Abstract: A lifting sling assembly for hoisting railroad locomotive traction motor/wheel units includes a master link made of steel for example, and a first pair of loop slings secured at one end to the master link. The other end of each of the loop slings is adapted to extend around opposite ends of the axle between the respective wheel and a bearing journal box mounted on the terminal end of the axle. A second pair of loop slings are also secured to at one end to the master link and arranged to be secured at the other end to the motor housing to prevent rotation thereof during the hoisting operation. Each of the loop slings comprises a core of high performance endless parallel fibers enclosed in a tubular abrasion resistant covering. The first pair of slings further include a cut and abrasion resistant sleeve surrounding the tubular covering over the length thereof which is adapted to engage the axle and wheel.

Abstract: A dual mode crane block is disclosed which crane block includes a sheave mounted therein and a cable retaining member mounted thereon. A hoisting cable can be routed around the sheave to double the lifting capacity of a crane. Otherwise, by way of the cable retaining member, the crane block can be suspended on the ends of a hoisting cable to serve as a weight.

Abstract: A draw bar sling for lifting heavy loads such as railroad cars includes a lightweight rigid U-shaped saddle made, for example, of an aluminum alloy, having a central shelf for engaging the coupler tongue of the car and a concave passageway extending under the central section. A loop sling comprising a core bundle of high performance fibers, encased in a tubular abrasion resistant covering, extends in through the passageway to form two closed curve eye sections above the saddle through which a crane hook can be inserted to lift the coupler tongue. A cut proof sleeve surrounds each eye section to prevent the hook from cutting the high performance fibers. The cut proof sleeve comprises multiple layers of high performance fibers, and particularly Spectra, woven at right angles and sewn between sheets of abrasion resistant material.