A silo-mountable rescue assembly for accessing a distressed person in a silo includes a tripod that is configured to couple to a top of a silo so that an apex of the tripod is substantially centrally positioned over an opening in the silo. A block and tackle is coupled to the tripod proximate to the apex. The block and tackle is configured to lower equipment and personnel into the silo to rescue a distressed person in the silo.

A silo-mountable rescue assembly for accessing a distressed person in a silo includes a tripod that is configured to couple to a top of a silo so that an apex of the tripod is substantially centrally positioned over an opening in the silo. A block and tackle is coupled to the tripod proximate to the apex. The block and tackle is configured to lower equipment and personnel into the silo to rescue a distressed person in the silo.

A silo-mountable rescue assembly for accessing a distressed person in a silo includes a tripod that is configured to couple to a top of a silo so that an apex of the tripod is substantially centrally positioned over an opening in the silo. A block and tackle is coupled to the tripod proximate to the apex. The block and tackle is configured to lower equipment and personnel into the silo to rescue a distressed person in the silo.

Provided is an improved come along device with a handle, a release trigger for a stop pawl, and a push tab for a release pawl. The handle may allow an operator to better grasp the come along device. The release trigger allows an operator to release tension in a cable by disengaging the stop pawl when the trigger is pulled and engaging the stop pawl when the trigger is released. The push tab allows an operator to disengage the release pawl when the push tab is pressed and engage the release pawl when the push tab is pulled.

Provided is an improved come along device with a handle, a release trigger for a stop pawl, and a push tab for a release pawl. The handle may allow an operator to better grasp the come along device. The release trigger allows an operator to release tension in a cable by disengaging the stop pawl when the trigger is pulled and engaging the stop pawl when the trigger is released. The push tab allows an operator to disengage the release pawl when the push tab is pressed and engage the release pawl when the push tab is pulled.

A tie-down apparatus includes a frame, a reel, a ratcheted wheel, a ratchet detent, a handle and a security device. The reel is rotatable relative to the frame. The ratcheted wheel is rotatable with the reel. The ratchet detent rattles on the ratcheted wheel to allow the ratcheted wheel to rotate when the ratcheted wheel is rotated in a first sense of direction. The ratchet detent is engaged with the ratcheted wheel to prevent the ratcheted wheel from rotation in an attempt to rotate the ratcheted wheel in a second sense of direction. The security device is movable between a reeling position where the security device keeps the handle connected to the reel and a locking position where the security device is supported on the frame and pressed against the ratchet detent so that the ratchet detent is firmly engaged with the ratcheted wheel, thereby keeping the reel in position.

A tie-down apparatus includes a frame, a reel, a ratcheted wheel, a ratchet detent, a handle and a security device. The reel is rotatable relative to the frame. The ratcheted wheel is rotatable with the reel. The ratchet detent rattles on the ratcheted wheel to allow the ratcheted wheel to rotate when the ratcheted wheel is rotated in a first sense of direction. The ratchet detent is engaged with the ratcheted wheel to prevent the ratcheted wheel from rotation in an attempt to rotate the ratcheted wheel in a second sense of direction. The security device is movable between a reeling position where the security device keeps the handle connected to the reel and a locking position where the security device is supported on the frame and pressed against the ratchet detent so that the ratchet detent is firmly engaged with the ratcheted wheel, thereby keeping the reel in position.

A lifting device is disclosed for elevating an object between a first elevation and a second elevation. The lifting device comprises a base frame, a load bearing frame coupled to the base frame, an elevation reducing frame coupled to the load bearing frame and an extension frame coupled to the elevation reducing frame. A mounting bracket is coupled to the base frame. The mounting bracket engages a rung of a ladder. A load winch is coupled to the load bearing frame and lifts the object and transferring the weight of the object to the ladder. The base frame, the load bearing frame and the elevation reducing frame define an object chamber for receiving the object in the object chamber and increasing the elevation of the object relative to the extension frame.

Embodiments of a vertical pipe handler system (50) and method of its use include a casing tong handling tool (10) connected to a lifting tool (55) having a gripper head (51) and supported by an arm (53) of the vertical pipe handler system. The casing tong connection (33) of the handling tool is located toward the tool's lower end (21) and may be offset in a horizontal direction from the connection (29) to the lifting tool. The casing tong (60) then hangs off-center relative to the lifting tool. The amount of offset may be effective to prevent interference between the gripper head and a tubular being handled by the casing tong.

An elongated cam pin for use in a clamping assembly, the pin comprising a first half-round portion and a second half-round portion laterally offset from the first half-round portion, wherein the centers of the first and second half-round portions are spaced-apart a distance S along a diametral center line of the pin, wherein each of the half-round portions has a radius R and a diameter D equal to 2R, and wherein the ratio D/S is between approximately 2 and approximately 3. In one embodiment the ratio D/S is approximately 2.3. In some embodiments rotation of the cam pin within the clamping assembly is actuated by a shaft having a relatively short stroke length. In some embodiments the cam pin is rotatable within the clamping assembly through an arc of up to approximately 40. In some embodiments the actuating shaft is movable within the housing of a compact locking apparatus to cause the clamping assembly to releasably engage a restraint cable in a self-gripping fashion. In some embodiments the locking apparatus may be used in a locking system designed to safely lock a suspended load at a desired location relative to the cable. In some embodiments the cable is at least one inch in diameter and the diameter D of each of the half-round pins is approximately 1.75 times the diameter of the cable. In some embodiments the suspended load may comprise a bin floor and any supported lumber travelling between loading and discharge positions in a lumber sorting apparatus.