Abstract: A brake unit for a skip or carriage adapted to ride on one or more cables. The brake unit has brake jaws spanning the cable, said unit being connected to the skip so as to move along the cable therewith. The connection to the skip is such that when the latter is moved in one direction, the jaws slide along the cables, but when the skip moves in the opposite direction, the jaws grip the cable in a braking action. The brake unit has adjusting means which is operable to adjust the gripping action of the jaw anywhere from a complete grip preventing movement of the skip to release of the cable so that the skip can move freely therealong.

Abstract: A carriage has pulleys adjacent opposite ends thereof for riding on a pair of line cables which have obstructions thereon, such as hangers and spacers. The carriage has brakes associated therewith for engaging the line cables. These brakes are such that they permit the carriage to move in one direction but automatically grip the line cables when the carriage moves in the opposite direction. These brakes are releasable to allow the carriage to be moved in either direction. Lifting apparatus is provided for each end of the carriage in the form of hooks that can be placed on the line cables and lifter lines extending between the hooks and the carriage. The lifter cables are connected to a foot pedal in the carriage which can be manipulated to transfer the weight of the adjacent end of the carriage through the hooks to the line cables thereby allowing the pulleys at that end of the carriage to be lifted off the line cables and shifted around an obstruction thereon.