Abstract: This unmanned aerial vehicle has: a main body; a plurality of rotary wings provided on the main body; a wire for suspending an object from the main body; a hook attached to the wire; a winch for rotatably supporting a spool on which the wire is wound in the forward and backward directions, winding the wire by rotating the spool in the forward direction and unwinding the wire by rotating the spool in the backward direction; and a controller for restricting the backward rotation of the spool when the tension of the wire becomes less than a first threshold value, and restricting the forward rotation of the spool when the tension of the wire becomes less than the first threshold value and becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value, which is less than a gravitational force acting on the hook.

Abstract: A winch system includes a cable storage system (34), a drive system (30) and a deployment system to deploy a cable having a hook system attached thereto. A right angle sheave (46) guides the cable between the cable storage system and the drive system. The drive system includes a dual mode transmission that provides high speed capabilities when moderate to no load is being lifted, while also providing high torque for heavy lift operations at low speeds. The deployment system is rated to support a maximum hook load and is mounted to the airframe for pivotable movement about a deployment axis to enable large cable exit angles.

Abstract: A winch system includes a cable storage system (34), a drive system (30) and a deployment system to deploy a cable having a hook system attached thereto. A right angle sheave (46) guides the cable between the cable storage system and the drive system. The drive system includes a dual mode transmission that provides high speed capabilities when moderate to no load is being lifted, while also providing high torque for heavy lift operations at low speeds. The deployment system is rated to support a maximum hook load and is mounted to the airframe for pivotable movement about a deployment axis to enable large cable exit angles.

Abstract: A length-adjustable chain mount and storage box apparatus is mounted to a vertically-movable support structure of a vehicle and arranged so that only a selected outer end length portion of a lift chain need to be pulled from the confines of a storage box whereupon the lift chain is supportingly secured at the selected extended length for connection of its free end to a load to be lifted by operation of the vertically movable structure of the vehicle. When the lifting operation is completed and the lift chain disconnected from the load, the extended portion of the lift chain is simply trained back into the storage box where it is stored without any interference to the normal operation of the vehicle and ready for immediate use when another lifting operation is required.

Abstract: A ground support system for wire rope of a hoist that includes a support, and at least two tension capstans aligned on the support. Each of the tension capstans is rotatable, and each of the tension capstans has at least one annular groove engageable with the wire rope. An inspection device is mounted to the support to inspect the wire rope. A take-up member rotatably is mounted on the support and has an inner receiving area for receiving the wire rope. A drive member is coupled to one of the tension capstans and to the take-up member. The drive member rotates the one of the tension capstans and the take-up member and applies a load to the wire rope.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tension ratchet with a belt magazine, for rapidly fixing a good to be transported to a vehicle, an object to a support, or several objects to each other. The tension ratchet (30) is combined with a belt magazine (1) which receives the entire idle belt supply during use and during storage and ensures rapid tying down/releasing of e.g. a transport load, due to constant availability for use; as well as tidy storage. The belt magazine (1) is arranged in such a way that it lies flat on the lower arm of the tension ratchet (30) in order to reduce the construction height, with a vertical belt winding up shaft (15) for receiving a belt to be wound up in horizontal rotation. The belt runs into the tension ratchet out of the belt magazine on its back side in the winding position, rotates about 90° in said tension ratchet and is then led out through the load tensioning roller (8).

Abstract: A portable, motorized chain driver for lifting and lowering loads by attaching the chain driver to a manual chain hoist for driving the chain. The chain driver comprises a chain and rotor housing attached to a compact electrical or gas driver unit with an angled head, a gear reduction and a handle with direction and speed controls. The chain and rotor housing comprises two halves which include integral chain guides, a central rotor and clutch area and a drive source mount. The chain driver is particularly useful for driving manual chain driven hoists and garage doors.

Abstract: A reel-less line retriever suitable for rescue work provides open housing and guides such as may receive a flexible line along its length without threading through the guides and housing to be positioned between a pair of engaging wheels. The wheels are compressed about the line by a trigger mechanism and activated by a crank so as to discharge the line loosely into a following bucket or other suitable container. A handle may be held by an operator allowing the device to be supported in one hand with control of the trigger with one finger of that hand while the other hand is used to activate the crank. The line may be fully removed from the device and the device from the container for storage or ready access to the line.

Abstract: A reel-less line retriever suitable for rescue work provides open housing and guides such as may receive a flexible line along its length without threading through the guides and housing to be positioned between a pair of engaging rollers. The rollers are compressed about the line by a trigger mechanism and activated by a crank so as to discharge the line loosely into a following bucket or other suitable container. A handle may be held by an operator allowing the device to be supported in one hand with control of the trigger with one finger of that hand while the other hand is used to activate the crank. The line may be fully removed from the device and the device from the container for storage or ready access to the line and reduced drag.

Abstract: A hoisting apparatus is provided to facilitate maintenance of a load such as luminaires used at high elevations under safe working conditions. The apparatus comprises at least one cable, a load holder for holding the load, a base secured to a ceiling of a structure, and coupled to the load holder through the cable, and a drive unit for moving the load holder up and down by use of the cable between a top position where the load holder is located adjacent to the base, and a bottom position where the load holder is spaced from the base. The load holder has cable-length adjust unit for adjusting a length of the cable to stop the load holder at a desired position between the top and bottom positions.

Abstract: A chain hoist, includes a chain which is trained over first and second sprockets defining a movement path for the chain, with the first sprocket being connected to a load-bearing member, and with the second sprocket being part of a drive unit for operating the chain. In order to effectively prevent chain vibrations caused by the so-called polygon effect, the chain hoist includes a damping unit which is positioned in the movement path of the chain for damping vibration.

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 guide structure for guiding rope into turns of a helically wound arrangement of the rope upon a generally cylindrical capstan rotating to receive helical turns of the rope thereon, includes a helically ramped guide surface upon which the rope travels in winding into said turns and a support base formed on said guide structure and spaced from said guide surface. The guide structure has a coupling structure arranged for adjustably fixed coupling to a support structure on which the capstan is rotatably mounted. Multiple coupling structures are arranged to enable adjustably fixing spacial orientation of the ramped surface in relation to the capstan, in order to directionally adjust feed of the rope from the ramped guide surface onto the capstan to induce orderly arrangement of the rope turns on the capstan. In one embodiment, an annular arrangement of coupling sockets are provided on a rear support surface of the guide structure.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for pulling well pipe upwardly through a well includes a well pipe hauling head which incorporates two opposed, inwardly tapering discs which are adapted to frictionally engage well pipe therein by only a quarter-turn engagement with the pipe. This allows for easy manual engagement and disengagement of the well pipe with the hauling head. The hauler head is mounted with suitable mounting apparatus permitting the hauler head to be freely rotatable in a supported position adjacent a well. The apparatus may be provided with a reduction gear box so that it may be actuated by a portable power drill.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating a winch, in which a rope which is wound onto a driven reel is supplied to at least one capstan head and wound around said capstan head, with a capstan drive rotating the capstan head and producing a rope advance due to the rope friction existing between rope and capstan head. Moreover, the present invention relates to a corresponding device. As an improvement of the method and the device, the invention suggests a reel drive which is adjusted separately next to the capstan drive.

Abstract: A push-pull chain garage door operator system includes a drive module and an elongated guide rail for a push-pull chain connected to a carriage assembly mounted on the guide rail. The chain is engaged with a sprocket mounted on a generally rectangular plate-like molded plastic support member which includes a serpentine idle chain storage slot formed therein. The support member is releasably connected to a stamped metal frame plate for covering the storage slot and supporting the drive module. The bottomwall of the support member supports a right angle speed reduction drive unit connected to a drive motor retained in a cradle formed by an integral boss on the support member. The motor and a starting capacitor therefor are retained in respective cradle portions of the boss by a removable retaining strap. A control circuit board is mounted on the underside of the support member and a two-part shroud for the operator mechanism is releasably secured to the frame plate.

Abstract: A marine seismic cable deployment and retrieval system for utilization in conjunction with a marine vessel. The present, searched for invention teaches a large wheel mounted in the front of the vessel for retrieving seismic cable from the water, and a horizontally mounted cable handler comprising an eight wheel cable puller for pulling the cable, the cable puller comprising four pairs of tires in frictional, rotational contact with one another along their outer surfaces, configured to frictionally grab and pull a seismic cable along a linear path. A smaller rear cable puller further urges the cable to the rear of the vessel, and down into the main deck via a chute arrangement.

Abstract: A frame apparatus is constructed to be mounted on and conformed to the trunk of a tree for use by arborists in handling loads involved in an arbor rigging procedure. The frame apparatus engages a curved surface of the trunk of the tree at three triangularly disposed locations. In one embodiment an angled spike structure at one lower end of the frame structure penetrates the trunk at an angle which utilizes circumferential shifting and inward pulling of the frame apparatus on the tree to secure the frame apparatus to the tree. In another embodiment resilient pads are mounted at each of the three triangularly disposed locations for resiliently gripping the opposed portion of the trunk to minimize damage to the tree.

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 keeper is disclosed for releasable attachment to a chain in order to support a gathered length of the chain at a safe, yet accessible overhead location above the ground surface. The keeper includes a tubular body which can be used to accumulate a length of chain. A finger at an upward, open end of the body may be releasably hooked between openings of adjacent links of the chain in order to suspend the keeper and the accumulated chain length at the selected elevation. The finger is preferably resilient or, alternatively, pivotal to facilitate disengagement of the keeper from the chain by simply pulling downwardly on the keeper handle. The keeper may be completely removed from the chain by pulling forcibly downward on the keeper to disengage the finger from the chain and allow the keeper and chain to move downwardly to the point where the keeper becomes completely disengaged from the chain.

Abstract: A hoist and method are provided for lifting objects inside a vessel having a wall defining a port and having a platform on the exterior of the wall. The hoist includes a frame with a support portion extending outwardly from the port adjacent the platform and a cantilevered portion for extending through, and inwardly from, the port. A suitable clamping system is provided for clamping the frame support portion to the platform. A hoist cable is provided along the frame from the support portion to the cantilevered portion and extends over a sheave at the end of the cantilevered portion so that it hangs down inside the vessel. A winch is operatively engaged with the hoist cable and is mounted to the frame support portion for feeding out and retracting the cable whereby the end of the cable may be raised and lowered inside the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for retrieving an elongated flexible cable-type member such as a thick electrical cable used at airports to supply power to airliners, which stores the cable in a bin in a manner that avoids repeated twisting of the cable and the consequent possibility of jamming. A horizontally-extending roller lies behind a front opening in the bin to support the cable. The roller is able to freely shift from side to side, to encourage the cable to store in repeated figure-8 loops that have no net twist.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use at an airport for drawing in and paying out an electric cable, which reliably grips the cable even when it is covered with a slippery anti-freeze fluid used at airports. The apparatus includes a motor-driven traction wheel against which the cable is pressed, with the periphery of the wheel being concave and having a radius of curvature about the same as the cable so the cable can closely nest in it. The wheel has closely spaced treads that press through fluid on the cable to grip it, and has a circumferentially extending groove through which fluid can drain. The cable is pressed against the wheel by rollers that have concave peripheries to also closely surround the cable.

Abstract: In an aircraft cable feed out and retrieval storage apparatus, a storage compartment communicates with an assembly housing, having an inclined wall connecting between the two, with the assembly housing incorporating a base that mounts a pair of friction wheels, one of the wheels being an idler wheel, that is shiftable, and can exert pressure upon the ground cable arranged intermediate thereof, so that upon energization of a motor operatively associated with the other frictional drive wheel, the ground cable can be fed out, or retrieved, as required; the apparatus can be installed suspended to the underside of the passenger tunnel of an airline terminal, supported upon legs for mounting to the ground, or be conveyed upon wheels, and moved through actuation of a handle. The base of the assembly housing is pivotally mounted, or removable, to provide immediate access to its operating components and to facilitate their prompt servicing.

Abstract: In a portable cable winch the smooth shell of a motor-driven cable drum is provided with at least one conical surface having an angle of inclination corresponding to the angle of friction between the load-bearing cable and the cable drum. A clamping disk driven in synchronism with the cable drum pulls the load-bearing cable away from the smaller-diameter end of the conical surface and towards a cable storing means. The cable has applied thereto a clamping force which is transmitted as a pulling force back to the cable section to be drawn in via the conical surface. In an embodiment in which the shell of the cable drum is subdivided into two conical surfaces having identical angles of inclination but being disposed on the axis of the cable drum extending in opposite directions, it is possible also to employ the cable winch for raising and lowering loads upon the direction of rotation of the cable drum being reversed to alternatingly guide the cable onto the one or the other of the two conical surfaces.

Abstract: A fixed position machine for coiling down a cable (8) in successive layers inside a tank (1) comprises a horizontal arm (12) rotatably mounted on a column situated (11) on the axis of the tank. The cable to be coiled down passes under the tank and round an inlet curve (22) fitted with rolls (21) to pass up through the column, over a fixed guide pulley (15) at the top of the column to deflect the cable to run horizontally along the arm, and then over a moving pulley (16) which is movable along the arm to direct the cable coming from the fixed guide pulley down into the tank above any point between the sides of the tank. Such a machine is mainly for coiling down electric cable in very long single-piece lengths and in tanks with little head room.

Abstract: In a chain sheave/chain-rope system wherein an end of a chain is connected to an end of a rope via a splice member, guide members are provided on the splice member for cooperation with guide members within a hawsehole that precedes the chain sheave. As a result of this cooperation, the splice member and the chain attached thereto are brought into the correct position for engagement prior to their entry onto the chain sheave.

Abstract: A continuous cable winch having at least one cable drum arranged within the winch frame, and a cable storage drum located externally of the frame for receiving a non-loaded cable section which is disposed with play in a guide which surrounds the cable and is located in the region between the winch frame and the cable storage drum. The ends of the guide are respectively secured on the winch frame and on the cable storage drum. The guide is flexible, and has radially open portions over its periphery. The guide may be a helical spring, the coils or windings of which are spaced from one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for pulling an electric cable or wire between two locations such as along the length of a pipeline is described including an engine mounted in the box of a truck and having a pinch wheel operatively connected thereto. A torque balanced pulling rope is extended around the pinch wheel and passes through spaced-apart sheaves mounted on the pipeline. The free end of the rope is connected to the electric cable which is to be pulled along the length of the pipeline. The rope passes from the pinch wheel to an automatic rope tender mounted on a trailer positioned rearwardly of the truck. The automatic rope tender is operated at a slightly greater grade than the sheave wheel and deposits or drops the rope into a storage container. The automatic rope tender includes means for lifting the storage container from the ground to enable the container to be moved from one location to another.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake assembly for incorporation into chain hoists and the like includes a planar disk slidably secured to the output shaft of a pneutmatic motor by complementary splines. The disk is biased toward a planar surface and when in contact with such surface, inhibits rotation of the motor output shaft. Compressed air is supplied to both the pneumatic motor and the brake assembly through a network of passageways and check valves. Compressed air supplied to one face of the brake disk, translates the disk, disengaging it from the planar surface and permitting output shaft rotation.

Abstract: A device for collecting chains or the like in a manner suitable for storage and/or transport. A chain guide is adapted to be displaced, while the chain is fed, e.g., from a chain manufacturing plant, over a collection station along a cyclically repeated movement path, so that the chain hanging freely from the chain guide is laid down at the collection station in a number of well-defined loops.

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 weather-protected, self-loading car-top carrier adapted to transport bulky loads and described in an embodiment suited for the transport of small motorized vehicles such as used by handicapped persons comprises a fixed rail assembly and a weather-protected carrier which, in response to operator control, moves along the rail assembly to provide access to a weather-protected storage space encompassed by the carriage assembly and includes provision for the automatic loading, under operator control, of bulky, heavy, awkward loads which would be difficult to handle by most persons and essentially impossible by one having limited or no use of their lower limbs.