Cargo Strap winch rapid rewinding tool

Abstract

This invention is for safely speeding up the rewinding of a strap used to secure cargo on a truck or trailer. The Tool consists of a shaft which in use extends into the inside of a conventional strap winch drum. At the end of the shaft is a cylindrical elastomeric plug which is a tight fit into the inside of the winding drum. The shaft is then connected to a rotary drive apparatus comprising a hand crank or is power driven.

Because the tool can be simply pushed into the drum and operated without the requirement of alignment of the shaft, for a mechanical connection between the shaft and winch drum, the operator's hands need not be on the tool other than on the handle which is not above the drum. This is typically quicker and safer than the prior art.

Claims

1. A combination of a conventional load strap winch and an attachable winding drum tool for the purpose of rewinding load straps onto the said winding drum using a torsional connection between the said attachable winding drum tool via a cylindrical elastomeric plug inside the said winding drum.

2. The tool of claim 1 in which the said elastomeric plug has an external diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the said winch drum.

3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the said elastomeric plug of the external surface has a saw tooth profile around its perimeter with the apex of the teeth along the external surface parallel to the axis of the plug.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the said elastomeric plug is connected to a shaft which projects outside the said winch drum on the same longitudinal axis as the elastomeric plug.

5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the said shaft is connected to a rotary drive apparatus comprises a hand crank.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the said shaft is connected to a rotary drive apparatus comprises a power-driven mechanism.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1. Shows the invention including a hand crank.

[0024] FIG. 2. Shows the invention including a rotary drive apparatus.

[0025] The components are numbered as follows: [0026] 1. Cargo winch. [0027] 2. Nylon winch strap [0028] 3. Annular ring. [0029] 4. Apertures. [0030] 5. Elastomer plug. [0031] 6. Shaft. [0032] 7. Arm. [0033] 8. Handle. [0034] 9. Rotary drive apparatus.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present invention is a tool that provides convenient rewinding of a strap onto a winch, (1) and more particularly, a tool that provides rapid rewinding onto a winch of a load strap (2) of the type used to secure cargo on a flatbed of a truck or trailer.

[0036] The present invention does not require a metal-to-metal connection between a shaft and the winch drum. The required transfer of torque from the shaft to the winch is achieved by a cylindrical elastomeric plug (5) pushed into the winding drum.

[0037] There is no requirement for connecting the shaft (6) to the drum mechanically so there is no requirement to manually connect the shaft to the drum therefore the operative's hands are kept well away from the winding drum. The invention is therefore safer than typical prior art tools.

[0038] To operate the invention the elastomeric plug is pushed into the drum and then the shaft is turned by a hand crank or a power-driven mechanism (9). The hand crank has two elements: an arm (7) and a handle (8).

[0039] The plug is cylindrical so that the outside surface of the plug is in contact with the inside of the winch drum for the full length of the plug.

[0040] The external diameter of the plug is manufactured slightly larger than the diameter of the hollow of the winding drum. As the plug is pushed into the cylindrical hole in the winding drum, radial pressure develops between the plug and the winch drum creating rotational resistance.

[0041] The external surface of the plug has a saw tooth profile around its perimeter with the apex of the teeth parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug. The individual teeth are asymmetrical relative to a radial projection from the longitudinal axis of the plug. The front of an individual tooth i.e., in the direction of rotation when the tool is winding the strap, is at a smaller angle relative to a radial projection from the axis of the plug than the back of a tooth which is at a greater angle relative to a radial projection.

[0042] As torsion is applied to the plug, friction between the apex of the teeth and the inside of the drum causes the individual teeth to deform such that the teeth tend to be more symmetrical. This effect induces compressive strain in the tooth in the radial direction and consequently increases the rotational frictional resistance of the tooth in contact with the inside of the drum.

[0043] The effectiveness of adopting an external diameter of the plug slightly larger than the winch hole diameter combined with the saw tooth configuration of the periphery of the plug was checked physically and found adequate for the function of the tool.

[0044] The invention is intended to be used with a conventional strap winch. No modification of a typical winch is required and no alteration of the typical cargo strap winch is required.

[0045] Operators or drivers need the loading or unloading of cargo to be as simple, quick and as safe as possible. Because the tool can be simply pushed into the drum and operated, without the requirement of alignment of the shaft, the operator's hands need not be on, or near, the tool.

[0046] The present invention allows loading and unloading to be quicker and safer even in poor lighting. The haulage business is typically very competitive and time saved in loading and unloading trucks and trailers can reduce transportation costs significant.

CONCLUSION

[0047] The invention claimed is a combination of a conventional load strap winch and an attachable winding tool for the purpose of rewinding load straps on a truck, or trailer, after removing the straps required for securing loads during travel.

[0048] The required torsional connection of the tool to the winch is achieved via a cylindrical elastomeric plug pushed into the longitudinal hole in the winch drum.

[0049] There are four distinct advantages of the invention relative to the prior art:

[0050] 1. The three patents described above have machined components. The invention can be one element—not machined. Cost of mass produced, non-machined tool, likely to be less.

[0051] 2. The tool can be pushed into the winch drum and immediately operated to rewind a strap. There is no second action of making a mechanical connection between the tool and the winch. Time saved and safer.

[0052] 3. The invention doesn't require aligning so a connection between a winch and a rotary drive apparatus can be easily done in poor lighting.

[0053] 4. Typically the prior art includes a mechanical connection using hands at the interface between the tool and the drum. The invention tool does not require using hands in this way so is safer.