Abstract: Clamp (1) for holding a container (2) by a neck (3) in a container handling machine, said clamp (1) comprising a pair of resilient arms (5) and a pair of neck grippers (7) provided at respective ends (6) of the arms (5), said arms (5) and said neck grippers (7) being configured to allow the container neck (3) to be laterally engaged between the neck grippers (7), each neck gripper (7) being pivotally mounted on the corresponding arm (5) about a rotation axis (8), and having at least two gripping jaws (9a, 9b) of different dimensions, configured to cooperate with container necks (3a, 3b) of different sizes.

Abstract: An oilfield elevator is disclosed and has first and second body halves pivotally-coupled at a hinge and moveable between an open position and a closed position to receive and move a tubular segment. Slips are slidably received within corresponding tapered slots in the elevator and are configured to translate vertically within the tapered slots and, at the same time, radially so as to be able to capture a wider range of tubular having varied outside diameters. Tension handles are pivotally-coupled to the first and second body halves and moveable between locked and unlocked positions. Locking the tension handles engages the slips via biasing members, and forces the slips into radial contact with the tubular segment. Unlocking the tension handles releases the biasing members.

Abstract: A device for gripping a load structure includes a first jaw member having a proximate end and a distal end, a second jaw member slidably mounted to the first jaw member and having a proximate end and a distal end. Each of the two jaw members is provided with a gripper. The device further includes a fulcrum member mounted to the first jaw member near the proximate end thereof and a flexible element secured to the second jaw member near the distal end thereof operatively coupled to the fulcrum member for causing an externally applied pulling force on the flexible element to move the distal end of the first jaw member towards the distal end of the second jaw member so as to yield a first inward force between the first and second grippers.

Abstract: A lifting grab for grabbing and lifting drums and/or other objects includes: a lifting point having two or more lifting arms radiating therefrom, the arms each having rim engaging elements, at least one arm is an articulated arm movable between engaging and non-engaging positions. A drum can be grabbed by initially attaching the engaging elements of the non-articulated arms to the rim, the at least one articulated arm then brought into the rim engaging position for attachment to the object or rim. Applying an upward or lifting force to the lifting point causes the rim engaging elements of all lifting arms to forcibly grab the object or rim of the drum, and whereby on releasing the lifting force, the at least one articulated arm is first disengaged from the rim thereby also relaxing the grip of the non-articulated arms wherein the drum or object can be released from the grab.

Abstract: A clamp grip for a container transport system including rare earth permanent magnets encapsulated in non-magnetic material such as high quality steel. Flexible positioning of the magnets allow for adapting to varied design specifications. A rotatable control cam or cams may be used to adjust grip arms between a grip and a release position. Air gap distances between permanent magnets may be designed to maximize repelling force to assist in the functioning of clamp grip mechanism.

Abstract: An elevator for gripping and lifting a riser joint or several interconnected riser joints of a completion and work over riser. A body includes a through bore for receiving a production pipe of a riser joint. The through bore is accessible via a longitudinal opening in the body. The body includes at least one locking device including a hydraulic cylinder. A piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is moveable to and fro between an unlocking position, in which the piston rod allows a production pipe of a riser joint to pass into or out of the through bore via the longitudinal opening, and a locking position, in which the piston rod prevents a production pipe received in the through bore from passing out of the through bore via the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: A device for vertically holding pipes, which includes a base element in the form of a segment of a cylinder, a door element pivotably connected to the base element by at least one pivot joint, and a fastener assembly mounted opposite the pivot joint. The fastener assembly has a pivotable catch with a locking profile that, when in the locked state, grips a locking pin from behind. A safety pin and a safety plate are located in the area of the pivotable catch, and, depending on its position, the safety plate releases or closes at least one opening for the safety pin.

Abstract: A bottle-carrying apparatus includes a curvilinear anchor band which has spaced opposed ends facing each other. The anchor band includes a fastener which is threadably mated to the opposed ends such that the anchor band is adjustably adapted about the top collar of the existing beverage bottle. The apparatus provides for a mechanism for rotating opposed ends of the cord along mutually exclusive first and second curvilinear travel paths. The apparatus further includes a continuous and unitary flexible cord which is juxtaposed adjacent to the existing beverage bottle and the anchor band respectively. The opposed ends of the cord are directly connected to a plurality of clasps that are. Such clasps are removably interfitted into brackets and arranged in such a manner that the clasps and the brackets rotate in sync along the first and second curvilinear paths respectively.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for lifting manufacturing rings is provided. The lifting apparatus includes an attachment part having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of elongated legs extending from the attachment part. Each of the elongated legs has a slit disposed therein. A plurality of support rods are movably disposed in the slits. The support rods are pivotable between a lowered position in which each support rod extends from the associated slit and a raised position in which each support rod is disposed within the associated slit. The lifting apparatus further includes an actuating part operably associated with the support rods and for moving the support rods between the raised position and the lowered position.

Abstract: An oilfield elevator including a locking mechanism operable by axial movement of the elevator's first body segment relative to its second body segment to control pivotal rotation about a hinge between the body segments; and an actuation lever positioned between the first body segment and the second body segment, the actuation lever including a protrusion thereon and being moveable to drive the protrusion against the first body segment to drive the first body segment axially relative to the second body segment.

Abstract: Clamp (1) for holding a container (2) by a neck (3) in a container handling machine, said clamp (1) comprising a pair of resilient arms (5) and a pair of neck grippers (7) provided at respective ends (6) of the arms (5), said arms (5) and said neck grippers (7) being configured to allow the container neck (3) to be laterally engaged between the neck grippers (7), each neck gripper (7) being pivotally mounted on the corresponding arm (5) about a rotation axis (8), and having at least two gripping jaws (9a, 9b) of different dimensions, configured to cooperate with container necks (3a, 3b) of different sizes.

Abstract: A gripper device for gripping the neck of a hollow body from the outside, which gripper device includes an annular body supporting at least two gripper parts each having its own bearing face, said gripper parts being movable substantially radially and constrained by an elastic device in such a way that the gripper parts are able to occupy a first radial position in which they bear against a buffer of the annular body with their bearing face projecting into the annular body, and a second radial position in which they are pushed back with their bearing face bearing against the exterior wall of the neck of a hollow body engaged in the annular body. The bearing faces of the gripper parts are bowed in the overall shape of an arc of a cylinder.

Abstract: Withdrawing a hollow stem auger string from a well includes a retractor having C-shaped inter-coil insertions and a hoist having tong-arms, one which terminates in an inwardly disposed pin. The retractor connects to a drilling rig's hydraulic cylinder vertical drive system, the hoist to a winch system thereof. The retractor engages the string by the C-shaped inter-coil insertion disposed between one coil of the helical flight of the topmost section of the string. The hoist engaged the top collar of the topmost section by the at least one pin inserting into a pin hole thereof. The string is lifted about the height of one section by the retractor, which is promptly disengaged. The topmost section is detached, and carried by the hoist to elsewhere to be dropped. The method repeats by re-engaging the retractor and hoist and then returning to the activity of lifting.

Abstract: A latching apparatus for lifting and lowering loads. The apparatus comprises a prong and a receiving receptacle configured to receive the prong. The receiving receptacle comprises a body having a central passage, a plurality of jaws arranged about the central passage, and a spring for biasing the jaws to extend into the central passage. The latching apparatus may further comprise an activation disc for disengaging the jaws from the prong. The jaws have a pin extending therefrom; and wherein the activation disc contains a plurality of cam surfaces that engage the pin of the jaws. A method of latching onto a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drill pipe elevator includes first and second separable pieces. Each piece comprises a drill pipe-receiving groove, and a pair of diametrically opposed projections with each projection forming only part of a pair of diametrically opposed lifting posts. The first and second separable pieces when positioned together define the pair of diametrically opposed lifting posts from the pair of diametrically opposed projections and define a drill pipe-receiving passageway through the drill pipe elevator that is oriented transversely between the lifting posts.

Abstract: A clamp grip for a container transport system including rare earth permanent magnets encapsulated in non-magnetic material such as high quality steel. Flexible positioning of the magnets allow for adapting to varied design specifications. A rotatable control cam or cams may be used to adjust grip arms between a grip and a release position. Air gap distances between permanent magnets may be designed to maximize repelling force to assist in the functioning of clamp grip mechanism.

Abstract: An elevator having a safety lock is provided to prevent the inadvertent release of a tubular. In one embodiment, the elevator includes a body for supporting the tubular and a locking apparatus activatable by an upset portion of the tubular, the safety locking apparatus adapted to prevent the tubular handling apparatus from releasing the tubular when activated. In another embodiment, the elevator is provided with a secondary override locking device for the safety lock so that jarring operations may be performed using the elevator.

Abstract: A device for carrying a preform in a temperature condition oven, including a gripping device provided with gripping claws, which enclose an outer surface of the neck of the preform. An inner core is provided that penetrates axially inside the neck over a distance substantially equal to the axial length of the neck, such that it presents a lower transverse surface. When the preform is in place on the gripping device, it is substantially axially placed at the boundary between the neck and the body of the preform.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting articles. The lifting apparatus may lack mechanization, may be used in conjunction with hoist means, and may operate on, among other things, the principles of leverage, gravity, and friction. The apparatus may include a frame disposable on an article to be lifted and at least two fulcrums distributed generally symmetrically about the frame. At least two lifting arms may be pivotally mounted to a corresponding fulcrum. A central exertion member includes a top surface having one sloped portion for each lifting arm. Upon application of upward force to the exertion member, the exertion member applies force to the upper ends of the lifting arms. The lifting arms then rotate around the corresponding fulcrum to contact the article for lifting.

Abstract: The object is to provide a filter element extracting jig which facilitates the extracting operation of a filter element from a housing of a filter device and prevents its contamination. A filter element extracting jig is formed from an elastic plate and comprising a supporting portion, a spring portion extending at an acute angle with the supporting portion, a hook portion extending toward the supporting portion, and an operating portion extending from the hook portion at substantially right angles, which are constructed by bending at bent portions substantially parallel to each other in that order.

Abstract: An elevator for assembling a plurality of a large diameter pipe joints into a pipe string with a drilling rig is disclosed. The first one of a number of large diameter pipe joints is adapted to threadingly engage another large diameter pipe joint. The elevator is detachably securable to the upper end of the first joint, and is adapted to both lift and position the first joint while it is stabbed and tightened onto the string. The elevator is further adapted to co-operatively engage the rotary table of the drilling rig to rotatably tighten the second joint to the first joint as the second joint is added to the string.

Abstract: A U-shaped elevator having no doors is provided with first and second latching mechanisms which when contacted by the tubular to be entrapped within the elevator move from a closed position to an open position and which then return to a closed position as soon as the tubular is entrapped within the elevator. The latching mechanisms have a safety catch which prevents the tubular from being inadvertently removed from the elevator. The safety latch mechanism can only be activated by a handle which is manipulated by hand by personnel working on the derrick utilizing the elevator. The elevator has an open throat to receive tubulars that have couplers or other features with a lower flange surface for lifting a pipe string. The throat access has blocking members that are movable to allow tubulars to move out of the gap unless the blocking members are locked to prevent such movement. The blocking members have latches biased toward a position to immobilize the members.

Abstract: A tank lifting attachment (10) is disclosed for allowing a tank, such as a wine press tank (12) to be lifted by a conventional lifting device (100) such as a crane or block and tackle. A center section (16) has a pair of inside grip plates (26) to abut the inner walls of the wine press tank (12). A first outside grip plate (28) and a second outside grip plate (42) are slidably affixed to the center section (16) such that the weight of the wine press tank (12) will cause a pair of under lip projections (38) affixed thereto to be secured under a portion of a lip (14) on the wine press tank (12). In an embodiment of the invention the tank lifting attachment (10) is secured to the lifting device (100) by a plurality of lifting straps (94).

Abstract: A two sided wafer handling end-effector provides for the efficient loading and unloading of wafers into and out of a wafer processing apparatus. Each side of the end-effector includes spaced apart rotatable catch mechanisms between which a wafer is firmly grasped. When the end-effector is positioned beneath the wafer processing apparatus the catch mechanisms are rotated to an open position and a lifting surface on the catch mechanisms lifts the wafer into the wafer processing apparatus. When the catch mechanisms are in the open position the wafer is centered on the end-effector by rotatable rocker assemblies that contact the edge of the wafer. As the end-effector is raised into contact with the processing apparatus, the rocker assemblies rotate to a lowered position in the end-effector while arcuate surfaces on the assemblies maintain contact with the wafer edge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lifting, rotating, and positioning heavy objects using a toggle device attached to a prime mover. The toggle is vertical at rest and can be inserted into the opening in the side of a pipe. The toggle is rendered horizontal inside the pipe by the activation of a solenoid and the pipe can then be lifted by the prime mover. The pipe can be rotated to any desired fixed position by a hydraulic cylinder moving a piston through a piston sleeve having spiral grooves. The entire lifting and positioning of a heavy object with the toggle device can be completed by a single user operating from within the prime mover.

Abstract: A multifunction drum lifter includes a saddle and a plurality of lift arms pivotally connected to the saddle. Each arm includes a working end having at least one lift finger for engaging the chime of a drum to lift the drum. Preferably the lift arms are three in number and each includes a second lift finger for lifting different sized drums. Each lift arm also includes a plug wrench head and an open end wrench head at its working end so that the lift arms can be used as drum wrenches when removed from the saddle. Preferably each arm has a different plug wrench head and open end wrench head from the other lift arms providing an assortment of drum working tools for the user.

Abstract: A two sided wafer handling end-effector provides for the efficient loading and unloading of wafers into and out of a wafer processing apparatus. Each side of the end-effector includes spaced apart rotatable catch mechanisms between which a wafer is firmly grasped. When the end-effector is positioned beneath the wafer processing apparatus, the catch mechanisms are rotated to an open position and a lifting surface on the catch mechanisms lifts the wafer into the wafer processing apparatus. When the catch mechanisms are in the open position, the wafer is centered on the end-effector by rotatable rocker assemblies that contact the edge of the wafer. As the end-effector is raised into contact with the processing apparatus, the rocker assemblies rotate to a lowered position in the end-effector while arcuate surfaces on the assemblies maintain contact with the wafer edge.

Abstract: A quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace which lifts a tank from an overhang of it's top lid or cover. The brace includes a crossbar, preferably adjustable, with pivotal end clamps at opposite ends of the crossbar. A pair of clamp pivoting assemblies are provided. Each clamp pivoting assembly pivots a respective one of the pivotal end clamps between an open position and a closed position and biases the pivotal end clamp to an open position for quick connection and disconnection. Pivoting is accomplished using an actuating rod parallel to the crossbar and coupled to the pair of pivoting assemblies. Articulation of the actuating rod effectuates, in unison, pivoting of each pair of pivot arms via the pivoting assemblies to a closed position. The pivoting assemblies generally utilize a push to close and pull to open motions.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for manipulating manhole castings and the like having at least one pinch clamp with an inner leg and an outer leg opposing one another wherein the inner leg and the outer leg are engageable with the manhole casting. A foot of the pinch clamp is connected to at least one of the inner leg and the outer leg wherein the foot is wider than the width of the inner leg and the outer leg and is engageable with the manhole casting. A flexible support is pivotally connected to the pinch clamp and is connectable to a lifting device wherein the foot and the legs of the pinch clamp are engageable with the manhole casting when the flexible support is pulled taut. Preferably, the inner and outer legs are separate structures pivotally connected thereto. Alternatively, the inner and outer leg may be integrally fabricated from a one-piece structure. The flexible supports are connected to a connector which is connectable to a lifting device.

Abstract: A cassette stocker includes a plurality of cassette storage shelves positioned adjacent a cleanroom wall and vertically disposed relative to a plurality of cassette docking stations, and a cassette mover to carry a cassette between the shelves and the docking stations. An interstation transfer apparatus includes a support beam and a transfer arm adapted to carry a cassette between processing stations.

Abstract: A sling capable to easily raise a hanging load such as a drum with a simplified structure. In a chain sling (or a wire sling) in which a master link and hooks are connected with each other via link chains (or wire ropes), lower portions of the hooks are formed to be bent at an angle smaller than 90° and also a bottom portion of the master link is flattened. With this structure, even when the drum has no ring-like protrusion at which an upper lid is mounted, if holes are formed around the side of the drum, the front ends of the hooks can be reliably hooked in the holes to raise the drum. Also, when a lifting portion of a forklift is brought into contact with the flattened bottom portion of the master link, the drum can be easily slung by the forklift as well.

Abstract: A wafer pod handling device engages a pod for transport through a flange on top of the pod by receiving the flange into a receptacle and rotating a circular disk having a square aperture such that edges on the disk are positioned beneath an overhang on the flange. As the circular disk is lifted, the edges contact the overhang of the flange and lift the pod. The circular disk is mounted in a housing having a lip adapted to slideably engage the circumference of the circular disk. An actuator on top of the housing rotates the disk into engagement with the flange. As the housing is lifted, the circumference of the circular disk rests on the lip to frictionally secure and support the circular disk despite power failures or accidental rotation that could disengage the pod.

Abstract: A transport anchor for embedding in prefabricated reinforced concrete parts has an anchor shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The first shaft portion can be anchored in the concrete and has a support with at least one spacer projection for maintaining a spacing to a formwork wall. The second shaft portion projects from the concrete and has an engagement head. A prism-shaped formed member has two shell parts and surrounds the engagement head. A removable recess member encloses the engagement head during casting of the concrete. The removable recess member has a hub portion to be seated on the prism-shaped formed member.

Abstract: A transfer device for moving a poison rod assembly between fuel cells in a nuclear fuel storage facility coupleable to an overhead crane. The poison rod assembly has a plurality of poison rods disposed in rows. The device includes an elongated outer member, an inner member, and a gripper assembly supported by the inner member. The inner member is slidably disposed within the elongated outer member. The overhead crane is coupled to the inner member for sliding said inner member between an upper position and a lower position. An interlock assembly selectively couples the inner member and elongated outer member. Thus, moving the crane, which is coupled to the inner member either moves the inner member relative to the elongated outer member when the interlock is not engaged, or, moves both the inner member and the elongated outer member when the interlock is engaged.

Abstract: A conventional center-latch elevator with smooth slip segments of the present invention is employed to grip and suspend a pipe without damaging the pipe surface. The slip segments are made of aluminum or another material that is softer than the material of the pipe. The elimination of rough surfaces on the slip segments prevents damage to the external pipe surface. A threaded lift connector is secured to the box end of the pipe to be lifted. The lift connector forces spring-loaded slip segments down into the conical bowl of the elevator to move the segments radially inwardly into gripping engagement with the pipe. The axial forces exerted by the elevator against the bottom of the lift connector are transmitted through the connector to the threads engaged in the pipe. The arrangement prevents the forces of the elevator from being transmitted to the base of the coupling connected to the pipe to prevent coupling damage or disengagement of the coupling from the threaded pipe end.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting an open top container, such as a drum, comprises a plurality of clamps each having shaped outer and inner jaws for frictionally gripping therebetween a corresponding sidewall portion of the container. A lifting mechanism closes the clamps and then lifts the container with the container suspended from the clamps. The apparatus is constructed so that the weight of the container increases the clamping pressure as the container is lifted. Other loads having an upright tubular sidewall can also be lifted. In one embodiment, the lifting mechanism employs wedges for closing the clamps, and in another embodiment the lifting mechanism employs linkages for closing the clamps.

Abstract: A clamping holder provides both an apparatus and method enabling quick, precise automatic re-positioning of positional devices, particularly useful in edging and milling applications. A clamping holder is capable of automatically approaching, lifting up to surround, engaging and picking up a positioning device, translating to a proper and precise placement location, lowering it into place, disengaging the clamping holder, lowering to provide exit clearance around the positioning device and moving away to either position the next positioning device or to move on to the next task. In addition to this automatic mode, the spindle may also be manually loaded by a worker standing well outside the work area of the main processing machine. A spindle shaped clamping holder has a radial side opening to accept a bearing member and piston support of a locational device.

Abstract: A device for supporting tamping bench arms and for engagement with a horizontal rib provided on the arm is formed from a pair of parallel rectangular spaced apart side walls (1) interconnected by a back wall (2) and a pair of horizontal plates (4) attached to the upper and lower edges of the back wall (2) and extending from the central surface portion of the back wall approximately half the length of the side walls (1). While the device is suspended from above, the rectangular plates are slid into engagement with the horizontal rib provided on the tamping bench arms, enabling an operator to effortlessly move and manipulate the tamping bench arms.

Abstract: A fire hydrant lifting harness includes a lifting triangle, a pair of connecting cables, and a pair of rigid paddles. The lifting triangle includes two bracing members, one each at two corners, forming eyelets therein. For each eyelet, a cable passes through it and the cable is wound around itself. The other end of each cable is attached to a respective lifting paddle in a similar manner. The paddle is made from a rigid material and includes a bend, between the two ends, so that the paddle does not contact the head of the fire hydrant. The end of the paddle opposite from where the cable connects includes an aperture designed to accommodate one of the ports from the fire hydrant. For lifting, the port cap is removed, the paddle is placed around the port and against the hydrant, and the port cap replaced. A lifting force then raises the fire hydrant lifting device which in turn raises the fire hydrant.

Abstract: A lifting ring assembly is designed for lifting barrels that have at least a partial circumferential radial extension above an outer diameter. The lifting ring comprises a split ring and a cross brace. The split ring comprises two half ring segments having mutually attachable ends. The inner diameter of the split ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the partial circumferential radial extension. The cross brace comprises first and second rigid arms having top ends and bottom ends. The top ends are mutually pivotally connected by a pivoting mechanism. The bottom ends are fixedly connected to a midpoint of the half ring segments, respectively, such that the cross brace is perpendicularly oriented to the split ring and the rigid arms pivot in a vertical plane. The lifting ring may be modified to lift with a fork lift truck with a cable loop that extends from the pivoting mechanism.

Abstract: A fire hydrant lifting harness includes a lifting triangle, a pair of connecting cables, and a pair of rigid paddles. The lifting triangle includes two bracing members, one each at two corners, forming eyelets therein. For each eyelet, a cable passes through it and the cable is wound around itself. The other end of each cable is attached to a respective lifting paddle in a similar manner. The paddle is made from a rigid material and includes a bend, between the two ends, so that the paddle does not contact the head of the fire hydrant. The end of the paddle opposite from where the cable connects includes an aperture designed to accommodate one of the ports from the fire hydrant. For lifting, the port cap is removed, the paddle is placed around the port and against the hydrant, and the port cap replaced. A lifting force then raises the fire hydrant lifting device which in turn raises the fire hydrant.

Abstract: A tool for retrieving bathtub drain internal stoppers or plungers, generally known as "buckets", that slide along a tube to open and close the drain. The tool has a handle on one end, a tool head on the other end for engaging a crossbar on the drain bucket and a series of links in between, all connected by universal joints. The head has a hook-like assembly that is slid into a pipe until the head engages the bucket crossbar. The handle is used to alternately rotate the assembly clockwise and counter clockwise to loosen the bucket, then the hook connects to the crossbar to pull the bucket from the pipe.

Abstract: A device for emptying trash barrels into a waste collection truck is provided on the lift-and-tip mechanism of the waste collection truck with a grab unit (12) for picking up the trash barrels, several upward pointing claws (14), with recesses (15) between them, provided on the grab unit (12) for insertion under a grip ledge designed essentially as an inverted U-channel protruding outwards from the side wall of the respective trash barrel at or near its upper rim, and a lower stay serving to brace the trash barrel suspended on the grab unit (12).

Abstract: An adjustable lifting device for lifting a manhole casting. The device has two endpieces each having a lifting flange for engaging and lifting the manhole casting. One endpiece is extended into engagement with the casting by one or more springloaded telescoping extension arms. Once positioned, the device is lockable to prevent retraction of the extension arm(s). A slidable and lockable collar is provided for effectuating balancing of the device and casting. Each endpiece has a safety stop to prevent the device from dropping into the casting once the lifting flanges are positioned beneath the inner ledge of the casting.

Abstract: Drum lifting attachments for allowing forklift trucks to be able to raise and lower 55 gallon storage drums. A first embodiment includes a drum lifting attachment having two pairs of arcuate lifting arms positioned side-by-side to allow for lifting two 55 gallon plastic drums simultaneously. This embodiment includes a pair of arcuate arms for each drum. A rotatable rectangular flap can fold-down over the portion of the side-by-side connection between the two pairs of arcuate arms inorder to allow for the lifting of a different diameter sized drum. Optionally, the fold-down flap can have arcuate shaped sides. Optionally, plural flaps of increasing sizes can be folded down to adjust for the different diameter drums. A second embodiment includes a forklifting attachment that includes four sets of arcuate arms for allowing four 55 gallon drums to be able to be lifted simultaneously. The drums to be lifted in include standard 55 gallon metal drums, 55 gallon conical drums and drum sizes of varying diameters.

Abstract: A tool for releasably holding an object includes a receptacle having an outer sleeve and a rotatable inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is coaxially positioned within the outer sleeve and includes a locking member. An insert which is adapted to be operably associated with the receptacle includes a cam. The cam includes a guide and a slot so that when the cam is inserted into the inner sleeve, the guide aligns the locking member with the slot allowing the locking member to engage the slog thereby holding the receptacle and the insert together.

Abstract: The universal carrier of the present invention may be used to move and weigh heavy objects, such as drums or coils of metal or wire. This can be done by changing a removable member attached to the lift member of the universal carrier or by replacing both the removable and lift members with a single horizontally adjustable member. The removable members have different attachments which allow different types of objects to be moved. The universal carrier may include an optional force measuring device which allows the object to be weighed at the time it is moved.

Abstract: A tool for lifting a tie rod off of the refueling floor and lowering the tie rod into the downcomer annulus of a boiling water reactor during a shroud repair operation. The tie rod lifting tool can be attached to the end of a strongback suspended from a hoisting cable or to the end of the cable itself. One embodiment of the tie rod lifting tool has redundant locking pins which interlock with corresponding holes formed in the end of the tie rod. The locking pins are moved out of locking engagement in response to actuation of respective pneumatic cylinders. The locking pins are latched so that the tie rod cannot be disengaged from the lifting tool unless the latches are first manually released by an operator using a handling pole.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for lifting and moving a barrel. The apparatus includes a frame which can be connected to a fork lift, at least one support member pivotably connected to the frame for engaging and supporting the barrel, a power source for selectively moving the support member(s) from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position and vice versa, and an apparatus for removably attaching to the bead of the barrel.

Abstract: A bracket for attaching at least one vibrator to an ice basket of a pressurized water reactor includes a horizontally extending first armature portion and a horizontally extending second armature portion pivotably attached to the second armature portion. The first and second armature portions have clamps extending downwardly from each of their ends, and each of the clamps includes an arcuate groove extending vertically upwardly from its bottom surface to engage the rim of the ice basket. An attachment portion extends vertically upwardly from and is formed unitarily with the first armature portion, the vibrators being attached to the sides of the attachment portion. The clamps extending from the second armature portion are pivotably connected to and are also laterally adjustable with respect to the first and second ends of the second armature portion.