TIGHTENER FOR CHAIN, STRAP, CABLE OR THE LIKE

Abstract

The invention relates to a tensioning device for tensioning chains (1), straps, ropes or similar tensioning means (1), comprising at least one tubular tensioning nut (2) and at least one threaded bolt (3) that is inserted into the tensioning nut (2) and is interacting with it, wherein the tensioning nut (2) and/or the threaded bolt (3) is/are equipped with a connection element (4) at the end, in particular for coupling to the tensioning means (1), and wherein the connection element (4) is movably connected to the tensioning nut (2) and/or the threaded bolt (3).

Claims

1. A tightener for a chain, strap, cable or similar tension element, comprising at least one sleeve nut and at least one threaded bolt threaded into the sleeve nut, the sleeve nut and/or the threaded bolt having an end connector, in particular for connection to the tension element, wherein the connector is movably connected to the sleeve nut and/or the threaded bolt.

2. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein the connector is rotatably connected to the sleeve nut and/or the threaded bolt.

3. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein the connector is designed to be rotatable about an axis running in a longitudinal direction.

4. The tightener according to claim 3, wherein the axis coincides with an axis of the sleeve nut and/or of the threaded bolt.

5. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein the connector is coupled to the sleeve nut and/or the threaded bolt with the interposition of a bearing.

6. The tightener according to claim 5, wherein the bearing is mounted on an outer end of the sleeve nut and/or the threaded bolt.

7. The tightener according to claim 5, wherein the bearing is a rotary bearing.

8. The tightener according to claim 7, wherein the bearing is a ball bearing, rolling bearing, plain bearing, etc. individually or in combination.

9. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a connecting eye.

10. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein at least one ratchet is connected to the sleeve nut.

11. The tightener according to claim 10, wherein a fixing device is provided in addition to the ratchet.

12. The tightener according to claim 11, wherein the fixing device engages on the threaded bolt and/or the sleeve nut.

13. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein there are two of the threaded bolts threaded into the sleeve nut.

14. The tightener according to claim 13, wherein the two threaded bolts engage in counter-rotating threaded sections of the sleeve nut.

15. The tightener according to claim 1, wherein the connector is movably connected either to the sleeve nut or to the threaded bolt.

16. A tightener for a tension element, the tightener comprising: a sleeve extending along an axis, having two axially ends, and formed in one of the ends with an internal thread; a bolt threaded into one of the ends; a first connector fixed axially to the bolt; a second connecter fixed axially to the other end of the sleeve; and a rotary coupling between the bolt or the other end of the sleeve and the respective connector for free rotation about the axis of the respective connector relative to the other end of the sleeve or the bolt, whereby torque is not transmitted from the sleeve to the respective connector on rotation of the sleeve about the axis during tightening.

17. The tightener according to claim 16, wherein one such rotary coupling is provided for the both of the connectors.

Description

[0023] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing a single embodiment. Therein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is an overview of the tightener according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view from FIG. 1 in the region of one of the connectors, and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a modified variant of the tightener according to FIG. 1.

[0027] In the drawing, a tightener for a chain 1, strap, rope or similar tension element 1 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the tension element or chain 1 is a so-called textile chain as described in detail in the introductory part of applicant’s above-cited DE 20 201 8 105 723 U1. This means that the chain 1 or the textile chain 1 is composed of chain links, each of which is a ring made of a multistrand cable made of plastic filaments. The strands themselves are formed as multifilament yarns made of plastic fibers and are made from thermoplastic fibers, for example from PE, PA, PET, PP, etc.

[0028] The tightener shown in the overview of FIG. 1 for tensioning the textile chain 1 in the example has at least one sleeve nut 2. At least one threaded bolt 3 is threaded into the sleeve nut 2. In fact, the design is such that, according to the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve nut 2 interacts only with the one (single) threaded bolt 3 that engages into an outer end of the sleeve nut 2. In contrast, as illustrated this end is the left end of the sleeve nut 2. In contrast, the other outer end of the sleeve nut 2 (right in the illustrated embodiment) has an end connector 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 4 is a connecting eye 4. However, the connector 4 can also be a connecting hook. In addition, the connector or connecting eye 4 is coupled to a shackle 5 shown in FIG. 1 to which in turn the textile chain 1 is connected in the illustrated embodiment. The threaded bolt 3 is also equipped with a connector 4, which is also a connecting eye 4 in the illustrated embodiment and is not limiting.

[0029] The special feature of the invention can now be seen in that the connector 4 is movably connected to the sleeve nut 2 and/or the threaded bolt 3. This means in principle that the invention makes it possible to design the connector 4 connected to the threaded bolt 3, the connector 4 connected to the sleeve nut 2, or both connectors 4 in a movable and in particular rotatable manner. In fact, in the context of the illustrated embodiment, the procedure is such that only the connector or connecting eye 4 connected at the end to the sleeve nut 2 is designed to be movable and rotatable, whereas the threaded bolt 3 has a connector or a connecting eye 4 that is fixed relative thereto or is fixed to the threaded bolt 3.

[0030] The rotation of the connector 4 is best seen on the basis of the enlarged illustration in FIG. 2. Here, it can be seen that the outer end of the sleeve nut 2 is coupled to the rotatable connector or tightening eye 4 in question. The tightening eye 4 can be rotated about an axis A that is also the axis A of the sleeve nut 2. This means that the axis A of rotation of the tension element 4 coincides with the axis A of the sleeve nut 2.

[0031] In this case, the design is made in detail in such a way that the connector 4 is rotatably received in a connection block 6. The connection block 6 is screwed into the outer end of the sleeve nut 2 into an internal thread 7 that is present in any case and is illustrated here. An external thread also interacts with the internal thread 7 at the other end of the sleeve nut 2. The connecting block 6 holds a bearing 8 or rotary bearing.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the bearing or rotary bearing 8 is a ball bearing 8. In principle, it is also possible at this point to operate with a slide bearing, a plain bearing or even combinations. In any case, the rotary bearing 8 in the connection block 6 ensures that the connector or connecting eye 4 can rotate about the axis A of the sleeve nut 2, as indicated by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 2. As a result, in the case of a tightening process on the sleeve nut 2 no torque is applied to the textile chain 1.

[0033] In fact, the sleeve nut 2 carries ratchet mechanism 9, 10. The ratchet 9, 10 has not only a tightening lever 9 but also a toothed ring 10 fixed to the sleeve nut 2 as shown individually in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the ratchet mechanism 9, 10 has an additional tightening pawl, not explicitly shown that engages with teeth of the toothed ring 6, so that the sleeve nut 2 is regularly acted upon in a direction of rotation with the aid of the ratchet 9, 10, opposite rotation of the ratchet 9, 10 corresponds to the reverse movement or opposite movement, in which no rotational movement is exerted on the sleeve nut 2. In any case, the practically unilateral rotational movement with the aid of the ratchet 9, 10 on the sleeve nut 2 ensures that the threaded bolt 3 penetrates increasingly into the sleeve nut 2 and in the process exerts the desired tightening forces on the textile chain 1.

[0034] In addition to the ratchet 9, 10, it is also possible to provide an unillustrated fixing device that can act on the sleeve nut 2 or the connector 4 and thus the threaded bolt 3, as has already been described above. FIG. 3 shows a variant where two threaded bolts 3 are threaded into outer ends of the sleeve nut 2. Furthermore, the threaded bolts 3 are designed in such a way that the one threaded bolt 3 can also engage into a hollow bore of the other threaded bolt 3 in order to realize a particularly long adjustment travel of the tightener, as is described in detail in above-cited WO 2018/073098 A1. In addition, the design in this case is such that the two threaded bolts 3 engage in respective counter-rotating threaded sections 7 of the sleeve nut 2.

[0035] Within the scope of the illustrated embodiment, the procedure is such that the movable or rotatable connector 4 is only connected to the threaded bolt 3. For this purpose, the connection block 6 is screwed into an internal thread 7′ of the threaded bolt 3. In contrast, the opposite threaded bolt 3 has a fixed and non-rotatable connector or a corresponding connecting eyelet 4. In principle, it is also possible to proceed vice versa. Also, variants are conceivable in which both connectors 4 are each designed to be rotatable. This is not shown, however. In addition, a variant with only one rotatable connecting eye 4 with regard to handling is particularly advantageous, in which case the rotatable connecting eye 4 is connected to one end of the sleeve nut 2, as shown in FIG. 1.