Abstract: A winching apparatus adapted for horizontal rotational mounting behind the chipping feed rollers on a chipping machine. It has a rotatable vertical stanchion, that is pivotally coupled to first end of a horizontal boom arm that may be vertically adjusted between its ends so as to raise or lower its second end. At the second end of the boom arm is a swivel mounted plate that houses a high speed continual line uptake winch that is thus adjustable for simultaneous alignment of the rope puller with the line in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The device is capable of compensating for a constantly changing directional pull as well as feeding the downed foliage directly into the chipper.

Abstract: A carriage of the types commonly used in skyline logging operations. The invention facilitates moving logs along a suspended skyline by means of a hoisting system built into the carriage comprised of a radio controlled electronics system, an internal combustion power plant, proportional controlled hydraulically driven skidline sheave, a skidline clamp and skyline clamp. A novel method of pump control keeps the internal combustion engine operating within its power band. The volume output of the pump is controlled by engine RPM to adjust the pump's load on the engine. Combined operation of the various controls on the carriage, in conjunction with the controlled operations of the yarder winch at the end of the skyline, result in a system well suited for efficient logging operation. The choker/setter (ground crew) and the yarder are able to remotely control the carriage operation as a team. The carriage controls of the present invention are primarily hydraulic, actuated by means of electrical solenoid valves.

Abstract: The present invention involves a carriage of the type commonly used in skyline logging operations. The invention facilitates moving logs along a suspended skyline by means of a hoisting system built into the carriage comprised of a radio controlled electronics system, an internal combustion power plant, proportional controlled hydraulically driven skidline sheave, a skidline clamp and skyline clamp. A novel method of pump control keeps the internal combustion engine operating within its power band. The volume output of the pump is controlled by engine RPM to adjust the pump's load on the engine. Combined operation of the various controls on the carriage, in conjunction with the controlled operations of the yarder winch at the end of the skyline result in a system well suited for efficient logging operation. The choker/setter (ground crew) and the yarder are able to remotely control the carriage operation as a team.

Abstract: An Integrated Balanced Wire Rope Reeving System for Cargo Container Handling Cranes wherein the same ropes perform both load hoist and trolley traversing operations.

Abstract: A slack puller has symmetrical sheave assemblies on each side of a cable path. The sheave assemblies each include a driven sheave mounted on an arm. When the sheaves are engaged with the cable by an actuator, tension in the cable pulls the sheaves in a way which tends to increase the compressional forces exerted by the sheaves on the cable. The self actuating nature of the slack puller allows compressional forces on the cable to be kept small until the cable comes under tension. The sheaves are driven by positive displacement hydraulic motors connected in series with a hydraulic pump. This permits the sheaves to turn quickly when the cable is not under tension and slows the sheaves as tension in the cable increases. The slack puller operates more quickly and causes less cable damage than conventional slack pullers. The slack puller has particular application in skyline logging operations where its compact size is an additional advantage.

Abstract: Cable machine control, particularly a grapple yarder is provided with an integrated control system whereby the operator is provided with controls each of which controls a desired operation or movement of the grapple. In particular the controls include a haul back and an in direction control, an up and down control and an opening and closing control some of which may be operated simultaneously with the speed of any operation or movement dependent on the maximum displacement of the control for any selected operation or movement.

Abstract: A skyline logging system which uses an improved carriage which can traverse intermediate supports, which can lift both ends of a load of logs, which has a telescoping center beam to accommodate different lengths of logs, which carries an on-board engine so that it is self contained as to power to haul logs up to the carriage, and which is radio controlled so that a man on the ground can perform all of the logging operations.

Abstract: A novel log-hauling carriage which features a band brake assembly for controlling rotation of a drum in the carriage. The carriage includes a rotatably mounted drum containing three sections on which are wound the main and slackpulling lines, and a drop line which is utilized in raising and dropping the logs. The band brake assembly includes a unique crank and lever system for actuating the brake band, whereby the brake band tightly grips the brake drum surface of the brake assembly, thus to prevent drum rotation, with the slackpulling line loose. The brake assembly is controllably released with tensing of the slackpulling line, differing degrees of tensing producing differing degrees of release of the brake assembly.

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: 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 hydraulic 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.

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: Sheaves mount a carriage on a skyline for yarding logs. A load line having a hooked end hanging from the carriage extends through another sheave on the carriage to a winch on a yarder at one end of the skyline. Brakes actuated by hydraulic cylinders are operable to lock the carriage to the skyline and the load line to the carriage. The skyline brake normally is released and the load line brake normally is set so that hauling in or paying out of the load line by the yarder winch effects movement of the carriage along the skyline. A hooker on the ground actuates setting of the skyline brake and releasing of the load line brake by pressing a button on a radio transmitter which signals mechanism on the carriage to supply hydraulic liquid under pressure from an accumulator to the brake cylinders, and also to a hydraulic motor which drives the load line sheave to lower the load line from the carriage.

Abstract: A rigging arrangement and yarder are disclosed for yarding in which a single cable is used. This cable is anchored at a main storage drum on a yarder and preferably at an anchor in the vicinity of the tail block. The single line serves as a running skyline for supporting a carriage and includes several loops around a tram drum and an idler drum (but only one layer on said drums) which operate to hold cable or to reel equal amounts of cable in or out to both the yarder side and the anchor side of the carriage to move the carriage without introducing slack into either side. Since only a single layer of cable is wound on the tram and idler drums, no energy is lost dealing with varying speeds and torques caused by changing effective diameters, thus saving energy and weight of equipment.

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.