Abstract: The clamping assembly comprises a body having an elongate passage which, in use, receives an elongate object to be clamped, and which has two mutually facing inclined surfaces, and a pair of wedge-shaped jaws movably mounted in said passage to move between a first position in which the jaws clamp said object and a second position in which they release the object. Two sets of rollers form respective rolling paths for corresponding ones of the jaws, with the rollers in each set being supported and rotatably mounted in respective mounting frames capable of sliding movement relative to the corresponding jaw and relative to the body. A compression spring is interposed between each jaw and the mounting frame of the corresponding set of rollers.

Abstract: A reversible wedge gripping assembly is provided for elongated objects, such as cables or bars, comprising an elongated casing which is open at both ends and which defines a passage adapted for receiving said elongated object, and a first pair of wedge-shaped clamping jaws, which are mounted in the passage of the casing for gripping said elongated object. Each of the two clamping jaws has, in its inner surface a longitudinal groove having two flat side walls which converge towards the bottom of the groove and each of which makes a predetermined angle with the plane in which the two clamping jaws move.

Abstract: A continuous operation linear hydraulic winch comprising a fixed frame, a first gripping assembly, a first pair of hydraulic jacks mounted between the frame and the first gripping assembly, a second gripping assembly and a second pair of hydraulic jacks mounted between the frame and the second gripping assembly, wherein the frame comprises a single bearing plate perpendicular to the jacks, the first gripping assembly is disposed on one side of the bearing plate and the second gripping assembly on the other side of the bearing plate, the first and second pairs of hydraulic jacks having one of their cylinders and piston rods connected to the bearing plate and the other of their cylinders and piston rods connected to a respective one of the first and second gripping assemblies.