_
`
`Umted States Patent [191
`Cottrell et al.
`-
`
`[54] SAFETY TIE-DOWN ROLLER
`
`[75] Inventors: D. Michael Cottrell; Don J. Cottrell,
`both of Gainesville, Ga.
`[73] Assignee: Cottrell, Inc., Gainesville, Ga.
`
`[21] Appl' No“ 8741395
`[22] Filed;
`Apr. 27,1992
`
`Int. Cl; ............................................ 0| [52] US. Cl. ...................................... .. 410/26; 410/12;
`
`_
`410/103
`[58] Fleld of Search ................... .. 410/11, 12, 26, 100,
`410/102’ 103
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U'S- PATENT DOQUMENTS
`3,157,133 11/1964 Wojcikowski ...................... .. 410/12
`3,187,686 6/1965 De Podesta ..... ..
`410/12
`410/12
`3,539,304 6/ 1971 Haynes ------- '
`3,827,662 8/1974 Krokos '''' -~
`410/12
`3360363 V1975 Taylor """"" "
`410/12
`"
`gig?“
`4:273:486 6/1981 Tatina ..................... .. 410/12
`5,145,299 9/1992 Stephenson, Jr.
`.. 410/100
`5,156,506 10/1992 Bailey .............. ..
`.. 410/100
`5,180,262 1/ 1993 Westerdale ......................... .. 410/12
`
`||||l|lllllllllllllllllllllIlliillllllllllIllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllll
`
`US005314275A
`
`5,314,275
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
`
`Primary Eicaminer-Michael S. Huppert
`Assistant Examiner-Gregory A. Morse
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm;__James A‘ Hinkle
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A safety tie-down roller (1) has a spring laden ratchet
`pawl (9) positioned at an opposite side of structural
`framework (11) from a ratchet gear (8) and its related
`working conditions. A handle (33, 34, 35) is provided to
`
`release (20’ 37, 49’ 42) for unloading cars and for Straightening against pressure of a
`
`out chain to prevent loosening hazards. A wrench
`socket (415’ 46, 51) is provided in addition to bar wrench
`apertures (15) for fast ratchet wrench rotation or op
`tionally for motorized wrench rotation of the tie-down
`ratchet gear (8). Accurate torque control 1s made possl
`ble by the wrench sockets with either a hand torque
`wrench or a motorized torque wrench. Adapter plates
`(47, 49) are provided in addition to convenient forms of
`special hand wrenches (57, 58, 60). A non-lubricated
`hard bearing (26-29) for a tie-down rod (7) is attachable
`to car ramp structural members (12) of carrier vehicles
`(3, 4) without adversely affecting metal temper or caus
`1mg dlswmo“ hard bearmg surfaces (26’ 27) mm weld‘
`mg heat
`'
`3
`
`15 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`15
`
`16
`
`22
`
`14
`
`W // /// /////
`
`/////// //’/ //
`
`1 / / I
`
`Page 1 of 15
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`

`

`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 1 of 7”
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`5,314,275
`
`Page 2 of 15
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`Page 2 of 15
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`

`US. Patent
`
`May 24,1994
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`

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`US. Patent
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`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 3 0f 7
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`5,314,275
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`Page 4 of 15
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
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`5,314,275
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`5,314,275
`
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`Page 7 of 15
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`

`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 1994
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7 '
`
`5,314,275
`
`FIG.26 59
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`Page 8 of 15
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`

`

`1
`
`SAFETY TIE-DOWN ROLLER
`
`5,314,275‘
`2
`nylon were tried but quickly came off, leaving the
`mechanism in a hazardously wearing condition.
`Another problem which has plagued the industry in
`the past, is the safety aspect of the operator having
`?ngers and hands caught in the tie-down mechanism
`when it begins rapidly release the load attached to it.
`Obviously, the results will be a severe injury to the
`operator.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In accordance with the present invention, it is con
`templated that one objective of this invention is to pro
`vide a pawl spring in a position where it can not be
`broken off easily around working conditions.
`An object of the invention, in all of its forms, is to
`provide a positive lock which cannot come loose in
`transit and stays ?rmly engaged until the operator re
`leases the locking mechanism.
`Another objective is to provide a handle for disen
`gaging the pawl against pressure of a pawl spring when
`releasing cars for removal.
`Another objective is to provide a means for applying
`a select torque for rotating the tie-down ratchet accord
`ing to requirements for different cars and tie-down
`conditions.
`Another objective is to provide a durable socket for
`quick and easy ratchet wrench, cross wrench, L
`wrench, bar wrench and power wrench rotation of the
`tie-down bar.
`Another objective is to make car carrier modi?ca
`tions possible for convenient fast turn wrench access to
`tie-down ratchet gears from all ramp positions for wind
`ing and unwinding tie-down chains to eliminate chain
`twists and other chain loosening hazards.
`Yet another objective is to provide a highly durable
`non-lubricated solid tie-down rod bearing which can be
`attached inexpensively without destroying wear char
`acteristics of the bearing or weakening and deforming
`the framework of a car attached to the carrier.
`One embodiment of the invention provides for a
`quick release pawl which releases tension of the tie
`down rod when the operator inserts the handle through
`a handle ring and against the side of the pawl and then
`subsequently pressing the spring loaded pawl out of
`engagement with the ratchet, thereby freeing the tie
`down rod. In this manner the hands of the operator are
`safely distanced from the moving working parts of the
`system and out of harm’s way.
`A second embodiment provides for an integral handle
`attached to the spring loaded pawl by which the opera
`tor may release the ratchet by exerting force on the
`handle and moving the pawl out of the ratchet, thereby
`freeing the tie-down rod. Not only is this embodiment
`extremely easy to operate, no separate handle is re
`quired for the release and the hands of the operator are,
`at all times, safely removed from danger.
`This invention accomplishes the above and other
`objectives with a tie-down roller having a spring laden
`ratchet pawl positioned at an opposite side of structural
`framework from a ratchet gear and its related working
`conditions. A handle is provided to release the ratchet
`pawl against pressure of the spring for unwinding tie
`down chain. A wrench socket is provided in addition to
`wrench rod apertures for fast ratchet wrench rotation,
`cross wrench spin rotation or optionally motorized
`wrench rotation of the tie-down ratchet for straighten
`ing out tie-down chain. Accurate torque control is made
`possible by the wrench socket with either a hand torque
`
`50
`
`55
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`I. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to the ?eld of
`tie-down rollers for car carrier trucks and trailers. In
`particular, it relates to preventing a tie-down roller
`from disengaging or dislodging and allowing cars being
`carried to impact against each other, to impact against
`structural members of car carriers or to fall off of carri
`ers. It provides safety against damage to cars from over
`tightening tie-down chains. It also protects against wear
`that weakens tie-down rollers and causes structural
`hazards.
`II. Description of the Prior Art.
`Tie-down rollers are a form of a manual winch for
`winding a tie-down chain tightly to hold cars on car
`carrier trucks and trailers. There is a tie-down roller at
`each car wheel portion of hydraulically positional
`wheel ramps. Typically, a tie-down roller has a tie
`down bar that is provided with a dry bearing at each
`side of the ramp at a car wheel position. A tie-down
`chain is hooked to each of four corner tie-down brack
`ets under a car and then wound around an inside end of
`each of four tie-down bars separately. The chain is
`wound by hand wrench rotation of the tie-down bar at
`an outside end of the tie-down bar. At the outside end of
`each tie-down bar where it can be reached from outside
`of the car carrier and from outside of each car being
`carried, there is a ratchet wheel with a pawl pivotally
`positioned to fall between ratchet teeth to prevent the
`tie-down chain from unwinding and becoming loose.
`Too often, however, the tie-down chains “settle into”
`each other and for various other reasons lose tightness.
`Sometimes tightness is lost only momentarily and at
`other times progressively when cars being carried
`bounce due to particularly uneven or bumpy road con
`ditions. When looseness occurs, the ratchet pawl can be
`disengaged totally and render a particular tie-down
`roller ineffective. Excessive tightening of the tie-down
`chain to prevent loosening can distort framework of
`cars in the vicinity of tie-down brackets. There are
`precautions to prevent such loosening without exces
`sive tightening. One is to assure that all twisting is re
`moved from a chain before it is tightened. But even the
`best and most cautious workers sometimes make mis
`takes that result in loosening of the tie-down chains.
`A spring to hold the pawl in contact with the ratchet
`teeth has been tried previously. It worked, but not for
`long. It was broken and became dislodged soon because
`it was positioned where it came in contact with working
`conditions.
`Short wrench handles have been tried to prevent
`over tightening of the tie-down chains. But different
`types of cars require different tightness and different
`individuals have different strength to rotate the tie
`down bar with a wrench handle. Some individuals jump
`on the handles with their entire weight to rotate the
`tie-down bars. This is an inaccurate method because
`different individuals have different weight and ability to
`jump on the wrench handle. Obviously, too much tight
`ening of the chains will result in distortion of the vehicle
`undercarriage with disastrous results.
`Loose dry bearings are used generally for both ends
`of the tie-down bar. But wear occurs due to insuf?cient
`wear resistance of materials used. Soft bearings such as
`
`20
`
`45
`
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`

`3
`wrench or a motorized torque wrench. A non
`lubricated hard bearing for a tie-down rod is attachable
`to car ramp structural members of carrier vehicles with
`out adversely affecting metal temper or causing distor
`tion from welding heat. Further, by design of tie-down
`roller, the vehicles being carried by the carriers are
`protected from over-tightening which can cause defor
`mation to the undercarriage of the vehicle.
`Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the in
`vention will become apparent from the following de
`scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings showing preferred embodiments of the inven
`tion.
`
`5,314,275
`4
`FIG. 19 is a sectional cutaway side view of a ratchet
`gear with a square drive adapter plate in a hexagonal
`wrench ori?ce;
`FIG. 20 is an end view of the adapter plate in FIG. 19
`shown separately;
`FIG. 21 is a cutaway side view of the FIG. 20 illustra
`tion;
`FIG. 22 is an end view of a hexagonal drive adapter
`plate;
`FIG. 23 is a sectional side view of a conventional rod
`wrench ratchet gear with a square drive wrench ori?ce;
`FIG. 24 is a side view of a cross wrench having a
`hexagonal drive boss on one arm, a square drive boss on
`another arm and rods for rod wrenching on other arms;
`FIG. 25 is an L-wrench with a rod wrench leg and a
`hexagonal wrench boss on an arm of the L-wrench; and
`FIG. 26 is an L-wrench with a rod wrench leg and a
`square wrench boss on an arm of the L-wrench.
`
`15
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to the drawings wherein like reference
`numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the
`several ?gures, a safety tie-down roller 1 is mounted
`onto ends of wheel ramps 2 on car carrier trucks 3 and
`car carrier trailers 4. The wheel ramps 2 are suspended
`from upright supports 5 and are positional selectively
`with various hydraulic arms 6. The same as conven
`tional tie-down rollers, the safety tie-down rollers of
`this invention are used to tie cars to the wheel ramps 2
`for transportation in a slanted attitude in order to dove
`tail ends of cars for maximizing carrying capacity of the
`car carrier trucks 3 and trailers 4. Also the same as for
`conventional tie-down rollers, tie-down rods 7 are ro
`tated by a tie-down ratchet gear 8 which is prevented
`from loosening rotation by a ratchet pawl 9. Cars are
`tied down with tie-down chain that is hooked onto
`under structure of the cars at each corner and then
`wound around the tie-down rods 7 in a winch reel or
`roller working relationship. The mechanism for this
`type of tie-down system used universally in the car
`transportation industry is referred to commonly as a
`tie-down roller by those who transport cars. The tie
`down rods 7 usually are not extended inwardly from the
`tie-down roller. Some tie-down rods 7, however, are
`extended all of the way across to opposite side tie-down
`rollers 1. Differences of the safety tie-down roller 1 are
`in how it is constructed and operated to enhance safety
`against cars falling off or being damaged in transit.
`Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tie-down rod 7 is
`extended from the tie-down ratchet gear 8 through a
`proximal bearing 10 having a proximal attachment
`?ange 10-A at a proximal underwall 11 of a wheel ramp
`channel 12 and through a distal bearing 13 having a
`distal attachment ?ange 13-A at a distal underwall 14 of
`inverted shallow wheel ramp channel 12. Flanges 10-A
`and l3-A can be sized, shaped and extended variously
`for attachment to respective underwalls 11 and 14. Con
`ventionally, the tie-down ratchet gear 8 is provided
`with bar wrench apertures 15 in a wrench sleeve 16 at a
`proximal side of ratchet teeth 17. A ratchet pawl 9
`having a pawl bearing 18 is attached to the proximal
`underwall 11 with pawl axle 19 on which the pawl 9 is
`pivotal. Pawl 9 is pressured into ratchet engagement
`with ratchet teeth 17 by resilience of pawl spring 20 in
`contracting relationship to pawl spring arm 21. Pawl
`spring arm 21 is extended from a proximal side 22 of
`proximal underwall 11 to a distal side 23 of proximal
`underwall 11 through pawl spring ori?ce 24. The pawl
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of part of a typical car
`carrier truck and trailer on which this invention used;
`FIG. 2 is a top view of a carrier ramp on which this
`invention is employed to tie down cars for transporta
`tion on car carrier trucks and trailers;
`FIG. 3 a side view of the FIG. 2 carrier ramp;
`FIG. 4 is a cutaway end view of this invention of a
`safety tie-down roller mounted on a wheel ramp;
`FIG. 5 is a cutaway top view of this invention
`mounted on a wheel ramp;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of this invention using
`a conventional pawl with a pawl spring not visible from
`the side;
`FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of this invention using
`a pawl with a handle projecting from a central portion
`of the pawl and having a pawl spring not visible from
`the side;
`FIG, 8 is a sectional side view of this invention with
`a pawl handle attached to the pawl and showing an
`ori?ce to a pawl spring;
`FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of this invention with
`a pawl extended over ratchet teeth as a handle and
`having a pawl spring not visible from the side;
`FIG. 10 is a sectional inside view of this invention
`having a contraction pawl spring positioned inside of a
`wheel ramp channel;
`FIG. 11 is a sectional top cutaway view of this inven
`tion having a coil spring in torsional spring relationship
`to a pawl axle;
`FIG. 12 is an inside sectional view of this invention
`having a leaf spring form of a ratchet spring;
`FIG. 13 is an inside sectional view of this invention
`having a two-way leaf spring with snap shut and snap
`open resilience of the ratchet pawl;
`FIG. 14 is a sectional side view of this invention with
`a two-way spring and a hexagonal wrench socket in
`addition to conventional rod wrench operation for
`quick unrolling to remove twists and bends from tie
`down chain and for quick rewinding and tie-down roll
`ing of the safety tie-down roller;
`FIG. 15 is a sectional end view of the FIG. 14 illustra
`tion;
`FIG. 16 is a sectional cutaway end view of a ratchet
`gear with a wrench socket for quick operation of this
`safety tie-down roller in place of conventional rod
`wrench apertures;
`‘
`FIG. 17 is a sectional cutaway side view of the FIG.
`16 illustration showing also a pawl handle and a portion
`of a two-way snap spring;
`FIG. 18 is a sectional cutaway side view of a ratchet
`gear with a square wrench drive aperture;
`
`25
`
`35
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`10
`
`25
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`30
`
`5
`spring 20 can be attached to a channel angle plate 25 or
`other extension from proximal underwall 11.
`It is positioning of the pawl spring 20 at a distal side
`of the underwall 11 of the wheel ramp channel 12 that
`provides the ?rst fundamental factor of safety to this
`safety tie-down roller 1. For over ?ve decades since
`tie-down rollers were introduced, advantages of a pawl
`spring at a distal side of a proximal underwall 11 have
`not been known or used. A pawl spring at a proximal
`side 22 of the proximal underwall 11 is known to have
`been tried without success because it broke off easily
`and quickly in the dynamic working conditions at the
`proximal side 22 of the proximal underwall 11. If full
`signi?cance of pawl springs had been known previ
`ously, a way might have been found to make them
`successful and economical. But neither occurred.
`The function of a ratchet pawl 18 is to prevent un
`winding of tie-down chain that is wound around tie
`down rod 7. In conventional practice, only tightness of
`the tie-down chain acts on the ratchet pawl 18 to cause
`the pawl 18 to remain in effective ratchet relationship to
`ratchet gear 8. This is self-defeating and too often unre
`liable, however, because tightness of the tie-down chain
`can be lost by mere settling in and untwisting of tie
`down chain. Even slight loosening of the tie-down
`chain can cause the pawl 18 to rub, fret, pound and wear
`against ratchet teeth 17 and shorten thesafe use life of
`tie-down rollers. Road grit, particularly in wet, freezing
`and sandy desert conditions, speeds fretting wear of
`pawls that become loose when the tie-down chain loos
`ens slightly. Assuring that there are no twists or poten
`tial settling in conditions of tie-down chain on as many
`as ?fty-two tie-down rods 7 per car carrier consumes
`considerable labor. It is tedious, slow and annoying
`work that is avoided to the fullest extent possible by car
`carrier personnel because of the nature of conventional
`tie-down rollers. Assuring that there is no hazardous
`wear of bearings or other worn components that could
`break in transit is difficult to determine and also very
`objectionable to workers as well as avoidable for cost
`reasons by owners and managers of car carrier vehicles.
`As a result of these and other factors, it is the object
`of this invention to provide an entire safety tie-down
`roller 1 that will not only function safely with a ratchet
`pawl 9 held in place regardless of chain loosening fac
`tors. It will be useable fast and easily by workers in a
`safe manner. It will also provide against wear that is
`hazardous to conventional tie-down rollers and dif?cult
`to assess.
`Proximal bearings 10 and distal bearings 13 wear for
`approximately the same use condition reasons as ratchet
`teeth 17 on conventional tie-down rollers. But unlike
`ratchet teeth 17, a hazardous level of bearing wear is
`difficult to determine. Loose fitting dry bearings are
`employed, making it dif?cult for many users to detect
`appreciable difference between designed looseness and
`hazardously worn looseness of conventional bearings 10
`and 13. For this reason, safety bearings 10 and 13 are a
`?rst fundamental for this safety tie-down roller 1 in
`addition to the safety provided by a pawl spring 20
`positioned at a distal side 23 of the proximal underwall
`11.
`Proximal bearing surface 26 and distal bearing surface
`27 can be constructed of a harder and more wear resis
`tant material than proximal end 28 and distal end 29 of
`tie-down rod 7. Wear resistance of the ends 28 and 29 of
`tie-down rod 7, therefore, is made sacri?cial to bearing
`surfaces 26 and 27. When this sacri?cial wear condition
`
`5,314,275
`6
`is achieved with hardened steels instead of super alloys
`or super alloy coatings, it is critical that welding attach
`ment of bearing ?anges 10-A and 13-A be sufficiently
`distanced from the bearing surfaces 26 and 27 that weld
`ing heat does not degrade their heat treatment temper.
`If a closer attachment is preferred, then bolt fastening is
`recommended, even though high bolting capacity is
`required to provide sufficient reliability of attachment.
`For this reason, bearing bolts 30 and bearing welding
`head 31 both ar illustrated in relationship of bearing
`?anges 10-A and 13-A to underwalls 11 and 14 respec
`tively, even though only one of these attachment meth
`ods is intended to be used.
`Too often users make the mistake of welding bearing
`sleeves for the tie-down rod 7 onto used or remanufac
`tured car carriers with the welding too close to the
`bearings. Then when the bearings only last two to six
`months, they wonder why. For replacement bearings
`for this safety tie-down roller, therefore, it is recom
`mended that bolt on attachment of bearings 10 and 13 be
`provided as a low cost alternative to welding for some
`use conditions.
`Preferable to hardened steel for bearing surfaces 26
`and 27, and for sacri?cial wear ends 28 and 29 of tie'
`down rods 7 are ?ame spray or plasma coating with
`super alloy materials. Use of super alloys for entire
`bearings 10 and 13 or for entire tie-down rods 7 is pro
`hibitively expensive for the materials involved and for
`their heat treatment. However, coatings with harder
`surfaces having longer use life in a dry bearing condi
`tion than otherwise available are‘ relatively inexpensive.
`Relatively inexpensive metal can be used for the ?anges
`10-A and 13—A and bearing sleeve 10 and 13 host mate
`rial to offset cost of coating. Overall and in the long run
`after accounting for longer. use life, costs of coating
`inexpensive metals are less than costs for heat treated
`metal bearings that are either welded or bolted onto
`underwalls 11 and 14.
`Super alloys, so designated by the American Society
`for Metals, are those composed primarily of cobalt,
`nickel, chrome and molybdenum in addition to iron.
`High resistance of super alloys and of super alloy coat
`ing to heat makes it possible to weld the host metals to
`which they are coated onto underwalls 11 and 14 with
`out distorting or degrading the bearing surfaces 26 and
`27. Their critical use condition characteristic, however,
`is resistance to wear without lubricant in the presence of
`road dust and particles. They also can wear against each
`other without galling. Further, some can be slightly
`softer than others to provide sacri?cial wear to harder
`surfaces. This allows a rod 7 to wear the relatively little
`that occurs instead of the bearings 10 and 13. It compen
`sates for a higher surface area of the rods 7 that are
`worn due to rotation against a smaller area of one side
`of a bearing surface. It also allows for ease of replace
`ment of rods 7 for wear rather than changing weld on
`bearings 10 and 13.
`Coating with the equivalent of super alloys has be
`come sufficiently inexpensive and the flame spray or
`plasma coating equipment also sufficiently inexpensive
`that either are a viable alternative to hardened steel
`bearings 10 and 13 in combination with hardened steel
`rods 7. Some of the coatings can be used in as applied
`form without machining or grinding. The low toler
`ances for appropriately loose fitting dry bearings make
`possible a high degree of automation for coating sur
`faces. There are competitive suppliers of coating equip
`ment and coating materials with reliable coating infor
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`Page 11 of 15
`
`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
`
`

`

`25
`
`7
`mation readily available. Labor for their operation is
`not excessively high or hard to train. For manufacturers
`and rebuilders of car carrier vehicles and their compo
`nents using this safety tie-down roller, the coating em
`bodiment of this invention is recommended.
`Reference is made to FIGS. 6-9. A conventional
`ratchet pawl 9 can be used in conjunction with a con
`ventional tie-down ratchet gear 8 and a spring 20 such
`as shown in FIG. 4. When a spring is employed, how
`ever, a conventional mini handle 32 is inadequate for
`overcoming resistance of the spring by hand. A tool is
`necessary and workers generally don’t like to have
`more than a single tool for turning the ratchet gear 8.
`Consequently, the mini handle 32 can be lengthened
`into a long pawl handle 33 as illustrated in FIG. 7.
`Alternatively as illustrated in FIG. 8, a separate handle
`34 can be attached by welding or other means to a
`conventional pawl 9 ‘and to a pawl spring arm 21 ex
`tendable through spring ori?ce 24 from the proximal
`side of the proximal underwall 11 to a spring 20, shown
`20
`in FIG. 5, at the distal side 23 of the proximal underwall
`11. This separate handle is preferred for embodiments of
`this invention not employing a hexagonal wrench as
`described later.
`For some applications, an elongated pawl handle 35
`shown in FIG. 9 is preferable.
`Reference is made now to FIGS. 10-13 for more
`detailed description of pawl spring embodiments of this
`invention. In FIG. 10, a contraction spring 20 is attach
`able to a channel angle plate 25 or other appendage
`from the distal side 23 of the proximal underwall 11. It
`has a spring loop 36 extended over pawl spring arm 21.
`Pawl axle 19 is rigidly attached to proximal underwall
`11.
`In FIG. 11, a torsion coil spring 37 is anchored to a
`spring housing 38 which is attached to the proximal
`underwall 11. Resilience pressure of torsion coil spring
`37 is directed against pawl shaft 39 which is in pivotal
`contact with proximal underwall 11 and ends of spring
`housing 38. Pawl 9 is rigidly attached to pawl shaft 39
`such that rotational resilient pressure of torsion coil
`spring 37 causes pawl 9 to engage ratchet teeth 17 on
`tie-down ratchet gear 8.
`In FIG. 12, a pawl leaf spring 40 is attachable to
`wheel ramp channel 12, preferably with flathead bolts
`41. A leaf spring is particularly durable, reliable and
`inexpensive for use at this distal side 23 of the proximal
`underwall 11. Resilience of leaf spring 40 is directed
`against pawl spring arm 21 which is extended through
`spring ori?ce 24.from pawl 9 from which an optional
`elongated pawl handle 35 can be extended over the
`ratchet teeth 17 on tie-down ratchet gear 8. This causes
`pawl 9 to engage ratchet teeth 17 in ratchet relationship
`and allows disengagement of the pawl 9 with handle 35
`for reverse rotation of tie-down ratchet gear 8 for un
`winding tie-down chain on tie-down rod 7.
`A two-way snap spring 42, shown in FIG. 13, can be
`employed to snap pawl 9 in and out of engagement with
`ratchet teeth 17 on tie-down ratchet gear 8. This allows
`fast turning of tie-down ratchet gear 8 for untwisting
`and straightening out tie-down chain on tie-down rod 7
`to avoid hazardous loosening of the tie-down chain
`from settling in of twisted tie-down chains. The pawl
`need not be hand held in a disengaged position while
`rotating the tie-down rod 7 to assure proper condition
`of the tie-down chain. This two-way snap spring 42 is
`comprised of a U-shaped leaf spring with a selectively
`curved base point 43 being depressible by paw spring
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,314,275 _
`
`30
`
`45
`
`8
`arm 21 when the pawl 9 is raised or lowered over the
`curved base point 43. Beveled sides of the curved base
`point 43 then pressure the pawl spring arm 21 in which
`ever direction the pawl spring ar 21 is positioned by
`manipulating handle 35 to snap engage or to snap disen
`gage pawl 9 with ratchet teeth 17. Edges of pawl spring
`ori?ce 24 prevent excessive travel of pawl 9 away from
`ratchet teeth 17, making it conveniently accessible and
`operable at all times. Legs 44 of the U-shaped two-way
`snap spring 42 are attachable preferably with ?athead
`bolts 41 to wheel ramp channel 12 and channel angle
`plate 25 or to appendages from wheel ramp channel 12.
`A roller sleeve can be provided on pawl spring arm 21
`to avoid friction resistance from sliding contact with
`curved base point 43.
`Reference is made now to FIGS. 14-26 to describe
`means for quick, easy and controllable rotating of
`ratchet gear 8 in order to straighten out and safely at
`tach tie-down chain on tie-down rod 7 to cars on wheel
`ramps 2. In FIGS. 14 and 15, there is a relatively large
`hexagonal wrench ori?ce 45 in an inside periphery of
`wrench sleeve 16. This hexagonal wrench ori?ce 45 is
`particularly large in order to provide suf?cient struc
`tural integrity for wrench operation in the type of hard
`ened steel that is economical for and yet adequate for
`construction of tie-down ratchet gear 8. Although hard
`ened, the grade of steel adequate for wrenching with
`bar wrenches in bar wrench apertures 15 is not adequate
`for conventionally smaller hexagonal or square wrench
`boss apertures. They require tool steel metals having
`higher tensile strength and greater hardness. Largeness
`of this hexagonal wrench ori?ce 45 also accommodates
`access to tie down rod 7 for attachment of tie down
`ratchet gear 8 by welding, heat ?tting, spline or other
`attachment means.
`Most signi?cant functionally is that a wrench rod can
`be employed in bar wrench apertures 15 as an alterna
`tive to a hexagonal wrench or wrench adapter ?ttable
`into hexagonal wrench ori?ce 45. This is highly impor
`tant because users are accustomed to using the bar
`wrench and because structural upright supports 5, illus
`trated in FIG. 1, often prevent axial access with hexago
`nal or square wrench bosses. Particularly at aft ends of
`car carrier trucks and at sections of some structures of
`car carrier trailers, a plurality of upright supports 5 and
`hydraulic arms 6 prevent axial wrench access. How
`ever, workers can learn quickly to appreciate the ease
`and advantages of axial wrench access made possible
`with this invention and appropriate carrier modi?ca
`tions can be made where necessary. In the interim, a
`tie-down ratchet gear 8 with both hexagonal wrench
`ori?ce 45 and bar wrench apertures 15 can serve as a
`change over adaptation embodiment of this invention.
`In FIGS. 16 and 17, there is the same large hexagonal
`wrench ori?ce 45 but it is in a tie-down ratchet gear 8
`without the wrench sleeve 16 and the bar wrench ori
`?ces 15. The width of tie-down ratchet gear 8 ma be
`increased slightly as illustrated to add material for ade
`quate depth of the hexagonal wrench ori?ce 45. This
`embodiment is for a more advanced stage of adaptation
`by car carrier workers and builders to the advantages of
`this invention.
`-
`A coincidental advantage of pawl springs made possi
`ble in car carrier use conditions by this invention is
`shorter and more numerous ratchet teeth 17 for greater
`tie-down accuracy. Shortness of ratchet teeth is made
`possible by spring pressure rather than dependence on
`chain tightness to maintain pawl contact. This condition
`
`Page 12 of 15
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`BOYDSTUN EXHIBIT 1004
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`

`

`5
`
`25
`
`35
`
`20
`
`5,314,275
`10
`is emphasized by the much larger ratchet teeth in FIGS.
`rods 57 are relatively longer than cross rods 54 and 56
`for most applications.
`10, 12 and 13 than in FIGS. 17-19. Also, there is less
`FIG. 25 teaches an L-wrench 58 having a large hex
`need to slant front faces of ratchet teeth 17 as shown in
`FIGS. 10, 12 and 13 for similar reasons related to
`agonal boss 53 on an end of an arm 59 and a round bar
`ratchet technology. The front faces of the ratchet teeth
`wrench 60 on an