Abstract: A hand winch including a winding roll, a flexible elongated member, a shaft connected to the winding roll, a friction brake including a brake disk and a gear element engaging the winding roll and mounted on the shaft. The gear element has a release position and a brake position in which the gear element enters into frictional contact with the brake disk, generating a braking torque resisting winding off the flexible elongated member. Friction means is provided between the shaft and the gear element for generating a frictional resistance therebetween such that, if a driving force acting on the gear element does not overcome the frictional resistance established by the friction means, the gear element drives the shaft through friction means. However, if the driving force between the shaft and the gear element overcomes the frictional resistance, relative movement between the gear element and the shaft occurs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hoisting limit switch for limiting the maximum allowed hoisting height of a hoisting cable, wherein the hoisting limit switch includes a read-write device for reading and writing data, and a means from which the operating condition of the hoisting limit switch can be read out by the read-write device.

Abstract: A lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill is described herein. The lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill to and from its mounted position at a rotatable cone of the windmill comprises a first yoke mountable at the inside of the blade and a second yoke mountable in the cone of the windmill, wherein the first yoke and the second yoke are arranged to cooperate.

Abstract: Hydraulic powered assemblies 10 and 110 are disclosed. The assembly 10 includes a support unit 12, a hydraulic motor 14, and a driven member 16 that is integral with the hydraulic motor 14. The hydraulic motor 14 includes a power group 32 that includes six gerotor power units 34a-34f. Each gerotor power unit 34a-34f includes an inner rotor 40 that is fixed to a stationary through-shaft 24 and an outer rotor 42 that is mounted for hypocycloidal movement relative to the inner rotor 40. The driven member 16 includes segments 51 that support the outer rotors 40 within the segments 51. The segments 51 carry a winch cable receiving member 60 when the assembly 10 is used as a winch. The hydraulic powered assembly 110 is an alternative embodiment that includes two power groups 131 and 132. The power groups 131 and 133 may be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Abstract: A method of assembling a hook block for a crane includes: providing a sheave housing containing a plurality of sheaves with a pivotal connection link secured to the top of the sheave housing, the sheave housing including extended portions each with a hole therethrough and a housing frame positioned below the plurality of sheaves, the housing frame having a locking surface; placing a cross beam on its side, the cross beam having stabilizing feet resting on the ground; positioning the extended portions of the sheave housing within a plurality of brackets of the cross beam, each bracket with a hole therethrough; aligning the holes of the extended portions of the sheave housing with the holes of the brackets; inserting a shaft through the aligned holes; securing a cap to an end of the shaft to resist lateral movement relative to the holes; and inserting a locking bar between the locking surface of the housing frame and a surface of a bracket of the cross beam, to resist relative movement between the sheave housin

Abstract: A system for controlling slack in a winch rope associated with a vehicle can include a winch, a plow, and a support member pivotably coupled to the plow and carrying a pulley that receives the rope for raising and lowering the plow. A limit switch can be operatively associated with the winch and configured to selectively enable and disable lowering of the plow by the winch. A first member can be carried by the support member and operatively associated with the switch. A biasing member can bias the support member to a first position when a load on the winch rope is below a predetermined threshold. The first member can be in at least substantial alignment with the switch when in the first position. The switch can change an activation state upon the first member being in the first position to automatically disable lowering of the plow by the winch.

Abstract: Apparatus for a two speed winch assembly are described herein. The winch assembly may be secured to a towing trailer and is arranged to assist in loading and unloading cargo from the trailer. The winch assembly may include mechanisms, systems, and features to make the winch assembly easy to assemble and use, increase the service life of the winch assembly, and improve the consistency of the performance of the winch assembly.

Abstract: A single cable descent control device comprises a pair of rotors with corresponding frames of conductive material mounted on a common central axle on either side of a drive pulley. The pulley is adapted to sit above a single descent cable. An enclosure is suspended from the device. Disposed along at least one surface of each of the rotors or of the corresponding frames or both, is a series of magnets such that rotation of the rotors relative to the frames induces eddy currents that oppose the magnetic field and create a rotational braking force providing precise and controllable descent of the enclosure with little or no mechanical wear or risk of overheating. In this configuration, constraints on the size of the enclosure are dispensed with, as are corresponding limitations on the positioning and angle of descent of the cable. Further, significant labor and material savings in manufacturing the enclosure may be obtained from the resulting simplicity of design.

Abstract: A compact windlass and a method of operating the windlass are disclosed for exerting a force upon a load along a selected direction of force. A drum is extended along a longitudinal axis of rotation and a line is engaged with a surface on the drum. The line is aligned with a line spooling direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation for being spooled onto the drum by a line spooling mechanism located in close proximity with the surface of the drum and engaging the line at a line engagement location juxtaposed with the drum, in response to rotation of the drum in a spooling direction of rotation, and off of the drum in response to rotation of the drum in an unspooling direction of rotation.

Abstract: A shipboard winch having guide vanes includes a first drum and a second drum that are mounted on a frame so that the drums contra-rotate when the winch is activated. A plurality of guide vanes is positioned between the first drum and the second drum. Each guide vane is formed with a base and a distal lip that extends outwardly from the guide vane when the guide vane is oriented horizontally. The guide vanes are further formed with a decreasing taper from a maximum width at the base to a minimum width at the distal lip. For deployment/recovery, the cable is threaded around the first drum, through the guide vanes and around the second drum in a figure eight configuration. A feedback circuit is used to control the rotational torque of the drums to maintain a constant tension on a cable as it is deployed or retrieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a crane, preferably a crawler or truck crane, comprising a crane monitoring means for monitoring the operating condition of the crane, including a calculation unit and a control and display unit. In accordance with the present disclosure, there is additionally provided an operations planner with a separate monitor output, which includes a further calculation unit and which operates on the one hand as a device for planning the operation of the crane and on the other hand as a redundant crane monitoring unit in addition to the crane monitoring means.

Abstract: A winch (1) for pulling a cable (C) for maneuvering a load is composed of two motorized drums (3) each including an active cylindrical peripheral surface (5) equipped with several annular grooves (6), the cable intended to be wound around the two drums (3) according to a helical arrangement. The motorized drums are each formed from at least three pulleys (11), that can each be rotated around a common central axis (10), cooperating with their own dedicated motor element (4) and including a cylindrical peripheral surface equipped with at least one of the grooves: two pulleys known as outer pulleys (11a, 11d), positioned between which is at least one pulley known as a central pulley (11b, 11c). The central pulleys include at least one axial cylindrical extension, the cylindrical peripheral surface of which constitutes a rotation bearing for the central cylindrical surface of at least one of the other pulleys.

Abstract: There is provided a return pipe type ball screw capable of accurately positioning and fixing return pipes on and to a nut member even when a troublesome positioning operation is not carried out, and circulating balls endlessly and smoothly for a long period of time without the possibility that dust enters the interior of the nut member. In such a ball screw, ball passing holes formed so as to extend through the nut member are inclined at an angle equal to a lead angle of a ball rolling groove of a screw shaft, and each of the return pipes is formed by combining together a pair of return pieces adapted to be fitted in the ball passing holes.

Abstract: A first helical gear (40) is supported by a first rotation shaft (4), and a second helical gear (13) is supported by a second rotation shaft (14). A rotation body (6, 7) comprising a third helical gear (7) which meshes with the first helical gear (40), and a fourth helical gear (6) which meshes with the second helical gear (13), is supported by an intermediate shaft (5). The rotation body (6, 7) is further supported by a thrust bearing (10, 11) in a direction along the intermediate shaft (5). The average radius R of the thrust bearing (10, 11) is determined according to the direction of the thrust load acting on the third helical gear (7), the direction of the thrust load acting on the fourth helical gear (6), and an angle &thgr;2 subtended by the application point of these thrust loads.

Abstract: A foldable bicycle pedal crank, comprising a crank, a crank endpiece, a lock, and a pedal. The crank has a connecting yoke, passed through by a first crank hole and second crank holes which aim across an indentation thereof. The crank endpiece has an insertion part that is inserted in the indentation, with a first hole, second holes and a third hole passing through the insertion part. The lock further comprises a lock body, at least one first bolt and second bolts. The first and second bolts have outer ends connected with the lock body. The first bolt further has an inner end and is hollow, enclosing a space that towards the inner end is limited by a step and accommodates a rod. The rod has a far end that passes through the inner end of the first bolt and is fixed. A spring surrounds the rod, leaning against the step. The pedal is connected with the crank endpiece.

Abstract: A system for controlling gear shifting in a transmission of a cycle, includes at least one gear wheel or sprocket on which a transmission element is engaged to perform transmission of motion as a result of movement in a predetermined direction. The gear shifting is carried out by changing the position of engagement of the transmission member with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket. The system further includes at least one sensor for detecting the movement in corresponding direction of movement of the motion transmitting element for generating a signal and a control unit for controlling the change of the position of the element for transmitting motion with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket when the signal indicates that the element for transmitting motion is moving in the given direction.

Abstract: A device for fixing a hub on a shaft, especially for fixing a steering wheel hub on a steering column, using a fastening screw. The screw extends crosswise to the shaft, is guided in the hub and has a cone-shaped section for engaging in a channel or groove is the shaft. When the hub is laid axially on a stop of the shaft, the axis of the screw is situated higher up than the center of the channel or groove of the shaft while the hub rests on the shaft above and below the channel or groove, with a positive fit.

Abstract: The device for controlling a CVT transmission which is connected with a pendulous drive, especially an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle having front-transverse drive, has a hydromotor simultaneously used as sensor and actuator, the output signal of which is a function of the size and of the dynamics of the engine torque, the same as an electrohydraulic control unit which controls the actuating areas of the primary and secondary pulleys of the CVT via electromagnetic actuating elements and hydraulic valves. In addition to pressure-regulating valves, pressure-reducing valves and at least one emergency valve, the device has a coupling of the hydromotor with the second pressure-reducing valve via a line which coupling is used for torque modulated control of the second pressure-reducing valve in an emergency operating mode.

Abstract: An intermittent transmission apparatus according to this invention, broadly, includes a driving element and a driven element. The driving element comprises a first cam having a first cam surface, a second cam having a second cam surface, and an intermediate member displaced between the first and second cams. The driven element comprises a driven element main body having recesses for contacting a plurality of rollers arranged on the intermediate member, bearings erected on the driven element main body to be pushed by the first cam surface, and bearings erected under the driven element main body to be pushed by the second cam surface. During non-drive period of the driven element, the bearings contact a circular arc surface of the second cam, and further the recesses contact the plurality of rollers, to restrict rotation of the driven element.

Abstract: A shifting device of a motor vehicle automatic transmission has a selector lever (3) and a kinematics (4-9) for transmitting the selection movements to an automatic transmission. The selector lever (3) can be moved around a first shift axis (7) in an automatic shift gate AG for selecting automatic gears and around a second shift axis (8) in a sequence shift gate SG1, SG2 for manually upshifting and downshifting gears. A central carrier (6) is pivotable around a selector axis (9). An inner bridge (4) is mounted pivotably on the central carrier (6) and is pivotable around the first shift axis (7) extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis (9). An outer bridge (5) is mounted on the inner bridge (4) in the sequence shift gate pivotably around the second shift axis (8) and is connected to the selector lever (3). The shift selector for selecting the shift axes by a pivoting movement of the selector lever (3) is indirectly or directly fastened to the central carrier (6).