Abstract: A shock absorbing device is provided for use on a hoist of the type generally used for safety of personnel entering a manhole or the like which has a base for mounting on a support surface at the hole and a jib portion. A winch is mounted at one position on the hoist for paying out and pulling in a first cable which passes over the jib portion to a pulley at the jib end. A fall restraint device with a second cable is mounted at a different location on the host with the second cable extending upwardly from the hoist to a second pulley at the jib end. The shock absorbing device for the pulleys includes a common mounting member pivotally attached to the mounting element at the jib end for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal axis with a shock absorbing brake arranged to resist said pivotal movement up to a predetermined load limit such that a downward shock force from the load on at least one of the first and second pulleys causes the common member to pivot downwardly in a shock absorbing action.

Abstract: A portable hoist primarily for mounting on the ground at a manhole or similar location for lifting a load such as a person entering the manhole includes a base with a generally Y-shape defining a rear leg and two diverging front legs for mounting on the ground with the front legs either side of the hole. A jib portion is mounted on a vertical post portion of the base and extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a cable guide at an upper end overlying the hole. The jib portion is formed by a tubular body extending substantially from the bottom end at the base to the upper end which is smoothly curved with a constant radius of curvature. The body is formed in two parts with one siding inside the other and of the same curvature. Each part has a straight end portion where it attaches to the base and the cable guide respectively. A winch mounting for a winch for the cable is attached to the lower portion at its upper end. The front legs are also formed similarly as two inter-fitting curved parts.

Abstract: A method of operating a winch having a winch drum mounted in a housing to reel in and pay out the cable over a plurality of repeated cycles of use during a period of use of the winch. A digital counter is mounted on the housing so as to be responsive to each rotation of the drum in both directions and arranged to generate a total count during the period of use which is indicative of the number cycles so that the winch can be taken out of operation for service when the number of rotations reaches a predetermined maximum. The digital counter includes a follower contacting a raised portion on an edge of the drum so as to be moved by the raised portion for actuating each count of the digital counter.

Abstract: A winch drum having a cable wrapped around a cylindrical surface of the drum and clamped to one end plate of the drum is modified by the addition of a member which inhibits reverse winding of the cable onto the drum. The member is attached to the clamped end of the cable and includes a tubular portion which is arcuate so as to follow the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the drum with a part cylindrical plate portion which projects outwardly to one side of the cable so as to lie flat against the cylindrical surface of the drum. When the cable is paid out to the maximum position, the member leaves the drum and impacts the frame of the winch to prevent or inhibit continued rotation of the drum in the payout direction which would otherwise cause winding of the cable in the reverse direction. The device for preventing reverse winding is particularly useful in winches which include a safety brake to restrict and control payout of the cable.