Known solutions in strap winches and other coupling parts for straps and other lashing members that are wound around an axle of the type mentioned and that preferably are utilized in vehicles, particularly for the lashing of cargo during transportation of the same, require a complicated operation process therefor.

The current design of such winches has a winding axle that is divided into two parts and is locked axially by means of, for instance, a tension pin. This requires a through hole in each end of both axle halves. In most cases, the holes have to be drilled since the material is too thick for the punching of the same. Then the axle also has to be dimensioned for this extra step. This means price rising work operations .

The Japanese patent 3-68779 A discloses an axle (12) that a strap (b) runs through via slots (13), and which axle is a part of a tension lever (B) . Tabs (8) that project from a frame (A) are folded to engage into the interior hollow space of the axle (12) and accordingly secure the axle (12). See Figs. 2-5.

JP 3068779U discloses a ratchet where a tension lever (B) is secured to a frame (A) by means of flanged tabs (8) on the frame. Then there is no special winding axle for a strap (b) , but the strap is threaded through slots in a bent end part (12) of the tension lever (B) .

US 2009/0279978 Al discloses a ratchet (10) having a strap winding axle (20) that is retained on a tension lever (30) by means of transverse fastening pins (88), exactly such ones that are desired to be avoided to be utilized by the present invention.

Finally, US 6,092,791 A discloses a tackle having a block formed of assemblable halves the axles (232, 234) of which are received in depressions (252, 250) in the end wall portions of the block.

None of the prior art solutions shows the existence of any retainers that are situated on a tension lever for keeping a winding axle in the intended position.

Neither of the prior art solutions shows the existence of any separate axle stops that are secured by a tension lever.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve said problems in an efficient, reliable and cost-saving way.

Said object is achieved by means of a device according to the present invention that essentially is

characterized in that retainers, which project radially from side end portions of the tension lever and are formed of a number of tongues that are punched and pressed out from the material of the tension lever, are situated axially displaced from said axle and arranged to limit the axial movements of the axle, as well as that hat-like axle stops are secured by the tension lever, that said axle stops are formed of a flanged cap, the respective cap being arranged to receive the end portion of an axle, and that said flange/flanges is/are

received inside the axle-receiving portion of the tension lever . The invention is described in the following as a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1-Fig. IB show examples of prior art for the locking of an axle in a winch,

Fig. 2-Fig. 3 show examples of a first

embodiment example of a new axle locking in a strap winch as seen from above, from the side as well as in exploded view,

Fig. 4 shows examples of a second embodiment example,

Fig. 5 shows examples of a third embodiment example,

Fig. 6-Fig. 7 show examples of a fourth

embodiment example of axle locking in a strap winch,

Figs. 8-11 show examples of a further

embodiment example of axle locking in a strap winch, wherein

Fig. 8 shows a side view of a strap winch having axle locking arranged,

Fig. 9 shows a cross-section view transverse to the axle of the strap winch, and

Figs. 10-11 show exploded views of the winch and the appurtenant parts during a mounting stage of axle stops .

A device 1 in connection with a winding axle 2 - divided into two parts 2Ά, 2B or provided with a slot and intended for the winding of a strap 3, 4 or another lashing member - and for keeping said axle 2 in axial position in relation to a tension lever 6 receiving the axle 2 comprises new retainers 7 of the axle 2. More precisely, said retainers 7 are projecting radially 8 from the tension lever 6, on each side A, B of the axle 2, axially 9, 10 displaced from said axle 2 and arranged to limit the axial 9, 10 movements of the axle 2. According to the invention, said retainers are formed of a number of tongues 7 that are punched and pressed out from the material of the tension lever 6. Said tongues 7 are angled at a protruding portion 7A from the tension lever 6, preferably by 90°, one on each side A, B of the axle 2, and/or the tension lever 6.

In the example shown in Fig. 3, said tongue- shaped retainers 7 are arranged on a tension lever 6, namely on the respective paired tension levers 12, 13 thereof, projecting from an actuation handle 11, at the free ends 12A, 13A thereof at the area of through holes 14, 15 in the material of the side end portions 16, 17. Then a tongue 7 is arranged in the

respective end wall portion 16, 17 covering the greater part of said respective hole 14, 15 axially at a distance from said holes 14, 15.

According to the embodiment examples shown in Fig. 4-Fig. 5, two or more tongues 7 are punched out and bent outward and evenly distributed along the circumference of. a said axle 2.

According to embodiment examples shown in Fig.

6-Fig. 7, a compression-moulded countersunk cavity 18 in the respective side end portion 16, 17 forms a reception part for the respective axle end portion 2 ¹ , 2 ² , and this is accomplished thanks to the two side end portions 16, 17 of the tension lever 6 being shape-adapted to the circumference shape of said axle 2 and the respective axle end portion 2 ¹ , 2 ² of the axle

accordingly being received therein and keeping the axle in the intended position therein. Said cavity 18 has in turn an opening 19 at the centre 20 of the axle 2.

According to the invention, the tension lever 6 consists of metal and/or plastic material and said winding axle 2 extends only slightly past the tension lever 6, as seen along the length extension 23 of the axle 2. The main idea of the invention is based on the utilization of existing material in the axle holes of the tension lever, and the formation thereof may, as described above, be effected in various different ways. The advantages are in any case that now it is possible to decrease the number of parts, that the cost of the production of the axle halves III, IV is decreased by avoiding the drilling of transverse holes I for tension pins II, and that the material consumption decreases thanks to it being possible to make shorter axle halves that do not require drill holes. In addition, the mounting time now becomes shorter, among other things thanks to leaving out tension pins.

In Fig. 3, there is now shown a mounting picture of the winch according to the invention where the respective tension levers 12, 13, which, after riveting together by means of an intermediate rivet 30 and the handle 11, form the tension lever 6, secure the axle 2 with ratchet wheels 26 applied thereon and a frame 5, thanks to the punched and bent tongues 7. Said tongues 7 that retain the axle 2 in the desired position form axle blockings by forming an end stop for the respective axle end 2 ¹ , 2 ² .

Pawls 27, 28 that co-operate with the ratchet wheels 26 are received in the frame 5 and in the tension lever 6, for instance as shown in Fig. 2.

The embodiment example shown in Figs. 8-11, of a device 101 in connection with a winding axle 2 - divided into two parts 2A, 2B or provided with a slot and intended for a strap or another lashing member - and for keeping said axle 2 in the intended position in relation to a tension lever 6 receiving the axle 2, has hat-like axle stops 50 in pairs that are secured in the axial direction by the tension lever 6. Such a said axle stop 50 is formed of a cap 51, 52 having a flange 53 preferably provided with a ring. The respective cap 51, 52 is arranged to receive the end portion 2 ¹ , 2 ² of an axle 2 and said flange/flanges 53 is/are arranged to be received inside the axle-receiving portion 12A, 13A of the tension lever 6.

This solution is based on the usage of a separate cup, manufactured from a thin material and having a brim that keeps it in place, instead of stamping out the material in the tension lever. The cups are numbered as 50 in the drawings .

It is true that here a couple of extra details are obtained, but it is possible to shorten the axle and the drilling of the holes is avoided as previously. This may be a simpler and faster way to get started, since only a smaller adjustment of the diameter of the axle hole needs to be made in an existing tool, and a tool for the manufacture of the cup is very simple and inexpensive.

Mounting of such an axle stop 50 takes place in such a way that the axle stop 50 including the cap 51, 52 thereof is introduced from inside through the axle-receiving through holes 14, 15 of the respective tension lever.

Next, the axle 2 with the appurtenant cogged ratchet wheels 26 and that is received in the frame 5, which is shown in Fig. 9, is inserted in the axle stops 50 in the direction from the inside thereof. Then, when the tension lever 6 and the paired parts 12, 13 thereof are threaded onto the axle stops 50 in the direction from outside, the tension lever 6 can finally be interconnected by means of the actuation handle 11 and the rivet 30. Then the axle 2 is stably fixed thanks to the axle stops 50 that secure the axle 2 in the respective ends 2 ¹ , 2 ² thereof. Also in this embodiment example of the invention, efficient axial securing of the axle 2 is accomplished. In the drawings, the flange 53 is shown in the form of a ring, but it may also be formed in another way, for instance in the form of a plurality of radial tongues. Neither does the cap 51, 52 need to be completely covering but may be formed of, e.g., a grid or another form.

The function and nature of the present

invention should have been understood from what has been mentioned above and shown in the drawings, but the invention i naturally not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an equivalent technique, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims .