GB2295140A

GB2295140A - A winding device

Info

Publication number: GB2295140A
Application number: GB9523709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Anthony Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-18
Filing date: 1995-11-20
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-20
Also published as: GB2295140B; GB9523709D0

Abstract

A winding device (1) is for winding a tether for securing an object to a transportation device, such as a lorry or rail wagon. The winding device (1) has a handle (2), a winding portion (3) coupled to the handle (2) and mounting means (14) to permit the device (1) to be rotationally mounted on the transportation device. There is also engagement means (8) to permit an end of the tether to be engaged with the device (1) prior to being wound on to the winding portion (3). The device (1) is adapted to be rotated by the handle (2) to wind a tether on to the winding portion (3) when the mounting means (14) is mounted in bores (31) in mounting device (30) on the transport device, in use. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Windina Device" This invention relates to a winding device and the process of winding up webbing straps after they have been removed from a load that they had been securing on to a vehicle trailer.

The invention can also be used in other fields where loads require to be secured and unlashed repeatedly, e.g. shipping, rail and air.

In the Road Transport Industry it is already known by Transport Managers and even more so by their drivers that a lot of time is spent rolling up web lashing straps after use for storage on their vehicles.

Traditionally the straps are rolled into a coil by hand before being placed in a storage locker for subsequent use.

The method employed to roll up webbing straps up to the present time has been to roll them up in a similar fashion to rolling up a bandage, this process is time consuming and requires a lot of physical effort especially since there may be up to twelve straps used for a load and each strap may be eight metres in length, in addition if the straps are wet then they may be up to twice their normal weight.

In addition, the task is often performed under adverse weather conditions.

Because of the above factors, a large amount of valuable time and effort is wasted rolling up the straps with a consequent increase in turn round time for the vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention, a winding device, for winding a tether for securing an object to a transportation device, comprises a handle, a winding portion coupled to the handle, mounting means to permit the device to be rotationally mounted on the transportation device, and engagement means to permit an end of a tether to be engaged with the winding device prior to the tether being wound on to the winding portion, the device being adapted to be rotated by the handle to wind a tether on to the winding portion when the mounting means is mounted on the transport device, in use.

Preferably, when the device is rotationally mounted on the transportation device, the axis of rotation is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transportation device, and preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Typically, the transportation device may be a lorry, a vehicle trailer, a boat or ship, an aeroplane, a helicopter, a railway wagon or any other transportation device to which an object is required to be secured by a tether. In the case of a lorry or a vehicle trailer, the longitudinal axis is the axis which extends from the front to the rear of the lorry or vehicle trailer.

Preferably, the tether may be in the form of a strap, which may be of the type commonly used to secure objects to vehicles.

Preferably, the engagement means forms part of the winding portion.

Typically, the mounting means may be provided by an end of the winding portion.

Preferably, the handle is located at one end of the winding portion and the mounting means is located at the other end.

In one example of the invention, the winding portion may be in the form of a cylinder, and the engagement means may take the form of a slot formed in the cylinder. In this example, the mounting means is an end of the cylinder.

In a second example of the invention, the winding portion may be formed by two substantially parallel longitudinal members separated by a gap which forms the engagement means.

Typically, the device may also include a stop member between the handle and the winding portion to help retain the tether on the winding portion during winding. The stop member may comprise a flange.

Preferably, the device further comprises a mounting device mounted on the transport device, the mounting device being adapted to rotationally mount the winding portion and handle on the transport device when the mounting means is engaged with the mounting device, in use.

In the second example of the invention, the mounting device may be adapted to be engaged by an end of one of the members, or alternatively may be adapted to have adjacent ends of the members engaged with the mounting device. In this case, the mounting device may comprise a housing fixed with respect to the transport device, and a rotating member rotationally mounted on the housing, the rotating member having formations which engage with the adjacent ends of the members when the adjacent ends are engaged with the rotating member.

Typically, the formations may be two substantially parallel bores which the adjacent ends may be inserted.

Examples of a winding device, in accordance with the invention, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a first example of a winding device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first example of a mounting device for use with the winding devices shown in Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 3 is a side view of a second example of a winding device; Fig. 4 is an end view of the device shown in Fig.

3; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second example of a mounting device for the winding device shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and, Fig. 6 is an end view of the mounting device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows a winding device 1 which comprises a handle portion 2 and a winding portion 3. The winding portion 3 and handle portion 2 are separated by a flange 4. The handle portion 2 has a grip 5 which is freely rotatable on the handle portion 2 and is held in place by a stop member 6 at the end of the handle portion and handle extension portion 7 which extends at right angles to the winding portion.

The winding portion 3 has a cylindrical outer section and a slot 8 extends along the winding portion 3.

Fig. 2 shows a mounting device 9 which comprises a semi-circular flange plate 10 with a hole 11 in the flange plate 10 which permits entry to a cylindrical shaped tube 12 which has a blanked end 13.

In use, end 14 of the winding portion 3 is inserted into the tube 12 through the hole 11. The length of the tube 12 is chosen such that when the end 14 is against the blank end 13, there is sufficient length of slot 8 exposed between the flange 10 and the flange 4 to permit an end of a webbing strap to be inserted through the exposed portion of the slot 8. After an end of the strap has been inserted into the slot 8 the handle portion 2 is rotated by the user to wind the strap onto the winding portion 3 and the flanges 10 and 4 retain the strap on the winding portion 3 as it is being wound.

After the strap has been wound onto the winding portion 3, the winding device 1 may be removed from the mounting device 9 and the wound strap slid along the winding portion 3 towards the ends 14 and off the winding portion 3 for storage in a suitable location.

Typically, the mounting device 9 and the winding device 1 are manufactured from a metal material, such as steel. However, it is possible that other materials such as plastic could be used, or that a combination of plastic and metal materials could be used.

The rotating grip 5 allows free movement of the handle especially when wearing gloves. The slot 8 in the winding portion 3 allows the rolled up coil of webbing to be slid off the device 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second example of a winding device 20 which has the same shape and design of handle 2.

However, the handle 2 is welded to two round bars 21 with a space 22 between the bars 21. The flexibility of the round bars 21 allows the coil of webbing to be easily removed, an additional advantage is that this version is easier to manufacture.

The size of the bars 21 can be chosen so that both of the bars 21 can be inserted into the tube 12 of the mounting device 9 and used in a similar manner to the winding device 1. Other types of mounting device may be used and may vary depending on the make of the vehicle, on some vehicles the rear mudguard support tubes may be utilised.

Alternatively, a mounting device 30 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be used with the winding device shown in Figs. 3 and 4. With the mounting device 30, the ends of bars 21 are inserted into two holes 31 in the mounting device 30. This improves the rigidity of the winding device 30 and the bars allow the coil of webbing to be easily removed. The mounting device 30 comprises an external housing 32, within which a rotatable insert 33 is located. The insert 33 is rotatably mounted within the housing 32 by means of brass bushes 34, 35 at each end of the insert 33. The insert 33 is rotatably secured to the housing 32 by means of a screw 36 and washer 37. The screw 36 is threaded into a female bore 38 in the insert 33 and the washer 37 butts against end members 39 which are welded to the housing 32.

Hence, when the ends of bars 21 are inserted into the holes 31, the exposed section of the gap between the bars 21 can have the end of a webbing strap threaded through it. The handle 2 can then be rotated, so rotating bars 21 and the rotatable insert 33 within the housing 32 in order to wind the strap onto the bars 21.

After the strap has been wound onto the bars 21, the ends of the bars 21 may be removed from the holes 31 and the wound strap removed from the bars 21 for storage in a suitable place.

The mounting device 30 is mounted on the vehicle employing one of a number of mounting kits that may be customised as required.

In a further example, the winding portion (for example bars 21 or winding portion 3) may be extended to a geared electric or pneumatic motor via a torque limiter. This allows the operator to wind the straps with very little expenditure of energy and in complete safety since the torque limiter will allow the winding device to slip if the operator becomes for example, entangled in the device.

In the mounting device 30 the brass bushes 34, 35 could be replaced with roller bearings. This would further reduce the effort expended by the operator, in addition the operational life of the device would be greatly extended which is an advantage that may offset the higher initial cost.

A further advantage is that with the invention it is possible to reduce by one quarter the time required to that when rolled by hand. It also reduces the physical effort required to wind the strap.

Bearing in mind the number of vehicles throughout the country that employ webbing straps for securing loads and of course the other transport industries who use similar methods the potential savings could be considerable.

Claims

1. A winding device, for winding a tether for securing an object to a transportation device, the device comprising a handle, a winding portion coupled to the handle, mounting means to permit the device to be rotationally mounted on the transportation device, and engagement means to permit an end of a tether to be engaged with the winding device prior to the tether being wound on to the winding portion, the device being adapted to be rotated by the handle to wind a tether on to the winding portion when the mounting means is mounted on the transport device, in use.

2. A winding device according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transportation device, when the device is rotationally mounted on the transportation device.

3. A winding device according to claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

4. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transportation device is a lorry or vehicle trailer.

5. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement means forms part of the winding portion.

6. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means is provided by an end of the winding portion.

7. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is located at one end of the winding portion and the mounting means is located at the other end.

8. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device also comprises a stop member located between the winding portion and the handle.

9. A winding device according to claim 8, wherein the stop member comprises a flange.

10. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the winding portion is in the form of a cylinder and the engagement means comprises a slot formed in the cylinder.

11. A winding device according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the winding portion comprises two substantially parallel longitudinal members and the engagement means comprises a gap between the members.

12. A winding device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a mounting device mounted on the transportation device, the mounting device being adapted to rotationally mount the winding portion and handle on the transport device when the mounting means is engaged with the mounting device, in use.

13. A winding device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.