Abstract: A hoisting system for the at least one of an installation, a decommissioning and a maintenance of a wind turbine which comprises at least a foundation, a tower, a yawing part and a rotor of at least 80 m diameter with at least one blade, comprising a first hoisting device which comprises measures to establish a load carrying joint with an already built part of the wind turbine which is located above the foundation, wherein the hoisting system is characterized in that the ratio between the maximum hoist load of the hoisting device and the mass of the heaviest part is larger than 0.2 and smaller than 1 and in particular smaller than 0.8 and more in particular smaller than 0.7 and preferably smaller than 0.6, with the heaviest part being a heaviest part which is hoisted as one piece and which belongs to the yawing part of wind turbine.

Abstract: A device for securing logs from harvested timber to a transport vehicle, or logging truck, using log wrappers. The log wrapper securement device can be located in the inspection cavity of a forestry grapple. The forestry grapple is attached to a log loader. The log wrapper securement device includes a base plate sized and shaped to replace the inspection plate covering the inspection cavity. The base plate includes a slot sized and shaped to receive a portion of a chain end link or other chain links of the log wrapper, which can be inserted manually. The loader operator can remotely control the actuator to secure the chain link and release it, once the log wrapper is positioned over the other side of the logging truck. The log wrapper securement device can potentially reduce injuries and save lives.

Abstract: Systems and methods, etc., to improve operations where a barrier could interfere with the tag line of a clam shell dredging bucket suspended from a crane and/or the z-axis elevation of the bucket needs to be closely determined. The systems include an elongate rigid link connecting a suspended implement such as the bucket to a holding wire hanging from the crane. The elongate rigid link can further comprise at least one anti-rotation connection element located at an upper portion of the link to attach to the tag line for horizontal/rotational control, and/or comprise at least one z-axis calibration device configured to identify a z-axis elevation of the link and thereby the suspended element.

Abstract: A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. The orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight.

Abstract: A method for lifting of components of a wind energy installation (10) to an installation height, in which a hoisting means (26) of a first hoisting device (20) is guided starting from a hoisting means drive (24), which is arranged close to the ground, along a deflection means (30), which is arranged in the area of the tower head of the wind energy installation (10), in particular in the area of the pod, and is associated with the first hoisting device (20), to a component (18) which is arranged on the ground or close to the ground, and is attached to said component (18), in particular in the area of the component center of gravity or close to the center of gravity; a hoisting means (36, 48) of a second hoisting device (22) is guided starting from a hoisting means drive of this second hoisting device (22) along a free end (34, 46), which is arranged above the deflection means (30) of the first hoisting device (20), of a crane jib (32, 44) downwards to the component (18), and is attached there further outwards

Abstract: A method is provided to automatically control a cranes's rider block lifte and taglines. Current position of the crane's rider block is determined in terms of its horizontal and vertical coordinates, as well as in terms of the inhaul angle of the liftline. A matrix is then generated that defines i) incremental change in the rider block's horizontal coordinate with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle, a length of the liftline and a length of the taglines, ii) incremental change in the vertical coordinate with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle and lengths of the liftline and taglines, and iii) incremental change in the sine of the inhaul angle with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle and lengths of the liftline and taglines. A vector defining velocity criteria for the rider block is provided. The velocity criteria is defined in terms of horizontal motion of the rider block, vertical motion of the rider block and rate of change of the inhaul angle.

Abstract: A tightline apparatus for draglines which includes a pair of mechanical safety devices, each having an engaging bar pivotally attached to a swivel frame of the dragline above each drag rope at the point where the respective drag rope extends between each set of guide rollers. A limit switch is also mounted on each fairlead frame in close proximity to the corresponding engaging bar, such that movement of the drag ropes upwardly responsive to swinging of the dragline bucket past a predetermined point toward the boom causes the drag ropes to engage the engaging bar element of each tightline apparatus and pivot the engaging bar into contact with the limit switches, respectively, to terminate operation of the dragline bucket.

Abstract: A boom support assembly for an earth working machine, which includes a winch, a pair of tension members and a pendant pin link interposed between tension members. The first tension member is a boom support pendant secured to a boom point of a boom and the first end of the pendant pin link. The second tension member is a boom raising rope which is received over a plurality of gantry sheaves mounted on the top portion of a gantry structure and attached to the winch at one end and attached to the second end of the pendant pin link. The gantry sheaves are mounted on an alignment apparatus that has a sheave shaft mounted in an eccentric bore of a pair of cartridges rotatable in the top portion of the gantry structure. This alignment apparatus insures the proper positioning of a through bore of the pendant pin link between support openings in the top portion of the gantry.

Abstract: A building is rapidly and inexpensively dismantled by dropping a heavy inverted U-shaped tool on a building or other structure from an elevation thereabove as from the upper outer end of a boom on a crane, the tool is initially suspended from a cable leading back to a winch capable of dropping the tool in a free fall. A secondary cable is attached to one of the arms of the inverted U-shaped tool inwardly from its lower end, the secondary cable leading to a secondary winch of a type capable of exerting great pulling power on the tool once it is engaged in the building or structure being dismantled.

Abstract: A log yarder including a support vehicle; a horizontally rotatable framework mounted on the vehicle; one or more booms mounted on the framework; an elongated heeling rack mounted on the most terminal boom; a slack kicker for skidding logs to the yarder; and a grapple for loading or placement of the logs so skidded. The combination of slack kicker and grapple enables a single operator to skid a fallen log to the grapple for loading the log for hauling or for deck placement. The slack kicker includes a cable which is threaded through one end of the heeling rack which may be used to skid the logs into a substantially aligned position with the grapple for convenient and efficient loading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to system for suspending a skid pan from a winch mounted on a tractor. The skid pan 2 is pivotably suspended from the winch frame 1 by a bolt 3. Stoppers 5 are fastened to the winch frame 1 in order to prevent the skid pan from swinging forward in the normal driving direction of the tractor. The skid pan can be locked in vertical position by a second bolts 4 which can be put into corresponding holes 6 in the skid pan 2 and the which frame 1.

Abstract: A rescue vehicle has a crane boom, hoist winch and rescue winch mounted on a crane turret that is rotatable about a vertical axis. A cable from the respective winches are extended along the crane boom to an associated block that is mounted near the outer end of the boom. Another block is mounted on the bumper of the vehicle to receive the cable from the rescue winch. The rescue winch is ten to twenty times more powerful than the hoist winch. During a vehicle retrieval operation the rescue winch is used to provide the horizontal pulling power while the hoist winch is used to provide the vertical pulling power. A Y-shaped stay bar is mounted on the block on the bumper and is used to support the crane boom at its outer end.

Abstract: In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a new and improved log skidder comprises a motorized vehicle, log carrier means pivotally attached at a point directly above the rear wheels thereof, first means such as a winch for pulling a log toward said carrier means and disposing portions of the log and the carrier means in overlapping relation, and second means such as a winch or a grapple for securing said overlapping portions together as a substantially rigid assembly, whereby the weight of the forward portion of the log is supported directly above the rear wheels of said vehicle.