TENSION DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE TENSION IN A TENSILE OR COMPRESSIVE ELEMENT

Abstract: Tension device (1) for regulating tensile or compressive stresses in elements (7) such as ropes, bands, rods or the like and consisting of two main parts (2, 3) which are adapted to be normally rigidly connected to one another and to be adjusted between different positions in relation to one another to regulate the tension. The main parts (2, 3) are provided with coupling elements (8) which are connected to the element (7) or anchored in an anchoring point. The tension device (1) comprises on the one hand in each of the two main parts (2, 3) an engagement portion (16, 18) with a plurality of engagement positions, for example locking teeth (17, 19), and on the other hand spring members (22) which tend to press the two main parts (2, 3) substantially transversely to the direction of force of the tension device into engagement with each others engagement portions. By this means, the spacing between the coupling elements (8) of the main parts (2, 3) can be altered to regulate the tension as a result of the fact that the engagement positions (17, 19) are brought out of engagement with one another, displaced and brought into fresh engagement.

Description: Title : Tension device for regulating the tension in a tensile or com¬ pressive element Technical field: The present invention relates to a tension device for regulating the tensile or compressive stress for example in tensile elements such as ropes , bands and stays or compressive elements such as rods and struts . Background: A usual type of tension device of the kind indicated above con¬ sists of screw devices , for example shroud screws . Screw devices are, however, slow and relatively awkward to handle when adjusting between different positions . When major adjustments of the tension are necessary extensive screw movements are required with shroud screws , both in the sleeve-shaped portion of the shroud screw and in the associated lock nuts , which normally require the use of two tools at the same time and therefore that two hands should be avail¬ able at the same time. Such adjustment is thus both time-consuming and labour-intensive, to which must be added the fact that the ten¬ sion devices on the market are expensive to buy . Advantages : Through the present invention, an uncomplicated tension device is obtained which, with a simple step, can be adjusted so that the required tension can quickly be regulated. Brief description of drawings : The invention will be described in more detafl below through four examples of embodiment with reference to the accompanying dra¬ wings in which Fig. 1 shows a tensile tension device according to the invention, first example of embodiment in a view partially broken away; Fig. 2 shows the tension device of Fig. 1 in a partially broken away longitudinal view, seen at right angles to the view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the tension device on the line III-III in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a partially broken away view of the OMPI Λ. WIPO .« tension device during adjustment for a high tensile stress in a con¬ nected tensile element; Fig. 5 shows a likewise partially broken away view of the tension device during adjustment to reduce the tensile stress in the tensile element; Fig. 6 shows a partially broken away view of the tension device in another example of embodiment; Fig. 7 shows the tension device of Fig. 6 in section on the line VTI-VII; Fig. 8 s ows a section through the tension device in a third example of embodiment; Fig. 9 shows in a partial section a modification of the tension device of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 shows the tension device as a compressive tension device in the fourth example of embodiment. Best mode of carrying out the invention: As can be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a tensile tension device 1 is composed of two main parts 2, 3 of which the one main part 2 is normally introduced into the other main part 3, which is sleeve- shaped and so comprises an elongated cavity 4. The two main parts comprise at their outer ends connection portions with coupling ele¬ ments 5, 6 for coupling the tension device to two parts of a tensile element 7, in which the tensile stress can be regulated by means of the tension device according to the invention . In the example shown, the tensile element consists of a line in the form of a wire or the like. Each of the coupling elements 5, 6 is composed of a bolt 8, screw or the like, which extends through bores 9 in two portions 10, 11 situated spaced apart in each of the main parts 2, 3. In the one main part, said two portions 10, 11 are formed as a result of the fact that this main part is composed of two symmetrical halves 14 which are rigidly connected to one another for example by means of welding and constitute a part of the coupling element 5 with their one end by forming a fork-shaped portion there, through which the tensile element can extend and run round the bolt 8 with an eye 15. The coupling element 6 in the other main part 3 is arranged in a corresponding manner, the portions 11 being formed by two oppo¬ site walls of said main part, between which the tensile element 7 can extend with a corresponding eye 15. The one main part 2, which will henceforward be called the male part for the same of simplicity, comprises along its one longitudinal edge an engagement portion 16 which consits of a plurality of engage- OM ment positions in the form of locking teeth 17, which are directed so that a locking function can be obtained against movement in the tensile direction of the tensile element 7, that is to say in the longi¬ tudinal direction of the locking device, directed out of the other main part 3 which is henceforward called the female part. The female part is likewise provided with an engagement portion 18 comprising a plurality of engagement positions in he form of locking teeth 19. The engagement portion of the female part is situated at a wall 12 and is turned inwards toward the engagement portion 16 of the male part 2. In the example shown, the engagement portion 18 of the fe¬ male part is made in a separate piece which is provided with a pin 20 which fits into a hole 21 in the wall 12 of the female part. As a result, the engagement portion 18 can be made of a particularly hard and strong material. It also means that the locking teeth 19 are placed with spacing from the wall 12 which has proved advantageous from the operation point of view. The locking teeth 19 in the enga¬ gement portion 18 of the female part are directed counter to the locking teeth 17 in the engagement portion 16 of the male part so that a locking engagement is obtained between the two portions , as can be seen in Fig. ' l, in the normal positon of the locking device . Inserted in the cavity 4 is a spring member 22 in the form of a leaf spring which extends along the wall 13 of the female part and in U-shape over to the wall 12 to which the spring member is secured in a hole 23 by means of a bent-out portion. The spring member comprises a resilient portion 24 which is situated in a clearance 25 in the cavity 4 between the longitudinal edge 26 of the male part 2 and the wall 13. Spaced apart from the engagement portion 18 at the wall 12, the spring member 22 likewise comprises a resilient por¬ tion which forms a yielding support 27 for the male part 2. The tension device according to the invention further comprises a locking device 28 which is adapted to lock the male part in relation to the female part in the locking position . In the example shown , the locking device 28 consists of a locking screw 29 which is thread- ed in a bore 30 in the wall 13 of the female part 3 and is situated centrally in front of the resilient portion 24 of the spring member 22. The locking device is adjustable between a locking position which is shown in Fig. 1 with the locking screw 29 screwed in, and a re- OMPI lease position, see Figs. 4 and 5, in which the locking screw 29 is unscrewed so that the male part 2 is permitted to be displaced agains the action of the spring member in a manner which will be described in more detail below. As can be seen from Figs . 1, 4 and 5, the female part 2 com¬ prises , in its wall 12, an opening 31, which is rectangular for examp le, so that the opening comprises at least one straight transverse edge portion 32, situated in the opening nearest to the introduction opening 33 in the female part. The opening 31 is so situated that at least some of the engagement positions of the male part, that is to say the locking teeth 17, are accessible from the outside through the opening by means of a pointed object, preferably a tool 34, an example of which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the example shown, the tool 34 is elongated and has a pointed end 35 and two recesses 36, 37 of which the recess 36 is adapted to bear against the trans¬ verse edge portion 32 on an increase in the tensile force in the ten¬ sile element 7, while the recess 37 is adapted to bear against the same edge portion when the tensile stress is to be reduced, as will be described in more detail later. A tool 44 for special purposes is shown on the right - in Fig. 5. It has a rounded end 45 and a sup¬ porting edge in a recess 46. The two tools can be combined in a combination tool. In the second form of embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the same * main parts 2 and 3 are found again. Instead, of the coupling portions 5 and 6 according to Fig. 1, however, in this form of embodiment, the main parts comprise as connection portions two end portions 47 and 49 respectively, which are provided with a groove 48 and 50 respectively, which are disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the main element. For the connection of the tensile ten¬ sion device, connection piece 51 is provided in the form of a metal piece bent at an angle with a groove 52 (see Fig. 7) . The groove 52 fits the groove 48 or 50 respectively. The connection pieces 51 are adapted to be secured by means of holes 53 to two elements whic it is desired to bring together. Alternatively, the connection pieces 51 can be welded to the element in question- A tension device of this kind is suitable for use for holding discs together for example and can also be used during assembly work, for example the welding together of plates . In this case one connection piece is secured to each plate at each side of the seam where the plates are to be wel¬ ded together. The plates can then be pressed together by the ten- sion device by manoeuvring the tension device in the manner which will be indicated later. Fig. 8 shows a tension device which also comprises main parts 2 and 3 corresponding to the main parts according to Fig. 1. In this example of embodiment, too, the connection portions have a different construction from the coupling elements 5, 6. Thus in this case, both main parts 2 and 3 are tubular and end with a conical end por¬ tion 54 and 55 respectively. To hold the tensile element, a rope 7, jaws 56 and 57 are provided which comprise a toothed lead-in for the rope 7. A plurality of jaws are inserted in each conical end portion 54, 55 and with tension in the rope they tend to come to¬ gether and so a self-arresting union is obtained for the rope. On the other hand, the rope can be freely pushed in when the jaws tend to separate. In order to provide an initial pressure, the spring member 22 is pulled down to bear against the jaws 57. For the jaws 56 there is a separate spring member 58 in the form of a short leaf spring. Fig. 9 shows another modification of the fixing of the rope 7. In this case, the end of the rope is provided with a cable joint 60 which is joined round the rope, forming countersinking 61. The end of the main part 2 is made with an inwardly projecting portion 59 which lets through the rope 7 but not the cable joint 60. The other main part 3 has a corresponding portion. During assembly, the rope is first passed through the main part 2 or 3 respectively and the cable joint 60 is then fitted to the rope. Then the rope is pulled in until its cable joint bears against the inwardly projecting portion 59 or a corresponding portion on the main part 3. The form of embodiment shown in Fig. 10 is a compressive ten¬ sion device. In the tension devices described earlier the object was that the main parts should be brought towards one another to ten- sion a tensile element while the tension device was not intended to take up any load in the compressive direction, even if , in itself , an adjustement of the locking member could render possible a loading in the compressive direction . The tension device according to Fig. 10, on the other hand, is intended to take up a compressive load but not primarily a tensile load. In this case, too there are two main parts, an inner main part 62 which can move telescopically in an outer main part 63. Here, too, the inner main part 62 the mail part, has an engagement portion 64 in the form of locking teeth and the female part 63 also has an engagement portion 66 in the form of a part with locking teeth . The locking teeth of the female part 62 are accessible through an opening with an edge portion 69. A spring 67, with the same function as the spring 22, is also present, as is also a locking member 68 in the form of a screw corresponding to the locking member 28. The example shown in Fig. 10 may be the leg of a piece of furniture which it is desired to make adjustable to compensate for irregularities in the base on which the furniture stands with its leg. The male part 62 is equipped with a foot plate 65 and the main part 63 is constructed in the form of a tubular leg of a piece of furniture which can be fixed in a table top for example. The connection portions, which were earlier described primarily in the form of rope fastenings , are thus in this case the foot 65 which is connected to the base and the upper end of the leg which is con¬ nected to the rest. -of the furniture. It comes within the invention that the compressive tension device can be adapted with its ends for any other type of connection to the parts which are to be ex¬ posed to compressive forces . For example, the form shown in Fig. 6 is suitable for this . It is also possible to combine a tensile tension device and a com¬ pressive tension device in the same cover, in an appropriate manner in that two male parts with mutually opposite direction of locking teeth are inserted in the same female part provided with double en- gage ent portions . By this means, a universal tension device is ob¬ tained which can be used both for tightening together and for exer¬ ting compressive forces . The tension device 1 is thus intended to regulate tensile stres¬ ses in a tensile element such as the tensile element 7, in which case, as shown in Fig. 1 for example, it is coupled in series with the ten¬ sile element so that this is divided into two parts , each of which is coupled by one end to the male part 2 or the female part 3 in their coupling elements 5 , 6 and are anchored by their other end each in OMPI IPO their own anchoring point, between which anchoring points the ten¬ sile element 7 is thus stretched to serve as a stay for example. An example of such a stay is the mast stay for large or small boats . In this case, the tension device 1 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the locking device in the locking position that is to say the locking screw 29 screw r ed in so that the male part 2 and the fe¬ male part 3 are locked to one another ^jn the engagement position . When it is desired to regulate the tensile stress in the tensile element, the locking device 28 is released, by unscrewing the locking screw 29 to the position shown in Figs . 4 and 5. If it is desired to increase the tensile stress in the tensile element 7, the tool 34 is placed in the position shown in Fig. 4 with the recess 36 bearing against the transverse edge portion 32 and with its pointed end 35 engaging with some of the locking teeth 17 in the male part 2, for example somewhat above said edge portion, after which the tool 34 is swung in by hand by means of its shank 38 , which is shown broken and so is normally considerably longer, in the direction indicated by the arrow 39 about a pivot point which is formed by the transverse edge portion 32 and the recess 36, during which the pointed end 35 of the tool executes an arcuate movement and moves the male part 2 downwards , that is to say in the direction indicated by the arrow 40. In the course of this, the locking teeth 17 in the engagement portion 16 of the male part climb over corresponding locking teeth 19 in the engagement portion 18 of the female part, and the spring member 22 with its resilient portion 24 allows the male part 2 to exe¬ cute a small laterally directed movement in the clearance 25 for each locking tooth which is passed during swinging about the portion 27 by the spring member 22, while at the same time this ensures that the two engagement portions are held in contact with one another during this tensioning so that when the tool 34 is swung so far as is possible or desirable, and the tool 34 is removed from the locking teeth 17, a locking engagement develops immediately between the two engagement portions 16 and 18. The sequence described above is repeated until the desired tensile stress is obtained in the tensile element 7. When it is desired to reduce the tensile stress in the tensile element 7, the tool 34 is turned so that the recess 37 instead forms the pivot point together with the transverse edge portion 32. Observe that the recess 37 is situated further away from the end 35 of the tool than the recess 36. In order to bring the two engagement por- tions 16 and 18 out of engagement with one another, first a pressure movement by means of the tool 34 is needed in the direction indicated b\ τ the arrow 41 , during which the male part 2 is urged sideways in the cavity 4 against the action of the sprisg member 22, and in this position the recess 37 is first brought into position in relation to the transverse edge portion 32. When the engagement portions 16, 18 are brought out of engagement with one another, the tool 34 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 so that a requi¬ red number of locking teeth 17 in the .male part 2 fit their corres¬ ponding locking teeth 19 in the female' part 3, after which the tool 34 is taken back out of the opening 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow 43 , with the result that the male part 2 is displaced side¬ ways under the action of the spring member 22 and the locking en¬ gagement is restored. This sequence is repeated until the required lower tensile stress is reached in the tensile element. In certain cases, if it is desired to have the tension device quickly tightened, it is possible to use the tool 44 as shown in Fig. 5, on the right. As a result of the fact that this is applied to the locking teeth of the male part after the locking member 28 has been loosened so that " the two engagement portions are separated from one another, the locking teeth of the male part can slide over the rounded end 45 of the tool 44 and if it is then exposed to a tensile force it slides out of the female part so long as the force acts on the parts . When the male part is lifted from the locking teeth of the female part by means of the tool, this can be supported with its recess 46 against the wall 32. The manipulation of the tension device according to the other examples of embodiment takes place in the same manner as now de¬ scribed. With the compressive tension device according to Fig. 10, in order to increase the tension, the male part must be moved out- wards instead of inwards by means of the tool 34. Apart from this the tension devices according to the various forms of embodiment differ from one another only with regard to their connection to the element which is to be exposed to compressive or tensile forces . How this connection is effected should be clear from what precedes . OMPI WIPO Industrial applicability : The invention is not restricted to the examples of embodiment described above and shown in the drawings but can be varied with- in the scope of the following claims . For example, the engagement portion of the female part can be formed directly in the wall of the part. Furthermore, the spring member may consist of one or more helical springs and a thrust plate bearing against the male part. Furthermore, the locking screw can be replaced by some other ele- ment which fixes the male part 2 in the locked position, for example in shim which is inserted in the clearance between the parts . The tool 34 can also be formed in various ways , for example it is also conceivable to use a simple conventional hand tool of the ' screwdriver type. The coupling element for the power element can be altered within wide limits and adapted to the character of the tensile or com¬ pressive element. Moreover, the tension device can , in principle, be coupled in otherwise than shown . For example it can be anchored directly by one end in a fixed anchoring point so that the tensile or compressive element consists of a single part. The connections may be different at the two ends of the tension device. With a shroud screw, for example, a fork as shown in Fig. 1 can be combined with a cable joint as shown in Fig. 9. OMPI /. WIPO -

Claims: Claims : 1. A tension device for regulating the tension in a tensile or com¬ pressive element (7) and consisting of two main parts (2, 3/62, 63) , which are adapted to be normally rigidly connected to one another and to be adjusted between various positions in relation to one an¬ other to regulate the tension, the main parts being adapted to be connected to said element (7) by connecting portions (8/47, 49/54, 55/65) , characterized in that the tension device comprises on the one hand in each of the two main parts (2, 3/62, 63) an engagement portion 16, 18/64, 66) with a plurality of engagement positions, for example locking teeth (17, 19) , and on the other hand spring mem¬ bers (22/67) which tend to press the two main parts (2, 3/62, 63) substantially transversely to the direction * of force of the tension device into engagement with one another by means of their engage¬ ment portions, so that the spacing between the connection portions (8/65) of the main parts can be altered to regulate the tension, as a result of the fact that the engagement positions (17, 19) are brought out of engagement with one another, displaced and brought into fresh engagement. 2. A tension device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a number of engagement positions (17) in the one main part (2/62) are constantly accessible from the outside and that the other main part (3/63) comprises an edge portion (32/69) which is set transver- sely in relation to the direction of force and which is situated cen¬ trally in front of said engagement positions (17) which are accessible from the outside, as a result of which the two engagement portions can be brought out of engagement with one another to regulate the tension and the two main parts (2, 3/62, 63) can be adjusted between different positions in relation to one another by means of a pointed object (34) which is brought into engagement with some of said acces¬ sible engagement positions at the same time as said edge portion (32/69) forms a support for the object. 3. A tension device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the one main part (2/62) is adapted to be normally at least partially introduced into the other main part (3/63) which is provided with an elongated cavity (4) against one wall (12) of which said other engagement portion (18/66) of the main part is fixed, and said tranε- OMPI verse edge portion (32/69) is formed by the edge of an opening (31) in said, wall, and that said cavity (4) is provided with a clearance (25) between the one main part and another wall (13) which is oppo- site the wall (12) first mentioned, so that the one main part (2/62) is displaceable against the action of said spring member (22/67) side¬ ways in the cavity (4) . 4. A tension device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the spring member (22/67) consists of a leaf spring which extends at least in said clearance (25) between the one main part (2/62) and the other wall (13) of the other main part (3/63) . 5. A tension device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the spring member (22/67) extends ' substantially in U-shape in the cavity (4) so that it forms a yielding support (27) for the one main part (2/62) at the first-mentioned wall (12) at a distance from the engagement portion (18/66) for the other main part (3) . 6. A tension device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least the one connection portion (47, 49) comprises grooves (48, 50) adapted for the insertion of a connection member (51) cooperating with the groove. 7. A tension device as claimed in claim 3, adapted as a tensile ten¬ sion device, characterized in that at least the one connection portion (54, 55) is adapted with an internal cone becoming narrower in the tensile direction, adapted to take up a compressive element, and jaws (56, 57) adapted to cooperate - with their outside with the cone and adapted to bear with their inside against said element (7) , such as a rope or the like in such a manner that the jaws are pressed against the element by the action of the cone when the element is exposed to a tensile force. 8. A tension device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the one main part (2) is also provided with an elongated cavity and that the respective end portions (54, 55) of the two main parts are made with said internal cone. 9. A tension device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with another main part, and the second and the third main part are adapted to cooperate alternatively with the first main part, and the main parts cooperating in pairs are adapted with mu¬ tually opposite locking direction so that the first main part can co- OMPI operate with one of the two other main parts as a tensile tension device and with the other of the two remaining main parts as a com¬ pressive tension device. 10. A tension device as claimed in one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the tension device comprises a locking device (28/68) which, is adjustable between a locking position in which the two main parts (2, 3/62, 63) are locked fb one another in their en¬ gagement position, and a release position in which said regulation of tension can be carried out, which locking device (28/68) preferably consists of a locking screw which is screwed into said second wall (13) in the second main part (3/63) and is movable transversely to the tensile direction of the tension device and which is accessible from the outside and adapted to press the one main part (2/62) transversely to the tensile direction against the engagement portion (18/66) of the other main part (3/63) . OMPI

Inventors: PETERSSON B
Applicants: PETERSSON B, PETERSSON NEW PROD BENGT, BENGT PETERSSON NEW PROD INVESTMENT AB
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F16G11
IPC codes: F16B7, F16G11