Abstract: A device for automatically connecting a vehicle to an electric power supply, comprises: a turn-over-anchor (48, 210), including a first connector part (42, 216) connected to the cable (28, 208); and a docking station (50, 212), including a second connector part (44, 230) configured for mating with the first connector part (42, 216) according to a vertical coupling axis (47, 236), when the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is vertically deposited into the docking station (50, 212). The device further includes two horizontally spaced vertical rods (58?, 58?, 246?, 246?), each of which is arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or hole (62?, 62?, 248?, 248?) of an opposite element (50?, 50?), when the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is deposited into the docking station (50, 212), and is dimensioned so as to be self-locking in the hole (62?, 62?, 248?, 248?), if the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with the vertical coupling axis (47, 236).

Abstract: A stump grinder has a grinding arm that durably mounts a rotatable grinding wheel by securing the drive shaft of a motor to the grinding wheel such that a pair of bearings within the motor support one side of the grinding wheel and by supporting the other side of the grinding wheel with a stub shaft received within a third bearing. The grinding arm is laterally offset on the frame of the stump grinder to have a swing angle that is not symmetrical relative to the width of the frame, but with the swing angle starting at one side of the frame and then traversing across substantially the entire width of the frame to improve the ability of the operator to see the grinding wheel. A single joystick is movable in orthogonal directions corresponding to desired up and down and side-to-side pivoting motions of the grinding arm. The joystick includes a depressible trigger for starting and stopping the operation of the grinding wheel.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, an elongate member having a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion, a first axis member between the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion, pivotally mounting the elongate member to the first mounting member and defining a first axis, a track configured as an arc defined about the first axis, and a first feedback assembly supported upon the second elongate portion and providing a first interface device configured to travel along the track in response to movement of the second elongate portion partly about the first axis, wherein the mass of the second elongate portion and the first feedback assembly substantially offsets the mass of the first elongate portion about the first axis member.

Abstract: A hoisting rope arrangement in a trolley moving along a main girder of a crane and driven by an outside mechanism is provided. Both sides of the trolley are provided with successive rope pulley pairs located at a distance from one another in a longitudinal direction of the trolley and, below these, sheaves situated in a hoisting member, whereby on both sides of the trolley, a first hoisting rope is led from a first end of the main girder of the crane via one rope pulley of a first rope pulley pair down to the sheave and therefrom via an other rope pulley to a second end of the main girder, and a second hoisting rope is led from the second end of the main girder via one rope pulley of a second rope pulley pair down to the sheave and therefrom via an other rope pulley to the first end of the main girder.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing cones onto a surface and for retrieving cones from the surface includes a cone transfer device having a tower with a platform moveable to and from a lower transfer position for dispensing and retrieving cones from the surface. The platform is movable in a vertical direction between the lower transfer position and an upper transfer position for receiving a stack of cones from a storage area and for returning a stack of cones to the storage area. The tower includes a device for holding one or more cones in an elevated position and for releasing cones onto and receiving cones from the platform in the elevated position. The apparatus may include a lamp transfer device for attaching a lamp unit to a cone when the cone is dispensed and for removing the lamp unit from the cone when the cone is retrieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for installing a land wind power generator by using lead rails, and the method includes the steps of: locating a lower support having an insertion protrusion, a horizontal stepped surface, and a ground anchor, under the ground; locating a pair of posts of a tower crane and a cage for each post at the horizontal stepped surface of the lower support, ascending a nacelle assembly and an overhead crane, and locating an intermediate support by means of an outside crane; and locating the lead rails along the ground and the front surface of the intermediate support and ascending an upper support along the lead rails by means of the overhead crane. Next, after a nacelle base, a support frame, the lead rails, and the tower crane are disassembled from the located positions, a plurality of propellers connected to rollers located inside a rotary part of the nacelle assembly are lifted by means of a winch and are inserted into a plurality of coupling grooves of the rotary part.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a wind turbine includes a crane boom having a main bearing cable coupled to a component for lifting the component during assembly of the wind turbine, and a control mechanism coupled to the crane boom for controlling the orientation of the wind turbine component during the lift. The control mechanism includes a guide member coupled to the crane boom, a movable member coupled to the guide member and configured to be movable relative to the crane boom, a coupling member configured to couple the movable member to the wind turbine component being lifted by the crane boom, and a drive mechanism configured to actively move the movable member relative to the crane boom independent of the movement of the main bearing cable. A method for assembling a wind turbine includes using the coupling member to change the orientation of the component.

Abstract: A device (10) for transferring an invalid includes a beam (11) comprised of two telescopically received tubes (12,13); a track (14), slidably engaged within said beam capable of supporting a rolling trolley (15) and connected winch (16) for providing a vertical lifting force. A seat (18) is appended to winch (16) by a winch yoke (19). The device is secured transversely to the roof surface of an automobile by clamps (21,22) mounted to the beam and track. The invalid is positioned within the seat and lifted vertically by the winch and is then slided into or out of the automobile as desired.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cable arrangement and lifting platform for lifting a load in a stabilized manner. The lifting platform secures loads to a securing device and the platform is able to be suspended from a crane by an attachment carriage. The attachment carriage includes a cable winch onto which six cables suspend and attach to the lifting platform. The attachment carriage also includes cable guides which guide the six cables away from the winch in three cable pairs, preferably equidistantly-spaced. In order to secure the cables to the lifting platform, the platform includes an attachment frame having three cable attachment points, preferably spaced equidistantly apart with respect to each other. The lifting platform helps stabilize the lifting of loads by sensing the load's imbalance relative to the center of mass of the platform and repositioning the load to correct for the imbalance.

Abstract: A manually controlled tooling system for the remote placement and removal of a load, such as a plug, (12) at a location (6) inaccessible to maintenance personnel. The tooling provides for both horizontal and vertical movement of the load, and, in the preferred embodiment, rotational restraint. The load is supported vertically by at least one line (21) wrapped on a small diameter drum (19) which is supported from a travelling trolley (11) fitted to a sloping track (10). On the same shaft as the load drum, a large diameter centrally located sheave or control drum (20) accepts a single control line (13) counterwrapped in direction with respect to the load support line and terminating at its other end on a hand operated winch mechanism (14). The tooling acts to first allow the trolley to descend the track without relative motion between trolley and load. Then, with the trolley bottomed against a mechanical stop (26), the load is allowed to descend vertically to its desired position.

Abstract: A first cable portion runs from the crab over a pulley at the point of the jib point part to the winch on the foot part. A second cable portion runs from the crab over a pulley at the end lying on the pylon side, of the jib foot part, over a pulley mounted on the end removed from the pylon, of said jib foot part, round two pulleys on the end facing the pylon of the jib point part, over a pulley at the end removed from the pylon, of the jib foot part to the winch.