Abstract:
A ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus in the mechanical technical field is provided as a lashing tool. It addresses the problem in a current lashing apparatus that the mechanical strength of the reel is relatively poor. The ratchet wheel of the present invention comprises a wheel body with ratchet teeth mounted on its outer edge. The wheel body has two shaft holes for the reel to pass through, and a supporting strip between the two shaft holes, which is fixed to the wheel body and protruded to one side of the wheel body. When assembling the ratchet wheel, the two supporting strips of the ratchet wheel are faced towards the inside, so that the distance between the two supporting strips is shortened and thereby the mechanical strength of the reel enhanced. There may be various ways to connect the supporting strips with the wheel body. The ratchet wheel of the present invention is characterized by enhanced distortion resistance of the reel and improved mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus. Furthermore, the lashing apparatus has significantly improved performance but with only a slight increase in the product cost, and it is safe and reliable with high use values.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a lashing apparatus in the mechanical technical field, and more particularly to a tool for lashing goods on a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The goods usually need to be lashed during transporting with a vehicle. It is not only inefficient but also strenuous to use the conventional nylon rope or steel rope to lash goods, and it is also difficult to lash these goods tightly. The lashing apparatus has been widely used at present, since it can lash and hold goods rapidly and conveniently.  
         [0003]     A great lashing force is required for heavy goods to be transported. This is a challenge to the mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus. In practice, the lashing apparatus may be damaged while an excess force is applied on the strap during lashing the goods, wherein the reel is always the first part to be damaged. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus can be most effectively enhanced by increasing the deformation resistance at reel.  
         [0004]     However, the commonly used methods have some disadvantages in this aspect. If the size of the reel is enlarged, though the mechanical strength is enhanced, the cost will be increased; furthermore, for the products with the same scale, if the size of the reel is enlarged, that of other parts attached therewith, such as the ratchet wheel, will be correspondingly reduced, which will in turn impact the mechanical strength of said other parts. Efforts also have been made in making reels with high strength materials, but the manufacturing cost is increased accordingly, as is unfavorable for mass production and wide application. Due to the structural designs, the structure of the lashing apparatus tends to be more complicated in pursuit of high mechanical strength, which results in adverse effect on processing and use. Therefore, there is a need for a novel ratchet wheel to overcome the problems mentioned above.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     An object of the invention is to provide a novel ratchet wheel of a lashing apparatus, so as to overcome the disadvantages of the poor mechanical strength at the reel in the current lashing apparatus, which improves the resistance to deformation of the ratchet wheel, and thereby improving the mechanical strength of the entire lashing apparatus.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wheel of a lashing apparatus to address to the above-mentioned problems, which is easily implemented with a low cost and has a wide range of application. It overcomes the existing technical problems of the prior art that the use of high strength materials and the addition of manufacturing materials to enhance the strength of the ratchet wheel and the like results in a relatively high cost and makes it difficult to implement so that it is not suitable for wide application.  
         [0007]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wheel of a lashing apparatus to address the above-mentioned problems, which is suitable for the existing lashing apparatuses, easy to be reassembled and has a good compatibility. It solves the existing technical problems, such as poor economic efficiency and significant adjustment that has to be made to the lashing apparatus to improve the mechanical strength.  
         [0008]     These objects of the present invention can be achieved by the following technical proposal. The ratchet wheel of the present invention comprises a wheel body which has ratchet teeth mounted on its outer edge. The wheel body has two shaft holes for the reel to pass through, and a supporting strip between the two shaft holes, wherein the supporting strip is fixed to the wheel body and protruded to one side of the wheel body. The reel is comprised of two semicircular winding shaft plates. After assembly, the supporting strip of the ratchet wheel is snapped between the two semicircular winding shaft plates, so as to function as a support. When a lashing apparatus is used to lash the goods, the tension of the strap will be applied on the semicircular winding shaft plates. As shown in  FIG. 14 , an over-tension will make the semicircular winding shaft plates deform. Obviously, the tension making the deformation of the semicircular winding shaft plates will increase once the length of the supporting strip between the two semicircular winding shaft plates is shortened. Therefore, based on this principle, the ratchet wheel of the present invention has a supporting strip protruded to one side of the wheel body. When assembling the ratchet wheel, the two supporting strips of the ratchet wheel are faced towards the inside, in order to provide a shortened space between the two supporting strips and improve the mechanical strength of the reel.  
         [0009]     There may be various ways to connect the supporting strip to the wheel body. For example, said supporting strip and the wheel body is integrated through stamping. The stamped ratchet wheel is formed as an integral, which is easier to be assembled and processed. The material for making such a ratchet wheel is a metal material with good stretchability. Dies can be used in stamping, the structure of which generally comprises: an upper die and a lower die engaged with each other. A locking plate is arranged on the lower die for attaching the work pieces. At the head of the upper die there is a stamping concave head which has an arc shape. A stamping notch is provided on the lower die which matches with the stamping concave head of the upper die.  
         [0010]     For another example, said supporting strip is fixed to the wheel body through one or more rivets or through one or more bolts. This can easily get much improvement relative to the conventional ratchet wheel, and the mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus will be obviously increased without replacing the parts.  
         [0011]     For yet another example, said supporting strip is welded to the wheel body. By welding, the supporting strip will be kept away from loosening over long service time, while maintaining a fine compatibility with the existing device.  
         [0012]     Still further, said supporting strip is wrapped around the wheel body through a metal sheet. More particularly, the metal sheet is wrapped around the supporting strip of the ratchet wheel.  
         [0013]     Compared with the prior art, the advantage of the present invention is to improve the deformation resistance of the reel by changing the shape of the ratchet wheel, and thereby to enhance the mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus. Also, the product of the present structure requires a relatively small increase in cost but presents a significantly improved mechanical performance, compared with the conventional products. It is also safe and reliable with high use values. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIGS. 1 and 2  respectively show the front view and sectional view of the ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively show the front view and sectional view of the ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 5 and 6  respectively show the front view and sectional view of the ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7 and 8  respectively show the front view and sectional view of the ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 9, 10 , and  11  respectively show the front view, sectional view in a first direction and sectional view in a second direction of the ratchet wheel for a lashing apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  shows the structural schematic view of the lashing apparatus with the structure of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  shows the lateral structural schematic view of the lashing apparatus with the structure of the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  shows structural schematic view of a common lashing apparatus wherein the reel is deformed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  shows structural schematic view of a die for the ratchet wheel of the lashing apparatus for the present invention according to embodiment 1.  
         [0023]      FIG. 16  shows the enlargement perspective view of the ratchet wheel of the lashing apparatus stamped through dies as showed in  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Embodiment 1  
       [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a lashing apparatus generally comprises a body  8 , a ratchet wheel  10 , a baffle  86 , a spring  87 , a handhold  76 , a reel  3 , a side piece  71 , a mobile strap  74 , a positioning strap  84 , a positioning hook  85  and a mobile hook  75 . The mobile strap  74  is wound around the reel  3 , with the mobile hook  75  at the end. The positioning hook  85  and mobile hook  75  at the ends of the lashing apparatus are locked to the goods or the vehicle. The ratchet wheel  10  makes unidirectional rotation by repeatedly turning the side piece  71 , so that the mobile strap  74  is wound around the reel  3  continuously to tighten the mobile strap  74 . Thus the goods are finally lashed and secured.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the body  8  is comprised of a connector  81  and two side plates  82  symmetrically fixed to the sides of the connector  81 . The connector  81  is perpendicular to the side plates  82  as an integral. A hinge hole  83  is correspondingly arranged at one end of said two side plates  82  of the body  8 . The handle  7  is comprised of two symmetrical side pieces  71  with a hinge port  73  arranged at one end, and a handle grip  72  for connecting said two side pieces  71 . The reel  3  hinges the body  8  and the handle  7  together through the hinge hole  83  and the hinge port  73 . The two side plates  82  of the body  8  have a slot A provided thereon accordingly, with both sides of the baffle  86  accommodated in the slot A respectively. The slot A has a length larger than that of the portion connecting the baffle and the slot A, so that the baffle is moveable therein. One end of the baffle  86  is engaged with the ratchet teeth  102  of the ratchet wheel  10 . A rod  861  is provided at the other end of the baffle  86 , passing through the thru hole  811  within the connector  81  of the body  8 . The thru hole  811  of the connector  81  is arranged in a protrusion  812 . A spring  87  with a diameter larger than that of the thru hole  811  is disposed around the rod  861 . Thus, when the baffle  86  moves, the rod  861  passes through the thru hole  811 , while the spring  87  will be checked and compressed, due to its larger diameter. In this way, the spring  87  will apply a force on the baffle  86  and will be recovered when the baffle  86  is released.  
         [0026]     One or more rods  861  can be provided herein. Accordingly, since the thru hole  811  and the spring  87  are used in match with the rod  861 , the number of those should be equal.  
         [0027]     The two side pieces  71  of the handle  7  have a slot B provided thereon accordingly, with both sides of the handhold  76  accommodated in the slot B respectively. The slot B has a length larger than that of the portion connecting the handhold and the slot B, so that the handhold  76  is moveable in the slot B. One end of the handhold  76  is engaged with the ratchet teeth  102  of the ratchet wheel  10 . A draw ring  761  is provided at the other end of the handhold  76 , and a return spring  77  is provided between the handhold  76  and the side piece  71 .  
         [0028]     The reel  3  is comprised of two semicircular winding shaft plates  31 , with a ratchet wheel  10  arranged at each end. Said ratchet wheel  10  is arranged in the hinge area between the side plate  82  and the side piece  71 . More particularly, two side plates  82  of the body  8  are muff-coupled to the reel  3 , then the ratchet wheel  10  is muff-coupled to the outer sides of side plates  82 , and then two side pieces  71  of the handle  7  are muff-coupled to the out sides of two ratchet wheels  10 . The two ends of the two semicircular winding shaft plates  31  pass through the ratchet wheels  10  respectively, and are fixed together via pins  32 , with the surfaces of said two semicircular winding shaft plates  31  facing each other. The pin  32  has an S-shape, and passes through the connection holes at the ends of the two semicircular winding shaft plates  31 . The pin  32  functions to protect the parts muff-coupled to the semicircular winding shaft plates  31  from detaching therefrom.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ratchet wheel  10  comprises a wheel body  101 . The wheel body  101  has ratchet teeth  102  mounted on its outer edge and two shaft holes  103  for the reel  3  to pass through. A supporting strip  104  is provided between said shaft holes  103 . Said supporting strip  104  is fixed to the wheel body  101  and protruded to one side of the wheel body  101 . The ratchet teeth  102  of the ratchet wheel  10  are inclined to one side, so as to ensure its unidirectional feature.  
         [0030]     The ratchet wheel is formed by stamping, so the thickness of the ratchet wheel  101  is generally equal to that of the supporting strip  104 . The space which the supporting strip  104  protrudes to the ratchet body  101  is between ½ and ⅘ in proportion to the thickness of the supporting strip  104  itself. The notch formed by stamping has a disc shape. The proportion of the diameter at the bottom of the notch is about ¼ to ⅖ to that of the opening. The diameter at opening of the notch is about half of the whole ratchet body  101  diameter. Two shaft holes  103  have symmetrically semicircular shape. The span of the semicircular hole accounts for about half of the whole ratchet body  101  diameter. Of course, not all the proportions of apparatus will be in said scope. Proportion deviation exists according to different materials and processes  
         [0031]     In the present embodiment, the mechanical strength of the reel  3  is improved by shortening the space between the two supporting strips  104 . The supporting strip  2  and the wheel body  10  are integrated directly by stamping according to the Embodiment 1. The structure and the process of this embodiment are simple, and thus high use value is achieved.  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  shows a die for producing the ratchet wheel of said lashing apparatus, used for forming the supporting strip  104  which protruded to the ratchet body  101  by stamping. The die generally comprises an upper die  1  and a lower die  2  engaged with each other. The locking plate  4  is arranged on the lower die  2  for attaching the work pieces. At the head of the upper die  1 , there is a stamping concave head  11  which has an arc shape. The stamping notch  21  is provided on the lower die  2  matching with the stamping concave head  11  of the upper die  1 . The stamping concave head  11  is of high hard material, a smooth arc, and without any edge angle. It can prevent stress concentration of the portion where has an edge angle during the stamping process, so that avoiding the product to be broken or cracked. Thus, the production yield is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.  
         [0033]     Firstly, the to-be-stamped work piece is put on the lower die  2  and is secured with the locking plate  3  in operating. Make sure the middle portion of the work piece is on the notch  21 . Then, stamp the upper die  1  downwards into the shape for one time, control the stamping force and depth according to actual situation. The work piece will cracks if the force is exceed, while an under force can not press a enough protruded space on the supporting strip  104 .  FIG. 16  shows the structure of a pressed ratchet wheel. The supporting strip  104  of the ratchet wheel which has a arc is protruded to the ratchet wheel  
         [0034]     In order to have a well processing and manufacturing procedure, the whole ratchet wheel processes according to the embodiments are as following: 
        A. Plate cutting: noting the thickness and quality of the material in plate cutting.     B. Blanking: Pressing the sheet materials after cutting. Press of 80-125 tonnes can be adopted here. The height of the blanking burr must be less than 0.1 mm.     C. Forming: Using the said dies and 40-60 tonnes press here to stamp. The upper die must be pressed in position to make sure one time stamping.     D. Heat treatment: Heat treating the ratchet wheel after forming. The hardness must be to HRC30-80 after heat treatment.     E. Barrel burnishing: Remove the burr on the surface and the oxidation surface layer in this procedure.     F. Electroplating: Galvanizing the surface and passive the colors. The thickness of the zinc layer is no less than 0.004 mm, so as to avoid corroding, thus the serve time is prolonged.        
 
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a beam is provided at one side of the body  8 , with a positioning strap  84  fixed thereon which has a positioning hook  85  provided at the distal. The mobile strap  74  is wound around the reel  3 , which has a mobile hook  75  provided at the outer side. The positioning hook  85  and mobile hook  75  at the two ends of the lashing apparatus are locked to the goods or vehicle during usage. The ratchet wheel  10  makes unidirectional rotation by repeatedly turning the handle  7 , so that the mobile strap  74  is wound around the reel  3  continuously to tighten the mobile strap  74 . Thus, the goods is finally lashed and secured.  
         [0042]     The ends of the two side pieces  71  of the handle  7  where the hinge port  73  is provided have an arc shape. Steps  821  are arranged at the end of the two side plates  82  in the body  8 , which have an arced top abutting upon the bayonet  822  for positioning the handhold. When unstrapping, the handhold  76  is raised to the top of the steps  821 . The handhold  76  will slide along the arced top of steps  821  and get snapped when it reaches the bayonet  822 , so that the handhold  76  is detached from the ratchet wheel  10 . When the handhold  76  slides along the arced top of steps  821 , the baffle  86  moves along the arced end of the two side pieces  71  of the handle  7 , so that the baffle  86  is jacked up and detached from the ratchet wheel  10 . In this way, the ratchet wheel can rotate freely, and the unstrapping of the reel  3  is realized.  
       Embodiment 2  
       [0043]     As shown in the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the supporting strip  104  is fixed to the wheel body  101  through rivets  105  according to the Embodiment 2. In such a structure, the connection is secure and the supporting strip  104  has a relatively large protrusion distance from the wheel body  101 .  
       Embodiment 3  
       [0044]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the supporting strip  104  is fixed to the wheel body  101  via a bolt  106  according to the Embodiment 3. Compared with the aforementioned embodiments, the least number of equipments are used for manufacturing the ratchet wheel  10  according to the present embodiment. Having been manufactured, the supporting strip  104  is connected to the wheel body  101  directly by a bolt  106 .  
       Embodiment 4  
       [0045]     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the supporting strip  104  is fixed to the wheel body  101  by welding according to the Embodiment 4. Such a structure is simple and has a secure connection, thus also has a high use value.  
       Embodiment 5  
       [0046]     As shown in  FIGS. 9, 10  and  11 , the supporting strip  104  is wrapped around the wheel body  101  through a metal sheet  107  according to the Embodiment 5. It is also very easy to manufacture in this way, and the protrusion distance of the supporting strip from the wheel body  101  is larger.  
         [0047]     To sum up, the space between the supporting strips  104  of the two ratchet wheels  10  is shortened according to the present invention, thus the deformation resistance of the reel  3  is improved as well as the mechanical strength of the lashing apparatus.  
         [0048]     Parts of the process according to Embodiment 1 are applied for the rest of the embodiments, such as the plate cutting, blanking, forming, heat treatment, barrel burnishing, and electroplating.  
       Comparative Embodiment  
       [0049]     As shown in the  FIG. 14 , this embodiment is related to a conventional lashing apparatus. A great lashing force is required for heavy goods to be transported by the vehicle. Here, since the space of the supporting strips between the ratchet wheels is relatively long, the reel is tend to be distorted, as shown by the semicircular winding shaft plates  31  in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0050]     The embodiments described herein are only intended to exemplify the spirit of the present invention. Various modifications, supplementations and alterations to the embodiments disclosed will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.  
         [0051]     Although the terms such as body, ratchet wheel, handle, side piece and side plate are used herein, other terms may also be used. These terms are used only for clearly illustrating the nature of the present invention and shall not be understood as a limitation to the invention, which otherwise departs from the spirit of the present invention.  
       REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0000]    
       
          A slot  
          B slot  
           1  upper die  
           2  lower die  
           3  reel  
           4  locking plate  
           7  handle  
           8  body  
           10  ratchet wheel  
           11  stamping concave head  
           21  notch  
           31  semicircular winding shaft plate  
           32  pin  
           71  side piece  
           72  handle grip  
           73  hinge port  
           74  mobile strap  
           75  mobile hook  
           76  handhold  
           77  return spring  
           81  connector  
           82  side plate  
           83  hinge hole  
           84  positioning strap  
           85  positioning hook  
           86  baffle  
           87  spring  
           101  wheel body  
           102  ratchet teeth  
           103  shaft hole  
           104  supporting strip  
           105  rivet  
           106  bolt  
           107  metal sheet  
           761  draw ring  
           811  thru hole  
           812  protrusion  
           821  step  
           822  bayonet  
           861  rod