Abstract: A work gondola apparatus is provided with: a work cage into which a worker boards; equipment mounting parts disposed on both outer sides of the work cage; battery-driven elevating/lowering mechanisms which are mounted to the respective equipment mounting parts and which elevate/lower the work cage to a working location by means of cables that are being suspended; and batteries for driving the respective elevating/lowering mechanisms.

Abstract: A work platform for use in performing maintenance while supported on an overhead crane. The work platform is particularly useful for performing maintenance on overhead cranes located in areas where normal lifting equipment and/or scaffolding cannot easily access the overhead crane. However, the work platform is also useful for performing maintenance on equipment and/or structures in the vicinity of overhead cranes, and on overhead cranes located in areas without accessibility problems. The work platform is hoisted for placement on support structure of the overhead crane by hoist apparatus of the overhead crane. When positioned, the work platform may be fully supported on the support structure of the overhead crane.

Abstract: A method is provided for assisting multiple climbers in ascending and descending the same ladder using an apparatus that includes a plurality of counterweights and a rigging system coupled to the counterweights, the rigging system includes at least two subsystems, each subsystem includes at least one cable, at least one pulley, and at least one harness. The method includes configuring a first subsystem to assist a first climber in ascending and descending the ladder, configuring a second subsystem to assist a second climber in ascending and descending the ladder, coupling a first harness to the first climber, coupling a second harness to the second climber, using the first subsystem to assist the first climber in ascending and descending the ladder, and using the second subsystem to assist the second climber in ascending and descending the ladder.

Abstract: For fire fighting and emergency rescue in high-rise buildings the building can be equipped with rails on the outside of the building. The rails have elevators, which travel on the rails on the outside face of the building. Two elevators traveling in unison and supporting a platform extending therebetween can provide a corridor and or a scaffold for reaching anyplace on the face of a building. Other elevators or elevators with cranes can be used on the rails in combination with the elevators with the platform to fight fires, rescue people from the upper floors of buildings or perform maintenance or construction tasks.

Abstract: A cabled platform suspension system includes a platform having first and second support points at spaced locations along a front work-access edge of the platform and a third, stabilizing/rotator support point. A platform support structure, such as the two or four towers of a dry dock, defines first, second, third and fourth platform suspension points arranged in a substantially rectangular pattern. Six cables are connected between the platform and support structure, with five cables being respectively connected between the first and fourth suspension points and the first and second platform support points, two cables being respectively connected between the second and third suspension points and the first and second platform support points and two cables being respectively connected between the second and third suspension points and the third platform support point.

Abstract: A working gondola which carries a worker for cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure, has two powered winches for winding and unwinding two ropes respectively for up-, down-, left-, and rightward movement of its gondola, whereby cleaning of an extended area can be conducted with efficiency.

Abstract: An access structure such as a petroleum products loading platform which includes a vertically moving work platform having guides restrained with a plurality of vertical support members to vertically guide the platform along the support members. A plurality of lifting elements are respectively connected to each of the support members and to the platform to vertically move the platform along each of the support members. A common actuatable power arrangement is connected to each of the lifting elements to cause the lifting elements to vertically move the platform a prescribed distance along each of the support members responsive to each actuation of the power arrangement. Each of the lifting elements may be a hoisting drum and cable arrangement which is vertically moveable responsive to rotation of the hoisting drum to reel in or pay out the cable.

Abstract: A support beam is formed of two wooden members held in spaced relation to each other by spaced blocks to provide openings to receive tobacco sticks with tobacco stalks thereon. Each end of the support beam has a longitudinal slot extending therethrough to enable a cable, which is attached to a rafter in the upper end of the barn, to extend therethrough. The lower end of each cable has a loop for attachment to a drum of a hoist mechanism, which has a portion bearing against the bottom surface of the support beam. The support beam has a depending projection spaced inwardly from each end to limit the outward movement of each of the hoist mechanisms. The drum of each of the hoist mechanisms is rotated separately to enable the support beam to be raised upwardly into the barn at an angle to clear rail supports on which the support beam is supported.