CA1241319A - Device for tightening chains and the like - Google Patents
Device for tightening chains and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1241319A CA1241319A CA000505024A CA505024A CA1241319A CA 1241319 A CA1241319 A CA 1241319A CA 000505024 A CA000505024 A CA 000505024A CA 505024 A CA505024 A CA 505024A CA 1241319 A CA1241319 A CA 1241319A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chain
- cable
- rope
- strap
- sleeve
- 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
Links
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- Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
Abstract
DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING CHAINS AND THE LIKE
Abstract of the Disclosure A device for tightening chains, cables or ropes is disclosed. Previously, turnbuckles or load binders, the latter operating on the principle of the lever, have been used to tighten two ends of a chain or cable around an object, or the ends of two chains which have been secured at their other ends. Such devices are hand-operated and accordingly can only apply limited tension to the chain or cable. The present invention provides a device whereby an air-gun or pneumatic wrench or other power tool can be used to tighten the chain or cable to much greater tension. The device utilizes a threaded bolt which is secured to one end of the chain and which, by the rotation of a threaded socket, is drawn through a sleeve to which the other end of the chain is secured, thereby tightening the chain.
Abstract of the Disclosure A device for tightening chains, cables or ropes is disclosed. Previously, turnbuckles or load binders, the latter operating on the principle of the lever, have been used to tighten two ends of a chain or cable around an object, or the ends of two chains which have been secured at their other ends. Such devices are hand-operated and accordingly can only apply limited tension to the chain or cable. The present invention provides a device whereby an air-gun or pneumatic wrench or other power tool can be used to tighten the chain or cable to much greater tension. The device utilizes a threaded bolt which is secured to one end of the chain and which, by the rotation of a threaded socket, is drawn through a sleeve to which the other end of the chain is secured, thereby tightening the chain.
Description
~Z~3~
DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING CHAINS AND THE IJIKE
__ Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains to the field of devices such as turnbuckles for tighteniny or takiny up slaak in chains, cables, ropes and the like.
DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING CHAINS AND THE IJIKE
__ Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains to the field of devices such as turnbuckles for tighteniny or takiny up slaak in chains, cables, ropes and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art In many applications, it is necessary to tighten or take up the slaclc in a chain, cable or rope particularly by drawing the two ends of the chain together around an object, or drawing together the ends of two chains whose ends are secured. Typically this has been done in the past by securing each end of the chain or cable or the ends of two chains or cables to the opposite ends of a turnbuckle and rotating the sleeve of the turnbuckle by hand. the amount of tensioning which can be accomplish-ed by hand can be increased through the principle of the lever by inserting a bar or screwdriver through the opening in the turnbuckle and applying pressure at the end ox khe bar to rotate the sleeve. However, the amount of tension which can be applied in this manner is clearly limited.
For example, in a body shop environment, chains are commonly used to tie down the damaged vehicle while it is mounted on a stand and secure it so that work may be performed on the vehicle without the danger of the vehicle falling off the stand. At present, such chains are tightened using a turnbuckle but sufficient tension to maintain the vehicle in a rigid position cannot be
For example, in a body shop environment, chains are commonly used to tie down the damaged vehicle while it is mounted on a stand and secure it so that work may be performed on the vehicle without the danger of the vehicle falling off the stand. At present, such chains are tightened using a turnbuckle but sufficient tension to maintain the vehicle in a rigid position cannot be
3~
obtained through hand-tightening of the turnbuckle.
Similarly, loads on a truck or boat are often tied down using chains. In this application, load binders are often used to tighten the chain. These binders work on the principle of the lever and are locked in the closed position when the point of rotation passes through a point of highest tension into a rest position of slight-ly lower tension. This serves to retain the load binder in the closed pos;tion. However, because of the slight slacXening involved in this locking method and because they are applied by hand, such binders cannot secure the chain under extreme tension.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a device for tighten-ing chains and the like which comprises an elongate threaded bolt element which is secured to a fixed end of a chain, a sleeve element to which a second retractable end oE a chain is secured and which receives the bolt and attached chain and which prevents rotation o the chain, and jeans for threadably receiving the bolt ele-ment and drawing it throuyh the sleeve element. In the preerred eorm, the means for threadably receiving the bolt element consists of a threaded ~ocke-t having a hex-agonal end which can be kurned using a wrench or air-gun. Further in one aspect of the invention, the bolt i8 provided with a stopper which prevents it from fall-ing completely out of the sleeve. Further according to one aspect of the invention, a short length of chain is welded to the bolt element 90 that a hook or other means may be used to connect the device to the end of the chain or cable to be tightened. According to yet an-other aspect of the invention the acute angle formed between the device and the chain being shortened is L3~
minimized. Conversely, the obtuse angle formed by the device and the chain is maximized. The component of force applied along the chain to be tightened is thereby maximized. according to a further aspect of the inven-tion, a hydraulic cylinder may be utilized to draw the chain into the sleeve, rather than a threaded bolt. In this embodiment, the sLeeve need not prevent the rota-tion of the chain.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device of the present invention in disassembled form wi-th chain attached;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device illustrated in Figure 1 in an assembled state; and Figure 3 is a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 cut away along lines A - A to show the inte-rior of the device in cross-section.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring t.o Figure 1, the chain-tightening device consists ox three central components: a threaded bolt element 1, a hollow elongated sleeve 2 and a socket 3 into which a bolt 1 is threaded. The lengths of bolt 1 and socket element 3 are chosen according to the amount of shortening required to be carried out by the device.
One end of bolt 1 is attached to a flexible linkage such as by welding (as at 4~ onto a short length of cable or chain 5. Chain 5 may then be secured to the first re-tractable end of the length of chain to be tightened using conventional means such as a hook or clip (not lZ~3~L~
shown). Other means may be used to secure the end o bolt 1 to the chain or cable to be tightened, such as by providing the end of -the bolt with an eye or hook.
were a length of chain 5 is used as shown in Figure 1, the chain must be somewhat longer than sleeve 2 so that the travel of the bolt will not be interrupted by con-tact between the hook at the end of chain 5 and the sleeve 2. Bolt 1 is provided at one end with a circular stopper 6 which will be further described below.
Sleeve 2 consists of a hollow tube having an open end 7 and a circular opening 8 at the other end through which bolt 1 passes. Where the device is used to tigh-ten chain, the sleeve is preferably rectangular in cross-section and so dimensioned that the chain is pre-vented from turning within the sleeve. Preferably the sleeve is constructed from heavy metal tubing and open-ing 8 may be formed by welding a metal washer to the end of the tube. Sleeve 2 has a pair o flanges or lobes 9 attached to its lower side adjacent opening 8. These are provided with holes 10 to receive pin 11. The end of the chaln to be tightened 12 is secured to the sleeve 2 by means of pin 11. PreEerably, pin 11 i5 located 30 that the Eixed end oE the chain i8 aligned to form a 180 angle with the retractable end of the chain where it enter sleeve 2. Flanges 9 are configured so that sleeve 2 iB offset with respect to the chain to be tightened to allow access to the device with a power tool, and to maximize the effective tensioning Eorce.
In constructing the preferred form of the device, bolt 1 must be inserted through aperture 8 and washer 16 and threaded element 13 threaded onto the bolt before stopper 6 has been welded to the end of the bolt. Once stopper 6 has been attached, socket element 14 is secu-L3~
red to threaded element 13 by welding at 17 (see Figure 3).
Referring to Figure 3, bolt 1 is drawn through hole 8 by the action of threaded socket 3. Socket 3 has threaded end 13 which mates with the threads of bolt 1.
The end of bolt 1 travels into a hollow socket portion 14 of element 3 which has at one end a hexagonal projec-tion 15 suited to be turned by a wrench or air-gun.
Washer 16 may be interposed between element 3 and sleeve 2 in order to increase the durability of the device.
Operation of the device may be understood by refer-ring to Figure 3. Chain 5 is secured to the first re-tractable end of chain by a hook or other means. Where a single chain is being tightened around an object, the second end of chain 12 is passed around the load or structure to be secured and is then attached to flanges 9 by passing pin 11 through the end link 19. Where two chains are being drawn together, the end of thy fixed chain 12 is similarly attached by means of pin 11. An air-gun or other power operated or hand-operated wrench is then applied to end 15 to turn the socket element 3.
'rhe action o threaded element 13 rotating on bolt 1 causes the bolt to be drawn into socket element 3 which bears against washer 16. Chain 5 is prevented from ro-tating within the sleeve by the shape and dimension of sleeve 2. As socket 3 is rotated, the retractable end of chain secured to linkage 5 is drawn towards fixed end 12 and the chain is tightened. It has been found that using a 3/8th inch chain and an air-gun to turn nut 15, a tension on the order of 2 tons can be applied to the chain.
3~9 An impor-tant feature of the invention which permits high tension to be applied to the chain or cable is the fact, illustratad in figure 3, that the ends of the chain 12 remain substantially aligned as the chain is being tightened, and the angle B is minimized. By mini-mizing angle B, (or, conversely, maximizing angle D), while maintaining enough clearance be-tween the chain and socket element 3 to permit access to the device for tightening with a power tool, the component oE the applied force F which lies along the direction of the chain, indica-ted as C, is maximized. Consequently the applied force is translated most efEiciently into ten-sion along the chain and higher tension may be achieved.
In a second embodiment of the invention, hydraulic Eorce may be substituted for the screw action shown in the embodiment illustrated. In this embodiment, a smooth shaEt of circular cross-section is substituted for the threaded bolt 1. The shaft would enter a hy-draulic cylinder corresponding to socket element 3 through a sealed aperture. The end of the shaft would be provided with a piston (in a location similar to that ox stopper 6). Hydraulic ~luicl under pressure would be provided to the cylinder at location 20 in Figure 3, thereby driving khe piston and drawing chain 5 into the sleeve, tightening the chain. In this embodiment, it would not be necessary to prevent chain 5 Erom turning within the sleeve, and accordingly a rectangular sleeve would not necessarily be preferred Eor chain tightening.
The embodiment illustrated has been designed for tightening 3/8th-inch chain and accordingly is shown as being constructed of strong and durable materials. The principle of the invention may be applied to the tight-ening o-E lighter chains, cables or ropes, in which case 3~
less durahle materials might be substituted. For exam-ple, a smaller cable might be subskituted for chain 5.
In that case, the cable or rope would be provided with means to prevent rotation within the sleeve 2. Also, stopper 6 may be dispensed with without reducing the utility of the invention and the use o-f washer 16 is not necessary to the invention. A standard nut could be substituted for socket element 3 if the device was only to be hand tightened. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various other modifications and adaptations of the structure above described are possi-ble without departure from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
obtained through hand-tightening of the turnbuckle.
Similarly, loads on a truck or boat are often tied down using chains. In this application, load binders are often used to tighten the chain. These binders work on the principle of the lever and are locked in the closed position when the point of rotation passes through a point of highest tension into a rest position of slight-ly lower tension. This serves to retain the load binder in the closed pos;tion. However, because of the slight slacXening involved in this locking method and because they are applied by hand, such binders cannot secure the chain under extreme tension.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a device for tighten-ing chains and the like which comprises an elongate threaded bolt element which is secured to a fixed end of a chain, a sleeve element to which a second retractable end oE a chain is secured and which receives the bolt and attached chain and which prevents rotation o the chain, and jeans for threadably receiving the bolt ele-ment and drawing it throuyh the sleeve element. In the preerred eorm, the means for threadably receiving the bolt element consists of a threaded ~ocke-t having a hex-agonal end which can be kurned using a wrench or air-gun. Further in one aspect of the invention, the bolt i8 provided with a stopper which prevents it from fall-ing completely out of the sleeve. Further according to one aspect of the invention, a short length of chain is welded to the bolt element 90 that a hook or other means may be used to connect the device to the end of the chain or cable to be tightened. According to yet an-other aspect of the invention the acute angle formed between the device and the chain being shortened is L3~
minimized. Conversely, the obtuse angle formed by the device and the chain is maximized. The component of force applied along the chain to be tightened is thereby maximized. according to a further aspect of the inven-tion, a hydraulic cylinder may be utilized to draw the chain into the sleeve, rather than a threaded bolt. In this embodiment, the sLeeve need not prevent the rota-tion of the chain.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device of the present invention in disassembled form wi-th chain attached;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device illustrated in Figure 1 in an assembled state; and Figure 3 is a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 cut away along lines A - A to show the inte-rior of the device in cross-section.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring t.o Figure 1, the chain-tightening device consists ox three central components: a threaded bolt element 1, a hollow elongated sleeve 2 and a socket 3 into which a bolt 1 is threaded. The lengths of bolt 1 and socket element 3 are chosen according to the amount of shortening required to be carried out by the device.
One end of bolt 1 is attached to a flexible linkage such as by welding (as at 4~ onto a short length of cable or chain 5. Chain 5 may then be secured to the first re-tractable end of the length of chain to be tightened using conventional means such as a hook or clip (not lZ~3~L~
shown). Other means may be used to secure the end o bolt 1 to the chain or cable to be tightened, such as by providing the end of -the bolt with an eye or hook.
were a length of chain 5 is used as shown in Figure 1, the chain must be somewhat longer than sleeve 2 so that the travel of the bolt will not be interrupted by con-tact between the hook at the end of chain 5 and the sleeve 2. Bolt 1 is provided at one end with a circular stopper 6 which will be further described below.
Sleeve 2 consists of a hollow tube having an open end 7 and a circular opening 8 at the other end through which bolt 1 passes. Where the device is used to tigh-ten chain, the sleeve is preferably rectangular in cross-section and so dimensioned that the chain is pre-vented from turning within the sleeve. Preferably the sleeve is constructed from heavy metal tubing and open-ing 8 may be formed by welding a metal washer to the end of the tube. Sleeve 2 has a pair o flanges or lobes 9 attached to its lower side adjacent opening 8. These are provided with holes 10 to receive pin 11. The end of the chaln to be tightened 12 is secured to the sleeve 2 by means of pin 11. PreEerably, pin 11 i5 located 30 that the Eixed end oE the chain i8 aligned to form a 180 angle with the retractable end of the chain where it enter sleeve 2. Flanges 9 are configured so that sleeve 2 iB offset with respect to the chain to be tightened to allow access to the device with a power tool, and to maximize the effective tensioning Eorce.
In constructing the preferred form of the device, bolt 1 must be inserted through aperture 8 and washer 16 and threaded element 13 threaded onto the bolt before stopper 6 has been welded to the end of the bolt. Once stopper 6 has been attached, socket element 14 is secu-L3~
red to threaded element 13 by welding at 17 (see Figure 3).
Referring to Figure 3, bolt 1 is drawn through hole 8 by the action of threaded socket 3. Socket 3 has threaded end 13 which mates with the threads of bolt 1.
The end of bolt 1 travels into a hollow socket portion 14 of element 3 which has at one end a hexagonal projec-tion 15 suited to be turned by a wrench or air-gun.
Washer 16 may be interposed between element 3 and sleeve 2 in order to increase the durability of the device.
Operation of the device may be understood by refer-ring to Figure 3. Chain 5 is secured to the first re-tractable end of chain by a hook or other means. Where a single chain is being tightened around an object, the second end of chain 12 is passed around the load or structure to be secured and is then attached to flanges 9 by passing pin 11 through the end link 19. Where two chains are being drawn together, the end of thy fixed chain 12 is similarly attached by means of pin 11. An air-gun or other power operated or hand-operated wrench is then applied to end 15 to turn the socket element 3.
'rhe action o threaded element 13 rotating on bolt 1 causes the bolt to be drawn into socket element 3 which bears against washer 16. Chain 5 is prevented from ro-tating within the sleeve by the shape and dimension of sleeve 2. As socket 3 is rotated, the retractable end of chain secured to linkage 5 is drawn towards fixed end 12 and the chain is tightened. It has been found that using a 3/8th inch chain and an air-gun to turn nut 15, a tension on the order of 2 tons can be applied to the chain.
3~9 An impor-tant feature of the invention which permits high tension to be applied to the chain or cable is the fact, illustratad in figure 3, that the ends of the chain 12 remain substantially aligned as the chain is being tightened, and the angle B is minimized. By mini-mizing angle B, (or, conversely, maximizing angle D), while maintaining enough clearance be-tween the chain and socket element 3 to permit access to the device for tightening with a power tool, the component oE the applied force F which lies along the direction of the chain, indica-ted as C, is maximized. Consequently the applied force is translated most efEiciently into ten-sion along the chain and higher tension may be achieved.
In a second embodiment of the invention, hydraulic Eorce may be substituted for the screw action shown in the embodiment illustrated. In this embodiment, a smooth shaEt of circular cross-section is substituted for the threaded bolt 1. The shaft would enter a hy-draulic cylinder corresponding to socket element 3 through a sealed aperture. The end of the shaft would be provided with a piston (in a location similar to that ox stopper 6). Hydraulic ~luicl under pressure would be provided to the cylinder at location 20 in Figure 3, thereby driving khe piston and drawing chain 5 into the sleeve, tightening the chain. In this embodiment, it would not be necessary to prevent chain 5 Erom turning within the sleeve, and accordingly a rectangular sleeve would not necessarily be preferred Eor chain tightening.
The embodiment illustrated has been designed for tightening 3/8th-inch chain and accordingly is shown as being constructed of strong and durable materials. The principle of the invention may be applied to the tight-ening o-E lighter chains, cables or ropes, in which case 3~
less durahle materials might be substituted. For exam-ple, a smaller cable might be subskituted for chain 5.
In that case, the cable or rope would be provided with means to prevent rotation within the sleeve 2. Also, stopper 6 may be dispensed with without reducing the utility of the invention and the use o-f washer 16 is not necessary to the invention. A standard nut could be substituted for socket element 3 if the device was only to be hand tightened. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various other modifications and adaptations of the structure above described are possi-ble without departure from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A device for tightening chains, straps, ropes or cable comprising:
a) an elongated, threaded element adapted to be secured at one end thereof to a first end of a chain, strap, rope or cable;
b) a hollow sleeve element open at one end and having at the opposite end an aperture adapted to allow the passage of said elongated threaded element, wherein said sleeve element is configured to prevent rotation of said chain, strap, rope or cable;
c) means for securing said sleeve element to a second end of a chain, strap, rope or cable; and d) a hollow, tubular member adapted at a first end thereof to threadably receive said threaded element and bear against the exterior of said second end of said sleeve element whereby rotation of said means for threadably receiving causes said threaded element to be drawn through said opening in said sleeve element thereby tightening said chain or chains, strap or straps, rope or ropes, or, cable or cables, and wherein said tubular member further comprises means for applying a tool at a second end thereof in order to rotate said tubular member.
a) an elongated, threaded element adapted to be secured at one end thereof to a first end of a chain, strap, rope or cable;
b) a hollow sleeve element open at one end and having at the opposite end an aperture adapted to allow the passage of said elongated threaded element, wherein said sleeve element is configured to prevent rotation of said chain, strap, rope or cable;
c) means for securing said sleeve element to a second end of a chain, strap, rope or cable; and d) a hollow, tubular member adapted at a first end thereof to threadably receive said threaded element and bear against the exterior of said second end of said sleeve element whereby rotation of said means for threadably receiving causes said threaded element to be drawn through said opening in said sleeve element thereby tightening said chain or chains, strap or straps, rope or ropes, or, cable or cables, and wherein said tubular member further comprises means for applying a tool at a second end thereof in order to rotate said tubular member.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said elongated threaded element is adapted to be secured at one end to said first end of a chain, strap, rope or cable by means of a flexible linkage secured to one end of said threaded element.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said threaded element is provided with means adjacent the second end of said threaded element to prevent said threaded element from being withdrawn from said means for threadably receiving.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first end of a chain, strap, rope or cable adjacent said open end of said sleeve element and said second end of a chain, strap, rope or cable are substantially colinear.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said sleeve element forms an acute angle with said first and second ends of a chain, strap, rope or cable.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein said acute angle is minimized and the obtuse angle which is adjacent to and supplementary to said acute angle is maximized, thereby maximizing the component of force applied by the device along said chain or chains, strap or straps, rope or ropes, or, cable or cables.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for securing said sleeve element to said chain, strap, rope or cable is adjacent said opposite end of said sleeve element.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000505024A CA1241319A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Device for tightening chains and the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000505024A CA1241319A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Device for tightening chains and the like |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1241319A true CA1241319A (en) | 1988-08-30 |
Family
ID=4132739
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000505024A Expired CA1241319A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Device for tightening chains and the like |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1241319A (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-03-25 CA CA000505024A patent/CA1241319A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |