AU7763798A

AU7763798A - Load indicators on traction elements

Info

Publication number: AU7763798A
Application number: AU77637/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hans-Werner Kamper
Original assignee: Spanset Inter AG
Current assignee: Spanset Inter AG
Priority date: 1997-06-03
Filing date: 1998-05-07
Publication date: 1998-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-07
Also published as: EP0984873B1; AU736367B2; EP0984873A1; CN1101929C; JP2002510265A; TW419584B; JP3844512B2; WO1998055341A1; CN1248942A; ES2167901T3; DE59802245D1

Description

WO 98/55341 V..rOI w IJ' I1 TRANSLATION OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION DESCRIPTION LOAD INDICATOR ON TRACTION ELEMENTS The invention relates to load indicators for 5 indicating tensile stresses on traction elements, for example lashing belts or lashing cables. For the sake of simplicity, these traction elements are referred to hereinafter as "belts" or "belt." They are provided with a loop or eyelet for securing an adaptation part that 10 introduces a counter-holding force to the traction element. The adaptation part can be, for example, the stud of a shackle or the stop pin of a bracing ratchet. In lashing or bracing elements, a load indicator of this type serves to indicate visually to the user which 15 load is present, and particularly whether a hazardous situation must be remedied. During the transport of lashed loads, for example on trucks, the load shifts from time to time due to external forces. This shifting often causes severe stress to the lashing element, which can pose a 20 threat to the operator when the load is removed. Conventionally, load indicators are mounted with ratchet spanners; these indicators preferably serve to indicate the prestress force during lashing, but can also give a warning 1 WO 98/55341 PCT/EP98/02747 indication of a stress of the lashing that has occurred due to load shifting. Because of their complicated design, these load indicators are relatively costly. It is the object of the invention to embody a load 5 indicator of the type mentioned at the outset such that it can be manufactured inexpensively, and reliably indicates dangerous tensile-force situations. This object is accomplished by claim 1. This solution is based on the deformation that the loop or eyelet, which has widened 10 slightly under zero load, experiences under a load due to the increasing approximation of a teardrop shape. These belt loops or belt eyelets have an approximately teardrop shaped outline, with the tip of the drop pointing in the belt direction under a load, when the adaptation part 15 extending into the belt eyelet introduces the counterforce. Usually, belt eyelets or belt loops arelformed in that the belt generally representing the term "traction element" is shifted at one end by 1800 and, in this relocated position, the belt end is fixed directly on the belt, or, in the case 20 of a cable as the traction element, is spliced with the cable. As the tensile stress increases, the teardrop shape becomes more distinctly formed, because the inside flanks of the belt loop or belt eyelet approach one another. The 2 WO qU/Z~o~bj ,* degree of this approach is visually more easily recognizable due to the load indicator than in the case of mere inspection of the belt loop or belt eyelet. Claim 2 characterizes an especially simple embodiment 5 of the load indicator. Claim 3 describes a different embodiment, in which the ends of the indicator body are not in direct contact with the belt. Claim 4 describes an embodiment that improves the recognition of the distance between the legs. Claim 5 outlines the advantages of the 10 solutions of claims 3 and 4 in an embodiment common to both. Claims 6 through 8 describe a variation that also makes it possible to identify intermediate loads between no load and a hazardous load. This makes different load 15 levels more clearly recognizable. The invention is described in detail by way of embodiments. Shown are in: Figs. 1-5 different embodiments of load indicators or indicator bodies in a respective insertion 20 position at a belt loop or belt eyelet, in the left column entitled A, which represents the no load, inoperative state, and in the right column -3 WO 9H/b541 ' ZUT/Js / U4d I entitled B, which represents the dangerous-load state, respectively; Fig. 6 a longitudinal section, extending in the belt direction, through a belt connection analogous to 5 Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a plan view in the arrow direction VII of the ensemble according to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a modified embodiment of the load indicator in the no-load, inoperative state; 10 Fig. 9 the embodiment according to Fig. 8, in the dangerous-load state; Fig. 10 an indicator body; Fig. 11 a different indicator body; Fig. 12 a view in perspective of the indicator body 15 according to Fig. 11; Fig. 13 a view in perspective of the indicator body according to Fig. 10, with an inserted adaptation part; Fig. 14 a modified indicator body, similar to those 20 according to Figs. 10 through 13; Fig. 15 a side view of the indicator body according to Fig. 14, under different loads, namely a = no-load, inoperative state, V 4 WO 98/55341 vL;TJsrN/ UZ 11 b = 1/3 intermediate load; c = 2/3 intermediate load, d = dangerous load. Fig. 16 a secured ratchet spanner as the carrier of the 5 adaptation part; and Figs. 17 & 18 a secured shackle as the carrier of the adaptation part. The load indicator 1 serves to indicate tensile stresses on traction elements, which are referred to 10 hereinafter as "belt" 2 for short, but generally represent different types of traction elements such as lashing belts or lashing cables, sling bands and the like. The belt 2 is provided at one end with a loop or eyelet 3 for securing or suspending an adaptation part 4, which is typically formed 15 by a pin 5 that preferably has a circular cross-section shape and extends through the belt eyelet 3 to fix its position. Instead of a pin 5, a bow or a pin-like connecting part having a cross-section shape other than a circle can be used. 20 The load indicator or indicator body 1 is disposed next to the pin 5 in the belt eyelet 3. The arrangement is situated on the side of the tip of the teardrop-shaped belt 7 oelet 3, so the load indicator 1 is not directly impacted J' C,5 by the tensile load. The pin 5, in contrast, rests against the belt eyelet in the wrap corresponding to the rounding of the teardrop shape. This is also the case for an adjacent positioning of the indicator body 1 and the pin 5, 5 corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2. In the case of Fig. 1, the indicator body is a one-piece molded part comprising a resilient material in the embodiment as a ring segment having a C-shaped cross section, with a C-shaped opening that faces the side of the traction element, that is, the 10 tip of the teardrop shape. In the case of Fig. 2, the indicator body comprises several parts. Here, it includes two end pieces 16, 17, which rest against the inside flanks 6, 7 of the belt eyelet 3, with an interposed compression spring 18 as an elastically-compressible medium. 15 The preferred embodiment of the indicator body 1 as a one-piece annular segment that has a C shape in the no-load position has legs or leg ends 11, which project toward the side of the traction element, at its ends that limit the C opening. In the embodiment according to Figs. 8 through 20 14, the leg ends 11 are bent or angled in spreading directions 9, 10 that are oriented away from one another. Because of the spreading effect they exert under a zero ad, the leg ends press against the inside of the belt 6 WO 98/55341 / eyelet, thereby action on the inside flanks 6, 7 of the loop or eyelet 3. Because of the compact design, the combination of a pin 5 as the fixing element 4 with the one-piece indicator 5 body 1 in a cooperative arrangement, as shown in Figs. 4 through 9 and 13, is especially advantageous. In this case, the pin 5 is inserted in the manner of a shaft into the ring-segment-like indicator body 1 having a C shape in the no-load state, and acts upon the concave side of the 10 indicator body 1 under tensile stress. Consequently, the belt eyelet 3 can have a conventional size without impeding the recognizability of the indication. The cross section of the indicator body 1 also approximates the Greek capital letter Q. It is bent from a 15 metallic spring-steel sheet, but can also be produced from plastic in an injection-molding process. The indicator body is simple to manufacture because of the approximately rectangular cross section of its ring-curve head 12 and its legs. The cross-section shape can, however, also be 20 hollowed out in the manner of a cable eye stiffener, and then be in a form fit with the belt eyelet 3. The indicator body according to Fig. 14 has at its %Ower leg end 11 viewing tabs 19, which project in the 61 C: 7 WO 9B/55341 FCT/EF90/U2747 direction of the upper leg, and extend so as to overlap the end of the upper leg in the no-load position (Fig. 15a). The viewing tabs 19 are simply angled parts of the indicator body 1. The tabs are graduated in the manner of 5 a staircase at their side edges, which are clearly visible from the outside in the inserted position. The individual steps of this staircase 20 constitute the load indicator. The overlapping of each step with the upper leg end 11 of the indicator body 1 indicates a different load. The 10 threat posed by the different load steps can also be signaled by different colors. The cross-section thickness of the pin 5 for securing or suspending the belt 2 equipped with the indicator body 1 is smaller than the inside diameter of the head 12 of the 15 indicator body 1, the head resembling a curved-ring segment, so, in the case of an overload that enters the dangerous range, a diameter contraction with respect to the pin 5 is possible, in which the leg ends 11 are compelled to approach one another, that is, come into contact with 20 one another (Figs. 9, 15). This very contact indicates a dangerous situation. The compression of the effective diameter of the ring-curve head can be adapted to certain -& /'magnitudes of stress through corresponding dimensioning of A 8 WO 98/55341 ruw/ zrzro f I M I the spring clip. In this way, the distance measure 8 is a readily-recognizable visual indicator for the load state of the belt 2 or the loop 3, that is, for the possible existence of a dangerous situation. 5 If the load indicator has not yet been loaded, the legs assume a spread position (Fig. 8), in which their leg ends 11 rest against the belt eyelet 3 from the inside, and spread it slightly. Under a load, the belt eyelet 3 presses in the radial direction against the head 12 of the 10 ring curve. In the process, the indicator body 1 embodied as a clip is supported against the pin 5, and stresses the head 12 of the ring curve, thereby bending it. The clip 1 reacts to the stress like a surface-stressed spiral spring. The deformation of the head 12 of the ring curve changes 15 the position of the leg ends 11, which approach one another and, under a dangerous load, can even touch one another. 9 WO /D541 FCT/EF0/U2'/4/ LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 1 Indicator body 2 Belt 3 Belt eyelet 4 Adaptation part 5 Pin 6 Inside flank 7 Inside flank 8 Distance measure 9 Spreading direction 10 Spreading direction 11 Leg end 12 Ring-curve head 13 Belt-eyelet length 14 Center longitudinal axis 15 Length 16 End piece 17 End piece 18 Compression spring 19 Viewing tab 20 Staircase c10

Claims

1. A load indicator serving to indicate tensile stresses on traction elements (2), - which is specified for an arrangement in a loop or eyelet (3) mounted to the traction element (3) and serving to introduce a counter-holding force to the traction element (2), with the load indicator resting against the oppositely-located inside flanks of the loop or eyelet (3) in approximately the manner of the leg of a cable eye stiffener, and which includes an indicator body (1) that is elastically compressible in approximately the transverse direction to the longitudinal extension of the inside flanks (6, 7), with contact regions (16, 17) that exert a pressure on the inside flanks (6, 7) of the loop or eyelet (3), thereby slightly spreading when the traction element is under zero stress, with the distance (8) between the contact regions acting as a load indicator by decreasing with increasing tensile force and increasing with decreasing tensile stress. 11 WO VUf/b.G LULX/fU%/V IMlI

2 The load indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator body (1) is-a one-piece molded part comprising a resilient material, and rests with its ends, which are oriented approximately in the direction of the extension of the traction element, against the inside flanks of the loop or eyelet (3) such that the eyelet is widened slightly when the' traction element is under zero stress.

3. The load indicator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 'the indicator body (1) is shaped approximately like a ring segment or a C with an opening that faces the securing' point of the traction element.

4. The load indicator according to claim 3, characterized in that the ends of the indicator body (1) that limit the ring-segment opening or the C opening have legs or leg ehds (11) that project toward the side of the traction element.

5. The load indicator according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized.in that the leg ends 12 WO 9fU/4J.J41 arvo aI A*i~ I (11) are bent or angled in spreading directions (9, 10) A that are oriented away from one another.

6. The load indicator according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by at least one viewing tab (19) that is disposed at a leg or leg end (11) and projects in the direction of the other leg, and, in the no-load position, extends so as to overlap the other leg.

7. The load indicator according to claim 6, characterized in that the viewing tab (19) is provided with a graduation.

8. The load indicator according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by at least one stepped edge of the viewing tab (19) as a load indicator.

9. The load indicator according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the pin (5) of an adaptation part (4) that introduces the counter-holding force to the traction element lies in a ring-segment-like or C-shaped indicator body (1). 13

10. The load indicator according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the one-piece indicator body (1) has approximately the shape of the Greek capital letter Q.

11. The load indicator according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator body (1) is bent from a metallic spring-steel sheet, or is produced from plastic in an injection-molding process.

12. The load indicator according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized by an approximately rectangular cross-section shape of its ring-curve head (12) and/or its legs and/or leg ends (11).

13. An adaptation part (4) specified for securing or suspending a traction element equipped with a load indicator (1) according to one or more of the foregoing claims, the part having a pin-like stopping part whose cross-section thickness or outside diameter is smaller than the inside diameter of the head (12) of the indicator body (1), the head being shaped like a ring-curve segment or a C. 14 WO YU/OD±JGI--,

14. The adaptation part (4) according to claim 13, characterized in that it is a ratchet or a shackle.

15. A traction element having a belt eyelet (3) and a load indicator (1) that rests against its inside flanks (6, 7) in the manner of a cable eye stiffener, according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the belt-eyelet length (13), measured in the load direction of the traction element (2), is greater than the length (15) of the indicator body (1), measured in the direction of the center longitudinal axis (14).

16. The belt according to claim 15, characterized in that the length of the indicator body (1) is between 50 and 80 percent of the non-loaded belt-eyelet length (13). 15