Abstract: A safety device for preventing injuries to a worker as a result of a fall includes a housing which is intended to be supported at an elevated position where the worker is working and a cable which is adapted to be connected to a harness or belt worn by the worker. The housing includes a spring driven drum therein which normally keeps the cable wound thereon but which allows the same to be withdrawn slowly from the housing as more cable is needed by the worker. A centrifugally operated brake senses an initial quick withdrawal of the cable from the housing which results from the worker falling and stops further withdrawal therefrom to thereby prevent the worker from falling further. A hand operated winch mechanism carried by the housing allows a fellow worker to raise the fallen worker to safety.

Abstract: There is disclosed a clutch/brake mechanism of the "disc" type wherein the coacting friction producing members are severally configured of frusto-conical and planar form whereby sealing contact is maintained at the peripheral surfaces thereof when in a brake-released condition to thereby prevent entrance of external contaminants into the brake-clutch mechanism.

Abstract: A cable tensioning device having a frame, a cable-winding drum carried in the frame, ratchet wheel means attached to the drum, a reciprocable handle bearing a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet wheel means, and a holding pawl normally limiting rotation of the drum to a single direction. The ratchet wheel means may comprise a pair of toothed ratchet wheels respectively spaced on either side of the drum, and engageable with a driving pawl having similarly spaced teeth to provide symmetrical driving of the drum.

Abstract: An improved winch is provided which is useful in tightening and adjusting ropes, rigging, lines and sheets. The winch includes a rotatable winch member having a central non-circular aperture extending therethrough and a crank member having a shaft portion which has a non-circular cross-section complementary with the shape of the aperture and interengageable therewith so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the winch member. A handle member is hinged to the upper end of the shaft portion so as to pivot between an operating position at right angles with the shaft portion to facilitate rotation of the shaft portion and winch member and an inoperative stowable position projecting from the end of the shaft portion in alignment with the axis thereof.

Abstract: An automotive parking brake operating device in which, when the brake handle is pulled up a locking mechanism which moves with the brake handle rotates a rotating member to wind the brake cable around the winding portion of the rotating member, and when the brake handle is lowered the rotating member is kept locked by another locking mechanism. By repeating the above operation of the brake handle, the rotating member is intermittently rotated until necessary length of the brake cable is wound up to effect firm locking of the parking brake. In disengaging the brake, the cable is loosened by turning the rotating member in the reverse direction by combined operation of the locking mechanism and the brake handle.

Abstract: A winch arrangement having a feed wheel for feeding a hauling line, such as a line through the winch. The wheel is driven in the feed direction by means of a reciprocatingly movable member, such as a pivotable lever. The lever is pivoted with the aid of the outgoing part of the line, by effecting a pumping movement therewith.

Abstract: An overload indication device for a lever hoist comprises an operating lever consisting of a main lever and a handle having one end pivoted to the main lever, a spring for normally holding the handle in an aligned position with the main lever, a magnification lever for deforming the spring by the rocking movement of the handle by a force corresponding to an overloading and a warning device for warning of the overloading, such as a buzzer, whistle or colored indicator adapted to be operated when the handle rocks to assume an angular position relative to the main lever.

Abstract: A ratchet device which comprises a rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, first and second ratchet means through which the driving member rotates the driven member when the driving member is rotated in respective first and second directions, and means which automatically permits to-and-fro movement of the driving member to enable the driven member to be turned in one direction by alternate strokes of said driving member.

Abstract: A resettable lockout means for an overload indicating winch lever is disclosed that automatically trips in response to overload applied to the lever forcing the lever members out of normal operating alignment and actuating an associated overload indicator. The winch operator desiring to remove the tell-tale overload indication and to restore the members of the operating lever into normal operating alignment is required to reset the lockout device through a deliberate procedure involving removal of a lockout device holder, followed by manual resetting of the lockout device within the winch lever.