DEVICE FOR TENSIONING A TENSIONING STRAP

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for tensioning and releasing a tensioning strap used for load securing.

[0002] Common devices for tightening and loosening ratchet straps use manually operated ratchets with a pivoting lever that interacts with a rotating shaft. The ratchet strap is wound onto the shaft, thereby shortening its effective length and securing the load. Particularly in delivery traffic, where multiple customers are visited and a portion of the load is unloaded at each location, the mechanical operation of the ratchet places increased physical strain on the driver. Furthermore, since the ratchet is typically positioned above the shoulders of the driver, who is standing to the side or behind the vehicle, the posture is awkward, potentially leading to physical injuries over time.

[0003] Furthermore, US patent 2020 / 0262331 A1 discloses an actuated securing device for securing heavy loads, which serves to tension a metal chain used for load securing. Here, the length of a tensioning device is varied via a rotating spindle.

[0004] Further spindle clamping devices are known from WO 2019 / 213213 A1 and DE 20 2012 103 396 U1.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use, mobile tensioning device for a tensioning strap.

[0006] To solve the problem, the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0007] The particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that a device used for load securing in delivery traffic, for tensioning a ratchet strap, can be operated via a handheld electric actuator, for example, a cordless screwdriver. This significantly reduces the physical strain on the driver or user. Furthermore, it is possible to use one and the same actuator to tension or release a multitude of ratchet devices. The device according to the invention is designed as a cost-effective mechanical device without actuator elements.

[0008] The coupling sleeve of the clamping device according to the invention, which extends from the housing module, can be easily accessible on a side facing the driver or user. The actuating mechanism, which provides the coupling sleeve and rotates the spindle, ensures the necessary perpendicular orientation of the actuating axis to the longitudinal axis of the spindle for user-friendly orientation of the coupling sleeve. The spindle itself can be positioned between the first and second mountings, with the result that primarily or exclusively longitudinal forces act on the spindle. Lateral forces are reduced or avoided, and deformation or damage to the device is prevented.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first or second receptacle lies at least partially in a clamping plane that accommodates the longitudinal axis of the spindle and is perpendicular to the actuating axis. This further reduces or completely eliminates the lateral forces on the spindle. Advantageously, this allows the device to be actuated with low forces, and effectively counteracts damage or stiffness.

[0010] According to a further development of the invention, the distance between a first tensile force application point of the device, which is associated with the first receptacle, and a second tensile force application point of the device, which is associated with the second receptacle, is no greater than the outer diameter of the spindle. Testing of the invention has shown that a distance of this magnitude between the tensile force application points results in a transverse force that does not significantly limit the service life of the spindle and prevents damage to the device.

[0011] In a further development of the invention, a worm gear is provided as the actuating mechanism. The worm gear comprises a worm wheel and a worm shaft, wherein the worm wheel is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the spindle and is rotationally fixed to the spindle. The spindle shaft is preferably formed integrally with the coupling socket. Advantageously, the use of the worm gear results in a compact design with a high gear ratio that simplifies the actuating of the device. In addition, the number of parts and the assembly effort can be reduced due to the integral form of the worm shaft and coupling socket.

[0012] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the actuating gear can be designed as a bevel gear.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the adjustment module engages at least partially with the housing module, regardless of the position of the spindle nut on the spindle. This results in a reduction of the device's overall length, making it more flexible and suitable for securing small loads. Furthermore, it can be folded up very compactly, especially when not in use, for transport and / or storage.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the first receptacle serves to fasten the tensioning strap. For this purpose, the first receptacle includes a bolt extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle and the actuating axis, around which the tensioning strap is guided.

[0015] The second receptacle can, for example, be hook-shaped and serve to attach the device to an add-on part of a vehicle, such as a loading platform of the vehicle providing eyelets or recesses.

[0016] According to the invention, the device includes a ratchet module for pre-tensioning the load. The ratchet module is, for example, attached to the housing module. It can also provide the first mounting point for the device. Advantageously, the length of the tensioning strap can be varied considerably and adjusted as needed by using the ratchet module, while maintaining the compact design of the device. The strap is initially pre-tensioned via the ratchet module. This can be done with minimal effort. The final tensioning of the tensioning strap is then achieved using the electric actuator attached to the coupling socket, by moving the adjustment module relative to the housing module.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the actuating sleeve is designed on its outer surface in the manner of a polygonal shaft and, in particular, in the manner of a hexagonal shaft. Advantageously, this allows a cordless screwdriver serving as an electric actuating device to be quickly, easily, and securely attached to the coupling sleeve and to interact with the actuating mechanism in a force-fit and / or positive-locking manner.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, the actuating mechanism and / or the spindle with the spindle nut are designed to be self-locking. Advantageously, the self-locking feature prevents unintentional loosening or unlocking of the device.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, a locking mechanism may be provided for mechanically locking the device in a tensioned state in which the load is secured against slipping by the tensioning strap.

[0020] Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0021] The drawings serve only as examples to clarify the invention. They are not intended to be restrictive. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective partial view of a device according to the invention for tensioning a tensioning strap in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a longitudinal side view of the device in the first embodiment, Fig. 3 a top view of the device in the first embodiment, Fig. 4 a section AA through the device in the first embodiment, Fig. 5 an end view of the device in the first embodiment, Fig. 6 a perspective view of the device according to the invention for tensioning a tensioning strap in a second embodiment, Fig. 7 a longitudinal side view of the device in the second embodiment, Fig. 8 a top view of the device in the second embodiment, Fig. 9 a section BB through the device in the second embodiment, Fig. 10 an end view of the device in the second embodiment, Fig.11 a perspective view of the use of the device in the second embodiment for securing a wire mesh box on a loading platform and Fig. 12 a side view of the usage situation according to . Fig. 11 .

[0022] According to a first embodiment of the device of the invention, which is described in Figure 1 as a perspective partial view and furthermore in the Figures 2 to 5As shown, a substantially cuboid housing module 10, which provides a first receptacle 20, and an adjustment module 50, which is displaceable relative to the housing module 10, supported on it, and engaging with it, with the second receptacle 28 as the geometry-defining component, are provided. The housing module 10 accommodates a spindle 30 rotatable about a spindle longitudinal axis 2 with a spindle nut 32 guided thereon, as well as an actuating gear 40, which in this case is designed as a worm gear and has an actuating axis 3 rotated by 90° to the spindle longitudinal axis 2. The housing module 10 is defined, with respect to a cuboid geometry, by two spaced-apart and parallel opposite flat sides 12, 13, two longitudinal sides 14, 15 connecting the flat sides 12, 13, parallel to each other and extending in a direction 7 of the spindle longitudinal axis 2, and two end faces 16, 17 that are parallel and spaced apart from each other.

[0023] A slot-shaped recess 11, oriented in the direction 7 of the spindle's longitudinal axis 2, and a coupling socket 41 adjacent to it are provided on a common first flat side 12. The position of the spindle nut 32 on the spindle 30 can be visually determined through the slot-shaped recess 11.

[0024] The coupling sleeve 41 is designed as part of a worm shaft 43 of the worm gear 40 and extends out of the housing module 10. It is designed as a hexagonal shaft at one free end of the housing module and serves to connect to a hand-held electric actuator, for example a cordless screwdriver, which is not shown in the drawings and does not belong to the device according to the invention.

[0025] The second component of the worm gear 40 is a worm wheel 42, which is arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis 2 of the spindle and is rotationally fixed to the spindle 30. When the worm shaft 43 is set in rotation by the electric actuator, which is attached to the coupling socket 41, the worm wheel 42, oriented perpendicular to the actuating axis 3, and the spindle 30 rotate with it, and the spindle nut 32 changes its position on the spindle 30. As the position of the spindle nut 32 changes, depending on the direction of rotation specified by the electric actuator, a distance between the first mounting 20 and the second mounting 28, defined in direction 7 of the longitudinal spindle axis 2, or a length of the device 1, defined in direction 7, changes with the direction of rotation specified by the electric actuator.

[0026] The spindle nut 32 is supported on the adjustment module 50 via a crossbeam 36. The spindle 30 is mounted on the end faces 16, 17 of the housing module 10 via two sliding bearing bushings 34, 35.

[0027] The adjustment module 50 is U-shaped. It has two free legs 51, 52, which are spaced apart from each other and parallel to one another, engage in the housing module 10, and extend longitudinally in direction 7 of the spindle longitudinal axis 2. The legs 51, 52 of the adjustment module 50 are connected to each other via the crossbeam 36.

[0028] Outside the housing module 10, the opposing legs 51, 52 are connected by a web 53. The web 53 is rotatably fixed to the legs 51, 52. It provides a bolt 56 that rotates with the web 53, defining the distance between the legs 51, 52 and giving the adjustment module 50 strength or stiffness.

[0029] The legs 51, 52 of the adjustment module 50 project into the housing module 10 via two through-holes formed on a second end face 17 and are guided longitudinally along the housing module 10. Outside the housing module 10, the adjustment module 50 provides the second receptacle 28. The second receptacle 28 is hook-shaped. A connecting section 54 of the second receptacle 28, projecting from the web 53, is oriented coaxially to the spindle longitudinal axis 2 in a basic rotational position of the web 53. A free section 55 of the hook-shaped receptacle 28, provided on a side of the connecting section 54 opposite the web 53, projects towards a rear side of the device 1 opposite the coupling socket 41, the rear side of the device 1 being defined by a second flat side 13 opposite the first flat side 12.

[0030] The first receptacle 20 provided on the housing module 10 comprises a bolt 22 oriented perpendicular to the spindle longitudinal axis 2 and perpendicular to the actuating axis 3, to which a Figures 1 to 5 The tensioning strap 80, not shown and not belonging to the device according to the invention, is guided around the spindle. The bolt 22 defines the orientation of the tensioning strap 80. It lies in a tensioning plane 4 defined by the longitudinal axis 2 of the spindle and the actuating axis 3.

[0031] The bolt 22 is held by two tabs 23, 25 with two recesses 24, 26. The tabs 23, 25 and the recesses 24, 26 provided therein are shown in the partial view of the device 1 according to Figure 1 , in which the bolt 22 is not shown. The tabs 23, 25 are part of the parallel longitudinal sides 14, 15 of the housing module 10.

[0032] Each of the receptacles 20, 28 has a tensile force application point 21, 29. While a first tensile force application point 21 associated with the first receptacle 20 is located directly in the clamping plane 4, a second tensile force application point 29 of the second receptacle 28 lies outside the clamping plane 4 by a distance 5 perpendicular to the clamping plane 4 due to the geometry of the hook forming the second receptacle 28. This distance 5 is smaller than the outer diameter 6 of the spindle 30. As a result of this small distance 5, the transverse forces acting on the device 1 or the legs 51, 52 are small or, depending on the rotational position of the web 53, zero.

[0033] A second embodiment of the device according to the invention for tensioning a tensioning strap 80 according to the Figs. 6 to 10The functional component according to the first embodiment of the device 1 comprises a ratchet module 60 for the tensioning strap 80, which is fixed to the housing module 10. The ratchet module 60 provides the first receptacle 20. The bolt 22, around which the tensioning strap 80 is guided, is rotatably connected to an actuating lever 62 of the ratchet module 60 in one direction of rotation. In the opposite direction, a freewheel with a backstop is provided. To implement this backstop, the ratchet module 60 provides a disc-shaped backstop 64 with sawtooth pawls and a longitudinally displaceable locking element 66 for the backstop 64.

[0034] The ratchet module 60 is inserted into the recesses 24, 26 of the housing module 10 formed on the tabs 23, 25 and is thus fixed to the housing module 10.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown, the ratchet module 60 can be formed as an integral part of the device 1 and, in particular, integrally with the housing module 10. The [details of the] Figures 5 to 10 The cultivation situation shown is therefore to be understood as exemplary.

[0036] The Figure 11 and 12 Figure 1 shows a use case of the device according to the invention for load securing. By way of example, the device 1 and the tensioning strap 80 secure a wire mesh box 84 on a loading platform 82, which is provided, for example, by a truck. For this purpose, the device 1 is connected to the tensioning strap 80 in the area of ​​the first receptacle 20. The hook-shaped second receptacle 28 of the device 1 is inserted into a recess 86 formed laterally on the loading platform 82.

[0037] Identical components and component functions are identified by the same reference numerals. Reference symbol list

[0038] 1 Device 2 Spindle longitudinal axis 3 Actuating axis 4 Clamping plane 5 Distance 6 Outer diameter 10 Housing module 11 Recess 12 Flat side 13 Flat side 14 Longitudinal side 15 Longitudinal side 16 End side 17 End side 20 Mount 21 Tensile force application point 22 Bolt 23 Tab 24 Recess 25 Tab 26 Recess 28 Mount 29 Tensile force application point 30 Spindle 32 Spindle nut 34 Plain bearing bushing 35 Plain bearing bushing 36 Crossbeam 40 Actuating gear 41 Coupling stub 42 Worm gear 43 Worm shaft 50 Adjustment module 51 Leg 52 Leg 53 Web 54 Connecting section 55 Free section 56 Bolt 60 Ratchet module 62 Operating lever 64 Backstop 66 Locking element 80 Tensioning strap 82 Loading platform 84 Wire mesh box 86 Recess

Claims

1. A device (1) for tensioning a tensioning strap (80) comprising - a housing module (10) and a spindle (30), wherein the spindle (30) is held in the housing module (10) so as to be rotatable about a spindle longitudinal axis (2), - an actuating gear (40) which is encompassed at least in portions by the housing module (10) and is arranged to set the spindle (30) in rotation, and provides a coupling piece (41) guided out of the housing module (10), wherein the coupling piece (41) is arranged to be connected to a hand-guided electrical actuating unit, - a spindle nut (32) guided longitudinally displaceable on the spindle (30), - an adjusting module (50) displaceable relative to the housing module (10) and supported thereon, wherein the adjusting module (50) interacts with the spindle nut (32) in such a way that the adjusting module (50) is displaced together with the spindle nut (32) in the direction of the spindle longitudinal axis (1) as a result of the rotation of the spindle (30), - a first receptacle (20) associated with the housing module (10) and a second receptacle (28) associated with the adjusting module (50), wherein the receptacles (20, 22) serve to connect to the tensioning strap (80) and / or to fix the device at an attachment part and a distance of the receptacles (20, 22), determined in the direction of the spindle longitudinal axis (1), varies depending on a position of the spindle nut (32) on the spindle (30), wherein the actuating gear (40) is formed as an angular gear with an actuating axis (3) oriented at right angles to the spindle longitudinal axis (1) and wherein the first receptacle (20) and the second receptacle (28) are associated in an extension of the spindle (30) to the latter at the end faces on mutually opposite sides such that the spindle (30) is provided between the first receptacle (20) and the second receptacle (28) independently of the position of the spindle nut (32) on the spindle (30), characterized in that a ratchet module (60) is provided for pre-tensioning the strap (80), the ratchet module (60) being attached to the housing module (10) and making available the first receptacle (20).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first receptacle (20) and / or the second receptacle (28) extend at least in portions in a tensioning plane (4) receiving the spindle longitudinal axis (2) and lying perpendicular to the actuation axis (3).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a distance (5), determined perpendicular to the spindle longitudinal axis (2), of a first tensile force application point (21) at the first receptacle (20) and a second tensile force application point (29) at the second receptacle (28) is not larger than an outer diameter (6) of the spindle.

4. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a worm gear is provided as an actuating gear (40).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the worm gear provides a worm wheel (42) and a worm shaft (43), wherein - the worm wheel (42) is provided coaxially to the spindle longitudinal axis (2) and / or is provided in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the spindle (30) and / or is provided in the housing module (10) and / or - the worm shaft (43) defines the actuation axis (3) and / or is designed in one piece with the coupling piece (41).

6. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the adjusting module (50) is provided at least in portions in the housing module (10) independently of the position of the spindle nut (32) on the spindle (30).

7. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adjusting module (50) is formed in a u-shape and in that the spindle nut (32) is provided between two legs (51, 52) of the u-shaped adjusting module (50) lying opposite one another and parallel to one another.

8. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first receptacle (20) serves to fasten the tensioning strap (80) and is formed in an eyelet-shape and / or has a bolt (23) extending perpendicularly to the spindle longitudinal axis (2) and / or the actuation axis (3) and / or in that the second receptacle (28) is formed in a hook-shape and serves to fasten it to the attachment part (82).

9. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the coupling piece (41) has a polygonal shaft shape on the casing side.

10. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing module (10) is formed in a cuboidal shape and provides two flat sides (12, 13) parallel to one another and extending in the spindle longitudinal axis (2), two longitudinal sides (14, 15) connecting the flat sides (12, 13) and also extending in the spindle longitudinal axis (2), and two end sides (16, 17).

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that a slot-shaped recess (11) extending in the spindle longitudinal axis (2) is provided on one of the flat sides (12, 13) and is associated with the spindle (30) and the spindle nut (32) such that the position of the spindle nut (32) is visually detectable.

12. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the coupling piece (41) is guided out of the housing module (10) on one of the flat sides (12, 13) and is preferably provided adjacent to the slot-shaped recess (11).

13. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the housing module (10) encompasses at least in portions and in that the adjusting module (50) is guided into the housing module (10) on the end side.

14. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the actuating gear (40) and / or the spindle (30) with the spindle nut (32) guided thereon are designed in a self-retaining manner.