CA1305631C - Apparatus and system for tying down vehicles - Google Patents
Apparatus and system for tying down vehiclesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1305631C CA1305631C CA000564961A CA564961A CA1305631C CA 1305631 C CA1305631 C CA 1305631C CA 000564961 A CA000564961 A CA 000564961A CA 564961 A CA564961 A CA 564961A CA 1305631 C CA1305631 C CA 1305631C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- tension
- tie
- ratchet
- base support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D63/00—Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps, for bundling or supporting articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/06—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles
- B60P3/07—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles for carrying road vehicles
- B60P3/073—Vehicle retainers
- B60P3/075—Vehicle retainers for wheels, hubs, or axle shafts
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
An apparatus is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, to a flat bed or other base support by which the vehicles are to be transported. Two wheels which are positioned in fore and aft tandem are each secured to the base support by respective harnesses while a centrally positioned tensioning unit receives chains connected to the harnesses for application of tie-down tension to the chains by simple back and forth motion of a pivotally mounted handle. Between each wheel harness and the chain tensioning unit is provided a chain pocket wheel and ratchet and pawl arrangement in a housing, with means to attach the entire housing and arrangement to the base support so as to transfer the actual chain tension to the ratchet/pawl arrangement and the base support. The chain tensioning unit includes a unique arrangement by which simple rotation of a cam facilitates either tensioning of the tie-down harnesses or release of the tension on the tie-down harnesses when the handle is rotated in back and forth motion through about a ninety degree arc.
An apparatus is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, to a flat bed or other base support by which the vehicles are to be transported. Two wheels which are positioned in fore and aft tandem are each secured to the base support by respective harnesses while a centrally positioned tensioning unit receives chains connected to the harnesses for application of tie-down tension to the chains by simple back and forth motion of a pivotally mounted handle. Between each wheel harness and the chain tensioning unit is provided a chain pocket wheel and ratchet and pawl arrangement in a housing, with means to attach the entire housing and arrangement to the base support so as to transfer the actual chain tension to the ratchet/pawl arrangement and the base support. The chain tensioning unit includes a unique arrangement by which simple rotation of a cam facilitates either tensioning of the tie-down harnesses or release of the tension on the tie-down harnesses when the handle is rotated in back and forth motion through about a ninety degree arc.
Description
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APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TYING l)OWN VEHICLE5 Technical Field The invention relates to devices ~or tying down wheeled vehicle~ for transport on flatbed cars ~uch as rail cars, trailer flatbed or thQ like.
Backqround Art It ls generally recognized that railroad flatbed cars arQ efficient and economlcal means for transporting heavy load~ at high ~peedE and with a high degree o~
sa~ety. Such loads often are in the form of wheeled vehicles, particularly au~omobiles, which are reguired to be tied down to the flatbed surface during transport. of all of the requirements ~or tying down automobiles ~or transport it i8 most important to provide devices which not onl~ maintaln a fixed position of the automobile relative to the ~latbed car but also maintalns that position during sudden or quick acceleratlon~ or stops or even upon relatively minor impact~ o~ the main carrier vehicle.
Transporting automobiles or other wheeled vehicles on railroad flat~ed trucks or 6eagoing vessels ln the past has normally been diracted to restraining the actual b~dy of t~ae automobile by rhaln~ and d~vices whlch restrain the body from movement in several directions.
Often these devices include a four point chain system emminating from a position-centrally locAted with respect to the automobile and extending in dif~erent directions toward the ~our corners of the frame~ Thereafter, one or more ratcheting devices are actuated to place the chain~
in tension so as to restrain the automoblle from movements during tran61t.
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APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TYING l)OWN VEHICLE5 Technical Field The invention relates to devices ~or tying down wheeled vehicle~ for transport on flatbed cars ~uch as rail cars, trailer flatbed or thQ like.
Backqround Art It ls generally recognized that railroad flatbed cars arQ efficient and economlcal means for transporting heavy load~ at high ~peedE and with a high degree o~
sa~ety. Such loads often are in the form of wheeled vehicles, particularly au~omobiles, which are reguired to be tied down to the flatbed surface during transport. of all of the requirements ~or tying down automobiles ~or transport it i8 most important to provide devices which not onl~ maintaln a fixed position of the automobile relative to the ~latbed car but also maintalns that position during sudden or quick acceleratlon~ or stops or even upon relatively minor impact~ o~ the main carrier vehicle.
Transporting automobiles or other wheeled vehicles on railroad flat~ed trucks or 6eagoing vessels ln the past has normally been diracted to restraining the actual b~dy of t~ae automobile by rhaln~ and d~vices whlch restrain the body from movement in several directions.
Often these devices include a four point chain system emminating from a position-centrally locAted with respect to the automobile and extending in dif~erent directions toward the ~our corners of the frame~ Thereafter, one or more ratcheting devices are actuated to place the chain~
in tension so as to restrain the automoblle from movements during tran61t.
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These prior art devices have been known to 6uffer from several diverse deficiencies. For example, they provide relatively exten~ive interference to the movemen~ of the automobiles on the flatbed. In ~ome instance~ where an ~utomob~le has a relatively low chasis it has been found that ~he bulk and inter~erenca o~ the chains and related tensioning equipment actually int~rfere with the ~rame o~ the automobiles thereby preventing them from movements into and out of position on the flatbed.
One prior art system includes hold-down devlces for automobiles whlch surround a ma~or portion of the lndividual automobil~ wheels and are each provided with a tensloning mechanism to 6ecure the wheel agalnBt the base support. Another ~ystem provides individual wheel hold-down harnesses and whael chock~ posltioned on each side of the wheel and provided with a crank and a~so~iated har~ware mechanism for applylng ~en~ion to the harness wh~le ~ ammin~ the chocks against th~ wheel . Still another ~ystem includes a multiple chain and ratchet ~y~tem to ~ecure the frame of the vehicle to the flatbed with the ratchet ~ystem ma~ntaining the tenslon thus applled to the chains. In general, there are numerous fiystems for ty~ng down or otherwise 6ecuring automobile~ or other wheeled vehicles to flatbed transport cars. These sy~tems o~ten lnclude common hook-type and chaln hardware, cranks;
ratchet wheels or the like. ~owever, although many o~
these sy~tems are usually only effecti~e in applying tension to chains or harne~see which hold down ~elected components of the automobile, none of them are capable of mainta~ning the tension thus applied or even taking-up slack in the t~e-down dev~ces caused by minor aberrations or changes generally occurring in the ten~ion By~tem during transport. For examplel on occasion the main transport ~ehicle in a minor accident will undergo impact with another automobile causing shi~ting of the transport 3~
3 23214-1~3 vehicles with resultant stretching oE components or distortion oE
tires at critical locations. When such incidents occurred with prior art systems, these systems do not have the capability of automatically replacing the resultant lost tension on the major tie-down components to thereby talce-up the slack created durlng the disturbances. Accordingly, when a disturbance does occur, resumption of motion of the flatbed is normally prevented by the fact that some or most oE the vehicles previously tied down have worked themselves loose. Further, these prior art devices do not include features to transfer the main tension carrying load within a chain or other tie-down component so as to shift that tension load to a major load carrying portion of the flatbed vehicle while protecting the main tensioning mechanism -from -fluctuations in tension caused by impact of the main vehicle or quick accelerations or decelerations thereof. I have invented an apparatus and system for tying down wheeled vehicles which avoids all of the aforementioned disadvantages oE the prior art devices.
Summary of the Invention An apparatus and system is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises, means for tying down a irst wheel of a vehicle to a base support, means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, means for applying tension to the tie-down means of the first and second wheels, and means for simultaneously maintaining the tension thus applied to the tie-down means of the first and second wheels.
- , ,~,, 3a 23214-183 According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is disclosed, an apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comp-rises: a. means Eor tying down a Eirst wheel of a vehicle to a base support; b. means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel; c. means for continuously applying tension to said tie-down means of said Eirst and second wheels; and d. means interposed between said tensioning means and said first and second wheels for rigidly securing said tying means to said base support respectively with respect to each wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the front wheel, which comprises: a. first wheel tie-down means Eor encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a flrst end portion for securement thereof to said base support; c. means for selectively and simultaneously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means; d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of ~ r; ~
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3b 2321~-183 tension applied to said first wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as re~uired; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said second wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required~
~ ccording to a third broad aspect of the present invention; there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base suppor-t, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the first fron-t wheel, which comprises:
a. base support means dimensioned and configured Eor supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle; b. first wheel tle-down means for encompassing at leas-t a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end por~ion for applying tie down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means; c. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means; d. means for selectively and simultaneously applying and maintaining tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second whee~ tie-down means and associated chain means and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition;
3c 2321~1-183 e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said Eirst wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value; and f. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value.
According to a fourth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a system for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in tandem alignment with the front wheel which comprises: a. a base support plate dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle, said base support plate having a plurality oE slots positioned for reception of wheel tie-down hooks; b. a Eirst wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing a-t least a portion oE the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate; a second wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate;
c. means for selectively applying and maintaining tension to at ~'; ~`;' , !'.1' ~
3d 23214-183 least one portlon of each of said Eirst and second wheel tie-down harnesses and Eor continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermined tensioned condition which comprises:
i. a housing; ii. two opposed toothed gear rac~s positioned within said housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away from each other; iii. a pinion mounted within said housing Eor rotational simultaneous toothed engagement with said gear racks so as to provide movement of said racks toward and away Erom each other depending upon the direction of said pinion gear;
iv. a coil spring attached to opposed end portions of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, each coil spring being attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portions of said wheel tie-down harnesses; v. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with said pinion gear and having associated therewith two spaced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of said ratchet gear as said ratchet gear rotates; vi. a handle mounted to said housing for pivotal rotation and connected to said ratchet and said pinion so as to simultaneously rotate therewith when said handle is rotated; vii. cam means rotatably mounted to one of said pawls and being dimensioned and configured such that rotation of said cam means in a first direction causes sequential engagement and disengagement of said pawls so as to release tension on said wheel chains and rota-tion of said cam means in a second direction removes said cam means lnto sequential interference relation with said pawls as said handle is rotated in a back and forth motion such that said pawls sequentially rotate said ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and in a direction to cause tensioning of said , r~
3e 23214-183 wheel chains; an~ viii. a bracket connected to an end portion of each harness to attach each harness to said base support plate and to guide each wheel chain Erom said harness to said chain tensioning unit, each said braclcet containing ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chain by engagement oE the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tenslon thus applied to each wheel chain and ratche-t tooth and said respective brac~et and to said base support plate.
According to a fifth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down cargo to a base support which comprises: a. tie-down means configured and adapted to encompass and extend about at least a major portion of the cargo sufficient for tying down the cargo, said tie-down means having at least one end portion adapted to be secured to the base support and at least a second end portion adapted for applying tension thereto; b. means for directly and continuously applying tension to at least said second end portion of said tie-down means; and c. means located along said tie-down meansr spaced at a distance away from said tension applying means, and interposed between said tension applying means and the first end portion oE
the tie-down means, for rigidly restraining and securing at least said second end portion oE said cargo tie-down means to the base support and for ~aintaining tension on said cargo tie-down means with respect to the cargo so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to the cargo by said cargo tie-down means while continuously permitting the application of tension to said cargo tie-down means as required to maintain a predetermined tension ~3~
3f 2321~-183 while the cargo is restrained.
According to a sixth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises: a. first wheel tie-down means conEigured to encompass at least a portion of a first wheel Eor tying down the first wheel of the vehicle to the base support, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereoE to the base support; b. second wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means a-t a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support; c. means for continuously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means; d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel Eor rigidly securing at least one end portion of said first wheel tie-down means directly to said base sllpport with respect to said first wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while con-tinuously permitting the applica-tion of additional tension; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said second wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said second wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension.
In a preferred embodiment an apparatus is disclosed for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel Jt and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment wlth the front wheel, which comprises, ba6e ~upport means dimensioned and configured for supporting at least the ~irst and ~econd wheel~ of the vehicle, Pirst wheel tie-down mean~ for encnmpas~ing at least a portion of the fir~t wheel, the first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for ~ecurement to the base support, second wheel tie-down ~eans Por encompassing at least a portion of the ~econd whael, the ~econd wheel tie-down means having means at each end portlon for securement to the ba~e support, and means for,~electively and simultaneously applylng t~n~on to at lea~t one end port~on o~ each o~ the flr~t and ~econd wheel tie-down mean6 and for continuously maintainlng the wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition and automat~cally increa~ing the tension applied to the first and second wheel tie-down means in response to decreases in tension.
The apparatu~ according to the invention include~ a ba~e support me~ns in the form of a support plate de~ining a plurality o~ ~lots for reception of ~heel tie-down device~. This support plate i8 pre~erably welded to a fir~t bed o~ a rail car.
Wheel harnesses are adapted to encompa~ at laast a portion of the fir~t wheel and include tle-dvwn "T"-shaped hooks means dimens~oned and conf~gured for insertion into the slots of the base support plate and rotated to interference relation therewith 60 as not to be readlly removable. The harne6ses are preferably constructed oP synthetlc fiber webbing ~uch as nylon or polyester, but ~ay be made of any strong durable material having little ~tretch under tension.
Chains are connected rom each nylon harness and extend into a unit for applying ten~ion to the chains to promote tie~down o~ the Pir~t and second wheel tle-down mean~
The t.ensionlng unit includes two gear racks and common plnlon connected to a plvotally attached handle with ratchet and dual pawl~ for alternate engagement with the ratchet to provida ~tepped rotat~on o~ the ratchet and pin~on. The ten~onlng un~t al80 includes a coil spring attached to ona end o~ each associated elongated rack member and at the other end to an associated wheel chain.
At least two pawls are pivotally arranged and biased for selective and sequential movement into and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel such that rotation of the ratchet means and the pinion gear against the tension forces provided by the resillent spring means alternately tran6fer~ the forces from the tension between the first and eecond pawls as the ratchet means and the pinion means are E~imultaneously rotated.
The handle is preferably connected ~or rotation with the ratchet and the pinion for providing selective rotation of the ratchet means and the pinlorl means when the handle mean~ i8 xotated to thereby cauae the elongated gear racks to move in parallel directions toward each other to apply tension to the wheel chain6.
Means for releasing tension to the elongated gear racks and the wheel chains comprises cam means pivotally ~ttached to one of the pawls and dimensioned and configured for engagement by at least a portion of the handle means when the handle means is rotated in predetermined directlon relative to the pawls to sequentially dlsengaga each of the pawls from the ratchet means ~o as to facilitate corresponding stepped rotation of the ratchet means and the p~nion means in a direction to cause the elongated rack members to move away from each other to thereby reduce the tension applied to the chain means when the cam i~ rotated to its ~econd po~itlon it no longer inter~ere~ with the handle and ratchet and pawl operation and thus rotates the ratchet and plnlon in steps in a direction to ~ncrease the tension on the tie-down cha~n~ and harnesses.
A bracket i6 selectively 6ecured to the base support plate by mean~ o~ a nT" hook having a "T"
conf~guratlon, each the hook ~elng in6erted lnto ~
~elective adjacent ~lot ~n the base eupport plate and rotated to an ~nterfering relation with the base support plate to prevent removal of the "~" hook when tension is applied thereto by the wheel chains and the tension applying means. The bracket contains a ra~chet and pawl arrangement to transfer the tenslon forces to the bracket and thereby to the base plate of the apparatus.
A system is disclosed for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a ba~e support, tha vehicle having at least a first front wh~el and a second rear wheel pos~tloned in tandem alignment with the front wheel whic~ comprises a base eupport plate dimen~loned and con~igured for support~ng at least the ~irst ancl second wheels of the vehicle. The base ~upport plate has a plurality of 610ts positioned for reception o~ whee]. tie-down hooks, a fir~t wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the first whael, the Z5 flrst wheel ~e-down harness having a t~e-down ~ecurement hook posit~oned at each end for securement to the base support plate. A second wheel tie-down harnes3 ~
dimensioned and configured for encompassing a~ least a portion of the ~econd wheel, the second wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down ~ecurement hook positioned at each end for securement to the ha~ support plate. Means for selectively applying and maintain~ng tension to at least one portion of each of the first and second wheel tie-down harnesses and for continuou~ly maintaining the wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermlned tensioned -- f~
condition is provided which oompri6es, a housing, two opposed tooth~d gear rack~ positiuned withln the housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away Erom each other, and a pinlon mounted within the housing for rotatlonal ~imultaneous toothed engagement with the year racks ~o as to provide movement oP the racks toward and away from each other depending upoh the direction of the p~nion gear. A coll spring is attached to opposed end portlons of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, ~ach coil ~pring i~ attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portlons of the wheel tie-clown harne~ses. A toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with the pinion gear and having a~sociated therewith t.wo sp~ced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear as the ratchet gear rotates. A handle is mounted to the housing for p~votal rotation and conneoted to the ratchet and the pinion ~o as to ~mult~nsou~ly rotate therewith when the handle i6 rotated. Cam means is rotatably mounted to one of the pawls and bsin~
dimensloned and con~igured such that rotation o$ the cam means to a fir~t position causes sequential engagement and disengagement of the pawls ~o as to release tan~ion on the wheel chalnæ and rotation o~ the cam means in a ~econd directlon removes the cam means into sequential interference relation with the pawls as the handle is rotated in a back and forth motlon such that the pawls sequentially rotate th~ ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and ln a direction to cause tensioning of the wheel chains. A bracket is connectad to ~n end portion of each harness to attach each harnes~ to the base 6upport plate and to guide each wheel chain ~rom the harness to the chain tensiGning unlt. Each brac~et contains ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chaln by engagement o~ the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tension thus applled to each whe~l chain and ratch~t tooth and the respective bracket and to the base ~upport plate.
The present in~ention i~ easily utlliz~d along with existing devices sln~a exi~ting devicas are attached to the frame of the automsblle and the present apparatus secures two wheels. Also it will be appreciated that a plurality of tensionlng unlts of the present lnvention can be ~lidably posltloned on a rail car and each ~ystem can be used to tle-down a front and rear wheel of the ~ame vehicle or alternately, the rear wheel of one v~hicle and the front wheel of an ad~acent vehicle. Also, it will be appreciated that the present apparatu~ can be used with a plurality of differ~nt ~ized automob~les by merely elidlng a plurality of tensioning units in respective pos~tions along an end rail of a flatbed car to accommodate as many automobiles of a given size as w~ll f~t on a rail car.
The flatbed o~ the car can b~ provided wlth ~ plurality of continuous slotted base support plates to accept a plur~lity of cars parked in tandem r~latlon along the length of the ~latbed car.
Although my invention :Lncludes posts for mounting and storing harne~ses, ~uch posts are optlonal.
~urther, it should be no~ed that a significant feature ~f my invention pertains to the capabil~ty to automatically maintain tension of the wheel tie-down chains and to automatically ta~e-up 61ack in the chains occurr~ng due to temporary or perman~nt changes in tire shapes, or stretching of eguipment due to sudden deceleratlons or impacts or even sudden accelerations. In the case of a tire yoing flat, my tens~on apparatus will take-up any resultant 61ac~ in the tle-down chain~ up to 14 to 16 lnches.
- r` 13U~$~
Brief De~cr~ption of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with re~erence to the drawings wherein:
FIG. l is a perep~ctive view illu~trating an apparatu~ and ~ystem for tying down wheeled veh~cles constructed according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspec~ive view of the apparatus ~hown i~ FIG. l illu~trating the arrangement for tying down two wheels of a vehicle with the actual vehicle body removed for convenience o~ illustratlon:
FIG. 3 is a top vlew partially in cross-section of the central cha~n tensioning unit of the lnvention;
FIG. 4 i~ a front vlew partially in cros~-Bection of the central chain tQnsioning unit shown in FIG.
3;
FI~. 5 iB a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 illu~tratlng the pocket wheel arrangement ~or guiding and maintaining one wheel loading chain ln the proper orientation for ty~ng down the wheel:
FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged sequential views illustrating the tension release mechanism fox releasing tension from the chain~ of the wheel tie-d~wn chains FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged view~ ~llustrating the tens1on applying mechanl~m for the wheel tie-down chains:
FIG. lO i~ a s~de v~ew o~ a wheel tied down by a harness to a deck plate with means for ~aintaining cha~n tension: and FIG. ll i~ a front view of the wheel of FIG. lO
tied down to a deck plate with a corresponding front view of ~he means for ~aintaining chain tension.
Detailed De6cription o~ the Pre~erred _mbodiments Referrlng to FIG. 1 there ~8 illustrated a perspective vlew of the apparatus lo and ~ystem for tying down wheel~ constructed according to the present lnvention. A slotted plate 12 is secured to a common base plate 14 which i~ ln turn secured to a deck of a transporting vehicle or other ground 8upport for reception o~ each of a forward 16 and rearward 18 wheels of a vehicle to be transported a~ is shown ln ~IG. 2. It should be noted that the entire ~ase plate 14 and attached slotted vehicle support plate 12 may be secured to any o~
a plurality o~ base ~upport~ lncludlng the deck of a flatbed truck or the deck of a cargo ~essel or any ground support. It may al60 be ~ecured to a base support of an air transport plane.
~ eferrlng to FIG. 1 there is lllustrated a front wheel harness 20 and 22 each balng stored ~n pos~tion when not in use as shown on respective associated storing posts 24 and 26. Harne~ses 20 and 22 are pre~erably constructed of a strong durable material such as nylon and each is prov~ded with threP separ~tely positioned end straps 28 and 30 as shown to accommodate automobile wheels o~ various sizes. These ~traps 28 and 30 each respectively contaln "T" hooks 32 and 34 as shown for use in securing the associated end of the nylon harness to the deck plate 12 by insertion lnto the slots of base plate 12 and rotation to prevent withdrawal from tha 810t in accordance wlth the arrangements shown ln FIG. 2.
Referring now to FIG. 2 in con~unction w~th FIG.
3 wheels 16 and 18 of a vehicle are located on slotted base plate 12 and the vehicle is secured ~n posltion by securing these wheels ut~l~zing nylon harnesses 20 and 22 respect~vely as ~hown. The ~nner end of each nylon harness ~s secured to the base plate by an approprlate "T"
hook 34 and 36 (36 not shown in FIG. ~) and the opposite end of each nylon harnes6 16 and lB is re~pectively secured to base plate 12 by "T" hooks 32 and 34 ("T" hook 34 not shown in ~IG. 2). In operat~on ~he "T~' hook~ are dimensioned to be inserted ~nto the slots 11 of ba~e plate 12 and rotated 90 de~rees so as to prevent removal of the "~" hooks by the lnterference relation thereby created.
Each inner end of each nylon harness is respectively connected to a tensloning chain 38 and 40 (38 not shown in FIG. 2) which in turn i5 connected to a base securement bracket 42 and 44 (42 not ~hown in FIG. 2) having the construction illu3trated at 42 ~n FIG. 11. The hous~ng contains a rotatable cha~n pocket wheel for engaged reception of the chain in correspondingly configured poakets and a ratchet wheel and pawl arrangement to maintain pre-applied tension on the wheel chain. The pocket wheel receives chain 40 and turns its direct~on toward the central tensioning unit 46.
Re~erring now to FIG. 3 there i~ illustrated a top view, partially in aross-~ection, of the c~ntral chain tensionln~ unit 46 wh~ch orms part of the invention.
FIG. 4 illu~7trates a front view, partlally in cross-section, o~ the central chain tensioning unit 46 o~ FIG.
3. ~he chain tensloning unit 46 has positioned therein, ~paced elongated toothed racks 48 and 50 which are arranged to 6hift toward and away from each other by rotational movement of pinion 52 as shown. Each rack 48 and 50 is connected to a re6pective ~pr~ng 53 and 54 which in turn are each connected by hook ends 56 and 58 to respective chains 40 and 38. The pinlon is connected ~or rotation with handle 60 which ~s connected to ratchet 62 as shown in FI~. 4. Handle 60 also has attached thereto pivotal spring loaded pawl 62 and there i~ also positioned pawl 64 which ~s spring loaded by spring 68 as shown.
Pawl 64 is pivoted to the frame and spring 68 is attached to the frame. Pawl 63 i~ spring loaded by spring 66.
Referring once again to FIGS. 3 and 4 tensloning of the respective wheel chains 40 and 38 i6 accomplished by rotating handle 60 in a counterclockwi6e d~rection so as to rotate ratchet wheel 62 and pinion S2 by engagement of pawl 63 with a tooth of rat~het wheel 62. Rotation of plnion 52 in turn engages the teeth 4~ and 51 of racks 48 and 50 and causes them to move simultaneously toward each other thereby extending ~prings 53 and 54 and thu~
applying tenslonlng to chain~ 38 and 40. As pawl 63 remains in engagement with the tooth of ratchet wheel 62 as shown, the ratchet wheel and plvot cont~nue to rotate until pawl 64 drops by pressure caused by spring 68 into the next available tooth o~ ratchet wheel 62 thereby effect~vely holding ratchet wheel 62 and pinion 52 in thi~
new rotated position. This engagement actually maintains any tenslon thus ~ar applied to springs 53 and 54 and respective chains 40 and 38. Therea~ter, handle 60 i~
rotated back In a clockwise direction until the end of pawl 63 drops into the next availablQ tooth and the process i~ repeated until ~u~ficient tension ~s applied to the respective chains 40 and 3~ thus applyinq sufficient tension to ~ecure the vehicle to the deck.
Chains 38 and 40 are each rece~ved in respective p3cket wheels 39 and 41 which contain a plurality of ~uccessive po~ket6 whlch alternat~ly receive chain link~
in nestled relation BO as to a~ t the chain to remain in position in any predetermined, loaded position~ Once the chains ar~ tensioned and the vehicle i8 tied down as ~hown in FIG. 2 transporting the vehicle can proc0ed whereby the vehicle is secured and protected agalnst the po~sibil~ty oP relativaly quick accelerations and deceleration~ as well as relatively high ~mpacts o the main tran~porting vehicle. To protect and preserve the tension which has ~3~,~ ~
been applled to the wheel tle-down chain~ 38 and 40, a tension locking arrangement ~hown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is disclosed in greater detail ln FIG5. 10 and 11. For convenlence of descrlption base securement bracket 42 and associated hardware i5 shown in FIG. 10: however, base securement bracket 44 associated with wheel 18 is substantlally the same as bracket 42, but not shown.
Re~erring to ~IG. 10, a U-shaped bracket 70 ~
shown. Bracket 70 in FIG. 10 has associated therewith a chain guide 72 with chain pocket wheel 74 and associated ratchet wheel 76 rotatably mounted on shaft 78. Pawl 80 i~ pivotally mo~nted to bracket 42 and is ~pring loaded by a spring (not ~hown) concentrically positloned on the same shaft as the pawl ~0 (behind it in FIG. 11~ E;uch that pawl 16 80 engages successive teeth of ratchet w~eel 76. As the respective tension o~ the cha~ns 38 and 40 ls increased pawl 80 engage~ successive teeth of ratchet wheel 76 so as to mainta~n the tension on tho chaln. Thus, in the event of impact of the main vehicle and movement or shifting of the tran~ported vehicle dua to hlgh acceleration or the lika, this ratchet wheel 76 and pawl 80 effectively transfers the major vehicle stabiliz~ng foroe to the slotted plate and deck via IIT~ hook 36 and base securement bracket 4 2 while at the ~ame time permittlng automatic tightening of the chain tension as may be needed while transporting the vehicle as w~ll he described here~nbelow.
It should be noted that U-shaped bracket 42 has assoc~ated therewlth a "T" hook which 18 readily insertable into the slotted plate and readily removable from the slotted plate as disclosed previou~ly ~or the 'IT" hooks. Upon removal the ~haped bracket 42 is stored as shown in FIG. 1 on its respe~tive support post 24 and 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 there is illustrated the dev~ce which permits selective release of chain tension and select~ve application of tenslon to the wheel chains 38 and 40 as ~ay be desired by the operator.
Initially, the arrangement which :Eacilitates release of chain tension as shown ln FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described.
In FIGS. 6 and 7 the arrows show the direction of the handle at tha end of eaoh ~troke as shown..
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there i8 6hOWn handle 60 and which is attached to ratchet wheel 62 which ln turn is engaged by top pawl 63 (attached to handle 60) and lock~ng pawl 64. Behind ratchet wheel 62 i5 plnion 52 which is not ~hown in ~IGS. 6 and 7 but sho~n in FIGS. 3 and 4. Upper pawl 63 is b~ased toward the teeth of the ratchet whael ~2 by spring 66 attached to handle 60 and pawl 64 i8 biased toward the tQeth of the ratchet wheel by spxing 68 attached to the frame wall of tensioning unit 10.
Pawl 64 has pivotally attached to it a double cam 81 consisting of a full ~ized cam 82 ~hown partially in dotted lines and po~itioned behind pawl 64 as shown in FI~. 7 and a cam 84 in front o~ pawl 64 as shown in ~IGS.
S and 7 which is identical to cam 82 except that the upper left hand port~on ls removed as de~ined ~y dlagonal edg~.
Release o~ the chain tension i6 accomplished when this double cam 81 ls rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. When handle ~0 i5 rotated clockwise a3 6hown in FIG. 6 the upper le~t hand corner of full ~ized cam 82 engage~ pin 88 extending t~rough and carried by pawl 63 thus in turn lifting pawl ~3 out of engagement wlth the tooth of the ratchet wheel 62 as ~hown. Pa~ls 63 and 64 are thus dimensioned ~uch that when pawl 63 is lifted out of engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 62, the ratchet wheel rotates sl~ghtly clockwise due to the tension provided by spring~ 53 and 54, and ratchet wheel 62 engages and i~ stopped by pawl 64 which thereby assumes the load of maintaining cha~n tension. Thereafter, handle 60 is rotated counterclockwisa until t~e lower end 90 - ~3~6~3~
engages th8 lower portion o~ front cam 84 as shown thus cau~ing pawl 64 to lift out o~ engagement with the ratchet wheel tooth and permitting th2 ratchet wheel and pinion to rotate clockwise further by the tenslon ~orces provided by springs 53 and 54 until pawl 63 engages the next tooth and thereby assumes the load. Thus, this rotation of pinion 62 causes movement of associated racks 48 and 50 away from each other thereby Eelea~ing the tens~on of cha~ns 38 and 40. Full r21ease i8 accomplished by sequentlally repeat~ng the "back and forth" rotational motion of the handle as described whlch ~5 ~lmilar to the well known release motlon of an auto bumper ~ack.
The structure and sequential step~ for tensioning chains 38 and 40 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIGS. 8 and 9 the arrows show the direction o~ ~he handle at the beginnin~ of each stroke as shown. When a vehlcle is in po~ltion awaltiny tie-down and the harnesses~ 20 and 22 have been posit~on~d about the forward and aft wheel~ of the vehicle utilizing the "T" hooks 32 and 34 and brackets 42 and 44 a~
described, the next ~tep In the tie-down procedure ie to apply tension to chains 38 and 40. This ~s acoompllshed by rotating the double cam ~1 to the upright position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and thereafter rotating handle 60 with the same "back and forth" motion utllized ~or releasing chain tensioning. The difference here i~ that the cam portions are thus inactivated from inter~ering with the natural motion and motion o~ the handle 60 and pawl~ 63 and S4.
Rotation o~ handle 60 in a counterclo~kwise direction as ~hown in FIG. 8 causes pawl 63 to rotate ratchet whe21 62 by engagement of pawl 63 with the tooth of the ratchet wheel as shown. As thi~ rotation cont~nues pawl 64 in turn remains in it~ engaged posltion biased against the surface o~ the ratchet wheel 62 by ~pring 68 ~3~
while a~sociated ratchet wheel tooth ~lides past the tip of the pawl. Ultimately, as the ratchet wheel 62 continues to rotate counterclockwise, pawl 64 drops lnto engaged position w~th the next available tooth of ratchet wheel 52 as 6hown in FIG. 9. This action i~ caused by virtue of the blas force of æpring S~ and thus act~on thereby transfers the chain t~nsion load to pawl 64 and permits handle 60 to be rotated clockwise once again to engage the next available ratchet wheel tooth for seguentlal and continued counterclockwi~e rotation of the ratchet whesl 62. This rotation of ra~chet wheel 62 l~
accompanied by correspnnding rotation o~ pinion 52 po~itioned behind the ratchet wheel 62 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the counterclockwise rotation of the plnion 52 causing corresponding movement of racks 4B and 50 toward each other with re~ultant tensioning of 6prlng~ 53 and 54 as well as tensioning of chains 40 and 38.
lt can be ~een that when chain~ 40 and 38 and re~pective sprlng6 52 and 54 are maintained in tension to ~ecure the wheel~ of a vehicle to ~lotted base plate 12 and thereby to the associated deck, the tension iB
continuously ma~ntained by the springs 52 and 54 at all times. In fact in a preferred embodiment the take-up capability of the port~on of the length of each chain 38 and 40 ranges from between 14 to 16 inches. This continuous application of tension on chains 38 and 40 retains the wheels of the vehicle securely t~ed dswn to the base plate 12 while permit~ing the vehicle to ride free on its own ~uspension. Furthermore, the tens~on whlch is continuously applled to cha~ns 38 and 40 i~
readily aYailable and utilized in instances where unwanted occurrences occur 6uch as partial or fully ~la~tening of a tire or even temporary extreme cru~hing of a tlxe which has been known to be caused by impact of the maln carrier vehicle with another ob~ect. Tn particular, it ha~ been ! ~
- ~L3q~
found that ~uch extreme crushing of a tlre due to lmpact of the main carrisr vehicle oft~n is temporary with the tire comln~ back to its orlginal shape. With prior art de~ices ~uch exten~ive crushing of the tire ~ctually causes changes ln the tie-down systems ~uch as ~tretching or releasing of components or the lik~ with the re~ult that when the tire returned ko its original conPlguration the tie-down tensio~ had been relieved and the vehicle was free to move on its support. ~hus, such prior art devices were deficlent in thi~ respect.
Wlth the present invention any ma~or changes in - tire conPiguration or the like causes the chains 4~ and 3 to become increasingly ten~ioned and thie ten~ion is maintained by the ratchet wheel and pawl arrangements of brackets 42 and 44 as descrlbed. The advantage o~ the present arrangement ls that upon return to status quo, the vehicle wlll be tied down even tighter than before the temporary change ln configuration occurred. In particular, it has been ~ound that in one pre~erred ambodiment an ~mpact o~ the carrler vehicle occurred at 13.6 mph causing 6evere temporary dlstortion of one of the tires o~ the vehlcle to the extent that the steal rlm o the wheel shifted toward the de~ok plate and Wa~ actually prevented to move ~orward only ]by the thickness of the rubber tire, indlcating that at least at one location the tire was almost completely collapsed. However, after impact the tire assumed its original shape once again and the tie down apparatu~ accord~ng to the present invention had ma~ntained the wheals o~ the vehicle in posit~on by tension on the chains 38 and 40 which was substantially greater than the tension originally applled. Thls result was caused by the ~act that the tension which was continuously applled sprlngs 53 and 54 caused the chains to immediately take-up any temporary available slack ~n the system when the distortion occurred, while the tie-down brackets 42 and ~4 and ~sociated ratchet wheel~ and pawls (such as wheel 76 and pawl 80 shown in FIG. 11) prevented release of the lncreased tenslon thus applied.
Thls action cause~ the load applied by ~pring~ 53 and 54 to be effectively transferred to the base plate 12 and the associated deck.
One prior art system includes hold-down devlces for automobiles whlch surround a ma~or portion of the lndividual automobil~ wheels and are each provided with a tensloning mechanism to 6ecure the wheel agalnBt the base support. Another ~ystem provides individual wheel hold-down harnesses and whael chock~ posltioned on each side of the wheel and provided with a crank and a~so~iated har~ware mechanism for applylng ~en~ion to the harness wh~le ~ ammin~ the chocks against th~ wheel . Still another ~ystem includes a multiple chain and ratchet ~y~tem to ~ecure the frame of the vehicle to the flatbed with the ratchet ~ystem ma~ntaining the tenslon thus applled to the chains. In general, there are numerous fiystems for ty~ng down or otherwise 6ecuring automobile~ or other wheeled vehicles to flatbed transport cars. These sy~tems o~ten lnclude common hook-type and chaln hardware, cranks;
ratchet wheels or the like. ~owever, although many o~
these sy~tems are usually only effecti~e in applying tension to chains or harne~see which hold down ~elected components of the automobile, none of them are capable of mainta~ning the tension thus applied or even taking-up slack in the t~e-down dev~ces caused by minor aberrations or changes generally occurring in the ten~ion By~tem during transport. For examplel on occasion the main transport ~ehicle in a minor accident will undergo impact with another automobile causing shi~ting of the transport 3~
3 23214-1~3 vehicles with resultant stretching oE components or distortion oE
tires at critical locations. When such incidents occurred with prior art systems, these systems do not have the capability of automatically replacing the resultant lost tension on the major tie-down components to thereby talce-up the slack created durlng the disturbances. Accordingly, when a disturbance does occur, resumption of motion of the flatbed is normally prevented by the fact that some or most oE the vehicles previously tied down have worked themselves loose. Further, these prior art devices do not include features to transfer the main tension carrying load within a chain or other tie-down component so as to shift that tension load to a major load carrying portion of the flatbed vehicle while protecting the main tensioning mechanism -from -fluctuations in tension caused by impact of the main vehicle or quick accelerations or decelerations thereof. I have invented an apparatus and system for tying down wheeled vehicles which avoids all of the aforementioned disadvantages oE the prior art devices.
Summary of the Invention An apparatus and system is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises, means for tying down a irst wheel of a vehicle to a base support, means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, means for applying tension to the tie-down means of the first and second wheels, and means for simultaneously maintaining the tension thus applied to the tie-down means of the first and second wheels.
- , ,~,, 3a 23214-183 According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is disclosed, an apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comp-rises: a. means Eor tying down a Eirst wheel of a vehicle to a base support; b. means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel; c. means for continuously applying tension to said tie-down means of said Eirst and second wheels; and d. means interposed between said tensioning means and said first and second wheels for rigidly securing said tying means to said base support respectively with respect to each wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the front wheel, which comprises: a. first wheel tie-down means Eor encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a flrst end portion for securement thereof to said base support; c. means for selectively and simultaneously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means; d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of ~ r; ~
~3~
3b 2321~-183 tension applied to said first wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as re~uired; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said second wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required~
~ ccording to a third broad aspect of the present invention; there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base suppor-t, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the first fron-t wheel, which comprises:
a. base support means dimensioned and configured Eor supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle; b. first wheel tle-down means for encompassing at leas-t a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end por~ion for applying tie down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means; c. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means; d. means for selectively and simultaneously applying and maintaining tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second whee~ tie-down means and associated chain means and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition;
3c 2321~1-183 e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said Eirst wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value; and f. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value.
According to a fourth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a system for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in tandem alignment with the front wheel which comprises: a. a base support plate dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle, said base support plate having a plurality oE slots positioned for reception of wheel tie-down hooks; b. a Eirst wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing a-t least a portion oE the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate; a second wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate;
c. means for selectively applying and maintaining tension to at ~'; ~`;' , !'.1' ~
3d 23214-183 least one portlon of each of said Eirst and second wheel tie-down harnesses and Eor continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermined tensioned condition which comprises:
i. a housing; ii. two opposed toothed gear rac~s positioned within said housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away from each other; iii. a pinion mounted within said housing Eor rotational simultaneous toothed engagement with said gear racks so as to provide movement of said racks toward and away Erom each other depending upon the direction of said pinion gear;
iv. a coil spring attached to opposed end portions of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, each coil spring being attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portions of said wheel tie-down harnesses; v. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with said pinion gear and having associated therewith two spaced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of said ratchet gear as said ratchet gear rotates; vi. a handle mounted to said housing for pivotal rotation and connected to said ratchet and said pinion so as to simultaneously rotate therewith when said handle is rotated; vii. cam means rotatably mounted to one of said pawls and being dimensioned and configured such that rotation of said cam means in a first direction causes sequential engagement and disengagement of said pawls so as to release tension on said wheel chains and rota-tion of said cam means in a second direction removes said cam means lnto sequential interference relation with said pawls as said handle is rotated in a back and forth motion such that said pawls sequentially rotate said ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and in a direction to cause tensioning of said , r~
3e 23214-183 wheel chains; an~ viii. a bracket connected to an end portion of each harness to attach each harness to said base support plate and to guide each wheel chain Erom said harness to said chain tensioning unit, each said braclcet containing ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chain by engagement oE the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tenslon thus applied to each wheel chain and ratche-t tooth and said respective brac~et and to said base support plate.
According to a fifth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down cargo to a base support which comprises: a. tie-down means configured and adapted to encompass and extend about at least a major portion of the cargo sufficient for tying down the cargo, said tie-down means having at least one end portion adapted to be secured to the base support and at least a second end portion adapted for applying tension thereto; b. means for directly and continuously applying tension to at least said second end portion of said tie-down means; and c. means located along said tie-down meansr spaced at a distance away from said tension applying means, and interposed between said tension applying means and the first end portion oE
the tie-down means, for rigidly restraining and securing at least said second end portion oE said cargo tie-down means to the base support and for ~aintaining tension on said cargo tie-down means with respect to the cargo so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to the cargo by said cargo tie-down means while continuously permitting the application of tension to said cargo tie-down means as required to maintain a predetermined tension ~3~
3f 2321~-183 while the cargo is restrained.
According to a sixth broad aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises: a. first wheel tie-down means conEigured to encompass at least a portion of a first wheel Eor tying down the first wheel of the vehicle to the base support, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereoE to the base support; b. second wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means a-t a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support; c. means for continuously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means; d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel Eor rigidly securing at least one end portion of said first wheel tie-down means directly to said base sllpport with respect to said first wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while con-tinuously permitting the applica-tion of additional tension; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said second wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said second wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension.
In a preferred embodiment an apparatus is disclosed for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel Jt and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment wlth the front wheel, which comprises, ba6e ~upport means dimensioned and configured for supporting at least the ~irst and ~econd wheel~ of the vehicle, Pirst wheel tie-down mean~ for encnmpas~ing at least a portion of the fir~t wheel, the first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for ~ecurement to the base support, second wheel tie-down ~eans Por encompassing at least a portion of the ~econd whael, the ~econd wheel tie-down means having means at each end portlon for securement to the ba~e support, and means for,~electively and simultaneously applylng t~n~on to at lea~t one end port~on o~ each o~ the flr~t and ~econd wheel tie-down mean6 and for continuously maintainlng the wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition and automat~cally increa~ing the tension applied to the first and second wheel tie-down means in response to decreases in tension.
The apparatu~ according to the invention include~ a ba~e support me~ns in the form of a support plate de~ining a plurality o~ ~lots for reception of ~heel tie-down device~. This support plate i8 pre~erably welded to a fir~t bed o~ a rail car.
Wheel harnesses are adapted to encompa~ at laast a portion of the fir~t wheel and include tle-dvwn "T"-shaped hooks means dimens~oned and conf~gured for insertion into the slots of the base support plate and rotated to interference relation therewith 60 as not to be readlly removable. The harne6ses are preferably constructed oP synthetlc fiber webbing ~uch as nylon or polyester, but ~ay be made of any strong durable material having little ~tretch under tension.
Chains are connected rom each nylon harness and extend into a unit for applying ten~ion to the chains to promote tie~down o~ the Pir~t and second wheel tle-down mean~
The t.ensionlng unit includes two gear racks and common plnlon connected to a plvotally attached handle with ratchet and dual pawl~ for alternate engagement with the ratchet to provida ~tepped rotat~on o~ the ratchet and pin~on. The ten~onlng un~t al80 includes a coil spring attached to ona end o~ each associated elongated rack member and at the other end to an associated wheel chain.
At least two pawls are pivotally arranged and biased for selective and sequential movement into and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel such that rotation of the ratchet means and the pinion gear against the tension forces provided by the resillent spring means alternately tran6fer~ the forces from the tension between the first and eecond pawls as the ratchet means and the pinion means are E~imultaneously rotated.
The handle is preferably connected ~or rotation with the ratchet and the pinion for providing selective rotation of the ratchet means and the pinlorl means when the handle mean~ i8 xotated to thereby cauae the elongated gear racks to move in parallel directions toward each other to apply tension to the wheel chain6.
Means for releasing tension to the elongated gear racks and the wheel chains comprises cam means pivotally ~ttached to one of the pawls and dimensioned and configured for engagement by at least a portion of the handle means when the handle means is rotated in predetermined directlon relative to the pawls to sequentially dlsengaga each of the pawls from the ratchet means ~o as to facilitate corresponding stepped rotation of the ratchet means and the p~nion means in a direction to cause the elongated rack members to move away from each other to thereby reduce the tension applied to the chain means when the cam i~ rotated to its ~econd po~itlon it no longer inter~ere~ with the handle and ratchet and pawl operation and thus rotates the ratchet and plnlon in steps in a direction to ~ncrease the tension on the tie-down cha~n~ and harnesses.
A bracket i6 selectively 6ecured to the base support plate by mean~ o~ a nT" hook having a "T"
conf~guratlon, each the hook ~elng in6erted lnto ~
~elective adjacent ~lot ~n the base eupport plate and rotated to an ~nterfering relation with the base support plate to prevent removal of the "~" hook when tension is applied thereto by the wheel chains and the tension applying means. The bracket contains a ra~chet and pawl arrangement to transfer the tenslon forces to the bracket and thereby to the base plate of the apparatus.
A system is disclosed for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a ba~e support, tha vehicle having at least a first front wh~el and a second rear wheel pos~tloned in tandem alignment with the front wheel whic~ comprises a base eupport plate dimen~loned and con~igured for support~ng at least the ~irst ancl second wheels of the vehicle. The base ~upport plate has a plurality of 610ts positioned for reception o~ whee]. tie-down hooks, a fir~t wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the first whael, the Z5 flrst wheel ~e-down harness having a t~e-down ~ecurement hook posit~oned at each end for securement to the base support plate. A second wheel tie-down harnes3 ~
dimensioned and configured for encompassing a~ least a portion of the ~econd wheel, the second wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down ~ecurement hook positioned at each end for securement to the ha~ support plate. Means for selectively applying and maintain~ng tension to at least one portion of each of the first and second wheel tie-down harnesses and for continuou~ly maintaining the wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermlned tensioned -- f~
condition is provided which oompri6es, a housing, two opposed tooth~d gear rack~ positiuned withln the housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away Erom each other, and a pinlon mounted within the housing for rotatlonal ~imultaneous toothed engagement with the year racks ~o as to provide movement oP the racks toward and away from each other depending upoh the direction of the p~nion gear. A coll spring is attached to opposed end portlons of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, ~ach coil ~pring i~ attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portlons of the wheel tie-clown harne~ses. A toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with the pinion gear and having a~sociated therewith t.wo sp~ced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear as the ratchet gear rotates. A handle is mounted to the housing for p~votal rotation and conneoted to the ratchet and the pinion ~o as to ~mult~nsou~ly rotate therewith when the handle i6 rotated. Cam means is rotatably mounted to one of the pawls and bsin~
dimensloned and con~igured such that rotation o$ the cam means to a fir~t position causes sequential engagement and disengagement of the pawls ~o as to release tan~ion on the wheel chalnæ and rotation o~ the cam means in a ~econd directlon removes the cam means into sequential interference relation with the pawls as the handle is rotated in a back and forth motlon such that the pawls sequentially rotate th~ ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and ln a direction to cause tensioning of the wheel chains. A bracket is connectad to ~n end portion of each harness to attach each harnes~ to the base 6upport plate and to guide each wheel chain ~rom the harness to the chain tensiGning unlt. Each brac~et contains ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chaln by engagement o~ the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tension thus applled to each whe~l chain and ratch~t tooth and the respective bracket and to the base ~upport plate.
The present in~ention i~ easily utlliz~d along with existing devices sln~a exi~ting devicas are attached to the frame of the automsblle and the present apparatus secures two wheels. Also it will be appreciated that a plurality of tensionlng unlts of the present lnvention can be ~lidably posltloned on a rail car and each ~ystem can be used to tle-down a front and rear wheel of the ~ame vehicle or alternately, the rear wheel of one v~hicle and the front wheel of an ad~acent vehicle. Also, it will be appreciated that the present apparatu~ can be used with a plurality of differ~nt ~ized automob~les by merely elidlng a plurality of tensioning units in respective pos~tions along an end rail of a flatbed car to accommodate as many automobiles of a given size as w~ll f~t on a rail car.
The flatbed o~ the car can b~ provided wlth ~ plurality of continuous slotted base support plates to accept a plur~lity of cars parked in tandem r~latlon along the length of the ~latbed car.
Although my invention :Lncludes posts for mounting and storing harne~ses, ~uch posts are optlonal.
~urther, it should be no~ed that a significant feature ~f my invention pertains to the capabil~ty to automatically maintain tension of the wheel tie-down chains and to automatically ta~e-up 61ack in the chains occurr~ng due to temporary or perman~nt changes in tire shapes, or stretching of eguipment due to sudden deceleratlons or impacts or even sudden accelerations. In the case of a tire yoing flat, my tens~on apparatus will take-up any resultant 61ac~ in the tle-down chain~ up to 14 to 16 lnches.
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Brief De~cr~ption of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with re~erence to the drawings wherein:
FIG. l is a perep~ctive view illu~trating an apparatu~ and ~ystem for tying down wheeled veh~cles constructed according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspec~ive view of the apparatus ~hown i~ FIG. l illu~trating the arrangement for tying down two wheels of a vehicle with the actual vehicle body removed for convenience o~ illustratlon:
FIG. 3 is a top vlew partially in cross-section of the central cha~n tensioning unit of the lnvention;
FIG. 4 i~ a front vlew partially in cros~-Bection of the central chain tQnsioning unit shown in FIG.
3;
FI~. 5 iB a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 illu~tratlng the pocket wheel arrangement ~or guiding and maintaining one wheel loading chain ln the proper orientation for ty~ng down the wheel:
FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged sequential views illustrating the tension release mechanism fox releasing tension from the chain~ of the wheel tie-d~wn chains FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged view~ ~llustrating the tens1on applying mechanl~m for the wheel tie-down chains:
FIG. lO i~ a s~de v~ew o~ a wheel tied down by a harness to a deck plate with means for ~aintaining cha~n tension: and FIG. ll i~ a front view of the wheel of FIG. lO
tied down to a deck plate with a corresponding front view of ~he means for ~aintaining chain tension.
Detailed De6cription o~ the Pre~erred _mbodiments Referrlng to FIG. 1 there ~8 illustrated a perspective vlew of the apparatus lo and ~ystem for tying down wheel~ constructed according to the present lnvention. A slotted plate 12 is secured to a common base plate 14 which i~ ln turn secured to a deck of a transporting vehicle or other ground 8upport for reception o~ each of a forward 16 and rearward 18 wheels of a vehicle to be transported a~ is shown ln ~IG. 2. It should be noted that the entire ~ase plate 14 and attached slotted vehicle support plate 12 may be secured to any o~
a plurality o~ base ~upport~ lncludlng the deck of a flatbed truck or the deck of a cargo ~essel or any ground support. It may al60 be ~ecured to a base support of an air transport plane.
~ eferrlng to FIG. 1 there is lllustrated a front wheel harness 20 and 22 each balng stored ~n pos~tion when not in use as shown on respective associated storing posts 24 and 26. Harne~ses 20 and 22 are pre~erably constructed of a strong durable material such as nylon and each is prov~ded with threP separ~tely positioned end straps 28 and 30 as shown to accommodate automobile wheels o~ various sizes. These ~traps 28 and 30 each respectively contaln "T" hooks 32 and 34 as shown for use in securing the associated end of the nylon harness to the deck plate 12 by insertion lnto the slots of base plate 12 and rotation to prevent withdrawal from tha 810t in accordance wlth the arrangements shown ln FIG. 2.
Referring now to FIG. 2 in con~unction w~th FIG.
3 wheels 16 and 18 of a vehicle are located on slotted base plate 12 and the vehicle is secured ~n posltion by securing these wheels ut~l~zing nylon harnesses 20 and 22 respect~vely as ~hown. The ~nner end of each nylon harness ~s secured to the base plate by an approprlate "T"
hook 34 and 36 (36 not shown in FIG. ~) and the opposite end of each nylon harnes6 16 and lB is re~pectively secured to base plate 12 by "T" hooks 32 and 34 ("T" hook 34 not shown in ~IG. 2). In operat~on ~he "T~' hook~ are dimensioned to be inserted ~nto the slots 11 of ba~e plate 12 and rotated 90 de~rees so as to prevent removal of the "~" hooks by the lnterference relation thereby created.
Each inner end of each nylon harness is respectively connected to a tensloning chain 38 and 40 (38 not shown in FIG. 2) which in turn i5 connected to a base securement bracket 42 and 44 (42 not ~hown in FIG. 2) having the construction illu3trated at 42 ~n FIG. 11. The hous~ng contains a rotatable cha~n pocket wheel for engaged reception of the chain in correspondingly configured poakets and a ratchet wheel and pawl arrangement to maintain pre-applied tension on the wheel chain. The pocket wheel receives chain 40 and turns its direct~on toward the central tensioning unit 46.
Re~erring now to FIG. 3 there i~ illustrated a top view, partially in aross-~ection, of the c~ntral chain tensionln~ unit 46 wh~ch orms part of the invention.
FIG. 4 illu~7trates a front view, partlally in cross-section, o~ the central chain tensioning unit 46 o~ FIG.
3. ~he chain tensloning unit 46 has positioned therein, ~paced elongated toothed racks 48 and 50 which are arranged to 6hift toward and away from each other by rotational movement of pinion 52 as shown. Each rack 48 and 50 is connected to a re6pective ~pr~ng 53 and 54 which in turn are each connected by hook ends 56 and 58 to respective chains 40 and 38. The pinlon is connected ~or rotation with handle 60 which ~s connected to ratchet 62 as shown in FI~. 4. Handle 60 also has attached thereto pivotal spring loaded pawl 62 and there i~ also positioned pawl 64 which ~s spring loaded by spring 68 as shown.
Pawl 64 is pivoted to the frame and spring 68 is attached to the frame. Pawl 63 i~ spring loaded by spring 66.
Referring once again to FIGS. 3 and 4 tensloning of the respective wheel chains 40 and 38 i6 accomplished by rotating handle 60 in a counterclockwi6e d~rection so as to rotate ratchet wheel 62 and pinion S2 by engagement of pawl 63 with a tooth of rat~het wheel 62. Rotation of plnion 52 in turn engages the teeth 4~ and 51 of racks 48 and 50 and causes them to move simultaneously toward each other thereby extending ~prings 53 and 54 and thu~
applying tenslonlng to chain~ 38 and 40. As pawl 63 remains in engagement with the tooth of ratchet wheel 62 as shown, the ratchet wheel and plvot cont~nue to rotate until pawl 64 drops by pressure caused by spring 68 into the next available tooth o~ ratchet wheel 62 thereby effect~vely holding ratchet wheel 62 and pinion 52 in thi~
new rotated position. This engagement actually maintains any tenslon thus ~ar applied to springs 53 and 54 and respective chains 40 and 38. Therea~ter, handle 60 i~
rotated back In a clockwise direction until the end of pawl 63 drops into the next availablQ tooth and the process i~ repeated until ~u~ficient tension ~s applied to the respective chains 40 and 3~ thus applyinq sufficient tension to ~ecure the vehicle to the deck.
Chains 38 and 40 are each rece~ved in respective p3cket wheels 39 and 41 which contain a plurality of ~uccessive po~ket6 whlch alternat~ly receive chain link~
in nestled relation BO as to a~ t the chain to remain in position in any predetermined, loaded position~ Once the chains ar~ tensioned and the vehicle i8 tied down as ~hown in FIG. 2 transporting the vehicle can proc0ed whereby the vehicle is secured and protected agalnst the po~sibil~ty oP relativaly quick accelerations and deceleration~ as well as relatively high ~mpacts o the main tran~porting vehicle. To protect and preserve the tension which has ~3~,~ ~
been applled to the wheel tle-down chain~ 38 and 40, a tension locking arrangement ~hown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is disclosed in greater detail ln FIG5. 10 and 11. For convenlence of descrlption base securement bracket 42 and associated hardware i5 shown in FIG. 10: however, base securement bracket 44 associated with wheel 18 is substantlally the same as bracket 42, but not shown.
Re~erring to ~IG. 10, a U-shaped bracket 70 ~
shown. Bracket 70 in FIG. 10 has associated therewith a chain guide 72 with chain pocket wheel 74 and associated ratchet wheel 76 rotatably mounted on shaft 78. Pawl 80 i~ pivotally mo~nted to bracket 42 and is ~pring loaded by a spring (not ~hown) concentrically positloned on the same shaft as the pawl ~0 (behind it in FIG. 11~ E;uch that pawl 16 80 engages successive teeth of ratchet w~eel 76. As the respective tension o~ the cha~ns 38 and 40 ls increased pawl 80 engage~ successive teeth of ratchet wheel 76 so as to mainta~n the tension on tho chaln. Thus, in the event of impact of the main vehicle and movement or shifting of the tran~ported vehicle dua to hlgh acceleration or the lika, this ratchet wheel 76 and pawl 80 effectively transfers the major vehicle stabiliz~ng foroe to the slotted plate and deck via IIT~ hook 36 and base securement bracket 4 2 while at the ~ame time permittlng automatic tightening of the chain tension as may be needed while transporting the vehicle as w~ll he described here~nbelow.
It should be noted that U-shaped bracket 42 has assoc~ated therewlth a "T" hook which 18 readily insertable into the slotted plate and readily removable from the slotted plate as disclosed previou~ly ~or the 'IT" hooks. Upon removal the ~haped bracket 42 is stored as shown in FIG. 1 on its respe~tive support post 24 and 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 there is illustrated the dev~ce which permits selective release of chain tension and select~ve application of tenslon to the wheel chains 38 and 40 as ~ay be desired by the operator.
Initially, the arrangement which :Eacilitates release of chain tension as shown ln FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described.
In FIGS. 6 and 7 the arrows show the direction of the handle at tha end of eaoh ~troke as shown..
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there i8 6hOWn handle 60 and which is attached to ratchet wheel 62 which ln turn is engaged by top pawl 63 (attached to handle 60) and lock~ng pawl 64. Behind ratchet wheel 62 i5 plnion 52 which is not ~hown in ~IGS. 6 and 7 but sho~n in FIGS. 3 and 4. Upper pawl 63 is b~ased toward the teeth of the ratchet whael ~2 by spring 66 attached to handle 60 and pawl 64 i8 biased toward the tQeth of the ratchet wheel by spxing 68 attached to the frame wall of tensioning unit 10.
Pawl 64 has pivotally attached to it a double cam 81 consisting of a full ~ized cam 82 ~hown partially in dotted lines and po~itioned behind pawl 64 as shown in FI~. 7 and a cam 84 in front o~ pawl 64 as shown in ~IGS.
S and 7 which is identical to cam 82 except that the upper left hand port~on ls removed as de~ined ~y dlagonal edg~.
Release o~ the chain tension i6 accomplished when this double cam 81 ls rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. When handle ~0 i5 rotated clockwise a3 6hown in FIG. 6 the upper le~t hand corner of full ~ized cam 82 engage~ pin 88 extending t~rough and carried by pawl 63 thus in turn lifting pawl ~3 out of engagement wlth the tooth of the ratchet wheel 62 as ~hown. Pa~ls 63 and 64 are thus dimensioned ~uch that when pawl 63 is lifted out of engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 62, the ratchet wheel rotates sl~ghtly clockwise due to the tension provided by spring~ 53 and 54, and ratchet wheel 62 engages and i~ stopped by pawl 64 which thereby assumes the load of maintaining cha~n tension. Thereafter, handle 60 is rotated counterclockwisa until t~e lower end 90 - ~3~6~3~
engages th8 lower portion o~ front cam 84 as shown thus cau~ing pawl 64 to lift out o~ engagement with the ratchet wheel tooth and permitting th2 ratchet wheel and pinion to rotate clockwise further by the tenslon ~orces provided by springs 53 and 54 until pawl 63 engages the next tooth and thereby assumes the load. Thus, this rotation of pinion 62 causes movement of associated racks 48 and 50 away from each other thereby Eelea~ing the tens~on of cha~ns 38 and 40. Full r21ease i8 accomplished by sequentlally repeat~ng the "back and forth" rotational motion of the handle as described whlch ~5 ~lmilar to the well known release motlon of an auto bumper ~ack.
The structure and sequential step~ for tensioning chains 38 and 40 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIGS. 8 and 9 the arrows show the direction o~ ~he handle at the beginnin~ of each stroke as shown. When a vehlcle is in po~ltion awaltiny tie-down and the harnesses~ 20 and 22 have been posit~on~d about the forward and aft wheel~ of the vehicle utilizing the "T" hooks 32 and 34 and brackets 42 and 44 a~
described, the next ~tep In the tie-down procedure ie to apply tension to chains 38 and 40. This ~s acoompllshed by rotating the double cam ~1 to the upright position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and thereafter rotating handle 60 with the same "back and forth" motion utllized ~or releasing chain tensioning. The difference here i~ that the cam portions are thus inactivated from inter~ering with the natural motion and motion o~ the handle 60 and pawl~ 63 and S4.
Rotation o~ handle 60 in a counterclo~kwise direction as ~hown in FIG. 8 causes pawl 63 to rotate ratchet whe21 62 by engagement of pawl 63 with the tooth of the ratchet wheel as shown. As thi~ rotation cont~nues pawl 64 in turn remains in it~ engaged posltion biased against the surface o~ the ratchet wheel 62 by ~pring 68 ~3~
while a~sociated ratchet wheel tooth ~lides past the tip of the pawl. Ultimately, as the ratchet wheel 62 continues to rotate counterclockwise, pawl 64 drops lnto engaged position w~th the next available tooth of ratchet wheel 52 as 6hown in FIG. 9. This action i~ caused by virtue of the blas force of æpring S~ and thus act~on thereby transfers the chain t~nsion load to pawl 64 and permits handle 60 to be rotated clockwise once again to engage the next available ratchet wheel tooth for seguentlal and continued counterclockwi~e rotation of the ratchet whesl 62. This rotation of ra~chet wheel 62 l~
accompanied by correspnnding rotation o~ pinion 52 po~itioned behind the ratchet wheel 62 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the counterclockwise rotation of the plnion 52 causing corresponding movement of racks 4B and 50 toward each other with re~ultant tensioning of 6prlng~ 53 and 54 as well as tensioning of chains 40 and 38.
lt can be ~een that when chain~ 40 and 38 and re~pective sprlng6 52 and 54 are maintained in tension to ~ecure the wheel~ of a vehicle to ~lotted base plate 12 and thereby to the associated deck, the tension iB
continuously ma~ntained by the springs 52 and 54 at all times. In fact in a preferred embodiment the take-up capability of the port~on of the length of each chain 38 and 40 ranges from between 14 to 16 inches. This continuous application of tension on chains 38 and 40 retains the wheels of the vehicle securely t~ed dswn to the base plate 12 while permit~ing the vehicle to ride free on its own ~uspension. Furthermore, the tens~on whlch is continuously applled to cha~ns 38 and 40 i~
readily aYailable and utilized in instances where unwanted occurrences occur 6uch as partial or fully ~la~tening of a tire or even temporary extreme cru~hing of a tlxe which has been known to be caused by impact of the maln carrier vehicle with another ob~ect. Tn particular, it ha~ been ! ~
- ~L3q~
found that ~uch extreme crushing of a tlre due to lmpact of the main carrisr vehicle oft~n is temporary with the tire comln~ back to its orlginal shape. With prior art de~ices ~uch exten~ive crushing of the tire ~ctually causes changes ln the tie-down systems ~uch as ~tretching or releasing of components or the lik~ with the re~ult that when the tire returned ko its original conPlguration the tie-down tensio~ had been relieved and the vehicle was free to move on its support. ~hus, such prior art devices were deficlent in thi~ respect.
Wlth the present invention any ma~or changes in - tire conPiguration or the like causes the chains 4~ and 3 to become increasingly ten~ioned and thie ten~ion is maintained by the ratchet wheel and pawl arrangements of brackets 42 and 44 as descrlbed. The advantage o~ the present arrangement ls that upon return to status quo, the vehicle wlll be tied down even tighter than before the temporary change ln configuration occurred. In particular, it has been ~ound that in one pre~erred ambodiment an ~mpact o~ the carrler vehicle occurred at 13.6 mph causing 6evere temporary dlstortion of one of the tires o~ the vehlcle to the extent that the steal rlm o the wheel shifted toward the de~ok plate and Wa~ actually prevented to move ~orward only ]by the thickness of the rubber tire, indlcating that at least at one location the tire was almost completely collapsed. However, after impact the tire assumed its original shape once again and the tie down apparatu~ accord~ng to the present invention had ma~ntained the wheals o~ the vehicle in posit~on by tension on the chains 38 and 40 which was substantially greater than the tension originally applled. Thls result was caused by the ~act that the tension which was continuously applled sprlngs 53 and 54 caused the chains to immediately take-up any temporary available slack ~n the system when the distortion occurred, while the tie-down brackets 42 and ~4 and ~sociated ratchet wheel~ and pawls (such as wheel 76 and pawl 80 shown in FIG. 11) prevented release of the lncreased tenslon thus applied.
Thls action cause~ the load applied by ~pring~ 53 and 54 to be effectively transferred to the base plate 12 and the associated deck.
Claims (38)
1. Apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises:
a. means for tying down a first wheel of a vehicle to a base support;
b. means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel;
c. means for continuously applying tension to said tie-down means of said first and second wheels; and d. means interposed between said tensioning means and said first and second wheels for rigidly securing said tying means to said base support respectively with respect to each wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto.
a. means for tying down a first wheel of a vehicle to a base support;
b. means for tying down a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel;
c. means for continuously applying tension to said tie-down means of said first and second wheels; and d. means interposed between said tensioning means and said first and second wheels for rigidly securing said tying means to said base support respectively with respect to each wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto.
2. Apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the front wheel, which comprises:
a. first wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
c. means for selectively and simultaneously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means;
d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said first wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said second wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required.
a. first wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to said base support;
c. means for selectively and simultaneously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means;
d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said first wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support at a second end portion so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to said second wheel while permitting the application of additional tension as required.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said base support means is a support plate defining a plurality of slots for reception of wheel tie-down devices.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first wheel tie-down means comprises a wheel harness adapted to encompass at least a portion of the first wheel and including tie-down hook means dimensioned and configured for insertion into said slots of said base support plate and rotated to interference relation therewith.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second wheel tie-down means comprises a wheel harness adapted to encompass at least a portion of the second wheel and including tie-down hook means dimensioned and configured for insertion into said slots of said base support plate and rotated to interference relation therewith.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first wheel harness is constructed at least in part of synthetic fiber webbing and includes more than one end straps spaced from each other, each end strap having a hook-type tie-down means connected thereto, the spacing of said end straps facilitating initial tie-down of wheels of several sizes.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second wheel harness is constructed at least in part of synthetic fiber webbing and includes more than one end straps spaced from each other, each end strap having a hook-type tie-down means connected thereto, the spacing of said end straps facilitating initial tie-down of wheels of several sizes.
8. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a wheel tie-down chain connected to opposed end portions of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means at one end portion and to said means for maintaining tension on said first and second tie-down means at the other end portion.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for maintaining tension on said wheel tie-down chains comprises oppositely positioned elongated gear racks supported and connected for movement toward and away from each other and each communicating at one end with a respective wheel tie-down chain respectively associated with each of said first and second wheels.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 where said means for maintaining tension on each of said first and second wheel chains comprises spring means each respectively connected at one end to one end of an associated elongated rack member and at the other end to an associated wheel chain.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each said spring means is a coil spring.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising rack moving means supported and arranged for selective rotatable engagement with said elongated rack means for applying forces to said rack means to selectively shift said elongated rack means toward and away from each other.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said rack moving means comprises a pinion gear positioned for selective rotation to maintain said elongated rack members in predetermined opposed relative positions to apply predetermined tension to said wheel chains.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein means is provided for maintaining said pinion gear in a predetermined position relative to said elongated gear racks which comprises ratchet means connected for rotation with said pinion gear and two pawl means positioned for respective engagement with peripherally positioned ratchet teeth on said ratchet means, said pawl means retaining said ratchet means in predetermined sequential rotational positions along with said pinion gear relative to said elongated gear racks.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said pawl means comprises at least two pawls pivotally arranged and biased for selective and sequential movement into and out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet means such that rotation of said ratchet means and said pinion gear against the tension forces provided by said resilient spring means alternately transfers the forces from said tension between said first and second pawls as said ratchet means and said pinion means are simultaneously rotated.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising handle means connected for rotation with said ratchet means and said pinion means for providing selective rotation of said ratchet means and said pinion means when said handle means is rotated to thereby cause said elongated gear racks to move in parallel directions toward each other to apply tension to said wheel chains.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for releasing tension applied to said elongated gear racks and said wheel chains.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for releasing tension to said elongated gear racks and said wheel chains comprises cam means pivotally attached to one of said pawls and dimensioned and configured for engagement by at least a portion of said handle means when said handle means is rotated in a predetermined direction relative to said pawls to sequentially disengage each of said pawls from said ratchet means so as to facilitate corresponding stepped rotation of said ratchet means and said pinion means in a direction to cause said elongated rack members to move away from each other to thereby reduce the tension applied to said chain means.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cam means is pivotally attached to a first one of said pawls and a second one of said pawls is pivotally mounted to said handle such that when said cam means is oriented in a first position, a portion of said cam means engages a portion of said second pawl in a manner to disengage said second pawl from the tooth of said ratchet means when said handle is rotated in a first direction and rotation of said handle in the opposite direction causes the end portion of the handle to engage said cam means and said first mentioned pawl to release said first mentioned pawl from engagement with a tooth of said ratchet such that alternate movement of said handle in said first and second directions permits rotation of said ratchet and said pinion in a direction which causes said rack members to move in parallel fashion away from each other thereby releasing the tension on said wheel chains.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said ratchet means comprises a ratchet wheel and at least two pawls positioned adjacent to each other and said ratchet wheel for selective alternate engagement and disengagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel depending upon the motion of said handle means and the selective orientation of said cam means.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a ratchet wheel and associated pawl means arranged to retain the tension of each of said first and second wheel tie-down chains by connection of said ratchet means to a chain pocket wheel, each respective chain pocket wheel having each respective wheel chain in engagement therewith, said pawl being mounted and biased for automatic engagement with a tooth of the respective ratchet wheel such that the application of tension to each chain will be retained by the engagement of said pawl with the tooth of said ratchet wheel when said tension is applied.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein each of said tension maintaining ratchet wheels and pawls are supported in a bracket selectively secured to said base support plate by means of a "T" hook having a "T" configuration, each said hook being inserted into a selective adjacent slot in said base support plate and rotated to an interfering relation with said base support plate to prevent removal of said "T" hook when tension is applied thereto by said wheel chains and said tension applying means.
23. Apparatus for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in general tandem alignment with the first front wheel, which comprises:
a. base support means dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle;
b. first wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means;
c. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means;
d. means for selectively and simultaneously applying and maintaining tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means and associated chain means and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition;
e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value; and f. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value.
a. base support means dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle;
b. first wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means;
c. second wheel tie-down means for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at each end portion for securement to said base support and chain means connected to one end portion for applying tie-down forces thereto by applying tension to said chain means;
d. means for selectively and simultaneously applying and maintaining tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means and associated chain means and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down means in a predetermined tensioned condition;
e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said first wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value; and f. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel tie-down means for rigidly securing said second wheel tie-down means to the base support means so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto by said tension applying means while permitting increases in tension when the tension decreases below a predetermined value.
24. A system for tying down a wheeled vehicle to a base support, the vehicle having at least a first front wheel and a second rear wheel positioned in tandem alignment with the front wheel which comprises:
a. a base support plate dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle, said base support plate having a plurality of slots positioned for reception of wheel tie-down hooks;
b. a first wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate; a second wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel -tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate;
c. means for selectively applying and maintaining tension to at least one portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down harnesses and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermined tensioned condition which comprises:
i. a housing;
ii. two opposed toothed gear racks positioned within said housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away from each other;
iii. a pinion mounted within said housing for rotational simultaneous toothed engagement with said gear racks so as to provide movement of said racks toward and away from each other depending upon the direction of said pinion gear;
iv. a coil spring attached to opposed end portions of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, each coil spring being attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portions of said wheel tie-down harnesses;
v. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with said pinion gear and having associated therewith two spaced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of said ratchet gear as said ratchet gear rotates;
vi. a handle mounted to said housing for pivotal rotation and connected to said ratchet and said pinion so as to simultaneously rotate therewith when said handle is rotated;
vii. cam means rotatably mounted to one of said pawls and being dimensioned and configured such that rotation of said cam means in a first direction causes sequential engagement and disengagement of said pawls so as to release tension on said wheel chains and rotation of said cam means in a second direction removes said cam means into sequential interference relation with said pawls as said handle is rotated in a back and forth motion such that said pawls sequentially rotate said ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and in a direction to cause tensioning of said wheel chains; and viii. a bracket connected to an end portion of each harness to attach each harness to said base support plate and to guide each wheel chain from said harness to said chain tensioning unit, each said bracket containing ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chain by engagement of the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tension thus applied to each wheel chain and ratchet tooth and said respective bracket and to said base support plate.
a. a base support plate dimensioned and configured for supporting at least said first and second wheels of the vehicle, said base support plate having a plurality of slots positioned for reception of wheel tie-down hooks;
b. a first wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the first wheel, said first wheel tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate; a second wheel tie-down harness dimensioned and configured for encompassing at least a portion of the second wheel, said second wheel -tie-down harness having a tie-down securement hook positioned at each end for securement to the base support plate;
c. means for selectively applying and maintaining tension to at least one portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down harnesses and for continuously maintaining said wheel tie-down harnesses in a predetermined tensioned condition which comprises:
i. a housing;
ii. two opposed toothed gear racks positioned within said housing and mounted for relative parallel movements toward and away from each other;
iii. a pinion mounted within said housing for rotational simultaneous toothed engagement with said gear racks so as to provide movement of said racks toward and away from each other depending upon the direction of said pinion gear;
iv. a coil spring attached to opposed end portions of each gear rack at one end and at the other end, each coil spring being attached to tie-down chains connected to respective opposed end portions of said wheel tie-down harnesses;
v. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with said pinion gear and having associated therewith two spaced spring loaded pawls arranged for selective and alternate engagement with the teeth of said ratchet gear as said ratchet gear rotates;
vi. a handle mounted to said housing for pivotal rotation and connected to said ratchet and said pinion so as to simultaneously rotate therewith when said handle is rotated;
vii. cam means rotatably mounted to one of said pawls and being dimensioned and configured such that rotation of said cam means in a first direction causes sequential engagement and disengagement of said pawls so as to release tension on said wheel chains and rotation of said cam means in a second direction removes said cam means into sequential interference relation with said pawls as said handle is rotated in a back and forth motion such that said pawls sequentially rotate said ratchet wheel and pinion in steps and in a direction to cause tensioning of said wheel chains; and viii. a bracket connected to an end portion of each harness to attach each harness to said base support plate and to guide each wheel chain from said harness to said chain tensioning unit, each said bracket containing ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain tension applied to the associate wheel chain by engagement of the pawl with a tooth on the ratchet to thereby transfer the tension thus applied to each wheel chain and ratchet tooth and said respective bracket and to said base support plate.
25. Apparatus for tying down cargo to a base support which comprises:
a. tie-down means configured and adapted to encompass and extend about at least a major portion of the cargo sufficient for tying down the cargo, said tie-down means having at least one end portion adapted to be secured to the base support and at least a second end portion adapted for applying tension thereto;
b. means for directly and continuously applying tension to at least said second end portion of said tie-down means; and c. means located along said tie-down means, spaced at a distance away from said tension applying means, and interposed between said tension applying means and the first end portion of the tie-down means, for rigidly restraining and securing at least said second end portion of said cargo tie-down means to the base support and for maintaining tension on said cargo tie-down means with respect to the cargo so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to the cargo by said cargo tie-down means while continuously permitting the application of tension to said cargo tie-down means as required to maintain a predetermined tension while the cargo is restrained.
a. tie-down means configured and adapted to encompass and extend about at least a major portion of the cargo sufficient for tying down the cargo, said tie-down means having at least one end portion adapted to be secured to the base support and at least a second end portion adapted for applying tension thereto;
b. means for directly and continuously applying tension to at least said second end portion of said tie-down means; and c. means located along said tie-down means, spaced at a distance away from said tension applying means, and interposed between said tension applying means and the first end portion of the tie-down means, for rigidly restraining and securing at least said second end portion of said cargo tie-down means to the base support and for maintaining tension on said cargo tie-down means with respect to the cargo so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied to the cargo by said cargo tie-down means while continuously permitting the application of tension to said cargo tie-down means as required to maintain a predetermined tension while the cargo is restrained.
26. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 25 wherein said means for applying tension includes resilient means.
27. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 26 wherein said means for applying tension comprises manually operable winding means connected to said cargo securing means.
28. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 27 wherein said means interposed between said tensioning means and the cargo comprises mechanical means for rigidly restraining said securing means, said mechanical means including means adapted for engagement therewith for permitting increased application of tension to said securing means as may be required, while simultaneously isolating said securing means under tension from said tension applying means.
29. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 28 wherein said means interposed between said tensioning means and the cargo comprises at least one ratchet wheel and associated pawl means fixed with respect to said base support and engaged with at least one tooth of said ratchet wheel, the teeth of said ratchet wheel being configured and dimensioned such that said pawl means prevents rotation of said ratchet wheel in a direction to relax tension on said securing means and said cargo but permits rotation of said ratchet wheel in the opposite direction by increasing tension applied to said securing means by said resilient means.
30. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 29 wherein said resilient means is a spring.
31. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 30 wherein said spring is a coil spring.
32. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 31 wherein said means for applying tension comprises a gear wheel arranged to be rotated; at least one pawl, said pawl being connected to handle means and said gear wheel being selectively engaged or disengaged by means to retain the position of said gear wheel at a predetermined rotational position corresponding to a predetermined tension applied to said securing means through said gear wheel.
33. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 32 further comprising means to disengage said means to restrain said ratchet wheel to thereby permit relaxation of tension on said securing means by permitting rotation of said ratchet wheel and said restraining means to relieve said tension on said restraining means.
34. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said restraining means comprises cable and is connected to a cable spool.
35. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 34 wherein said means to disengage said tension comprises handle means positioned in engagement with means connected to said means to secure said position of said ratchet wheel.
36. Apparatus for tying down cargo according to claim 35 wherein said means to secure the position of said ratchet wheel is operatively engaged with spring means to bias said means to fix the position of said ratchet wheel toward the loaded position.
37. Apparatus for tying down wheeled vehicles to a base support which comprises:
a. first wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a first wheel for tying down the first wheel of the vehicle to the base support, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support;
c. means for continuously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means;
d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said first wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said first wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said second wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said second wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension.
a. first wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a first wheel for tying down the first wheel of the vehicle to the base support, said first wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support;
b. second wheel tie-down means configured to encompass at least a portion of a second wheel correspondingly positioned in tandem with the first wheel, said second wheel tie-down means having means at a first end portion for securement thereof to the base support;
c. means for continuously applying tension to at least one end portion of each of said first and second wheel tie-down means;
d. means interposed between said tension applying means and said first wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said first wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said first wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension; and e. means interposed between said tension applying means and said second wheel for rigidly securing at least one end portion of said second wheel tie-down means directly to said base support with respect to said second wheel so as to prevent relaxation of tension applied thereto while continuously permitting the application of additional tension.
38. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the tension applying means is located at said second end portion of said tie-down means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000564961A CA1305631C (en) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-04-25 | Apparatus and system for tying down vehicles |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000564961A CA1305631C (en) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-04-25 | Apparatus and system for tying down vehicles |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1305631C true CA1305631C (en) | 1992-07-28 |
Family
ID=32996911
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000564961A Expired - Lifetime CA1305631C (en) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-04-25 | Apparatus and system for tying down vehicles |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1305631C (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN115092614A (en) * | 2022-06-13 | 2022-09-23 | 煤炭科学研究总院有限公司 | Wheel body fixing assembly, vehicle fixing device and vehicle transfer equipment |
| CN115783568A (en) * | 2022-11-25 | 2023-03-14 | 北京朝阳环境集团有限公司 | Garbage unloading method |
-
1988
- 1988-04-25 CA CA000564961A patent/CA1305631C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN115092614A (en) * | 2022-06-13 | 2022-09-23 | 煤炭科学研究总院有限公司 | Wheel body fixing assembly, vehicle fixing device and vehicle transfer equipment |
| CN115092614B (en) * | 2022-06-13 | 2023-10-24 | 煤炭科学研究总院有限公司 | Wheel body fixing assembly, vehicle fixing device and vehicle transferring equipment |
| CN115783568A (en) * | 2022-11-25 | 2023-03-14 | 北京朝阳环境集团有限公司 | Garbage unloading method |
| CN115783568B (en) * | 2022-11-25 | 2024-06-14 | 北京朝阳环境集团有限公司 | Garbage unloading method |
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