Embodiments of a heavy compressor valve removal tool to remove and lift heavy compressor valves and associated methods are provided. An embodiment of a heavy-compressor valve removal tool can include one or more valve interfacing surfaces to position along, interface with, and abuttingly contact a plurality of outer surfaces when positioned around a perimeter of a compressor valve. The tool also can include one or more reinforcing arms connected to the one or more valve interfacing surfaces to reinforce the one or more valve interfacing surfaces when lifting the heavy compressor valve and one or more tool lifting arms connected to the one or more reinforcing arms to lift the heavy compressor valve from a designated position when the tool is positioned around a perimeter of the heavy compressor valve.

Embodiments of a heavy compressor valve removal tool to remove and lift heavy compressor valves and associated methods are provided. An embodiment of a heavy-compressor valve removal tool can include one or more valve interfacing surfaces to position along, interface with, and abuttingly contact a plurality of outer surfaces when positioned around a perimeter of a compressor valve. The tool also can include one or more reinforcing arms connected to the one or more valve interfacing surfaces to reinforce the one or more valve interfacing surfaces when lifting the heavy compressor valve and one or more tool lifting arms connected to the one or more reinforcing arms to lift the heavy compressor valve from a designated position when the tool is positioned around a perimeter of the heavy compressor valve.

A guard defines an inner seat comprising an open channel shaped to receive a shackle and extend partially around the shackle. The guard further includes an outer seat positioned opposite the open channel and shaped to support a strap passing through the shackle. A tether is fastened to the guard and defines a fastener for securing to a closure pin passing through the shackle. The fastener may be a hole formed in the tether and a barb formed on the tether offset from the hole, a barb on the tether that inserts through a hole in the closure pin, a cup on the tether that is positioned over an end of the closure pin, or a hooked or straight tether. The tether and fastener may be secured to a spacer through which the closure pin is inserted. A closure pin may insert through a pair of spacers.

A guard defines an inner seat comprising an open channel shaped to receive a shackle and extend partially around the shackle. The guard further includes an outer seat positioned opposite the open channel and shaped to support a strap passing through the shackle. A tether is fastened to the guard and defines a fastener for securing to a closure pin passing through the shackle. The fastener may be a hole formed in the tether and a barb formed on the tether offset from the hole, a barb on the tether that inserts through a hole in the closure pin, a cup on the tether that is positioned over an end of the closure pin, or a hooked or straight tether. The tether and fastener may be secured to a spacer through which the closure pin is inserted. A closure pin may insert through a pair of spacers.

An apparatus for lifting elongated objects includes a shelf that is elongated, and a frame connected to a lengthwise edge of the shelf for lifting the shelf and any panels that are resting on the shelf. The frame includes risers affixed to the shelf and extension members that extend from the risers over the shelf. Shackles are mounted to the extension members at a location (center of gravity) that keeps the apparatus for lifting elongated objects substantially level when lifted by cables attached to the shackles. Telescoping extensions at each end of the shelf provide for lifting longer elongated objects (e.g., the shelf is 30 feet long when the telescoping extensions are retracted and 50 feet long when the telescoping extensions are completely extended, providing for lifting very long elongated objects (e.g., 100 foot long or greater elongated objects).

An apparatus for lifting elongated objects includes a shelf that is elongated, and a frame connected to a lengthwise edge of the shelf for lifting the shelf and any panels that are resting on the shelf. The frame includes risers affixed to the shelf and extension members that extend from the risers over the shelf. Shackles are mounted to the extension members at a location (center of gravity) that keeps the apparatus for lifting elongated objects substantially level when lifted by cables attached to the shackles. Telescoping extensions at each end of the shelf provide for lifting longer elongated objects (e.g., the shelf is 30 feet long when the telescoping extensions are retracted and 50 feet long when the telescoping extensions are completely extended, providing for lifting very long elongated objects (e.g., 100 foot long or greater elongated objects).

The present invention relates to a racking bay tower construction method, the racking bay including upright members with shelf-frames installed therebetween, the construction method including use of a method of moving an item, the item being a preassembled shelf-frame, between adjacent upright members of a racking bay tower, the shelf-frame moving method including: mounting a first preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the first shelf-frame from the jig table, the jig table being positioned between lower ends of adjacent upright members, to an installation position between upper ends of the adjacent upright members, while maintaining the angular position of the first shelf-frame, and then installing the first shelf-frame in a desired orientation in its installation position; and then mounting a second preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the second shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the second shelf-frame from the jig table, the jig table being positioned between lower ends of adjacent upright members, to an installation position between upper ends of the adjacent upright members but below the installation position of the first shelf-frame, while maintaining the angular position of the first shelf-frame, and then installing the second shelf-frame in a desired orientation in its installation position; wherein the mounting, and the lifting and installing, of subsequent shelf-frames is repeated until the racking bay tower is constructed. The present invention also relates to a jig table when used in the racking bay tower construction method, the jig table including a frame configured to hold a pre-assembled shelf-frame in an angled position. The present invention further relates to a preassembled shelf-frame when used in the racking bay tower construction method, the shelf-frame including at least two longitudinal members and at least two cross members connected together to form an assembled unit. Further still, the present invention relates to racking bay tower constructed by the construction method, the tower including upright members connected by shelf-frames.

The present invention relates to a racking bay tower construction method, the racking bay including upright members with shelf-frames installed therebetween, the construction method including use of a method of moving an item, the item being a preassembled shelf-frame, between adjacent upright members of a racking bay tower, the shelf-frame moving method including: mounting a first preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the first shelf-frame from the jig table, the jig table being positioned between lower ends of adjacent upright members, to an installation position between upper ends of the adjacent upright members, while maintaining the angular position of the first shelf-frame, and then installing the first shelf-frame in a desired orientation in its installation position; and then mounting a second preassembled shelf-frame onto a jig table such that the second shelf-frame is in an angular orientation; and lifting the second shelf-frame from the jig table, the jig table being positioned between lower ends of adjacent upright members, to an installation position between upper ends of the adjacent upright members but below the installation position of the first shelf-frame, while maintaining the angular position of the first shelf-frame, and then installing the second shelf-frame in a desired orientation in its installation position; wherein the mounting, and the lifting and installing, of subsequent shelf-frames is repeated until the racking bay tower is constructed. The present invention also relates to a jig table when used in the racking bay tower construction method, the jig table including a frame configured to hold a pre-assembled shelf-frame in an angled position. The present invention further relates to a preassembled shelf-frame when used in the racking bay tower construction method, the shelf-frame including at least two longitudinal members and at least two cross members connected together to form an assembled unit. Further still, the present invention relates to racking bay tower constructed by the construction method, the tower including upright members connected by shelf-frames.

A lifting system (1) for lifting a pallet (5) with a heavy load (6) is disclosed, said lifting system comprising two or more carrier elements (4) and a suspension device in the form of a chain sling (2) or a strap sling with double as many fastening ends as the number of carrier elements, wherein each of the carrier elements comprises a stiff supporting beam (7) and a distance element and is arranged so that two of the fastening ends of the suspension device can be fastened to the supporting beam in opposite ends thereof, and wherein the distance element is dimensioned and mounted onto the supporting beam in such a way that it prevents displacement of the carrier element relative to a pallet in the longitudinal direction thereof, when the carrier element is mounted transversely through the pallet. Furthermore, a carrier element for such a lifting system is disclosed.

A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions, an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot, a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing. A method of retracting a payload coupling apparatus during UAV flight is also provided.