Babcock Industries Inc.

John A Klahold

An apparatus is disclosed for tying down wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, to a flat bed or other base support by which the vehicles are to be transported. Two wheels which are positioned in fore and aft tandem are each secured to the base support by respective harnesses while a centrally positioned tensioning unit receives chains connected to the harnesses for application of tie-down tension to the chains by simple back and forth motion of a pivotally mounted handle. Between each wheel harness and the chain tensioning unit is provided a chain pocket wheel and ratchet and pawl arrangement in a housing, with means to attach the entire housing and arrangement to the base support so as to transfer the actual chain tension to the ratchet/pawl arrangement and the base support. The chain tensioning unit includes a unique arrangement by which simple rotation of a cam facilitates either tensioning of the tie-down harnesses or release of the tension on the tie-down harnesses when the handle is rotated in back and forth motion through about a ninety degree arc.

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Red Lion, PA, United States of America

John A Klahold