| 主权项 |
1. A manually operated ratchet drive for releasably securing a load to a transport vehicle frame comprising:
a) a shaft rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame, the shaft being arranged to receive one end of a flexible tie down member rotatable therewith; b) a ratchet gear, with radially extending teeth, mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; c) a lever arm rotatably mounted on the shaft for providing an axially directed force to the gear teeth to repeatedly rotate the gear and shaft from a first to s second location
i) first and second pawls having deployed and retracted positions coupled to the ratchet gear, the first pawl being arranged to travel with the lever arm and, in its deployed position, to engage the ratchet gear causing the shaft to follow the lever arm as it is moved from the first to the second location; the second pawl being secured to the vehicle frame and, in its deployed position, to engage the ratchet gear and prevent the shaft from returning to the first location after movement of the lever arm;ii) the first and second pawls, in their retracted positions, being arranged to disengage the ratchet gear and allow the shaft to freely rotate; andiii) the pawls being spring biased into their deployed positions. |
