US Patent 10328842 Cargo securing apparatus

A cargo securing apparatus and a method of maintaining a user configured tension in a cargo securing element are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one sensor arranged to measure a first and second tension in a tensile element (used to secure the cargo) at different times and a processor in data communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to receive the tension measurements from the sensor and to distinguish between acute and sustained deviations in tension based on the tension measurements. Conditionally, the processor may compare the first and second tension measurements to a user configured tension setting and determine tension correction parameters required to maintain the tension in the tensile element within a range of the user configured setting. The apparatus may include one or more manual or automated adjustment drives to adjust the tension in the tensile element in accordance with the tension correction parameters.