Patent ID: 6691851
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B60N,G05G

Abstract:
A ratchet actuator comprising:a lever housing having a rive axis and a ratchet axis; a lever, being fixed to said lever housing at said drive axis; a ratchet comprising: a ratchet post, said ratchet post being coaxial with and fixed to said lever housing ratchet axis; a first pawl having a first end in rotating communication with said ratchet post and having a second end, said second end having teeth and a pin; at least one second pawl having a first end in rotating communication with said ratchet post and having a second end, said second end having teeth and a pin; a pawl spring biasing said first pawl second end towards said second pawl second end; a drive gear having teeth, said drive gear teeth being dimensioned to mesh with said first and second pawl teeth and said drive gear being disposed to engage said pawls; a second housing having high step and at least one low step; each of said steps being disposed to mediate said pawl spring biasing of each of said pawls towards the other of each of said pawls by sliding contact with said pins; such that when one of said first or second pawl pins is in contact with said at least one low Step, the other of said pins remains in contact with said high step; said low step being dimensioned to mesh said teeth of said one of said pawl ends having aid pin contacting said low step with said teeth of said drive gear; said high step being dimensioned to keep said teeth of said other pawl ends having said pin contacting said high step disengaged from said drive gear teeth; a locking clutch; in driven communication with said drive gear; and a pulley for anchoring a traction element, said pulley being rotationally anchored in said second housing and being rotationally mediated by said locking clutch.