The organization of transportation activities pays considerable attention to the preparation of equipment and supplies. Auxiliary devices in many respects provide reliability of transportation of goods by various types of transport. Also in construction is not complete without insurance devices of a suitable format. One of the most important elements of such equipment is a coupling belt with a ratchet mechanism that reliably fixes the load in its original position until the transportation process is completed.
General information about tensioning belts
Outwardly, such a belt resembles a wide tape, which is used to insure people in cars. The main material of manufacture are textile fibers of different properties. In particular, polyester is the most common as a practical, wear-resistant and high-strength base. Also, cargo fastening belts are equipped with a ratchet mechanism. This is a kind of lock that allows you to carry out sufficient tension when fixing the tape.
The belt modification in the form of a ring device is also widespread. In this case, the fastener is carried out as a result of mixing the two ends of the tape and performing their reliable fixation. Typically, a ring coupling belt with a ratchet mechanism is used to insure small loads. Transportation of large volumes of containers, as a rule, is realized by fixing belts with hooks from two ends.
Tape sizes
In width, such tapes usually vary in the range from 25 to 100 mm. This choice depends on the size of the load and the requirements for holding the load. As for the length, it can be from 3 to 10 m. Short belts are usually used in the household - for example, for transporting small loads in the trunk or on a trailer. Oversized building structures are often transported using 10-meter tapes. When evaluating the characteristics that a coupling belt has with a ratchet mechanism, it is important to take into account the supported coupling force. This parameter can vary on average from 1 to 8 tons. Accordingly, the higher this value, the safer the transportation will be organized. Another thing is that the reliability of the event is more dependent on the technical implementation of the mount itself. Still, cases when the belts are torn are much less common.
User's manual
The process of fastening with a belt consists of several stages. First, you should raise the handle of the ratchet mechanism by pulling a special valve towards you. Next, into the formed passage, skip the belt to the required length. It is important to note that before this operation the tape should not be twisted or wrinkled. Then the belt must be tensioned with the ratchet handle - for this, up-down movements should be performed. According to the instructions for use, the ratchet straps must be checked for tension and during transport. The fact is that after some time of movement the load may settle, and the belts will weaken. Therefore, at certain intervals, those responsible must audit the strength of the fasteners. The fixation itself is carried out using the lock bolt - the handle is lowered and blocks the mechanism. To release the belt, you should also pull the bolt toward you, and then lift the handle of the device up to the stop.
General guidelines for using belts
First of all, the operation of belts is possible only for its intended purpose, that is, to fix the load, suitable for the parameters. Regardless of the dimensions of the cargo, at least two tension belts should be used, which will ensure optimal reliability of transportation. If tapes with polyester fibers are used, it is important to take into account the temperature regime. This material can only be used safely in the range of -40 ° C to 100 ° C. In addition, tensioning belts are often used to insure goods with outstanding cutting and stitching edges. If it is not possible to ensure complete preliminary protection of the structure, then point insulation should be carried out using linings or wireframes. Moreover, this measure also applies to containers with a rough surface. With prolonged close contact with abrasives, even polyester can get damaged, so it must be insured against similar risks.
How to not use belts for securing cargo
Sometimes when performing fastening using a tension belt, some deviations from the operating rules may seem more rational, convenient and economical. But not all of them are combined with the concepts of reliability and safety. In particular, technologists do not recommend hooking hooks directly onto the tape, deforming hardware metal components, tying knots, and also increasing the load relative to the norm. It is important to remember that the coupling belt with a ratchet mechanism also requires compliance with certain care rules. After each operation, it should be cleaned and washed, but without the introduction of potent chemicals. And especially you can not use the same abrasives in the form of coarse brushes to clean the surface of the tape.
Conclusion
The category of coupling type belts is widely represented on the market in different versions. The average cost of the kit is 500-700 rubles. For this money, you can get a high-quality polyester tape about 100 mm wide. If necessary, the coupling belt with ratchet mechanism can be supplemented with other auxiliary devices. For example, if ring fixation is not planned, hooks will be required. Today, manufacturers produce dual gripping devices, which allows to increase the reliability of fastening. Do not ignore issues of personal safety. The rules instruct performers to carry out such operations with helmets and gloves.