Abstract: A pulling system for pulling or moving a large object, such as pulling components of an offshore oil/gas production platform onto an adjacent barge that is subsequently transported to the installation site. This pulling system incorporates a single elongated rod that is connected between the object to be moved and a puller unit that pulls the object along a track. During operation, the puller unit causes a gripping unit to grip the rod so that the puller unit can move the object. Afterwards, the gripping unit releases its engagement of the rod, repositions itself with respect to the rod, and regrips the rod so that movement of the object may again be initiated by the puller unit.

Abstract: A method of making a tapered wedge for use in gripping a multi-ply rope or cable, especially concrete-reinforcing tendons, wherein the tapered wedge is circumferentially divided into a plurality of parts surrounding an axial aperture for the rope or cable. Each of these parts is deformed, for at least a part of its axial length, by pressing only its circumferential side edges inwardly toward the axis of the aperture so as to displace its interior surface adjacent these edges inwardly as well as to displace exterior surface regions inwardly.