GB2125497A

GB2125497A - Positive detent mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2125497A
Application number: GB08322271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Rowley; Thomas Alfred Ferguson Pollard
Original assignee: BOALLOY ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: BOALLOY ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-18
Filing date: 1983-08-18
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: GB8322271D0

Abstract

The mechanism for use in horizontally tensioning a curtain 13, Figure 1 of a curtainsided van body has a rotatable shaft 18 onto which an end pole 16 incorporated in the curtain can be engaged; the shaft 18 is rotatable about its axis in either direction and has a plurality of equi-angularly spaced blind holes or recesses 24 and a spring-loaded spindle 25 is disposed radially of the shaft 18 with a peck 28 for engagement in any selected one of the recesses to resist shaft rotation. As shown, shaft 18 is rotatably incorporated in a fixed casing 20 and receives a lever 23 to facilitate rotation. The spindle 25 extends into casing 20 and has a knurled knob 29 keyed thereto to facilitate pulling the (tapered or right angled) pack 28 out of a recess 24 against spring 27. The casing 20 also mounts a spring-urged pin 31 engageable in a recess 31 in knob 29 to locate the latter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A ratchet mechanism This invention relates to a ratchet mechanism especially but not exclusively for use in horizontally tensioning curtains in curtainsided van bodies.

In curtainsided van bodies, the curtain is supported by runners movable along an overhead track and when extended across the side of the van body is secured vertically under tension by straps incorporating tensioning devices. One end of the curtain is anchored to the van body through the intermediary of a pole incorporated in the end of the curtain while the other end of the curtain also has incorporated therein a pole or similar which may be socketted into upper and lower spigots or which may be engaged in a rotatable spool element again provided with the aforesaid spigots. In each instance, the lower spigot or the spool element is manually rotatable using a ratchet mechanism to tension or release the curtain in the horizontal direction and it is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler and improved ratchet mechanism compared with those presently known.

According to the present invention there is provided a ratchet mechanism especially but not exclusively for use in horizontally tensioning curtains in curtainsided van bodies, the mechanism comprising a shaft formed or provided with a plurality of recesses or blind holes spaced around its circumference and capable of being rotated in either direction, and a spindle disposed radially of, and springloaded towards, the shaft and having e tapered peck engageable in a selected one of said recesses to restrain such rotation.

Preferably a support ring is keyed to the shaft, the support ring being adapted to receive in butting relationship the end of a pole or of a spool element.

The shaft is preferably split at its end to facilitate engagement thereon of a curtain end pole.

A lever is preferably connected to the shaft to facilitate manual rotation thereof.

A knob is preferably keyed to the spindle to facilitate moving the latter axially.

A spring-loaded locating pin is preferably provided to resist rotation of the knob and spindle.

The present invention also includes within its scope a van body having a roof support above a floor and with at least one open side or end being closable by a curtain anchored at one end of the van body and slidable across the open side or end to close the latter, the movable end of the curtain incorporating a pole adapted to be releasably engaged at its ends in top and bottom spigots at the van body roof and floor with the bottom spigot being constituted by a shaft formed or provided with a plurality of recesses or blind holes spaced around its circumference and being capable of being rotated in either direction and there being a spindle disposed at right angles to, and spring-loaded towards, the shaft and having a tapered peck engageable in a selected one of said recesses to restrain such rotation.

The curtain pole may be directly spigotted onto the shaft, or engaged in a rotatable spool element whereof the shaft constitutes a lower spigot.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet mechanism according to the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a curtainsided van body incorporating ratchet mechanisms according to the invention.

Referring briefly firstly to Fig. 3, the van body comprises a roof 10 supported above a floor 11 by pillars 1 2. The long sides of the van body are closed by curtains 1 3. Each curtain 1 3 is anchored at one of its ends (not shown) to the forward end of the van body.

The curtain 1 3 is slidable by means of runners (not shown) along the top of the side and when extended across the side is restrained and/or tensioned in the vertical plane by straps 1 4 incorporating tensioning buckles 1 5.

The other end of the curtain 1 3 incorporates a pole 1 6 adapted to be engaged in top and bottom spigots 1 7 and 1 8 at the rear end of the van body, the bottom spigot 1 8 being rotatable. These spigots may be incorporated in a rotatable spool element as is disclosed and claimed in United Kingdom Patents Nos.

B1 262 879 and B1 262 880 in the name of Boalloy Limited. Generally, however, they will be simple top and bottom spigots connected together only when the curtan end pole 1 6 engages same.

In use, the pole 1 6 is engaged in the spigots 1 7 and 1 8 and by rotating the lower spigot 1 8 the pole 1 6 is caused to rotate about its own axis and the curtain 1 3 is wound around the pole 1 6 and is thus horizontally tensioned.

According to this invention the bottom rotatable spigot constitutes part of a ratchet mechanism 19.

The ratchet mechanism 1 9 (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprises the spigot 1 8 which is in the form of a vertical shaft rotatably incorporated in a casing 20 fitted to the floor 11 of the van body with the shaft 1 8 projecting above and below the casing 20 and floor 11.

The shaft 1 8 is split at its upper end as indicated at 21 to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the curtain end pole 1 6.

The shaft 1 8 is keyed to a support ring 22 by a pin 23, which support ring 22 rests on top of the casing 20 and against which the end of the curtain end pole 1 6 abuts. The lower end of the shaft 1 8 slidably receives a lever 23 to facilitate rotation of the shaft 1 8.

The shaft 1 8 can be rotated either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

The length of the shaft 1 8 within the casing 20 is formed with a row of equiangularly spaced blind holes or recesses 24 of rightangled cylindrical configuration.

A spindle 25 extends into the casing 20 radially of or at right angles to the shaft 1 8 and has a flange 26 between which and the wall of the casing 20 is interposed a spring 27 which urges the spindle 25 towards the shaft 1 8. At its shaft-adjacent end the spindle 25 is formed with a tapered or right-angled peck 28 for engaging in a selected one of the recesses 24.

A knurled knob 29 is keyed to the spindle 25 by a pin 30 to facilitate pulling the peck 28 out of a recess 24 against the action of the spring 27 to permit rotation of the shaft 1 8 in whatever direction is desired.

-The casing 20 also mounts a pin 31 urged outwardly by a spring 32 to engage in a recess 33 in the knurled knob 29 to locate the latter correctly.

It will be manifest that with the peck 28 engaged in a recess 24 rotation of the shaft 1 8 in either direction is restrained or prevented.

With the curtain end pole 1 6 fitted on the shaft 18, the curtain can be tensioned by pulling the peck 28 out of a recess 24 and rotating the shaft 1 8 anti-clockwise by means of the lever 23. With the curtain tensioned, it is maintained so by engaging the peck 28 in the adjacent recess 24. If it is considered that the curtain is over-tensioned this can be corrected by releasing the peck 28 from the recess 24 and the shaft 1 8 will freewheel clockwise until the peck 28 is re-engaged in the now-adjacent recess 24. The latter action, i.e. freewheeling of the shaft 18, is also used to unwind the curtain to permit it to be pulled to the front end of the van body to open the van body side.

Claims

1. A ratchet mechanism especially but not exclusively for use in horizontally tensioning curtains in curtainsided van bodies, the mechanism comprising a shaft formed or provided with a plurality of recesses or blind holes spaced around its circumference and capable of being rotated in either direction, and a spindle disposed radially of, and springloaded towards, the shaft and having a tapered peck engageable in a selected one of said recesses to restrain such rotation.

2. A ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which a support ring is keyed to the shaft, the support ring being adapted to receive in butting relationship the end of a pole or of a spool element.

3. A ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the shaft is split at its end to facilitate engagement thereon of a curtain end pole.

4. A ratchet mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which a lever is connected to the shaft to facilitate manual rotation thereof.

5. A ratchet mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which a knob is keyed to the spindle to facilitate moving the latter axially.

6. A ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 5, in which a spring-loaded locating pin is provided to resist rotation of the knob and spindle.

7. A ratchet mechanism especially but not exclusively for use in horizontally tensioning curtains in curtainsided van bodies, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A van body having a roof support above a floor and with at least one open side or end being closable by a curtain anchored at one end of the van body and slidable across the open side or end to close the latter, the movable end of the curtain incorporating a pole adapted to be releasably engaged at its ends in top and bottom spigots at the van body roof and floor with the bottom spigot being constituted by a shaft formed or provided with a plurality of recesses or blind holes spaced around its circumference and being capable of being rotated in either direction and there being a spindle disposed at right angles to, and spring-loaded towards, the shaft and having a tapered peck engageable in a selected one of said recesses to restrain such rotation.

9. A van body as claimed in claim 8 and incorporating a ratchet mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6.

10. A van body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.