A system for automatically switching between a high speed and a low speed state for rotating the drive shaft of a manual hoist.

A system for automatically switching between a high speed and a low speed state for rotating the drive shaft of a manual hoist.

Disclosed is a pulley assembly in a roped access system including first and second plates and a sheave carried for rotation about an axis normal to the plates. An aperture passes through each plate parallel to the axis. The plates have a closed condition when the apertures are coaxial with one another and the plates are in contact near the apertures, forming a rope passage extending between the plates adjacent the sheave, having an upper part smaller than parts of the passage below that upper part. A roped access system includes a climbing rope passing through the rope passage and a tether connected to the climbing rope above the pulley assembly by a friction hitch and an aperture of the pulley assembly, the hitch. The hitch grips the rope upon downward force to the tether, releasing its grip upon upward force to the friction hitch by pulley assembly plates.

Disclosed is a pulley assembly in a roped access system including first and second plates and a sheave carried for rotation about an axis normal to the plates. An aperture passes through each plate parallel to the axis. The plates have a closed condition when the apertures are coaxial with one another and the plates are in contact near the apertures, forming a rope passage extending between the plates adjacent the sheave, having an upper part smaller than parts of the passage below that upper part. A roped access system includes a climbing rope passing through the rope passage and a tether connected to the climbing rope above the pulley assembly by a friction hitch and an aperture of the pulley assembly, the hitch. The hitch grips the rope upon downward force to the tether, releasing its grip upon upward force to the friction hitch by pulley assembly plates.

A winch with handheld battery powered tensioning and payout unit provides uniform loading of all winches and allows for safe easy loading and payout. A method and apparatus is provided for retrofitting manual winches, in particular manual marine winches, to be operable with a handheld battery powered tensioning and payout unit.

A winch with handheld battery powered tensioning and payout unit provides uniform loading of all winches and allows for safe easy loading and payout. A method and apparatus is provided for retrofitting manual winches, in particular manual marine winches, to be operable with a handheld battery powered tensioning and payout unit.

A winch assembly includes a lower body having a base, first and second sides, first and second upper body sides, a spacer positioned between the first and the upper body second sides, a first shaft extending through the upper body sides, the first shaft supporting first and second gears, a winding bar supported and rotated by the first shaft and attached to a first end of a strap, a second shaft extending through the first and second upper body sides and supporting first and second ratchet gears, the first ratchet gear meshing with the first gear and the second ratchet gear meshing with the second gear, a pawl for engaging one of the first and second ratchet gears, and a handle attached to the second shaft for rotating the second shaft, wherein rotation of the second shaft imparts rotation of the first and second ratchet gears and the first and second gears.

A winch assembly includes a lower body having a base, first and second sides, first and second upper body sides, a spacer positioned between the first and the upper body second sides, a first shaft extending through the upper body sides, the first shaft supporting first and second gears, a winding bar supported and rotated by the first shaft and attached to a first end of a strap, a second shaft extending through the first and second upper body sides and supporting first and second ratchet gears, the first ratchet gear meshing with the first gear and the second ratchet gear meshing with the second gear, a pawl for engaging one of the first and second ratchet gears, and a handle attached to the second shaft for rotating the second shaft, wherein rotation of the second shaft imparts rotation of the first and second ratchet gears and the first and second gears.

A portable expandable device with a contracting mechanism which allows for many forms of recreational products and structures to be expanded, reinforced in the expanded shape, and then contracted easily to regain its portable form. The expansion means is exercised by the use of at least one of the following, resiliently extending, unfolding, inflating, as to become an expanding form which can then be easily retracted to the redeployed form. The retraction mechanism reverses the expansion process utilizing a mechanism which sequentially exerts the forces needed in the proper locations in order to ensure proper contraction. Disclosed embodiments utilized supplemental structural reinforcement of the expanded form through the use of joints, releasable interlocks, latching mechanisms, air bladders, to ensure the form is stable and usable. The objective being a stable structure with a rapid and easy deployment and a supplemental retraction means as to be easily transportable.

A portable expandable device with a contracting mechanism which allows for many forms of recreational products and structures to be expanded, reinforced in the expanded shape, and then contracted easily to regain its portable form. The expansion means is exercised by the use of at least one of the following, resiliently extending, unfolding, inflating, as to become an expanding form which can then be easily retracted to the redeployed form. The retraction mechanism reverses the expansion process utilizing a mechanism which sequentially exerts the forces needed in the proper locations in order to ensure proper contraction. Disclosed embodiments utilized supplemental structural reinforcement of the expanded form through the use of joints, releasable interlocks, latching mechanisms, air bladders, to ensure the form is stable and usable. The objective being a stable structure with a rapid and easy deployment and a supplemental retraction means as to be easily transportable.