Abstract: A winch assembly for mounting on a boat trailer having a casing substantially enclosing the conventional winch apparatus, and including adjustable mounting provisions for maintaining the winch strap in alignment with and close proximity to a bow stop for proper securement to the bow eye of the boat for loading purposes, regardless of the position of the winch assembly on the boat trailer.

Abstract: A windlass for offshore structures comprises power mechanism (18) for rotation of a chain wheel (13) about a horizontal axis (24a) during maneuvering of an anchor chain (14) extending between an anchor and a chain box (15). The chain wheel (13) is rotatably supported in a wheel housing (24) which is pivotable about a vertical shaft (22) below the operating water line (OD) of the structure and on the outside of its planking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a hose storage reel and mounting it to a vehicular platform to allow a high degree of rotational and lateral positioning alignment of hose dispensal to and retrieval from a selected dispatch point.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotatably mounting a winch within an enclosed housing wherein the apparatus comprises a housing with an access opening, a winch located in the housing, first and second platforms, means for securing the second platform in order to prevent rotation, means for detachably mounting the winch to the second platform, and coupling means for attaching the first and second platforms in a manner such that the second platform rotates with respect to the first platform.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hoist for lifting a fire hydrant from its underlying upright feeding pipe. The hoist comprises an inverted L-shaped post with a manually-operated cable winch. The post is supported on a semi-circular base collar which fits the top coupling flange of the feeding pipe. This collar has top and bottom inwardly extending flanges for embracing the above-noted coupling flange. A toggle lever clamp locks the collar in position. The collar has a lateral extension on which the post is mounted to clear the fire hydrant. The post can be rotated to swing the fire hydrant laterally of the feeding pipe to facilitate access to the interior of the same. A latching mechanism latches the post in any of a plurality of rotated positions.

Abstract: Pulley hoists are disclosed which provide moving anchor hooks that are suspended by two "pulls" of rope, and which may be fabricated by a single part. Anchor hooks are also disclosed which have multiple, independently movable hook portions so that certain large objects may be moved using a sole power unit having said anchor hooks at either end thereof. The anchor hooks of the present invention are also provided with tension indicator apparatuses and safety apparatuses in the event of the overloading of the device. Safety apparatus and sound alarm apparatus are also provided on the power units of the pulley hoists of the present invention in the event of the overloading of the device.

Abstract: A pulling head adapted for use with a crystal growing furnace and a crystal growing furnace containing such pulling head, which furnace comprises a high and low speed seed lift motor, a seed rotation motor, a rotatable platform about the upper portion of the furnace, a winch mounted on the platform and adapted for rotation about its own axis to maintain a cable on a central vertical axis, a cable about the winch, one end of the cable adapted to hold a seed crystal within a sealed vacuum or inert atmosphere of the furnace and a multiple-stage planetary gear differential mechanism to receive the output motions of both seed lift motors and the seed rotation motor and to provide a first seed rotation motion output to rotate the platform and a second output to rotate the winch, the second output being the weighted sum of the input motion of the speed ranges of the seed lift motors to provide a seed lift motion which is independent of the speed rotation motor, thereby providing a pulling head which combines the inp

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a fire escape for the lowering of a plurality of escapees to the ground. Included in the present structure is a shaft, a spool journalled upon the shaft, a cable having a first and second end, the first end secured to the journal of the spool, in which the cable has a length generally equal to the distance of the spool above the ground. Also provided are body securement means affixed to the second end of the cable for use by the escapee. Further provided is a flywheel which is rotationally coupled to the spool; the flywheel constitutes a means for acquiring and storing angular momentum developed therein during descent of the cable to the ground. Also included in the present inventive fire escape are means for rotationally transferring the angular momentum from the flywheel back to the spool to thereby effectuate the rewinding of the cable so that the body securement means can thereby be used by the next escapee. Further provided are descent and ascent angular velocity limit means.

Abstract: A pivotable support mechanism for an aircraft rescue hoist or the like. The pright position provides sufficient structural strength to support objects to be lifted by the hoist. The swing-away position provides clearance for access to other equipment without requiring removal of the hoist from the aircraft.

Abstract: A cable drive mechanism wherein a cable member comprising a plurality of individual cables disposed in side by side relation to form a flat member is successively wrapped around at least one cable wheel in one rotational direction and around at least one tension wheel in an opposite rotational direction, the tension wheel being mounted on pivot arms and connected to drive motors such that rotation of the tension wheel induces an angular moment in the pivot arms to urge the tension wheel toward the cable wheel in order to provide gripping friction on the cable member between the cable wheel and the tension wheel sufficient to overcome the inertia of the cable during start-up.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping oil or other fluids from the earth is disclosed as using a submersible pump which is suspended in a hole drilled into the earth by means of a flexible cable. Encased in a flexible sheath with the cable are a power cable for the pump and a flexible hose to carry the oil from the pump to the surface of the earth. Control and signal wires may also be encased in the sheath for connection to transducers mounted on the pump. The pump may be easily inserted into or removed from the hole by using a reeling mechanism on the surface of the earth. The pump itself may comprise a submersible motor connected to a rotary to linear motion transducer that causes a pump barrel to reciprocate. The pump barrel moves over a stationary pump plunger, and there are ball check valves in both the barrel and plunger to control the entrance and exit of oil.

Abstract: An assembly designed to strip carpet or like floor covering from the surface of a floor to which it is directly adhered as by adhesive or the like wherein a gripping jaw is affixed to a carpet portion to be stripped and interconnected to an anchored driving assembly in the form of a winch and interconnecting cable. Activation of the winch causes a pulling force exerted on the gripping jaw and steadily pulls and thereby strips the carpet from the surface to which it was adhered.

Abstract: A crab pot line hauler in which an upright sheave support plate in the hauler head assembly is configured to serve as a continuing part of an outboard-extending cantilever swiveling support extending laterally from an upright post, and also to serve as a combined water splash guard and line loop whip guard for the hauler sheave, the multifunction support plate leaves the sheave open around its periphery for viewing of the line and ready accessibility to the line in order to clear it of incoming line knots and debris.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus produces constant tension in superconducting electrical cable, or some other strand, under conditions of intermittent demand, as the cable is unreeled from a reel or reeled thereon.

Abstract: A net-hauling, power-driven block, the frame of which is suspended from a trolley movable along a track extending between upward extensions of the frame sides. A hydraulic motor on the trolley drives a pinion which engages a sector gear parallel to the trolley track so as to vary the tilt of the block sheave as required to restore seating of the moving net in the sheave groove.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing winch comprising a drive shaft reversibly rotatable by a drive unit and having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, a hollow winch drum surrounding the drive shaft and forming a cylindrical hollow space therein around the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, a first stopper fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft at a suitable location in the circumferential direction thereof, a second stopper fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the winch drum at a suitable location in the circumferential direction thereof and dividing the cylindrical space into first and second circular arc compartment between the first and second stoppers, a first shock absorber disposed in the first compartment, and a second shock absorber disposed in the second compartment. Since the winch does not require provision of another shock absorber independently thereof, the winch can be installed without the limitation that would be needed, for example, for rigging a ship.

Abstract: A pickup winch is provided and consists of a manual winch; an elongated horizontal frame, a plate affixed to the bottom of the manual winch and affixed to the center of the elongated horizontal frame, a pair of vertical posts affixed perpendicular and downward from each end of the elongated horizontal frame that removably mounts the stake pockets in the side walls of the cargo bed of a pickup truck, a pulley to engage the cable of the manual winch, a channel affixed perpendicular and downward from bottom of the plate having a plurality of transverse apertures in the side walls of the channel, a bolt placed within one set of the transverse apertures in the side walls of the channel to hold the pulley, a nut threaded onto the end of the bolt, an eye bolt affixed perpendicular and upward from one end of the elongated horizontal frame, an extension rod placed through the eye bolt and affixed to the shaft of the manual winch and a crank removably connected to the free end of the extension rod.

Abstract: A winch includes a rotatable drum unit (11) for carrying a load hauling cable wound therearound. The drum unit (1) is rotated by a motor (25) connected to a gear assembly (41). The drum unit (11), motor (25), and gear assembly (41) are carried by a supporting structure including first and second stands (12, 13) arranged on each side of the drum unit (11). The first stand (12) comprises a hollow bearing body (26) mounted to a yielding member (56) of the stand (12). The bearing body extends into the drum unit (11) and has axially spaced external bearing means (31, 32) for journalling said drum unit (11). The bearing body (26) also includes means (29, 30, 49) for carrying said motor (25) and at least partly said gear assembly (41) which is located in the drum unit (11).

Abstract: The improved crab pot line hauler's drive motor, sheave and associated line guide means having a common support are mounted as a composite unit on pivotal support bearings that permit the unit to revolve freely about a fixed bearing axis in addressing itself to the incoming line being hauled and that restrain the unit against other bodily motion. Placement of the center of mass of the hauler unit at or closely adjacent to such pivot bearing axis assures its relatively steady orientation in operative relation to the incoming line with minimal line deflection force acting on it to do this. Polar moment of inertia about such bearing axis being also made relatively small by such mounting system, quickness of response of the unit to changing line approach direction is also achieved, a major advantage in stormy weather.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for lifting and/or lowering heavy objects such as drill pipe, drill collars and the like to and from the elevated floor of a drilling rig from a lower storage position including an endless loop cable rove in a single layer in wide spaced grooves on a pivotably mounted rotatable drum and a deep, wide grooved sheave mounted substantially vertically on a load aligning floor pole with means for pivoting the rotatable drum to slacken or tension the cable to vary the elevation of the object being carried on free running trolly means and means for automatically preventing overloading of the cable.