Abstract: A lift system has a back panel and a seat panel to provide a seat for a user. The back panel is slidably mounted on a support column via slider so that the back panel can be moved up and down to adjust the seat height. The seat panel can be flipped back to accommodate a user in a standing posture. With the support column, the lift system can be attached to a wheeled frame, a pole, a rotatable arm, a wall or a ceiling depending on the need of the user.

Abstract: A wheelchair loading system facilitates loading of a wheelchair into a vehicle by the user of the wheelchair without additional assistance from another person. The system includes a rail assembly configured for coupling to a vehicle. A shuttle and a motor are each coupled to the rail assembly to move the shuttle on the rail assembly. A chair mount has a first end couplable to the shuttle and a second end configured for coupling to a wheelchair. The shuttle is positionable at a rearward end of the rail assembly positioning the wheelchair away from the rear door to allow the rear door to be opened while the wheelchair is coupled to the shuttle. A lift is configured for coupling to the vehicle and includes a strap having a free end configured for coupling to the wheelchair for lifting the wheelchair into the vehicle through the rear door.

Abstract: A hoist system for hoisting an object onto an all-terrain vehicle having a first vehicle end and a second vehicle end includes a winch configured for mounting on the vehicle at the first vehicle end. A cable may be engaged by the winch. The cable may have sufficient length to extend from the winch over the vehicle beyond the second vehicle end. At least one overhead cable guide assembly may be configured for mounting in upward-standing relationship on the vehicle between the first vehicle end and the second vehicle end. The at least one overhead cable guide assembly may support the cable. An all-terrain vehicle having a hoist system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a first power drive device, a second power drive device, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a baffle member, a first air guide passage, and a second air guide passage. The baffle member closes a space defined between the first power drive device and the second power drive device at a first end and a second end of the space. The first air guide passage houses the first heat sink. The first air guide passage is provided between a first partition wall and the first power drive device. The second air guide passage houses the second heat sink. The second air guide passage is provided between the first partition wall and the second power drive device.

Abstract: A portable crane for installing and removing windows. The portable crane for installing and removing windows includes a wheeled base with a platform having front and rear ends; a boom support assembly removably fastened to the wheeled base; and a boom assembly supported by the boom support assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling tension in a wireline (4), the apparatus comprising a reel (3) mounted on a vessel or surface platform for controlling a wire in a wireline operation, a primary drive means (5) between the reel and a subsea installation around which the wireline is wound and control means for synchronizing the operation of the driver with the reel.

Abstract: A winching apparatus includes a fairlead mounted to a vehicle and a fifth roller mounted below the fairlead that is positioned and sized such that the cable does not contact any portion of the vehicle between the fairlead and the fifth roller when the cable passes from the winch and under the vehicle.

Abstract: A portable hoist adapted for attachment to a hand truck nose plate is disclosed. The hoist comprises an adapter that sandwiches the nose plate, and a hole or holes may be fabricated in the nose plate for securing hardware to be installed, such as a bolt, bolts, strap, etc. Receivers on the hoist hold removable, load supportive legs securely in place. Casters may be attached to legs to improve mobility. A jib assembly capable of several height settings remains reasonably level at all times when in use, making it ideal for tight spaces. The pivot point of the arm is at end of the mast opposite the adapter assembly, the other end attaching to the handle of the hand truck and securing with a latch. A winch attached to the arm provides a cable extending to and about a sheave or sheaves, terminating beyond the sheave carried at the free end of the jib boom. A brace on the mast allows the arm latch to secure when the arm is collapsed.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the delivery rate of a linear element. The device forms a delivery path for the linear element between an inlet to the device at a delivery rate that is substantially constant and an outlet from the device at a delivery rate that is variable and substantially periodic and varies the length of the path of the linear element in application of a predetermined periodic relationship. The device includes a plurality of pulleys movable in rectilinear translation periodically in sinusoidal manner.

Abstract: A remotely controllable recovery vehicle winch/stabilizing system, having a vehicle bumper; a first pulley attached to the bumper's first end; a winch attached to bumper's second end; a second pulley approximately midway between the first pulley and said winch and adjacent a swivel sheave; a cable, directed by the first and second pulleys and the swivel sheave, to be wound or unwound about the winch, with the pulleys, the swivel sheave, and the winch operatively arranged with respect to each other so as to maintain the cable perpendicular, or nearly so, to the rotational axis of the drum as it is fed to or played off of the drum so as to prevent the cable from jamming as the cable is used to either recover or deposit an object, and a set of stabilizing legs each leg attached to said bumper so as to stabilize and secure the recovery or release apparatus.

Abstract: A cable guiding device includes a base, upper and lower guide members disposed along a longitudinal direction, in which two ends of the upper guide member are mounted on the base and two ends of the lower guide member are mounted on the base. A slider defining a central cavity is penetrated therethrough in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Upper and lower movable members are fitted slidably over the upper and lower guide members respectively, in which two ends of the upper movable member are mounted on two longitudinal side walls of the slider, and two ends of the lower movable member are mounted on two longitudinal side walls of the slider respectively. Upper and lower guiding rollers are fitted rotatably over the upper and lower movable members and disposed within the central cavity respectively.

Abstract: A lifting and lowering apparatus may include: at least one cable, at least one pulley connected to the at least one cable, at least one drive member connected to the at least one cable for driving the at least one cable in at least one direction, a moveable payload attachment member for attaching to a payload to be at least one of lifted and lowered, an attachment member guide attached to the moveable payload attachment member, and an alignment guide for positioning at a position. The moveable payload attachment member may be at least one of lifted and lowered by the at least one cable. Both the attachment member guide and the alignment guide may be shaped to force the attachment member guide into a pre-determined mating position and orientation against the alignment guide at the position.

Abstract: A side puller accessory frame for a tow truck having a cab and a truck frame mounts to the truck frame behind the cab. The accessory frame preferably includes two stiff legs, a wire rope winch mounted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck that provides pulling force via a removable pivotable center sheave that directs the pulling force to sides or the rear of the truck as desired. The accessory frame may include a removable pivotable side sheave that may mount in a side sheave mounting tube. The side puller accessory frame makes a conventional car carrier with a roll back bed a recovery truck.

Abstract: A winching apparatus includes a fairlead mounted to a vehicle and a fifth roller mounted below the fairlead that is positioned and sized such that the cable does not contact any portion of the vehicle between the fairlead and the fifth roller when the cable passes from the winch and under the vehicle.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system having a pulley attached to a building. A closed loop of cable is installed around the pulley. The loop is of sufficient length so as to reach, when deployed outside of the building, below the pulley to where emergency personnel gather in an area next to a base of the building (when responding to a disaster situation in the building). A winch around which the loop is to be operatively installed is located in the area next to the base. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A line tensioning system for regulating tension on a line having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is operatively connected to a drum. The line tensioning system comprises a frame, a first and second sets of rollers, and first and second sets of displacement assemblies. The frame defines first and second side edges. Each first and second displacement assembly is arranged to displace at least one of the first and second rollers relative to the first and second side edges of the frame, respectively. The line is arranged such that the line contacts the first and second rollers. The first and second displacement assemblies displace the first and second rollers relative to the first and second edges based on a tension on the line.

Abstract: A level winder is provided for winding cable in a winch system. The winch is suitable for use on a tracked vehicle, such as a snow grooming vehicle, to assist the vehicle in maneuvering on steep inclines. The level winder uses a pivoting pulley assembly to feed cable onto and off of a drum.

Abstract: A winch constructed with a fairlead frame providing a mounting base for the winch and providing a rotational support for a cable drum. Loads exerted on a cable and through the fairlead rollers and cable drum are transferred to the unitary fairlead frame members, and thus to the base to which the winch is mounted.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device is provided for use on a hoist of the type generally used for safety of personnel entering a manhole or the like which has a base for mounting on a support surface at the hole and a jib portion. A winch is mounted at one position on the hoist for paying out and pulling in a first cable which passes over the jib portion to a pulley at the jib end. A fall restraint device with a second cable is mounted at a different location on the host with the second cable extending upwardly from the hoist to a second pulley at the jib end. The shock absorbing device for the pulleys includes a common mounting member pivotally attached to the mounting element at the jib end for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal axis with a shock absorbing brake arranged to resist said pivotal movement up to a predetermined load limit such that a downward shock force from the load on at least one of the first and second pulleys causes the common member to pivot downwardly in a shock absorbing action.

Abstract: A pulling apparatus includes a frame having a securing stirrup for securing a beam. The beam is provided at one end with a return pulley. Due to the structure of the securing stirrup, the tractive forces are transferred completely to the beam and the frame so that the means for securing the apparatus to the ground can be minimized. Such a design easily allows the beam to be set at an angle when the pipe is off center. The apparatus may also be easily placed in a cable chamber for operation.

Abstract: A cable guide for a winch having a lifting drum over which a cable is wound back and forth between two end flanges. A guide body in the form of a truncated cone is slidably mounted upon a pinion that is located adjacent to one end of the drum, generally perpendicular to the axis of the drum. The guide body contains a groove at its narrow end in which the cable rides as it approaches the end of the drum. The guide smoothly plays the cable onto the drum so that it can reverse its direction without producing multiple wraps at the end of the drum. A spring biases the guide body into a home position to accommodate the cable during the time the first wrap is being wound on the drum. Thereafter, the guide automatically moves back against the spring force to automatically align itself with regard to further wrapped layers.

Abstract: A rope guiding device (1) for rope winches (W) comprises a stand with points of attachment for the attachment of a rope winch, which stand accommodates a rope guide (3) constituting the rope outlet and inlet and a guide roller (4) pivotally supported on this rope guide for deflecting the rope between rope winch and rope guide.

Abstract: A load lifting apparatus for enabling an individual user to lift a heavy weight. The load lifting apparatus includes a tricycle type base which supports a vertical beam. The vertical beam is height adjustable. The vertical beam supports a horizontal boom. The horizontal boom is capable of horizontal translational motion relative to the tip of the vertical beam. The horizontal boom has a pulley at each of its ends. A third pulley is supported by the vertical beam. A cable from a powered winch is routed around the pulleys and can have its free end attached to a load. The powered winch is attached to the vertical beam. The tricycle type base has a platform for supporting a counterweight. The powered winch can be operated under the control of the a user to draw in the cable and thus lift a load toward the horizontal boom.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved portable winch apparatus, which can be removably mounted to standard vehicular hitching arrangements to enable convenient winching in a plurality of pulling angles and planar orientations.

Abstract: A new logging tractor accessory for supporting a cable from grapple-style skidding implement. The inventive device includes a housing secured to an arch of a logging tractor equipped with grapple-style skidding elements. The housing includes a pair of upwardly extending side members disposed in a parallel relationship. Upper ends of the side members have a horizontal support extending therebetween. Three guide members are provided including an upper guide member and a pair of side guide members. The upper guide member extends between the upper ends of the side members in a horizontal orientation. The pair of side guide members are secured to leading edges of the side members. A roller is secured between the side members downwardly of the horizontal support. The roller receives a cable from the logging tractor thereover.

Abstract: A monopod anchoring device for facilitating the entry or removal of a workman or equipment into a cavity. The device is adapted to engage an eyelet or the like that extends from a support structure located above the cavity and includes a head member and a leg member extending downwardly therefrom. Secured to one side of the head member is a pulley assembly. A safety device is secured to the leg member and includes a housing with a drum and a drum shaft mounted therein and a safety line that is adapted to be wrapped around the drum. The safety line is positioned over the pulley assembly and has one end secured to the drum and another end secured to the object to be raised or lowered. A hook extends upwardly from the head member in order to secure the monopod anchoring device to the eyelet. Secured to the end of the leg member distal the hook is a transverse cross member which has a pair of feet extending downwardly therefrom for frictionally engaging a support surface.

Abstract: A boom point construction connects the for and aft mountings of a sheave swivel to the major structural elements of a boom. The boom point includes a framework of elongated members joined together to form a truss. The framework includes assemblies of at least three members joined together at one common point and extending in different directions from the point to define three different planes. Two of the assemblies extend from opposite sides of the front swivel support and another of the assemblies extends from the rear swivel support. A member of the assemblies from the front swivel support is connected to members of the assembly extending from the rear swivel support. The boom point is shown connecting the swivel to a boom having either three or four major longitudinal structural elements.

Abstract: A control assembly for moving and guiding a vehicle onto and off of a bed of a towing vehicle includes a plurality of anchors affixed to the bed at various spaced apart locations and pin mounted pulleys releasably received in selected ones of those anchors. A cable from a winch that is located in the forward end of the bed is guided by the pulleys so that a vehicle can be moved onto or off of that bed using the most effective and efficient angles and directions of force that can be altered as necessary to meet the exact conditions encountered by the towing vehicle based on the orientation and position of the towing vehicle relative to the towed vehicle.

Abstract: A straddle-type crane having the load-lifting mechanism positioned rearwardly of the transversely-extending cross beam used to effect the parallel spacing of the longitudinally-extending upper support beams from which the load-lifting mechanism is supported. Each of the load-lifting mechanisms is laterally movable relative to the upper support beams, from which they are carried, to facilitate the positioning of the load-lifting mechanism relative to the upper support beam and the load which is to be carried therein.

Abstract: A trailed skidder vehicle driven from the power take-off of a tractor or other power driving vehicle performs the operations of a conventional skidder. The trailed skidder vehicle has an elongate structural frame supported by an axle and set of wheels at the rear end of the frame. The axle includes a differential drive for coordinated drive of the set of wheels. A load bearing superstructure arch-like support extends above the frame adjacent to the rear end. The arch support is constructed with braces on the frame for transmitting forces from a load applied at the top of the arch support to the axles. A superstructure cable bearing such as a cable roller arrangement or fairlead is mounted on the arch support for guiding and bearing a timber skidding cable. A winch is mounted on the frame forward of the superstructure arch support for extending and retracting a timber skidding cable over the cable bearing or roller arrangement.

Abstract: A stable movable metal frame mat transport rack useful for storing and transporting an entire three section wrestling mat. The rack contains a winch cable hoist mechanism for lifting and lowering the mat sections to and from storage positions on the rack.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuated winch adapted to be manually mounted and dismounted from a three point hitch of a farm tractor. The winch is mounted on a specialized mounting member that is specifically designed to quickly mount onto the link connections of the three point hitch. Quick connections are provided on the hydraulic lines of the winch adapted to quick connect into the hydraulic power source of the tractor.

Abstract: A wrecker for towing disabled automobiles and the like has attachment fittings on the rear bumper each for securing a scotch block chain and a snatch block to the bumper at the same location on the bumper. When an automobile is being winched into towing position, buckling forces exerted on the bumper by tension developed in the scotch block chains are counterbalanced by forces exerted on the bumper by tension developed in the winching cable which is passed around pulleys on the snatch blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus is described permitting rapid rehanging of fallen freight bracing bulkheads and trolleys, comprising a movable shaft mounted on the existing trolley tracks, a portable winch for raising detached bulkheads, and a ceiling jack, attachable to said movable shaft, causing the apparatus to be suitable for raising fallen bulkhead trolleys.

Abstract: A stationary upright frame is arranged to be mounted on the rear of a tractor and has a horizontal axis fair-lead drum over which choker cables from the drive drum of the tractor are reeved. The horizontal axis fair-lead drum is slidably supported in the upright frame for vertical adjustment by fluid operated cylinders whereby the drum can be moved from a low center of gravity position to an elevated position which holds the choker cables up off the ground.

Abstract: A skidding grapple having a self-propelled vehicle equipped with a saddle carrying a boom and grapple horizontally and vertically swingable thereon, a fairlead assembly removably mounted atop the saddle and a winch having a line reeled thereon positioned forward of the saddle and the line passing through the fairlead assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle for removing slash from steep logging slopes includes an anti-skid propulsion system characterized by a power winch for reeling in an uphill-anchored cable and a pair of crawler tracks (or large tires) driven in synchronization with the winch. The vehicle has an articulating tail boom for working against the cable to assist in maneuvering the vehicle along the slope and stabilizing the vehicle during slash gathering operations. A knuckle boom which is extendable from the vehicle has a grapple for gathering slash within a relatively large area around the vehicle. Removal of slash from the operating site of the vehicle is accomplished by transporting the slash to an access landing using a mobile slash wagon or by chipping the slash using a chipper mounted on the vehicle and then pneumatically carrying the chips through a pipe to a storage van at an access landing remote from the vehicle.

Abstract: A log skidder (10) has a fairlead (26) with a main guide roller (54) having a special contoured surface (60) to prevent grooving of the surface of the guide roller (54), to prolong cable life, and to assist in evenly winding the cable (32) on a winch drum (33). The special contoured surface (60) of the guide roller (54) includes a pair of shaped or rounded shoulders (68) at the side extremes which are aligned with the side rollers (44,46) in a way that a cable (32) passing over the main guide roller (54) in contact with one of the side rollers (44,46) receives a downward and inward centering force component which moves the cable (32) toward the midportion of the main guide roller (54).

Abstract: A bumper for a vehicle equipped with a power operated winch. The bumper being longitudinally slidable in a guide that is pivoted to the vehicle on a fore-and-aft axis so the bumper can be placed in either a horizontal position to serve as a vehicle bumper or in a vertical position where it is also vertically slidable. A combined pulley and guide is positionable on either the guide or the bumper so that a cable from the winch can slide the bumper upwardly to function as a jack or lifter for an external load or to slide the bumper downwardly to function as a jack to lift the vehicle itself. A further pulley can be mounted on a wing pivoted to an end of the bumper and the winch cable can thus be directed over that further pulley to function as a hoist. Locking pins are provided to lock the bumper in selected positions along its guide.

Abstract: A crane trolley is movable by means of rollers on the lower flange of a runway girder, the crane trolley having a hoist, the latter being inserted in one of the two sides plates of the crane trolley. The load chain of the host is guided by means of guide rollers. The chain is fastened with one end to the crane trolley and is driven by the load chain wheel of the hoist and carries the lower block with the load hook. The hoist is arranged off-set in the longitudinal direction of the crane trolley relative to the lower block and the load chain is guided over two additional guide rollers in S-shape between the load chain wheel of the hoist and the pulling chain portion of the lower block.