15 Wherein said
`spring comprises a coil spring.
`17. A ratchet tie doWn as de?ned in claim 13 further
`comprising a second slider, said second slider being slid
`ingly coupled to one of said ?rst and second portions, said
`second slider being adapted to slide in a direction substan
`tially parallel to said longitudinal aXis, said second slider
`being adapted to move substantially independently of said
`?rst slider.
`18. A driver for a ratchet tie doWn comprising:
`a ?rst portion and a second portion, said ?rst portion being
`adapted to be removably coupled to a ratchet tie doWn
`shaft shaft having a longitudinal aXis, said second
`portion being rotatably coupled to said ?rst portion; and
`a slider, said slider being slidingly coupled to one of said
`?rst and second portions, said slider being adapted to
`slide in a direction substantially parallel to said longi
`tudinal aXis, Whereupon a rotation of one of said ?rst
`and second portions engages said slider to the other of
`said ?rst and second portions and a counter-rotation of
`said one of said ?rst and second portions disengages
`said slider from said other of said ?rst and second
`portions.
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