Abstract: A hoist 10 with redundant safety features comprising: a hoist support frame; a lifting drum 14 mounted on the hoist support frame; a load block assembly 28; an equalizer assembly 24 mounted on the hoist support frame; the load block assembly 28 being suspended by a first set of ropefalls 30 and 36 and a second set of ropefalls 32 and 34, each of the ropefalls having one end secured to lifting drum 14 and the other end secured to equalizer assembly 24, each of the sets of ropefalls having sufficient load bearing capacity to carry the load carried by the other set of ropefalls in addition to its own load; each of the ropefalls having first sections extending from lifting drum 14 to load block assembly 28 and second sections extending from load block assembly 28 to equalizer assembly 24, each of the first sections being positioned in a substantially common plane with each other and each of the second sections being positioned in another substantially common plane with each other; equalizer assembly 24 including

Abstract: A car for carrying large vessels, such as a tundish used in continuous casting, wherein the vessel is raised and lowered while supported on the car. The car embodies a raising-and-lowering mechanism which includes only two synchronized fluid-pressure cylinders, contrasted with the usual four cylinders or screw jacks. The cylinders transmit movement to the vessel through rack and pinion means.