Abstract: An overhead line system includes a plurality of support posts, an overhead line supported by the support posts, a lifting device with which the overhead line is liftable, a suspension device that is connected to the overhead line and is movable in the air as the lifting device winds the overhead line, and a control device. The control device controls the lifting device so as to reduce tension when a predetermined condition relating to a tension abnormality of the overhead line is satisfied.

Abstract: A cableway transport system for moving tubulars between a supply of tubulars and a rig mast implements a gondola suspended and movable along load cables. The gondola is fit with grippers for carrying tubulars between the rack and mast. The gondola has a first landing coupler which is received and releasably couples to a second landing coupler on the mast for forming a landing connection. The landing connection enables rotation of the gondola to align the carried tubular with the wellhead. The grippers can be individually actuable to allow finer alignment of the tubular above the wellhead.

Abstract: A fail-safe log skidding carriage for skyline logging operations utilizes parallel clamp assemblies for engagement of the skyline or dragline in a repeating alternating sequence. The outer ends of a pivoted crank are operably connected to the movable shoes of the two clamp assemblies to move them between operative and released clamping conditions. The crank is moved over-center with respect to a reference line perpendicular to the lines of contact between the crank and the clamp assemblies and intersecting the pivot axis of the crank, thereby preventing accidental mechanical release of a locked crank assembly should hydraulic failure occur during use of the carriage. The hydraulic system is remotely controlled through a radio receiver that sequences the hydraulic cylinder from one extreme position to the other. An overriding electrical control is provided to assure clamping of the dragline when a log or logs are lifted to the carriage.

Abstract: The assembly (10) is a self-propelled conveyor system including a vehicle (12) having wheels (18) and a motor (16) for moving the vehicle (12) along a track (20). The vehicle (12) includes a speed sensor (24) for sensing actual speed of the vehicle (12) and a location sensor (26) for sensing the absolute position of the vehicle (12) along the track (20). A control (22) receives the actual speed and absolute location signals and drives the vehicle (12) at a speed associated with the absolute position, this value being obtained from a memory (32). The control (22) drives the motor (16) at the selected speed with a feedback signal of actual speed wherein the control (22) may adjust the drive signal when actual speed differs from selected speed.

Abstract: There is a radio control aerial automatic carrying system for carrying an object such as cut woods by a carrying apparatus suspended to a cableway. This system comprises: an aerial main cableway suspended in a desired felling region; drive wheels suspended to the aerial main cableway; outer casings coupled to the drive wheels; a power source disposed in the outer casings; hoisting apparatuses which are driven by the power source and hoist the cables to hang up and down the object to be carried; a receiver, provided for the outer casings, for receiving the radio waves transmitted from a transmitter and for generating control commands to drive the power source and hoisting apparatuses in response to the radio waves received; a rotary shaft which is attached to the outer casings and rotated by the power source; sub cableways suspended in parallel with the aerial main cableway; and two drive wheels, attached to the rotary shaft, for moving the carrying apparatus by operating the sub cableways.

Abstract: There is a radio control aerial automatic carrying system for carrying an object by a carrying apparatus suspended to a cableway.

Abstract: An all-electric radio controlled slack pulling, braking and battery recharging system for logging operations on a moutainside is disclosed. Independent battery powered slack pulling and radio and brake electrical systems are provided, together with alternators which recharge the storage batteries of the electrical system in response to movement of alternator driving sheaves along a skyline in either direction. The drop or skidline is pulled through a carriage by a electric slack puller motor connected through a torque multiplier with a line pulling sheave. Skyline and drop or skidline brakes are applied by low pressure hydraulics boosted by spring pressure and are released by higher hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A self-driven transporting unit with a magnetic detector which is propelled along a cable by a drive wheel having spokes arranged in two rows forming a V-shape. The cable is magnetized and mounted in a fixed manner. The spoke arrangement enables the drive wheel to engage with the cable. A programmable electronic control system permits pre-selection of the distance to be covered by the transporting unit and the drop height to which the load is lowered away from the self-driven transporting unit.

Abstract: The cable carriage is for use with a skyline log yarding system. The carriage runs and is supported on the fixed skyline. One main-haulback cable connected to winch drums at each end moves the carriage back and forth on the skyline. A tagline wound on a tagline drum is fed out as needed and is used to pull a log toward the carriage, raise it and hold it as the carriage is moved.

Abstract: An improved carriage for use in a skyline logging system simultaneously utilizing more than one load cable wth the same carriage for connecting to and dragging separate "turns" of logs from the area in which they were felled to a landing area next to the yarder machine.

Abstract: A carriage for moving logs along a suspended skyline includes a pair of skyline wheels which rotate as the carriage moves along the skyline to drive a pair of alternately operating pumps which supply hydraulic pressure to a carriage hydraulic system. A first larger pump operates as the carriage moves uphill, while a second smaller pump operates when the carriage moves downhill. The carriage hydraulic system powers a driven hydraulic sheave and pressure roller for paying out a mainline. A skyline clamp is applied by a hydraulic ram and includes cammed surfaces which ride over a roller to ensure that the carriage will remain clamped to the skyline should the ram lose hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: An improved carriage for use in a skyline logging system simultaneously utilizing more than one load cable with the same carriage for connecting to and dragging separate "turns" of logs from the area in which they were felled to a landing area next to the yarder machine.

Abstract: A remote controlled slack pulling log skidding carriage is provided for feeding a slack drag line toward a log to be skidded. A drive sheave rotatably mounted in the carriage is operated by a hydraulic motor. The fluid to operate the motor is stored in one or more accumulators, and a radio controlled valve starts and stops the flow of fluid to the motor. A mechanically operated hydraulic pump also is provided to recharge the accumulators during a skidding operation. A reciprocating locking assembly is provided to alternately lock the carriage to the skyline or to the slack line.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a skyline logging system. A carriage mounted for reversible travel on a skyline is transported by a skidding line connected to a hoisting line which feeds through the carriage for attachment to logs. A tagline is attached at one end to the skidding line and its other end is received by a take-up reel mounted on the carriage which is disengageably drivingly connected to a radio-controlled unidirectionally operable power-operated drive motor mounted on the carriage. When operated in an engaged mode, the reel takes up the tagline and hence the skidding line. The reel is allowed to pay out the tagline in a disengaged mode. Additionally, the motor is connected to a pinch-roll device, also mounted on the carriage, for pulling the hoisting line into and through the carriage in cooperation with the take-up reel.

Abstract: A carriage is provided for guided movement along a skyline and includes guide structure for supporting a dragline for longitudinal shifting relative to the carriage. A skyline stop is provided for coaction with the carriage to limit downward movement of the carriage along the skyline and latch structure is shiftably supported from the carriage for movement between applied and released positions and is spring biased toward the applied position. The latch structure is engageable with the skyline stop to prevent upward movement of the carriage along the skyline from its lower limit position established by the stop upon movement of the latch structure to the applied position. Further, abutment structure is carried by the lower end of the dragline depending downwardly from the carriage and is engageable with the latch structure for swinging the latter to its released position.

Abstract: A carriage is provided for guided movement along a skyline and includes guide structure for supporting a dragline for longitudinal shifting relative to the carriage. A skyline stop is provided for coaction with the carriage, a dragline abutment is provided for coaction with the carriage and the carriage includes a stop with which the abutment is engageable to limit movement of the dragline in one direction relative to the carriage. The carriage is engageable with the skyline stop to limit movement of the carriage downwardly along the skyline and the abutment is provided for engagement with the carriage stop to limit upward movement of the dragline relative to the carriage. Latch structure is shiftably supported from the carriage for movement between first and second positions and is latchingly engageable with the skyline stop and engageable with the dragline abutment when in one position and inoperative to latchingly engage the skyline stop and engage the dragline abutment when in the second position.

Abstract: A carriage is described for utilization along a highline for the purpose of guiding a mainline along the highline between a yarder at a landing and an anchor point along an adjacent hillside. The carriage is suspended by freewheeling sheaves on the skyline. The mainline also extends through the carriage. A highline clamp and mainline clamp are provided within the carriage and are actuated to clamp and release the highline and mainline relative to the carriage frame. Actuation is accomplished through the mainline winch at the yarder by producing tension along the mainline and by moving an abutment on the mainline against the actuator.

Abstract: A logging carriage is mounted by hinged sheaves for travel along an elevated cable for the conveyance of felled logs to a log unloading site. The carriage is moved in one direction along the elevated cable by an in haul line which is attached at one end to a powered drum in a yarder. The carriage is moved under the force of gravity in a second direction. The other end of the inhaul line is attached to a spring powered rotatable drum structure mounted on the logging carriage. A drop line for raising and lowering felled logs is mounted on a portion of the spring powered rotatable drum. The spring powered rotatable drum structure is actuated by a compressed air actuated brake assembly. A clamp assembly is mounted on the logging carriage and is selectively engageable with the elevated cable to lock the logging carriage in a preselected position along the cable. The clamp and brake assemblies are controlled by solenoid valves and a radio receiver mounted on the logging carriage.

Abstract: A skyline log-yarding carriage has three drums including an in-haul drum, a haul-back drum, and a drop line drum, all interconnected for rotation in the same direction at the same time. The carriage also has a drum brake and a cable clamp, the latter for holding the carriage stationary on the skyline. The brake and clamp are applied alternately by remote control. The in-haul and haul-back drums are positioned at opposite ends of the carriage above the level of the drop-line drum. However, the haul-back drum is located slightly below the level of the in-haul drum so that a slack-pull line can pass from the underside of the haul-back drum forwardly from the carriage to a powered yarder drum in a cable passage thus created between the in-haul and drop-line drums for gravity or "shotgun" yarding. In gravity yarding the slack-pull line is used to lower the drop-line under power for attachment to a load while the brake is released and the clamp applied.

Abstract: A skyline logging carriage wherein the winch drum around which the load line is wound is powered by a fluid motor through a worm gear arrangement which eliminates the need for a separate braking system. The fluid motor is driven by a fluid pump powered by a diesel engine mounted on the carriage frame. The hydraulic transmission of power to the winch drum eliminates the need for clutches or direct mechanical connection and braking systems generally required. Greater freedom in placement of the winch drum in relation to the fairlead to obtain an optimum fleet angle and distance between the winch drum and fairlead for proper level winding of the load line about the winch drum is made possible by hydraulic transmission of power to the winch drum. Operation of the winch line is radio controlled by an operator at a yarder or other location. The carriage is moved along the skyline by a main line or main line and haulback lines.

Abstract: A self-locking log skidding carriage for skidding logs uphill along a skyline to a powered skidding machine. The carriage includes two freely rotatable sheaves, a first for engaging a taut skyline, and a second for rotatable engagement with a dragline commonly utilized for skidding and hauling logs from one point to another. A locking wheel is positioned between the two sheaves and is actuated by members positioned on the skyline and dragline. The first actuator member on the skyline operates the locking wheel of the carriage in response to gravitational movement of the carriage down the skyline. As the carriage engages the first actuating member, the locking wheel is moved to lock the carriage to the first actuating member and to release the dragline from a previously locked position. The dragline is then free to be pulled outward from the carriage in substantially any direction to be secured to a log or group of logs. The skidding machine may then be operated to retract the dragline over the second sheave.