Abstract: A cable winch hoisting device for theatrical stages, whereby a plurality of elongated, rod-like holding girders are suspended on cables, and these holding girders are adjustable in height by varying the free cable length between the cable suspension and the holding girder, which determines the position of the respective holding girder. The holding girders are adjustable in height between two end positions without any mutual interference in the clearance spaces which do not overlap with one another and are provided for the holding girders. At least two cables which are uniformly adjustable by the same cable-operating device act on the holding girders and are distributed over the length of the girders. The cable-operating devices are each electrically driven cable drums. The cables acting on the same holding girder can be wound up side by side onto the cable drum of the respective cable-operating device with the same change in free cable length, which determines the position of the holding girder.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for covering truck beds, rail cars, or other large objects with a tarp or related covering in which the tarp is held to the truck tarp loader by a fastening roller member comprised of: a vertical support member with first and second ends; a first horizontal member fixedly secured to the first end, forming an L shape; a second horizontal member fixedly secured to the second end of the vertical support member, also forming an L shape; an axle, a pair of wheels, and a handle pivotally attached to the first horizontal member; a pair of tensioners between the vertical support member and the axle; and a fastening mechanism on the second horizontal member for attaching the fastening roller member to the truck tarp loader apparatus.

Abstract: The apparatus for covering large object typically comprises one fundamental unit, although a plurality of fundamental units may be used. The fundamental unit comprises four vertical support members, a top rectangular support frame, arms, a plurality of hanger members fixedly secured to arms, a first plurality of straps operatively engaging the hanger members, a plurality of rollers fixedly attached to the arms and operatively engaging the vertical support members, and a lifting device.

Abstract: A storage platform and lift apparatus comprises a plurality of platforms; four cables; a plurality of elongated brace members; four elongated vertical members, each having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; and a drive axle. A pulley wheel is rotatably coupled to two vertical members, while the other two vertical members support a drive axle which contains the four cables. A plurality of brace members support the vertical members in an upright, stable position. Upper and lower gear assemblies, in combination with the four cables extending outwardly away from the drive axle and coupled to the platforms, provide means to raise and lower the platforms to any desired height for either short- and long-term storage of machinery, equipment, and the alike.

Abstract: Winch apparatus for raising and holding a rolling steel door includes a wheeled base with telescoping members extending upwardly from the base. A hand cranked winch raises and lowers the telescoping members, while a reversible electric motor is used to power a separate winch for raising and lowering a load secured to an arm extending outwardly from an innermost telescoping member. The arm is disposed against a building when the apparatus is in position to raise the rolling steel door for its installation.

Abstract: A pulling apparatus includes a frame having a securing stirrup for securing a beam. The beam is provided at one end with a return pulley. Due to the structure of the securing stirrup, the tractive forces are transferred completely to the beam and the frame so that the means for securing the apparatus to the ground can be minimized. Such a design easily allows the beam to be set at an angle when the pipe is off center. The apparatus may also be easily placed in a cable chamber for operation.

Abstract: A control system for a rope bucket, the rope bucket being designed for the hoisting and transfer of materials and adapted to be suspended from a hoist trolley transferable along an essentially horizontal travel path. The control system includes a hoist mechanism for hoisting the rope bucket, and a close mechanism for closing and opening the scoops of the rope bucket, and also for hoisting and lowering the rope bucket. The hoist mechanism includes two separate mechanisms, and similarly the close mechanism includes two separate mechanisms which also form the transfer mechanism of the hoist trolley.

Abstract: A storage apparatus that includes a storage shelf having a plurality of horizontally and vertically arranged storage sections for storage of articles and a moving body for taking articles in and out of the storage shelf. Conventionally, since an article carrying in and out section for taking articles in and out of such storage apparatus is divided into working sections having substantially the same width as that of storage sections, a space for work is small and a work is made difficult and inefficient when the moving body is used to take articles out of the storage sections or articles are placed on the working sections. Therefore, a working space, which protrudes beyond the article carrying in and out section and is free of partitions is provided. With such arrangement, however, there is a problem that a storage apparatus is extended in a lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A watercraft lifting apparatus utilizing a lifting beam vertically movable within a frame preferably including pile members defining a watercraft receiving slot. The lifting beam is vertically movable to contact preferably the lower surface of the watercraft for moving it upwardly. The movement of the lifting beam is powered by a main drive connected through the lifting apparatus by two winching and cable devices. First an outer winch powers retraction and extension of an outer cable connected through a pulley configuration to the distal end of the lifting beam. Also an inner winching device is operable to extend and withdraw an inner cable operatively connected through a pulley configuration to the proximate end of the lifting beam to assure that the lifting beam is lifted vertically in a horizontal orientation to facilitate lifting of the watercraft such as for cleaning and/or storage thereof.

Abstract: A wildcat chain hoist for lifting anchor chain where the chain length may have different size chain links. The wildcat chain hoist continuously lifts the chain regardless of the different link sizes by engaging alternate chain links defined as horizontal links and applying a pulling force to them. The wildcat chain hoist includes a drum constructed of two identical halves having whelps for guiding the vertical links. The halves are joined together to provide a v-shaped cross section. There are pockets extending from the drum hub up to the perimeter with the pockets increasing in size toward the perimeter to gage and guide the chain links into the proper pocket size. Each wildcat chain drum half has a flange rim which moves or adjusts to close the pockets on the chain links to pull on the chain, and to open to release the chain.

Abstract: An autonomous, heliborne-mobile construction/emergency pod (AHP) system that is structurally and functionally designed and configured to efficiently and expeditiously deploy independently operable, self-contained equipment pods utilizing the operational capabilities provided by helicopters. The AHP system is configured for integration in combination with a helicopter external stores support station. The AHP system includes a dual cable winch and rack (DCWR) assembly and an equipment pod that is configured for provisioning remote and/or inaccessible locations with a full complement of mission specific power actuated equipment and a self-contained power source to facilitate extended mission operations without external support.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving personnel or materials through an opening in a sidewall of a vessel and down into the vessel wherein a lower support and an upper support are mounted on the portion of the sidewall defining the opening and have a tripod supported thereon and located within the vessel. A hoist and a fall arresting device are mounted on the upper support and the cables thereof are passed over pulleys mounted on the tripod so that personnel or materials may be attached to the snaphook on the end of the cable and moved through the opening and lowered into the vessel.

Abstract: A carriage cooperates with a cable way machine with an oblique multigroove pulley and a friction drive drum, so oriented that the cable runs in straight directions off and onto circular grooves of the drum. One cable portion runs from the cable way machine through the carriage towards a fixed anchoring point, the remaining cable portion runs also through the carriage to a tension biasing anchoring point; function and configuration of a main cable and of a hauling cable are thus combined.

Abstract: A robotic arm and control system comprising a multi-axis, open-loop system of coupled structural members, wherein each structural member is pivotably coupled to one another to form a number of joints, wherein position calibration is provided by way of position sensors disposed at each joint, and controls for manipulating each joint in a predetermined manner and for monitoring the output of each position sensor, the controls first causing all structural members to move with respect to one another so that each position sensor outputs a home signal, the controls then manipulating each structural member in a predetermined sequence until each structural member is caused to be within a predetermined distance from its home position.

Abstract: A pair of wheel assemblies (26, 28) are vertically spaced apart and are supported for rotation about parallel axis (30, 38) by a common support frame (10). Each wheel assembly (26, 28) comprises a pair of wheels at its ends (38, 40). The wheels (34, 40) have radially outwardly opening channel portions (80) in which traveling bearing pads (64, 66) are received. The bearing pads are secured to endless support cables (46), and also to the end portions (152) of carrier beams (150, 194) which extend between the two wheels (34 or 40) of each assembly (26, 28). The carrier beam (150, 194) is an upper portion of a carrier (48, 48', 176) onto which is placed a motor vehicle or some article which is to be stored. A first drive cable section (54) is connected to the support cable (46) and extends therefrom to a winch drum (50). A second drive cable section (58) extends from the support cable (46) in the opposite direction to the same winch drum (50).

Abstract: In a portable cable winch the smooth shell of a motor-driven cable drum is provided with at least one conical surface having an angle of inclination corresponding to the angle of friction between the load-bearing cable and the cable drum. A clamping disk driven in synchronism with the cable drum pulls the load-bearing cable away from the smaller-diameter end of the conical surface and towards a cable storing means. The cable has applied thereto a clamping force which is transmitted as a pulling force back to the cable section to be drawn in via the conical surface. In an embodiment in which the shell of the cable drum is subdivided into two conical surfaces having identical angles of inclination but being disposed on the axis of the cable drum extending in opposite directions, it is possible also to employ the cable winch for raising and lowering loads upon the direction of rotation of the cable drum being reversed to alternatingly guide the cable onto the one or the other of the two conical surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending a scaffold or the like, used for working on the outer walls of buildings, comprising a capstan made up of four pairs of pulleys driven by an electric motor. The pulleys have grooves for receiving suspension cables, each of which is wound over a pair of pulleys in five turns. On the slack-portion side, each cable is guided over a traverse mechanism, then runs onto a reel mounted via friction couplings on a shaft. This shaft is driven by the motor when the scaffold is raised, while during the descent it is locked by a monodirectional coupling, a driving wheel then being free on the shaft. A safety release device intended to intervene in case of lessening of the tractive force yielded by the friction couplings is combined with the traverse mechanism. If the tension of the slack portion of cable drops below a given threshold, a safety release cuts off the current supply to the motor and actuates an electromagnetic brake.

Abstract: In digging and hauling soil, rocks, minerals and the like by the use of a dragline the invention provides a novel combination of said dragline, a conveyor for hauling the materials dug, and a hopper disposed over and movable along the conveyor whereby material may be efficiently excavated and transported out of the working area.