Abstract: The present invention relates to a rail and trolley apparatus having a trolley movable along a horizontally supported rail assembly for use as a fall protection or other load supporting system. The trolley is provided with pairs of wheels arranged to engage opposing bearing surfaces in each of two channels provided in the rail assembly. Each bearing surface has a central portion and two side portions shaped to fit flush against a curved edge surface of each wheel. This allows the wheels to bear against the surfaces in multiple directions, thereby allowing rolling motion of the trolley along the rail assembly as well as loading of the trolley in any direction not parallel to said motion. As a result, the apparatus can be oriented at any angle about a longitudinal axis thereof during installation, adding to the versatility and adaptability of the apparatus.

Abstract: A manhole collar for mounting in a manhole is defined by a tube with rigid strips shaped to form lobes welded around the upper edge with a bottom edge of each lobe for engaging the ground or other surface around the manhole. A support sleeve is mounted on the tube in a recessed notch at an angular location thereon defining a cylindrical receptacle to hold a post standing up from the manhole for a davit or the like. The sleeve extends partly into the tube and partly outwardly and on the outside is supported by one of the lobes and on the inside by a planar chordal gusset plate. The sleeve includes a cylindrical bushing and a clamping pin for clamping the post in the sleeve engaging through a hole in the sleeve against an outer surface of the cylindrical bushing so that threaded adjustment of the pin causes an end of the pin to press against the cylindrical bushing and divert the bushing inwardly.

Abstract: A mobile mount for attachment of a fall arrest system is provided for example for aircraft and includes a base carried on ground wheels and a support which is adjustable in height upstanding from the base and an arm cantilevered over the base. At least one receptacle is mounted on the arm of the support at a position located over the base for attachment to a personal fall arrest system including a harness for one or more persons, with the receptacle, base and support being designed and arranged to receive a loading from the personal fall arrest system sufficient to accommodate a fall of the person from the elevated structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in fall restraint anchoring of workers on an elevated location includes an upstanding post with at least one attachment loop at an upper end. The post is formed by plurality of coaxial cylindrical tubes each mounted as a sliding fit inside the next with each insert tube having a longitudinal groove co-operating with a projecting set screw on the outer tube so as to prevent relative rotation and to locate the limits of movement for aligning holes in the tubes for a locking pin. A jib portion includes a collar located on the smallest tube with a lower edge sitting on the upper edge of the next tube and extends upwardly and outwardly to a tether which extends to the attachment loop.

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 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 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 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: The present invention provides an apparatus for mounting an appliance at an opening in a wall, particularly for use with openings in the exterior walls of storage tanks and the like. The apparatus allows men and materials to be safely raised and lowered within the opening, can be moved away from the opening without completely removing the apparatus from the tank, and can be used to mount a variety or different appliances for use through the opening. The apparatus comprises grasping clamps for securing the apparatus to the opening of the wall, an appliance mounting member for connecting an appliance to the grasping clamps, and an appliance for maneuvering through the opening and performing a predetermined task within the tank.