/60 HCS
LASHING TENSIONER
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a Lashing Tensioner for securing loads to trucks and trailers.
Background of the Invention
It is currently normal practice to tension load securing lashings on trucks and trailers by
using twitches or ratchet winches. Both have deficiencies overcome by this new invention.
The use of over-centre twitches are common but have proved to be unsafe to the person
using them. Ratchet winches lose all attachment to the lashing if they become loose.
This lashing tensioner advances the state of the art by incorporating into a lever based
tensioner a device such as a ratchet for restricting the unintentional movement of the
lashing. By so doing it is expected that it will be safer to operate than twitches and more
secure than ratchet winches.
Statement of Invention
The invention is an apparatus for tensioning a load lashing which includes:
i. a lever to which the load lashing is connected;
ii. the lever rotates about a pivot;
iii. a device is connected to the lever to restrict its rotation about the pivot in at
least one direction; and
iv. a means of applying torque to the ratchet plate.
The device which restricts the levers rotation in at least one direction may be at least one of
the following:
a ratchet mechanism, or
the lever is shaped to also provide the function of a ratchet plate; and the
ratchet plate is part of a ratchet mechanism, or
a worm drive gearbox. In this case the worm drive gearbox also is part of the
drive which applies torque to the lever.
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Preferably the means for applying torque to the lever incorporates at least one of a manually
operated handle or a motor. At least one gear may be incorporated.
A ratchet mechanism means a mechanism which allows rotation in one direction but which
restricts rotation in the other direction. The ratchet mechanism preferably incorporates an
arrangement which allows the restricted rotation function to be disabled to allow rotation in
said other direction.
A ratchet plate means the part of the ratchet mechanism which is connected either directly or
indirectly to the lashing and which rotates as the lashing tension is adjusted. The ratchet
plate preferably incorporates teeth on at least a portion of its periphery to effect the function
of the ratchet mechanism.
The normal action of the ratchet mechanism allows the lever to be rotated about the pivot in
one direction to tighten the lashing. Said rotation is effected by applying torque to the lever.
Usefully high tensioning forces can be applied to the lashing in this way.
The tips of the ratchet plate teeth preferably form an arc, the centreline of which is located at
the ratchet plate pivot. The ratchet mechanism preferably includes a ratchet pawl. Preferably
the ratchet pawl rotates about a ratchet pawl pivot. Said ratchet pawl pivot will preferably be
a fastener, such as a bolt or retained pin.
Operation of the ratchet pawl preferably allows the ratchet plate to be rotated in a reverse
direction to loosen the lashing.
The ratchet pawl is preferably held against the ratchet plate by a spring.
Preferably the ratchet plate pivot and the ratchet pawl pivot will be connected to a backing
plate.
The backing plate will preferably be connected to a vehicle.
The lashing connection is preferably through a hole in the lever.
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Detailed Description of the Invention
The following description describes the invention in relation to the preferred embodiments.
The invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments as they are presented purely to
exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be readily
apparent without departing from the scope of the invention, such as to use the lashing
tensioner for securing items to structures other than trucks and trailers, and the use of other
types of lashing components.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the
accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation and end elevation view of the first embodiment of the invention.
In this embodiment, torque is applied to a ratchet plate 2 by applying a force to a handle
inserted into the eight pointed hole in the ratchet plate 2.
The ratchet plate 2 pivots around a bush 13 and is fixed to a backing plate 1 by a pivot bolt 9
and a pivot washer 12.
Lashing components are preferably connected to a hole in the ratchet plate 2.
The lashings consist of the preferable arrangement of a hammer-lock 6, a chain 7 and a
hook 8.
The ratchet plate 2 is shaped to provide clearance for the lashings during operation.
A ratchet pawl 3 is fixed to the backing plate 1 by a pawl bolt 11, a pawl washer 10 and a nut
The ratchet pawl 3 is held against the ratchet plate 2 by a spring 4.
The spring 4 is held in place to the backing plate 1 preferably by two pins 5.
The backing plate 1 would preferably be fixed to part of a vehicle such as a truck deck or a
chassis or a cross-member or a log bolster.
Rotation of the ratchet plate 2 by the application of torque to the ratchet plate 2 will move the
lashing attachment point relative to the vehicle and by so doing will tension the lashing. Said
tension will be maintained by the interaction of the ratchet plate 2 and the ratchet pawl 3.
Operation of the ratchet pawl 3 will allow the ratchet plate 2 rotation to be reversed and
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loosen the lashing tension. Figure 1 is drawn in the fully tensioned position. Rotation of the
ratchet plate 2 by almost half a turn in the clockwise direction is the fully un-tensioned
position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation and end elevation view of the second embodiment of the
invention.
In this embodiment, torque is applied to a ratchet plate 2 by turning a hexagonal driver 17.
The hexagonal driver 17 is connected to the ratchet plate 2, preferably by a hexagonal hole
in the ratchet plate 2.
The hexagonal driver 17 and the ratchet plate 2 pivots around a pivot bolt 9 and is fixed to a
backing plate 1 by the pivot bolt 9.
A ratchet pawl 3 is fixed to the backing plate 1 by a bolt 11, a washer 10 and a nut 14.
The ratchet pawl 3 is held against the ratchet plate 2 by a spring 4.
The spring 4 is held in place to the backing plate 1, preferably by two pins 5.
Lashing components are preferably connected to a hole in the ratchet plate 2. The lashings
consist of the preferable arrangement of a hammer-lock 6, a chain 7 and a hook 8.
The ratchet plate 2 is shaped to provide clearance for the lashings during operation.
The backing plate 1 would preferably be fixed to part of a vehicle such as a truck deck or a
chassis or a cross-member or a log bolster.
Rotation of the ratchet plate 2 by the application of torque to the ratchet plate 2 will move the
lashing attachment point relative to the vehicle and by so doing will tension the lashing. Said
tension will be maintained by the interaction of the ratchet plate 2 and the ratchet pawl 3.
Operation of the ratchet pawl 3 will allow the ratchet plate 2 rotation to be reversed and
loosen the lashing tension. Figure 2 is drawn in the fully tensioned position. Rotation of the
ratchet plate 2 by almost half a turn in the clockwise direction is the fully un-tensioned
position.
Figure 3 is a side elevation and end elevation view of the third embodiment of the invention.
701338/60 HCS
In this embodiment, torque is applied to a ratchet plate 2 by turning a hexagonal shaft 16.
The hexagonal shaft 16 is connected to the ratchet plate 2, preferably by welding.
The ratchet plate 2 pivots around a bush 13 and is fixed to a backing plate 1 by a pivot bolt 9
and a pivot washer 12.
A ratchet pawl 3 is fixed to the backing plate 1 by a pawl bolt 11, a pawl washer 10 and a nut
The ratchet pawl 3 is held against the ratchet plate 2 by a spring 4.
The spring 4 is held in place to the backing plate 1 preferably by two pins 5.
Lashing components are preferably connected to a hole in the ratchet plate 2. The lashings
consist of the preferable arrangement of a hammer-lock 6, a chain 7 and a hook 8.
The ratchet plate 2 is shaped to provide clearance for the lashings during operation.
The backing plate 1 would preferably be fixed to part of a vehicle such as a truck deck or a
chassis or a cross-member or a log bolster.
Rotation of the ratchet plate 2 by the application of torque to the ratchet plate 2 will move the
lashing attachment point relative to the vehicle and by so doing will tension the lashing. Said
tension will be maintained by the interaction of the ratchet plate 2 and the ratchet pawl 3.
Operation of the ratchet pawl 3 will allow the ratchet plate 2 rotation to be reversed and
loosen the lashing tension. Figure 3 is drawn in the fully tensioned position. Rotation of the
ratchet plate 2 by almost half a turn in the clockwise direction is the fully un-tensioned
position.
Figure 4 is a side elevation and both end elevation views of the fourth embodiment of the
invention.
In this embodiment, torque is applied to a lever 18 by turning the hexagonal end of a drive
shaft 19.
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The lever 18 is connected to the drive shaft 19, preferably by welding.
A ratchet plate 2 is connected to the drive shaft 19. This connection is preferably by
hexagonal hole in the ratchet plate 2 and fixed with a circlip 20.
The drive shaft 19 and the lever 18 pivots in a hole through a pivot plate 15.
The drive shaft 19 and the ratchet plate 2 pivots in a hole through a backing plate 1.
A ratchet pawl 3 is fixed to the backing plate 1 by a bolt 11, a washer 10 and a nut 14.
The ratchet pawl 3 is held against the ratchet plate 2 by a spring 4.
The spring 4 is held in place to the backing plate 1 preferably by two pins 5.
Lashing components are preferably connected to a hole in the lever 18. The lashings consist
of the preferable arrangement of a hammer-lock 6, a chain 7 and a hook 8.
The lever 18 is shaped to provide clearance for the lashings during operation.
The backing plate 1 and the pivot plate 13 would preferably be fixed to part of a vehicle such
as a truck deck or a chassis or a cross-member or a log bolster 21.
Rotation of the lever 18 by the application of torque to the lever 18 will move the lashing
attachment point relative to the vehicle and by so doing will tension the lashing. Said tension
will be maintained by the interaction of the ratchet plate 2 and the ratchet pawl 3. Operation
of the ratchet pawl 3 will allow the ratchet plate 2 rotation to be reversed and loosen the
lashing tension. Figure 4 is drawn in the fully tensioned position. Rotation of the ratchet plate
2 by half a turn in the clockwise direction as viewed from the ratchet plate 2 end is the fully
un-tensioned position.
James & Wells ref: 701338/60 HCS
WHAT I