Abstract: A cable gripping block is provided with sectional cover plates for easy and quick removal, where the cover plates are secured to the cable gripping block by cylindrical tenons projecting from the cable gripping blocks, through cavities in the sectional cover plate. The tenons absorb any transverse forces generated by the clamping action of the cable gripping block.

Abstract: The winch has a disc-shaped hub having a shaft extending upwardly from its top surface. It also has a winch drum having an axial bore whose diameter is sized to rotatably receive the shaft of the disc-shaped hub. The bottom end of the winch drum has a recess with ratchet teeth formed around its inner annular surface and there are a pair of pawl members in spring loaded attachment with the outer surface of the shaft of the disc-shaped hub to form a ratchet assembly. There is a bore hole in the bottom end of the disc-shaped hub and an upright extending secondary shaft member has its top end rotatably inserted into this bore hole. A handle has its one end secured to the secondary shaft and it extends radially therefrom and has a supporting block mounted on its opposite end and a double cam cleat is mounted thereon. An alternative form of handle is also operable with the same basic winch structure but does not require the handle to be permanently secured to the winch.

Abstract: The spanning device is a tool designed to assist in the working on front wheel drive automobiles. These front wheel drive automobiles are, generally, small automobiles with transverse engines or engines whose crankshaft is, substantially, at a right angle to the longitudinal axis to the automobile. This spanning device is of assistance while the engine and/or transmission must be held aloft or either the engine or the transmission removed from the automobile. The spanning device has a three point resting position which can be positioned on the windshield cowl, the radiator frame and the fender attachment point. A main longitudinal rod and a transverse rod can be held in position by a clamping means or a coupling means. A lifting device may be applied on each rod and at any point on the rod. A draw bolt lift attachment can be used for lifting the engine and/or the transmission and/or the combination of the engine and transmission.

Abstract: An elevator has a drive mechanism connected to a traction sheave provided with grooves, over which run parallel suspension cables, and an elevator cage and an associated counterweight suspended from the suspension cables. The elevator is also provided with at least two diverting pulleys over which the suspension cables run and of which at least one diverting pulley is associated with the traction sheave in such manner that the suspension cables extending from the elevator cage to the counterweight have first and second wraps around the traction sheave and, between these wraps, a further wrap around the diverting pulley. Prior art traction sheave elevators exhibit insufficient friction between the traction sheave and the suspension cable, for which reason it is necessary, in the case of elevators of great heights, to use so-called compensating cables, which add to the weight of the elevator.

Abstract: A variable depth towed sonar line handling system is arranged to provide a level wind of the sonar cable onto a cable winding drum without significant lateral deflection of the cable. The system includes a boom with sheaves at the inboard and outboard ends and an inboard winch with a cable winding drum. The winch is mounted for axial movement past the boom and is translated axially in synchronism with its rotation so that the fleet angle of the cable remains constant. In preferred embodiments, the winch is located beside the boom and translates fore and aft. This allows the cable to be taken off along the pivot axis of the boom, eliminating cable excursion through the sheaves in boom bobbing. Other features include a fairleading saddle and a combined passive and active shock absorbing system.

Abstract: A post frame machine for applying pulling forces to a damaged automobile comprises two vertical support posts fixedly mounted on a base frame, a hydraulically operated cylinder disposed in each of the posts, and a load chain and pulley arrangement for exerting the pulling force. The cylinders are independently operable to allow different forces to be applied at closely adjacent location on the automobile. The apparatus further includes chain locks for securing the load chains.

Abstract: A power hydraulic gear comprising a housing (1) which accommodates a piston (3) through which a traction guide member (7) is passed, and a mechanism for alternately engaging the piston (3) with the traction member (7). The traction member (7) is a rope sealingly passed through end faces (2, 2') of the housing (1) and through the piston (3) in which there are mounted devices (8) for engaging it with the rope, these devices engage with the rope and disengage from it upon delivery of pressurized fluid medium to one of chambers of the housing (1).

Abstract: A suspension system for supporting and conveying equipment, such as a camera assembly, includes at least three flexible members, spaced-apart mounting drums for extendably and retractably supporting the flexible members and an equipment support member including an inner section to which the equipment is attached and an outer section connected to the flexible members. The inner and outer sections of the equipment support member are rotatable relative to each other about at least two separate axis of rotation. Preferably the mounting drums for the flexible members are operated by a computer-controlled drive to permit an operator to selectively extend and/or retract one or more of the flexible members to achieve the desired movement of the supported equipment.

Abstract: A well pump includes a string of risers composed of a plurality of releasably coupled risers, a hollow upright, and a drive mechanism releasably mounted on the upright. The corresponding erecting rig consists of a mast adapted to be supported by the upright, a deflecting device arranged at the upper end of the mast, and a pulling element passing around the deflecting device and formed at its one end for suspension of a riser and at its other end for suspension of a lifting device. The erecting rig is much lighter in weight and simpler and, therefore, may be transported and assembled more easily than lifting tackle used so far of the same lifting height and capacity.

Abstract: A conveying device more particularly suitable for use as a vertical hoist on construction sites or in industrial premises takes the form of a flexible and pliant hose-like pressure duct having a shuttle piston therein. The shuttle piston acts to seal off an internal portion of the duct and is fixed in place by way of a magnetic coupling with an external rider. The external rider is anchored in place so as to encompass the portion of the pliant duct in which the shuttle piston is located. The pliant duct is moved either up or down depending on whether fluid pressure is inserted into the duct above or below the fixed shuttle piston. By attaching a hook or the like to one end of the duct the pliant hose is capable of acting as a traction rope.

Abstract: A rope pulling machine is convertible into a walking machine, and has a machine frame composed of a pulling station movable back and forth and a gripping station connected to the pulling station via a main cylinder/piston arrangement, the pulling and gripping stations each having an auxiliary cylinder/piston arrangement for a gripper, and the two grippers are linked via bearing shafts to the auxiliary cylinder/piston arrangement. The grippers have clamping jaws aligned in a rope direction and linked via bearing shafts to the pulling and gripping stations, respectively. The bearing shafts are designed as detachable shafts, making the grippers exchangeable with walkers having the same bearing points and bearing shafts and which form a walk station and a slave station. The walkers have pawls engaging a rack alternately, and running gears guided on the rack.

Abstract: A continuous operation linear hydraulic winch comprising a fixed frame, a first gripping assembly, a first pair of hydraulic jacks mounted between the frame and the first gripping assembly, a second gripping assembly and a second pair of hydraulic jacks mounted between the frame and the second gripping assembly, wherein the frame comprises a single bearing plate perpendicular to the jacks, the first gripping assembly is disposed on one side of the bearing plate and the second gripping assembly on the other side of the bearing plate, the first and second pairs of hydraulic jacks having one of their cylinders and piston rods connected to the bearing plate and the other of their cylinders and piston rods connected to a respective one of the first and second gripping assemblies.

Abstract: A cable mover has a generally stationary support, a tube centered on an axis and having a pair of axially opposite ends, a swivel joint carrying the tube on the support and permitting the tube to move only nonaxially thereon, and respective axially double-acting actuators carried on the tube ends. Respective double-acting grippers are carried on the actuators. The cable axially traverses the grippers, actuators, and tube. The grippers each have two sets of wedge jaws engageable with the cable, one of the sets of each gripper being effective to wedge in one axial direction with the cable and to slide in the other direction, and the other set of each gripper being oppositely effective. Each gripper also has a disabling body displaceable between end positions and through a central position with the body disabling one of the respective sets of jaws in one end position, the other set of jaws in the other end position, and neither set of jaws in the central position.

Abstract: A traction elevator apparatus characterized in that a deflector wheel is disposed in a manner to lie below a driving sheave, and that a rope wound on the driving sheave is extended over the deflector wheel in a manner to cause the cage side and balance weight side parts of the rope to cross each other on the lower side of the driving sheave.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping and longitudinally moving an elongate tension or traction means such as a wire rope relative to a casing of a lifting apparatus is provided with two pairs clamping jaws operated by clamping levers. Pairs of clamping jaws are alternately closed against the rope to move the rope in the direction of traction. In order to avoid subjecting the rope to compressive loads in the longitudinal direction during clamping, the clamping jaws are interconnected so that they are immovable in relation to one another in the longitudinal direction of the wire rope. Clamping keys for generating the clamping pressure are irrotationally connected to the clamping levers and pivotally mounted in circular apertures of one of the clamping jaws. These clamping keys slidably press onto the other clamping jaw directly or indirectly such that they cannot apply a compressive force in the longitudinal direction of the wire rope to the clamping jaw.

Abstract: Each half-case of the apparatus comprises a main half-case of pressed steel sheet provided with two chimneys on which is mounted a reinforcement piece, also of pressed steel sheet, having openings corresponding to the chimneys. The main half-case and the reinforcement piece separately each receive an anti-corrosion coating. Two symmetrical half-cases are finally fitted together along a longitudinal plane.

Abstract: A traction device for causing stepwise relative displacement between the device and an elongate member in the form of a cable (6) comprises a stationary clamp (5) and a movable clamp (3) which is displaced by a cylinder and piston unit (1, 2). Both clamps (3, 5) are self-closing, but are provided with pressure-operated opening devices (8, 9). The opening devices (8, 9) are controlled by a first control valve (12) which is changed over at the stroke ends of the piston (2) by dogs (13, 14). A second control valve (15) which controls the travel direction of the piston (2) is governed by the pressure medium fed to the opening devices (8, 9).To lift a load suspended from the cable (6), the piston (2) is raised, with the movable clamp (3) closed to grip the cable and the stationary clamp (5) open. At the top of the piston stroke, the stationary clamp (5) closes, the movable clamp (3) opens, and the piston (2) falls to enable the movable clamp (3) to grip the cable (6) again at a lower position.

Abstract: An apparatus for hauling in and letting out a flexible element such as a cable comprises a generally stationary housing defining a cable path and having a predetermined number N equal to at least three of grippers spaced in a row and shiftable along the path. These grippers can be clamped on the element in the path by respective actuators which can displace the grippers parallel to the path in a pulling direction and in an opposite letting-out direction. A controller responsive to gripper position and connected to the actuators operates them sequentially. Thus all but one of the grippers is first clamped on the element and the one gripper is unclamped from the element. Then the clamping grippers are displaced by the respective actuators with the element in one direction at a rate V.sub.w through a distance S/(N-1) while simultaneously the nonclamping gripper is displaced oppositely through a distance S along the element at a rate V.sub.r equal substantially to 2.multidot.V.sub.

Abstract: A system for lifting a turbine disc having a mounting flange or balance ring, the system comprising a fixture having a base which attaches to the flange or balance ring, in elongated portion which extends beyond the periphery of the disc and a cantilevered portion extending from the distal end of the elongated portion and over the tips of the blades, eyelets disposed on the cantilevered portion and on the lower portion of the disc. The eyelets on the cantilever portion are disposed over the center of gravity of the assembly and a pair of hoists attached to the eyelets to lift the disc and move it to any orientation without damaging the blades.

Abstract: In mining operations, a number of mining machines will have flexible cable attached thereto which then drag along behind the machine as it operates. When the machine moves in a backward direction, the machine often times will run over and damage the cable. In the past, the cable has been moved manually to prevent damage. The disclosed invention provides an automatic device which will lift a predetermined length of cable above the groun so that the cable will not be cut as the machine moves backward a given distance.

Abstract: A motion compensation system for a crane hoist serves to assist the crane operator in safely lifting loads from the deck of a heaving work boat. The crane hook follows the motion of the load because a level of pre-tension is maintained on the line by use of a counterweight connected to the reeving system. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the counterweight provides for locking movement of the counterweight and also provides a cushion at both ends of its travel. Movement of the piston in the cylinder is controlled by a system including a check valve controlling flow between opposite ends of the cylinder which permits the reeving system to take up line. A limit switch responds to movement of the piston and counterweight near the top of their travel to actuate a light to warn the operator of a need to pay out line. As the piston and counterweight approach the bottom of their travel which indicates the load is moving upward, another limit switch actuates a light to indicate time to lift the load.

Abstract: This hitch and snatch boom assembly includes a ram assembly attached to a transporter vehicle frame at a fixed angle of inclination; an upwardly inclined link member pivotally attached to the transporter vehicle frame and a boom assembly pivotally attached at its inner end to the link, and pivotally attached between its ends to the ram assembly. A cable is attached to the boom assembly at its outer end, and a guide roller assembly, receiving the cable, is mounted to the ram assembly at a relatively low elevation to provide the cable with selected lifting and pulling angles.

Abstract: A vehicle undercarriage spare tire carrier having a first pulley located adjacent the storage position of the tire, and a second pulley located exterior of the vehicle. A lever arm is pivotally secured to the vehicle and has a cable attached thereto. The cable extends around the pulleys and terminates under the vehicle with a bracket for holding the spare tire.The lever may be pivoted in a first direction for lowering and releasing the spare tire or pivoted in the opposite direction wherein the spare tire is pulled into tight engagement with the vehicle in its storage position. The relative positions of the pivot attachment points and pulleys are such that when the tire is in its storage position, the lever arm is in a safety position to prevent inadvertent release of the spare tire. The bracket for holding the spare tire provides a positive lock to insure against inadvertent loss of the tire when it is in its storage position.

Abstract: A log lifting device is described that includes an upstanding post with an attached flexible strand. The flexible strand, such as a chain, releasably connects the post to a jack. Guide members on the post cause the flexible strand to extend generally parallel to the post for a substantial portion of the length of the post. The flexible strand may include a thin, rigid extension at one end to enable the strand to be threaded under a log to be lifted. The end passed under the log to be lifted is then attached to a jack. The log is raised upwardly generally parallel the length of the support member in response to an upward force applied by the jack.

Abstract: A winch mechanism of the deep lift type comprises a variable displacement hydraulic pump/motor which is adjusted so as to support from a ship or the like via a rope haulage mechanism a submerged load under the influence of pressurized hydraulic fluid which is stored at a substantially constant pressure in a high pressure accumulator and in a low pressure accumulator. As the ship rises and falls, forces on the submerged load are sufficient to maintain the load substantially stationary with hydraulic fluid being passed via the pump/motor between the two accumulators. Lifting is accomplished by a pump which circulates hydraulic fluid through the pump/motor.

Abstract: A multi-unit hoist apparatus is provided having an overload arrangement in the form of reversible pressure medium cylinders connected to the fixed end of each hoist unit in the apparatus. Appropriate controls are incorporated into the pressure medium supply to each unit, whereby if the load becomes unbalanced the unit subjected to an overload is relieved when the overload reaches a specific preset level.

Abstract: This anti-sway device uses roller chains to greatly restrict the lateral movement of the lifting lines suspended from hoists or cranes. The roller chain is suspended parallel to the lifting lines or lifting chains. One end is attached to the free end of the lifting lines. The other end of the roller chain is wound around a takeup reel which prevents the roller chain from going slack. Since roller chains tend to be very stiff in a direction parallel to the pivotal axes of the roller links, the roller chain will tend to prevent the lifting lines from moving in the plane of the pivotal axes of the roller links.