US-12618453-B1 - Adjustable tensioning device

Abstract

An adjustable tensioning device may include an elongated barrel having a threaded aperture and a barrel gear encircling the barrel perpendicular to a rotational axis. A threaded shaft, having a tensioning element, may be coupled to the threaded aperture. An alignment arm, having an elongated length, may be coupled to the threaded shaft and/or tensioning element, the elongated length contacting an arm brace coupled to the gearbox. A drive gear of the gearbox may engage the barrel gear. A motivation coupler may be operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotational motion applied to the motivation coupler is communicated to the drive gear. Rotation of the motivation coupler may result in rotation of the barrel and linear movement of the tensioning element towards or away from the barrel. The engagement of the elongated length and the arm brace maintains orientation of the gearbox relative to the alignment arm.

Inventors

• Steven R. Kick

Assignees

• Steven R. Kick

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20260110

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An adjustable tensioning device, the device comprising: a barrel having an external surface and a rotational axis extending along a length of the barrel, the barrel having a first end, the first end having a first threaded aperture; a barrel gear coupled to the exterior surface of the barrel with the barrel gear completely encircling the barrel perpendicular to the rotational axis; a first threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first threaded shaft threaded into the first threaded aperture; a tensioning element coupled to the second end of the first threaded shaft; an alignment arm coupled to at least one of the first threaded shaft and the tensioning element, the alignment arm having an elongated length that extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the barrel, and the alignment arm having a distal end; a gearbox, wherein a drive gear and a motivation coupler are rotatably coupled to the gearbox, wherein the drive gear is engaged to the barrel gear, wherein the motivation coupler and the drive gear are operably coupled together such that rotational motion applied to the motivation coupler is communicated to the drive gear to rotate the barrel gear and the barrel; and a first arm brace coupled to the gearbox, wherein the first arm brace comprises at least one arm bearing surface, wherein rotation of the motivation coupler in a first direction results in rotation of the barrel and linear movement of the tensioning element towards the barrel and in the distal end of the alignment arm being moved relatively farther from the gearbox, wherein rotation of the motivation coupler in a second direction results in opposite rotation of the barrel and linear movement of the tensioning element away from the barrel and in the distal end of the alignment arm being moved relatively closer to the gearbox; and wherein the at least one arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the first arm brace and the gearbox in at least one direction around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.
2. 2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first arm brace comprises an arm channel, wherein the at least one arm bearing surface forms at least a portion of the arm channel, and wherein a portion of the elongated length of the alignment arm extends through the arm channel.
3. 3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm bearing surface comprises a first arm bearing surface and a second arm bearing surface, wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm is positioned between the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface so that at least one of the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the first arm brace and the gearbox around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.
4. 4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the first arm brace comprises an arm aperture, wherein the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface form at least a portion of the arm aperture, and wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm extends through the arm aperture.
5. 5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second arm brace coupled to the gearbox, wherein the first arm brace comprises a first arm bearing surface and the second arm brace comprises a second arm bearing surface, wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm extends between the first arm bearing surface of the first arm brace and the second arm bearing surface of the second arm brace so that at least one of the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the first arm brace, the second arm brace, and the gearbox around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.
6. 6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a barrel receiver that is coupled to the gearbox, wherein the barrel receiver comprises at least one barrel bearing surface that is configured to contact the barrel while the barrel is rotated.
7. 7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the first arm brace comprises an arm channel, wherein the at least one arm bearing surface forms at least a portion of the arm channel, and wherein a portion of the elongated length of the alignment arm extends through the arm channel.
8. 8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one arm bearing surface comprises a first arm bearing surface and a second arm bearing surface, wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm is positioned between the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface so that at least one of the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the first arm brace and the gearbox around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.
9. 9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first arm brace comprises an arm aperture, wherein the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface form at least a portion of the arm aperture, and wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm extends through the arm aperture.
10. 10 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a second arm brace coupled to the gearbox, wherein the first arm brace comprises a first arm bearing surface and the second arm brace comprises a second arm bearing surface, wherein the elongated length of the alignment arm extends between the first arm bearing surface of the first arm brace and the second arm bearing surface of the second arm brace so that at least one of the first arm bearing surface and the second arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the first arm brace, the second arm brace, and the gearbox around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.
11. 11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a barrel receiver that is coupled to the gearbox, wherein the barrel receiver comprises a barrel channel, wherein the barrel receiver is coupled to the barrel so that the barrel extends through the barrel channel and so that the barrel is configured to rotate within the barrel channel.
12. 12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining wall that is coupled to the barrel, wherein the retaining wall is configured to contact the gearbox.
13. 13 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first retaining wall that is coupled to the barrel and a second retaining wall that is coupled to the barrel, wherein the barrel gear is positioned between the first retaining wall and the second retaining wall.
14. 14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning element comprises a ring eye.
15. 15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning element comprises a hook.
16. 16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning element comprises a ball socket.
17. 17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox is a reduction gearbox.
18. 18 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the motivation coupler comprises a coupler pocket.
19. 19 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the motivation coupler comprises a hexagonal outer perimeter.
20. 20 . An adjustable tensioning device, the device comprising: a barrel having an external surface and a rotational axis extending along a length of the barrel, the barrel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first threaded aperture, wherein the second end comprises a second threaded aperture, and wherein the rotational axis extends through the first threaded aperture and through the second threaded aperture; a barrel gear coupled to the exterior surface of the barrel with the barrel gear completely encircling the barrel perpendicular to the rotational axis; a first threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first threaded shaft threaded into the first threaded aperture; a second threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second threaded shaft threaded into the second threaded aperture; a first tensioning element coupled to the second end of the first threaded shaft, wherein the first tensioning element comprises a first ball socket; a second tensioning element coupled to the second end of the second threaded shaft, wherein the second tensioning element comprises a second ball socket; an alignment arm coupled to at least one of the first threaded shaft and the first tensioning element, the alignment arm having an elongated length that extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the barrel, and the alignment arm having a distal end; a gearbox, wherein a drive gear and a motivation coupler are rotatably coupled to the gearbox, wherein the drive gear is engaged to the barrel gear, wherein the motivation coupler and the drive gear are operably coupled together such that rotational motion applied to the motivation coupler is communicated to the drive gear to rotate the barrel gear and the barrel; and an arm brace coupled to the gearbox, wherein the arm brace comprises at least one arm bearing surface, wherein rotation of the motivation coupler in a first direction results in rotation of the barrel and linear movement of the first tensioning element and the second tensioning element towards the barrel and in the distal end of the alignment arm being moved relatively farther from the gearbox, wherein rotation of the motivation coupler in a second direction results in opposite rotation of the barrel and linear movement of the first tensioning element and the second tensioning element away from the barrel and in the distal end of the alignment arm being moved relatively closer to the gearbox; and wherein the at least one arm bearing surface is configured to contact and move along the elongated length of the alignment arm to prevent rotation of the arm brace and the gearbox in at least one direction around the rotational axis as the barrel is rotated in the rotational axis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/746,939, filed on Jan. 18, 2025, entitled “Adjustable Tensioning Device”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/749,521, filed on Jan. 25, 2025, entitled “Adjustable Tensioning Device”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This patent specification relates to the field of equipment tensioning devices. More specifically, this patent specification relates to a tensioning device for coupling two objects together with a desired amount of tension and/or at a desired distance from each other. BACKGROUND Many types of equipment require two or more objects to be coupled together with a desired amount of tension and/or at a desired distance from each other. A turnbuckle, stretching screw or bottlescrew is a device that may be used to couple objects together with a desired amount of tension and/or at a desired distance from each other, such as for adjusting the tension or length of ropes, cables, tie rods, three point hitches, and other equipment systems. A turnbuckle normally consists of two threaded eye bolts, one screwed into each end of a small metal frame, one with a conventional right-hand thread and the other with a left-hand thread. The tension can be adjusted by rotating the frame, which causes both eye bolts to be screwed in or out simultaneously, without twisting the eye bolts or attached cables. However, the rotating the frame of existing turnbuckles can become difficult to rotate as more tension is exerted by the turnbuckles. Therefore, a need exists for novel tensioning devices for coupling two objects together with a desired amount of tension and/or at a desired distance from each other. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An adjustable tensioning device is provided which may be moved between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The device may be used to control the positioning of two or more objects coupled to the device relative to each other, such as by being configured as a turnbuckle, top link, load binder, chain binder, etc., as the device is moved between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. Preferably, the device may be configured as a top link, such as which may be used in a 3-point hitch, and the device may be operated by a battery operated impact wrench type of rotational movement imparting device that may be coupled to a motivation coupler so that the operator may control the positioning of two or more objects coupled to the device relative to each other without having to rotate the barrel by hand. Optionally, the rotational movement imparting device may be coupled to the motivation coupler via an impacted rated extension device, such as a flexible impact extension, so that the operator may operate the rotational movement imparting device remotely from the device, such as when remaining seated on a tractor having a 3-point hitch that the device is functioning as a top link in. In some embodiments, the adjustable tensioning device may include a barrel having an external surface and a rotational axis that may extend along a length of the barrel, the barrel having a first end and a second end, and the first end having a first threaded aperture and the second end having a second threaded aperture. A barrel gear may be coupled to the exterior surface of the barrel with the barrel gear completely encircling the barrel perpendicular to the rotational axis. The device may include a first threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end threaded into the first threaded aperture, and optionally a second threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end threaded into the second threaded aperture. A first tensioning element may be coupled to the second end of the first threaded shaft, and optionally a second tensioning element may be coupled to the second end of the second threaded shaft. An alignment arm may be coupled to at least one of the first threaded shaft and the first tensioning element, the alignment arm having an elongated length that extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the barrel, and the alignment arm having a distal end. The device may further include a gearbox, and a drive gear and a motivation coupler may be rotatably coupled to the gearbox. The drive gear may be engaged to the barrel gear, and the motivation coupler and the drive gear may be operably coupled together such that rotational motion applied to the motivation coupler is communicated to the drive gear to rotate the barrel gear and barrel. One or more arm braces may be coupled to the gearbox, and each arm brace may have at least one arm bearing surface. Rotation of the motivation coupler in a first direction may