Line tensioner

Abstract

A line tensioner having a spool table disposed on one axial side of a takeup drum and a brake table disposed on a second axial side of the takeup drum. A torque-receiving plane is disposed on the spooling table, forming one side of receiving channel. The bottom edge of the torque-receiving plane intersects the underside of the spooling table, forming a roof or spooling guide. As the roof traverses angularly away from the receiving channel, the roof lowers in a downward direction towards the brake table. The roof forms an inclined plane screw surface about the takeup drum. Traversing angularly about half a rotation, the roof approaches the receiving channel on the opposite side of the spooling table. Continuing to traverse angularly, the roof continues in a downward direction, while a capture or locking bed is disposed on the spooling table, forming an opposite side of the receiving channel. The roof terminates, generally at its closest approach to the floor of the brake table, forming a hitching fang. The capture bed forms one side of the receiving channel, opposite the side of the receiving channel formed by the torque-receiving plane. Continuing to traverse angularly across the receiving channel, the structure of the spooling table is repeated.

1 . A method for line tensioning comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first portion of a line for tensioning;    applying a torque to said received line about an axis of rotation;    spooling portions of said line extending from said received portion of said line about said axis of rotation; and    capturing portions of said line extending from said spooled portion of said line.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said torque application step comprises applying torque to a torque socket.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said spooling step comprises disposing the line along an inclined plane disposed about a cylindrical surface, said inclined plane in communication with a receiving plane.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said capturing step comprises disposing the line onto a capture bed, said capture bed disposed at the terminus of an inclined plane disposed about a cylindrical surface, thereby forming a hitching fang.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said torque application step comprises applying torque to a torque socket;    said spooling step comprises disposing the line along an inclined plane disposed about a cylindrical surface, said inclined plane in communication with a receiving plane; and    said capturing step comprises disposing the line onto a capture bed, said capture bed disposed at the terminus of an inclined plane disposed about a cylindrical surface, thereby forming a hitching fang.    
   
   
       6 . A system for line tensioning comprising: 
 means for receiving a first portion of a line for tensioning;    means for applying a torque to said received line about an axis of rotation;    means for spooling portions of said line extending from said received portion of said line about said axis of rotation; and    means for capturing portions of said line extending from said spooled portion of said line.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said receiving means comprises: 
 a spool table;    a receiving channel disposed along a surface of said spool table; and    a torque receiving plane disposed on a portion of a first wall of said receiving channel.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said torque applying means comprises a torque socket.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said spooling means comprises: 
 a takeup drum;    a spool table disposed on a first axial side of said takeup drum;    a brake table disposed on a second axial side of said takeup drum; and    a spooling guide disposed about said takeup drum, forming an inclined plane screw surface about said takeup drum from said spool table towards said brake table.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said capture means comprises: 
 a hitching fang disposed at the terminus of said spooling means; and    a capture bed in communication with said hitching fang.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said receiving means comprises: 
 a spool table;  
 a receiving channel disposed along a surface of said spool table; and  
 a torque receiving plane disposed on a portion of a first wall of said receiving channel;  
   said torque applying means comprises a torque socket;    said spooling means comprises: 
 a takeup drum;  
 a spool table disposed on a first axial side of said takeup drum;  
 a brake table disposed on a second axial side of said takeup drum; and  
 a spooling guide disposed about said takeup drum, forming an inclined plane screw surface about said takeup drum from said spool table towards said brake table; and  
   said capture means comprises: 
 a hitching fang disposed at the terminus of said spooling means; and  
 a capture bed in communication with said hitching fang.  
   
   
   
       12 . A line tensioner comprising: 
 a takeup drum;    a spool table disposed on a first axial side of said takeup drum;    a brake table disposed on a second axial side of said takeup drum;    a receiving channel having a wall disposed along a surface of said spool table;    a torque receiving plane disposed on a first portion of said wall of said receiving channel;    a capture bed disposed on a second portion of said first wall of said receiving channel; and    a spooling guide disposed about said takeup drum, forming an inclined plane screw surface about said takeup drum from said torque receiving plane of said spool table to said capture bed.    
   
   
       13 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein the intersection of said capture bed with said spooling guide forms a hitching fang.  
   
   
       14 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  further comprising a torque socket disposed along an axis of rotation of the line tensioner.  
   
   
       15 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein: 
 said torque receiving plane enters said spooling guide at the top of the outer rim of said takeup drum; and    the outer diameter of said torque receiving plane is positionally higher than the top of the outer rim of said takeup drum at said receiving channel.    
   
   
       16 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein the bottom surface of said receiving channel at the outer rim of said takeup drum is lower than the intersection of said spooling guide with the outer rim of said takeup drum.  
   
   
       17 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein said brake table further comprises a torque socket.  
   
   
       18 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein said capture bed forms a three dimensional surface having a partial helical rotation about the major axis of said capture bed, the intersection of said capture bed with said spooling guide thereby forming a hitching fang.  
   
   
       19 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein the approximate top edge of said capture bed at the approximate outer rim of said spool table to the approximate bottom edge of said capture bed at the approximate outer rim of said spool table at the intersection of said spooling guide is at an angle between approximately fifteen degrees and approximately thirty degrees as referenced from the axis of the line tensioner.  
   
   
       20 . The line tensioner of  claim 12  wherein the approximate top edge of said torque receiving plane at the approximate outer rim of said spool table to the approximate bottom edge of said torque receiving plane at the approximate outer rim of said spool table at the intersection of said spooling guide is at an angle between approximately forty-five degrees to approximately sixty degrees as referenced from the axis of the line tensioner.