Abstract: A lifting pad is suspended from a traversing member mounted on and movable along a generally horizontal beam. The pad is suspended by a single generally vertical coil spring having predetermined tensile load versus extension characteristics. In order to prevent this spring from extending beyond a predetermined length corresponding to a predetermined design load, the apparatus includes a lanyard having a flexible lower portion with a loop at the lower end and a rigid upper portion threaded at its upper end. At loads above the design load a self-locking nut threaded on the upper end of the lanyard abuts a horizontal surface of the traversing member and the loop at the lanyard's lower end engages a horizontal pin mounted on the lifting pad, whereby the portion of the load in excess of the design load is borne by the lanyard and further extension of the spring is prevented.

Abstract: A lifting assembly for use with vacuum pads or the like includes a hollow load beam having a longitudinal slot in its bottom wall, a cross arm, and means suspending the cross arm below the load beam. The suspending means include a traversing member positioned within the load beam and above the longitudinal slot; roller means attached to the traversing member and in rolling contact with the internal surface of the load beam on either side of the slot; a non-rotatable traverse plate exterior to the load beam and below the traversing member; a rotation plate below and in rotationally sliding contact with the traverse plate, the top surface of the cross arm being attached to the bottom surface of the rotation plate; support means, preferably a vertical bolt, supporting the cross arm, rotation plate, and traverse plate below the traversing member and defining a vertical axis of rotation; and releasable means for locking the cross arm in any desired position along the load beam.