Tensioning device for snow chains

The present invention concerns a tensioning device (11) for snow chains comprising: a ratchet spool (100) having a set of ratchet teeth (102) on the upper surface, the ratchet teeth (102) constructed and arranged to mate with housing teeth (118); a tension spring (110) and an the actuator (26) in order to engage/disengage the ratchet teeth (102) with/from the housing teeth (118); wherein the ratchet spool (100) further includes a catch (104) on the lower surface of the ratchet spool (100) and the tensioning device (11) further includes a stopper (108), wherein the stopper (108) will block the catch (104) when the ratchet spool (100) is in the down position so that the ratchet spool (100) will not fully rotate in the wind-up direction when the ratchet spool (100) is in a down position; wherein the stopper (108) will not block the catch (104) when the ratchet spool (100) is in the up position.