Tools, systems, and methods for use in conjunction with maintenance, assembly, rebuilding, or other procedures which involve displacing components of an assembly are disclosed. These tools, systems, and methods may be used in conjunction with a crane or other lifting device and may be configured to assemble, disassemble, or otherwise maintain components of an uptower gearbox.

A line guidance device (40) is provided for use with a confined space entry/retrieval hoist and fall protection anchorage system (10) and includes a line guide (46) that guides a line from an extend/retract line device (22) past another extend/retract line device (20) with both devices (20, 22) mounted on a backside (24) of a mast (12) of the system (10).

The invention relates to a method of operating a crane having a luffable crane boom and having a trolley travelable at the crane boom, wherein the crane can be operated in a luffing mode, on the one hand, and in a trolley mode, on the other hand. In accordance with the invention, a switch is made between a luffing mode and a trolley mode by varying the hoist rope reeving. The invention further relates to such a crane for carrying out the method.

A portable hoist system has an adjustable support strut mechanism, allowing for compact storage and portability, with the entire assembly retained as one unit. In one embodiment the support strut mechanism, which is connected on one end to a boom and at another end to a bracket, is foldable and adjustable using an adjustment pin and holes along the two-piece support strut mechanism. In one preferred form of the invention a winch of the hoist system is field-adjustable as to position on the hoist's boom, to overcome problems of space constraints.

Hoists, platforms and davits are described as well as methods of securing same to telecommunication and other towers. The hoists, platforms and davits may be secured to the towers on a temporary basis using clamps. The clamps may include brackets and cables. The cables may be attached to the brackets, may wrap around the outer surface/perimeter of the tower pole/leg and may use tension to keep the bracket in place.

A transportable lifting device (10) comprising: an upright (12); an arm (13) connectable to the upper end of said upright (12); a diagonal (14) for connecting said arm (13) and said upright (12); characterized in that said arm (13) is fixed to said upright (12) by means of a first joint (30, 35); said diagonal (14) is fixed to said upright (12) by means of a second joint (32, 41); said diagonal (14) is fixed to said arm (13) by means of a third joint (36, 40); said first joint (30, 35), said second joint (32, 41) and said third joint (36, 40) are of the type with double tenon and mortise; said first joint (30, 35) comprises: two hooks (35) placed at the end of the arm (13); two vertical slots (30) placed on the upright (12).

Hoists, platforms and davits are described as well as methods of securing same to telecommunication and other towers. The hoists, platforms and davits may be secured to the towers on a temporary basis using clamps. The clamps may include brackets and cables. The cables may be attached to the brackets, may wrap around the outer surface/perimeter of the tower pole/leg and may use tension to keep the bracket in place.

Lift assemblies and methods of operating same. A lift assembly for a vehicle includes at least one support member having a longitudinal axis lying on a plane and which is configured for attachment to the vehicle. A mast having a proximal end, a distal end, and a mast axis is pivotably coupled with the at least one support member at the mast proximal end. At least one gear arrangement is coupled between the at least one support member and the mast proximal end. The mast is pivotable relative to the at least one support member about an axis parallel with the plane through an angular displacement greater than 90 degrees. A boom is pivotably coupled with the mast proximate the mast distal end, and a first lift line is coupled with the boom.

A confined-space davit, including a vertical, elongate mast provided by at least one annular tube; and, a boom that is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of the mast and that extends forwardly from the mast. The tube comprises a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall and comprises left and right opposing lateral sidewalls that each connect the forward wall to the rearward wall.

A davit arm holder 30,50 for a davit arm 11-18 for suspending lines 4 from elevated heights by mounting the davit arm 11-18 on a structural substrate 1. The davit arm holder 30,50 comprises a base 50 formed from one or more planar layers 52 of sheet material adapted to lie parallel to the plane of a surface of the substrate 1, and an attachment 30 adapted to be fixedly attached to the base 50 and to provide a connection 32 to engage a davit arm 11-18. The base 50 includes an outer layer 52 and at least one inner mount 60. The outer layer 52 has a plurality of first engagement portions 70 that are radially spaced from a centre point 54 of the base 50. The at least one inner mount 60 is integrally formed with the outer layer 52, is fixedly securable to the substrate 1 and is adapted to space an inside surface 68 of the outer layer 52 from the substrate 1 to form a gap 66 under the outer layer 52. The base 50 is adapted to have a low-profile when anchored to the substrate 1. The attachment 30 is adapted to be releasably engaged to the base 50 by a plurality of second engagement portions 40 adapted to engage the corresponding plurality of first engagement portions 70 by rotation of the attachment 30 about an axis 56 perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 1.