Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulling a drill string out from a wellbore and lowering the drill string back into the wellbore, with minimal or no disassembly of the drill string, are provided. The apparatus has a first tension mechanism, a second tension mechanism, an up-hole cable, a down-hole cable and a guide. To pull a drill string out from a wellbore, the up-hole cable is connected to an up-hole end of the drill string and the drill string is pulled upwardly into and through the guide. To lower the drill string into the wellbore, the down-hole cable is connected to the mid-section (and/or the up-hole end) of the drill string and the drill string is pulled downwardly from the guide back into the wellbore.

Abstract: An electric actuator has a switch, a setting unit and a resetting unit. The switch is provided in a supply path of electric power from an electricity storing body to a motor. The switch opens and closes the supply path. The setting unit is operated through receiving a supply of electric power from the electricity storing body in response to an instruction from an operator. The setting unit opens the switch provided in the supply path for electric power from the electricity storing body to the motor. The resetting unit is operated through receiving a supply of electric power from an external power supply when the external power supply has been restored from being cut off. The resetting unit closes the switching unit provided in the supply path of electric power from the electricity storing body to the motor.

Abstract: A trolley for a lift assembly is disclosed. The trolley includes a drive portion and a lift portion separable from the drive portion. The lift portion includes one or more fittings configured to hold one or more wire ropes for raising and lower a platform hitched to the wire ropes. The drive portion is connectable to a drive assembly to move the drive portion and lift portion along a lift stroke. Pairs of trolleys are interconnected via tension lines or wires connected to the lift portions of the trolleys. The lift portions are configured to move independent of the drive portions through lift provided via the interconnection of the lift portions through the tension lines or wires.

Abstract: A transmission belt for driving and/or supporting an elevator car has a longitudinally extending body including an area tensile layer reinforced by chemical fibers. The belt can have a flat friction layer or a friction layer including alternating longitudinally extending wedge-shaped ribs and grooves. Transverse grooves can be formed across the width of the longitudinally grooved friction layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lift system wherein a drive unit (2) drives, by means of a driving disk (4.1), a flat belt-type carrier means (12.1, 12.2) which carries the lift cage (3). Said flat belt-type carrier means comprises several ribs (20.1, 20.2) which extend in a parallel manner in a longitudinal direction of the carrier means on a bearing surface which is orientated towards the driving disk (4.1) and each rib comprises at least two traction carriers (22) which are orientated in a longitudinal direction of the carrier means. The whole cross-sectional surface of all the traction carriers (22) is at least 25% of the cross-section surface of the carrier means.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a lifting device includes a mounting column having a first major portion extending in a first direction, and a second major portion fixedly coupled to the first major portion and extending in a second direction. The lifting device also comprises a lifting arm rotatably mounted on the second major portion of the mounting column and having a first hole formed therein for receiving a pin, a bracket fixedly coupled to the second portion of the mounting column and having a second hole formed therein for receiving the pin so that the pin restrains the lifting arm from substantial rotation about the second major portion of the mounting column, and a retaining member secured to the second major portion of the mounting column so that the bracket and the retaining member restrain the lifting arm from substantial movement in the second direction.

Abstract: A tensioner for deploying a member such as a pipe or cable, such as a sub-sea cable deployed from a ship, comprises an endless track and drive means for driving the track. The track includes a plurality of traction elements mounted thereon for movement with the track. Each traction element includes one or more cushions for supporting the member, and a pair of opposed arms mounted on respective sides of the base of the traction element. One or more of the arms is pivotally mounted for movement between a clamping position and a release position. In an alternative arrangement, four moveable arms are linked in diametrically opposite pairs to move between a release position and a clamping position. Cushions on the arms clamp the member in conjunction with the cushions of the traction element, when the arms are in the clamping position. Guide means are provided to urge the arms into the clamping position to grip the member as it passes through the tensioner.

Abstract: The hoist device mainly contains a gear assembly and a ratchet braking assembly. The gear assembly mainly contains a chain wheel driven by a main axle running through the ratchet braking assembly which mainly contains a ratchet wheel sandwiched between a pair of brake rings. The ratchet wheel, controlled by stopping blocks, can only turn in one direction. At an end of the main axle, there is a hexagonal cylindrical sleeve so that either an ordinary wrench or a power tool can be used to turn the main axle. As the main axle is turned to lift an object, the ratchet wheel clamped by the brake rings is turned as well. When the main axle is turned to the other direction, the brake rings release the ratchet wheel so that it will not prevent the chain wheel to lower the object.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing coiled barb tape which includes a frame in which is located a boom from which the coiled barb tape is suspended. The boom is extensible to assist in deployment of the barb tape and the frame, apart from protecting the coiled barb tape, provides a stacking characteristic with similar frames.

Abstract: A multi-stage elevator car has equipment for fine positioning of the cars wherein the car thresholds are positionable at the level of the floor thresholds. Adjusting equipment operating on the principle of a differential block and pulley is provided for fine positioning of the cars, the equipment including an endless cable guided over deflecting rollers arranged at the main frame of the multi-stage car and over deflecting rollers arranged at the cars, wherein the cars execute vertical movements of opposite sense.

Abstract: A tensioner for deploying a member such as a pipe or cable, such as a sub-sea cable deployed from a ship, comprises an endless track and drive means for driving the track. The track includes a plurality of traction elements mounted thereon for movement with the track. Each traction element includes one or more cushions for supporting the member, and a pair of opposed arms mounted on respective sides of the base of the traction element. One or more of the arms is pivotally mounted for movement between a clamping position and a release position. In an alternative arrangement, four moveable arms are linked in diametrically opposite pairs to move between a release position and a clamping position. Cushions on the arms clamp the member in conjunction with the cushions of the traction element, when the arms are in the clamping position. Guide means are provided to urge the arms into the clamping position to grip the member as it passes through the tensioner.

Abstract: A detention unit is provided for retrieval of an elongated body (9), such as a cable. The unit includes two or more movable friction surfaces (1, 11) adapted to pull in the elongated body (9). The moveable friction surfaces (1, 11) are arranged relative to each other so that the elongated body (9) may bear or rest against at a part of at least two friction surfaces (1, 11) in a sequential manner. The part of the friction surfaces (1, 11) adapted to pull the elongated body (9) defines a arc section, and each friction surface is provided with a separate propulsion unit (3, 14).

Abstract: A device for retrieving ocean bottom seismic cable as the cable is pulled up from the bottom and hauled aboard a vessel. The cable is first led over a front wheel located on an arm which is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis. The cable is then passed under a second wheel before it is brought aboard the vessel, optionally via one or more additional wheels. A damper is provided between a fixed point on the arm, spaced apart from the axis and a fixed point on the vessel, so that the front wheel is raised in response to lower tension in the cable and is lowered in response to an increase in tension in the cable, thereby counteracting any variations in the tension of the cable.

Abstract: A winch device for snowmobiles, having a tensile member (34) and a centering harness (36), with tensile member (34) being configured to be removably attached to the track (24) of a snowmobile and centering harness (36) being configured to be removably attached to the front end of the snowmobile. In use, the centering harness provides support for a guide (38) that receives and guides tensile member (34). One end of tensile member (34) attaches to a track (24), and the other end attaches to some solid and secure object. When power is applied to the snowmobile, track (24) rotates, thereby propelling the snowmobile forward along the length of tensile member (34) and toward the solid and secure object to which the tensile member is attached.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for pulling on a line, such as a wire cable. The apparatus has a driving pulley with a circumferential groove in which a loop of the load run of the line is held. A pressure application unit is provided to press the line into the line groove towards the end of the loop. This unit has a guide piece around which a chain runs, with a running surface shaped to run parallel to the line groove which it opposes. Means are provided to press the guide unit and chain bodily onto the edge of the driving pulley, so that pressure elements spread along the chain press on the line loop. The pressure elements roll on rollers along the guide unit running surface, which is at least as long as two pressure elements so as to provide an even force on the line.

Abstract: The cable tensioner has a pair of elongated platforms mounted side-by-side on a base with each having drive and driven geared pulleys with geared idler pulleys therebetween arranged along the edge of the platform confronting the other platform. A geared endless belt encircles the pulleys on each platform and has a grooved exterior machined to match the cable being handled. The drive and driven pulleys are adjusted to tension the associated belts and the idler pulleys are pressed towards the idlers on the adjacent platform. The base is mounted to permit sideways motion plus pivoting, tilting and rising and falling as a unit.

Abstract: An apparatus including two automobile tires one mounted above the other with the treads in contact and counterrotating so as to pull a length of electric cable through the line of contact between the tires; a system of sprockets and chains to drive the two tires at the same speed, a system of gears to provide selection of several different rotational speeds of the tires; a housing for each tire, input shafts on the gear system to permit attachment by an electric hand drill to drive the apparatus; the two housings being connected by pivot pins permitting the housings to be opened and closed like a jaw, the pivot pins being readily removable to permit the two housings and their tires to be separated entirely from each other; and a releasable clamp to press the two tires against each other with an adjustable force.

Abstract: A cable handling apparatus draws in a cable, such as a seismic streamer, along a generally linear path and feeds the cable to a winch which winds in the cable from the apparatus under constant tension.

Abstract: A cable pulling/feeding apparatus comprises a fixed base, a cable pulling/feeding unit having a drive/brake unit for pulling or feeding a cable, a sensor supported on the fixed base so as to be movable in both directions in which the cable is pulled and fed for detecting a load imposed between the cable pulling/feeding unit and the fixed base and for generating an electric signal dependent on the load as detected, and structure for determining a load applied to the drive/brake unit in response to the electric signal when the cable is pulled or fed.

Abstract: An umbilical conveyor system for a diving bell, including an umbilical conveyor, a pressure wheel, and hydraulic motors for the conveyor. The conveyor is designed to feed umbilical life support lines from a diving bell into or out of a storage location over a controlled radius of curvature, thereby preventing binding, kinking, or stretching of the umbilical. The hydraulic motors maintain the rate of feed of the umbilical equal to the rate at which the diving bell is raised or lowered, while the pressure wheel insures that the conveyor system will firmly grip the umbilical.