Patent Publication Number: US-2017355298-A1

Title: Reduction gear box for a chain binder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gear reduction system, and more particularly, to a power driven gear reduction system configured for use with a chain binder, for facilitating efficiency and ease in extending and retracting the chain binder. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Chain binders, also known as ratchet binders, are generally used in the trucking industry to secure loads for transporting. Most binding systems connect to a chain or strap that engages with the cargo. The conventional process of binding a load requires that the user first extend the binder, then hook the binder to a chain or strap engaged with the load. Thereafter, the user retracts the binder using a lever to tighten the straps. Rotating the lever causes one or more binder shaft members to rotate and pull the straps and/or chains in towards the binder, thereby tightening the load to a surface. 
     One disadvantage of the conventional binding system is that a kink in the chain or a wedge can break loose as the binder shaft runs out of threads. Additionally, the manual labor used to tighten the load with the lever can be time consuming and labor intensive. It is therefore advantageous to reduce the time and manual effort typically expended for ratcheting the binder. 
     Accordingly, a binding system that requires minimal operator effort is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The reduction gear box for a chain binder generally includes a housing member, a nozzle on the housing member to which a power tool may be connected, and an opening in the housing member within which the shaft of a chain binder may extend. The housing member includes a worm gear assembly and a main gear assembly therein. The worm gear assembly is in communication with the main gear assembly such that rotation of the worm gear assembly causes the main gear assembly also to rotate. In use, a shaft portion of a chain binder can be positioned within the housing opening, in communication with the main gear assembly. The power tool can be operated to rotate the worm gear assembly, and thereby effectuate rotation of the main gear assembly to extend or retract the chain binder in communication therewith. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is environmental perspective view of a reduction gear box for a chain binder. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the reduction gear box for a chain binder. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective sectional view of the reduction gear box for a chain binder of  FIG. 2 , illustrating gear and shaft components. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the reduction gear box for a chain binder, illustrating a chain binder operatively in communication with the reduction gear box for a chain binder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a reduction gear box for a chain binder, generally referred to as  100 . As illustrated the reduction gear box for a chain binder  100  is configured for operating a conventional chain binder B in conjunction with a power tool PT. The reduction gear box for a chain binder  100  generally includes a housing member  102 , a nozzle  122  on the housing member to which the power tool may be connected, and an opening  114  in the housing member  102  through which the shaft of a binder B may extend. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the housing member  102  may have a generally rectangular-shaped configuration. The housing member  102  generally includes a first side wall member  104 , an opposing second side wall member  106 , a third or top wall member  108  extending between the first side wall member  104  and the second side wall member  106 , a fourth or bottom wall member  110  provided opposite the third or top wall member  108  and extending between the first side wall member  104  and the second side wall member  106 . 
     A fifth side wall member  116  extends between the first and second wall members  104 ,  106 , as well as the third and fourth side wall members  108 ,  110 . The opening  114  is opposite the fifth side wall member  116 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The nozzle  122  is provided at the third or top wall member  108 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the nozzle  122  is configured to receive the power tool PT, such as an impact gun, or high powered drill. 
     The first and second side wall members,  104 ,  106  each have a generally arcuate-shaped groove,  118   a  and  118   b  respectively, at one end. The grooves  118   a ,  118   b  are in alignment with each other and are configured to provide a support surface for the shaft of the binder B. As illustrated, the housing member  102  may further include interior wall members, e.g., interior support wall members  126   a ,  126   b , respectively, inside the housing member  102 , generally parallel to the first side wall member  104  and second side wall member  106 . The interior support wall members  126   a ,  126   b  may include respective grooves  118   c ,  118   d , in alignment with grooves,  118   a  and  118   b , to provide further support for the shaft of the binder B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gear reduction system  100  generally includes a first gear assembly  130  and a second or main gear assembly  132 . The first gear assembly  130  can be a worm gear assembly  130 , including a worm gear  134 , which as illustrated, extends generally between the third and fourth wall members  108  and  110  and includes a plurality of teeth  136 . The nozzle  122  can be in communication with the worm gear  134  such that the worm gear  134  rotates when the nozzle  122  is rotated by a power tool PT. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the main gear assembly  132  includes a main shaft member  140  which extends generally between the first side wall member  104  and the second side wall member  106 . The main shaft member  140  includes a gear member  142  and a wheel  138  fixedly connected to the main shaft member  140 . The gear member  142  includes a plurality of gear teeth  146  configured to engage the binder gear BG of a chain binder. The wheel member  138  includes a plurality of grooves  144  configured to engage the teeth  136  of the worm gear  134 . The shaft  140  extends between the first side wall member  104  and second side wall member  106  in a direction generally perpendicular to the worm gear  134 . 
     The worm gear  134  is positioned proximate the second gear assembly  132  such that the teeth  136  operatively engage the grooves  144  of the wheel  138 . The wheel  138  is fixedly attached to the main shaft  140 , such that rotation of the wheel  138  initiated by rotation of the worm gear  134  rotates the shaft member  140 . Thus, as the worm gear assembly  130  is activated by the power tool PT, the worm gear assembly  130  operatively engages the main gear assembly  132  transferring rotational power from the power tool to the shaft member  134  and ultimately to the first gear member  142 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , in operation, a user can connect a power tool PT to the nozzle  122  provided external to the housing  102 . As the power tool PT rotates, the nozzle  122  and the connected worm gear  134  rotate, which causes rotation of the wheel  138  and the connected second shaft member  140  and first gear member  142 . In this manner, a rotation force is ultimately exerted on the engaged binder gear BG. Rotation of the binder gear BG rotates the connected threaded shaft member of the binder B, thereby pulling the chain or strap connected thereto. Accordingly, the reduction gear box for chain binders can be used to extend and retract the chain binder B without requiring the use of the conventional lever on the binder B. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.