Abstract: A mobile lifting apparatus includes (a) a bottom tower section having a first bottom sidewall and an opposed second bottom sidewall; (b) a top tower section coupled to and vertically translatable relative to the bottom tower section; (c) a work platform coupled to and vertically translatable with the top tower section; and (d) an elevating assembly operable to translate the top tower section relative to the bottom tower section between a raised position in which a work surface of the work platform is at an elevation above the bottom tower section, and a lowered position in which the top tower section and the work surface are at least partially nested within the bottom tower section with the work surface at an elevation below upper edges of the first and second bottom sidewalls for reducing the entry and exit height of the work platform.

Abstract: The elevating lift with a stabilized movable base includes a base with extendable legs that provide minimum to maximum adjustable stability during use and transport. A lift system is mounted on the base, and a platform assembly is mounted on top of the lift system for selective raising or lowering. Each extendable leg supports a caster, rendering the base movable, and selective extension and retraction of the legs adjusts the stability of the lift. The plurality of legs can be further driven to simultaneously rotate about the vertical axis to steer the lift. The stabilized movable base is further alternatively used in combination with a stool, providing minimum to maximum stability during use and transport of seating, and multiple elevating lifts may be used to support linked platform assemblies in various configurations.

Abstract: One bridge pier, two bridge girders and two supporting rods are manufactured in an approximately vertical position. The supporting rods are connected to the top of the pier and to the bridge girders. The bridge girders are brought into the horizontal final position by raising the end points of the bridge girders, which end points are located beside the pier. Finally, the end points (9) of the bridge girders are connected to the pier.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a drawbridge apparatus for reversibly spanning from a first base to a second base, and more particularly to a cantilever drawbridge with an initial vertical motion of the bridge deck then a sliding or horizontal-linear motion of the said bridge deck. The invention herein described effectively overcomes the problem of the adjacent first bridge approach obstructing the sliding movement of a sliding drawbridge. This is achieved by an initial vertical motion lifting the bridge deck until it effectively clears the first adjacent bridge approach thereby allowing the sliding the bridge deck to slide over said first adjacent bridge approach. A lifting mechanism and a sliding mechanism are included in the design to provide the apparatus the means to move the bridge deck vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening a mechanical bridge. The apparatus includes at least two adjacent bridge spans where the first of the bridge spans is removable from its initial position and the second of the bridge spans is at least partially movable into the space originally occupied by the first span so that at least a portion of the second bridge span can be separated from yet a third adjacent span. This forms an opening between the second and third spans. Alternatively, a span can be moved laterally and then longitudinally to open a section of the bridge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening a mechanical bridge, the apparatus including at least two adjacent bridge spans where the first of the bridge spans is removable from its initial position and the second of the bridge spans is at least partially movable into the space originally occupied by the first span so that at least a portion of the second bridge span can be separated from yet a third adjacent span thereby forming an opening between the second and third spans and another method whereby a span is first moved laterally and then longitudinally to open a section of the bridge.

Abstract: A drawbridge apparatus for reversibly spanning from a first pier to a second pier. The apparatus comprises first and second cantilevered beams, rack and pinion beam drive mechanisms, first and second bascular leaves, first and second hinged leaves, and rack and pinion leaf drive mechanisms. The first and second cantilevered beams are slidably coupled to the first and second piers, respectively. The beams are arranged and configured to project from the first and second bases to a location between the two where the beams make a locking interconnection when the bridge is in its down configuration. The beam drive mechanisms cause the first and second cantilevered beams to slide from and into the first and second bases, respectively. The first and second bascular leaves have first and second counterweight portions and first and second span portions, respectively. The bascular leaves are pivotally coupled to the bases at the intersections of the counterweight portions with the span portions.

Abstract: A gangway designed to extend between a pair of relatively movable bodies (2, 50), such as an off-shore field rescue vessel and a rig or platform has a series of telescopic platforms (36, 37) defining a substantially planar walk-way surface and linked by a lazy-tong form of coupling (17, 18, 19, 20). By this means velocity variations between one region of the walk-way and the next can be kept small despite rapid variations in the overall length of the gangway.