A suspended tire manipulator for use by an operator in lifting a tire having a mounting aperture includes a first handle attached to a first proximal arm. The first proximal arm is connected to a first distal arm at an obtuse angle. The manipulator includes a rotary balancer pivotally mounted to the first distal arm. The rotary balancer provides a pivoting torque to the first distal arm in response to operator movements raising and lowering the manipulator via manual force applied at the handle. A vertical support has a lower end and an upper end. The lower end connects to the rotary balancer. The manipulator includes a pair of gripper shoes. The pair of gripper shoes are slidably mounted on a rail and move in opposite inboard and outboard directions on the rail.

A suspended tire manipulator for use by an operator in lifting a tire having a mounting aperture includes a first handle attached to a first proximal arm. The first proximal arm is connected to a first distal arm at an obtuse angle. The manipulator includes a rotary balancer pivotally mounted to the first distal arm. The rotary balancer provides a pivoting torque to the first distal arm in response to operator movements raising and lowering the manipulator via manual force applied at the handle. A vertical support has a lower end and an upper end. The lower end connects to the rotary balancer. The manipulator includes a pair of gripper shoes. The pair of gripper shoes are slidably mounted on a rail and move in opposite inboard and outboard directions on the rail.

The invention relates to a lifting tool for lifting or upending a flanged object, the lifting tool extending along a central longitudinal tool axis and comprising; a hoisting member for coupling the lifting tool to a hoisting line and applying a hoisting force to the lifting tool, a main frame for guiding a moveable flange engagement member, said flange engagement member moveably coupled with the main frame for supporting the flanged object, and moveably with respect to the main frame, a driving device coupled with the flange engagement member and the main frame for driving the flange engagement member radially with respect to the central longitudinal tool axis between a flange releasing position for introducing the lifting tool at least partly in said flanged object and past the flange thereof and a flange supporting position wherein the flange engagement member supports the object, wherein the driving device comprises a linkage system coupled with the hoisting member and the flange engagement member such that the flange engagement member is forced towards its flange supporting position upon application of the hoisting force to the lifting tool.

The invention relates to a lifting tool for lifting or upending a flanged object, the lifting tool extending along a central longitudinal tool axis and comprising; a hoisting member for coupling the lifting tool to a hoisting line and applying a hoisting force to the lifting tool, a main frame for guiding a moveable flange engagement member, said flange engagement member moveably coupled with the main frame for supporting the flanged object, and moveably with respect to the main frame, a driving device coupled with the flange engagement member and the main frame for driving the flange engagement member radially with respect to the central longitudinal tool axis between a flange releasing position for introducing the lifting tool at least partly in said flanged object and past the flange thereof and a flange supporting position wherein the flange engagement member supports the object, wherein the driving device comprises a linkage system coupled with the hoisting member and the flange engagement member such that the flange engagement member is forced towards its flange supporting position upon application of the hoisting force to the lifting tool.

A rope, a system and a method for measuring one or more properties of a rope. A property evaluation system for ropes can be deployed for a number of different applications including, but not limited to, moving lines, e.g., crane or winch and static lines, e.g., mooring lines, stays, etc., to evaluate physical properties of the ropes and, in some cases, to help evaluate structural health of the ropes. A sheave assembly (10) may transmit a signal into a rope (14) to measure at least one property of the rope. At least one sensor (25) may be coupled to or assembled in the rope to measure at least one property of the rope.

A rope, a system and a method for measuring one or more properties of a rope. A property evaluation system for ropes can be deployed for a number of different applications including, but not limited to, moving lines, e.g., crane or winch and static lines, e.g., mooring lines, stays, etc., to evaluate physical properties of the ropes and, in some cases, to help evaluate structural health of the ropes. A sheave assembly (10) may transmit a signal into a rope (14) to measure at least one property of the rope. At least one sensor (25) may be coupled to or assembled in the rope to measure at least one property of the rope.

A mechanical device for grasping an object includes a receiver having a distal end shaft with an internal bore, the internal bore defining a recessed track. The recessed track defines a curvilinear path having two sets of resting peaks, each set of resting peaks being at a different height relative to a centerline of the curvilinear path. An actuator is slidably engaged with the receiver and includes a central shaft and an activator disposed at a distal end portion of the central shaft. A rotatable sleeve is disposed within the internal bore of the receiver and is coupled to the actuator. The rotatable sleeve has opposed protrusions, the opposed protrusions being disposed within the recessed track of the receiver. A pilot is secured to a distal end portion of the receiver and a grasping device is mounted to the pilot and coupled to the activator.

A mechanical device for grasping an object includes a receiver having a distal end shaft with an internal bore, the internal bore defining a recessed track. The recessed track defines a curvilinear path having two sets of resting peaks, each set of resting peaks being at a different height relative to a centerline of the curvilinear path. An actuator is slidably engaged with the receiver and includes a central shaft and an activator disposed at a distal end portion of the central shaft. A rotatable sleeve is disposed within the internal bore of the receiver and is coupled to the actuator. The rotatable sleeve has opposed protrusions, the opposed protrusions being disposed within the recessed track of the receiver. A pilot is secured to a distal end portion of the receiver and a grasping device is mounted to the pilot and coupled to the activator.

The invention relates to a a lifting tool for lifting or upending a flanged object, the lifting tool extending along a central longitudinal tool axis and comprising; a hoisting member for coupling the lifting tool to a hoisting line and applying a hoisting force to the lifting tool, a main frame for guiding a moveable flange engagement member, said flange engagement member moveably coupled with the main frame for supporting the flanged object, and moveably with respect to the main frame, a driving device coupled with the flange engagement member and the main frame for driving the flange engagement member radially with respect to the central longitudinal tool axis between a flange releasing position for introducing the lifting tool at least partly in said flanged object and past the flange thereof and a flange supporting position wherein the flange engagement member supports the object, wherein the driving device comprises a linkage system coupled with the hoisting member and the flange engagement member such that the flange engagement member is forced towards its flange supporting position upon application of the hoisting force to the lifting tool.

The invention relates to a a lifting tool for lifting or upending a flanged object, the lifting tool extending along a central longitudinal tool axis and comprising; a hoisting member for coupling the lifting tool to a hoisting line and applying a hoisting force to the lifting tool, a main frame for guiding a moveable flange engagement member, said flange engagement member moveably coupled with the main frame for supporting the flanged object, and moveably with respect to the main frame, a driving device coupled with the flange engagement member and the main frame for driving the flange engagement member radially with respect to the central longitudinal tool axis between a flange releasing position for introducing the lifting tool at least partly in said flanged object and past the flange thereof and a flange supporting position wherein the flange engagement member supports the object, wherein the driving device comprises a linkage system coupled with the hoisting member and the flange engagement member such that the flange engagement member is forced towards its flange supporting position upon application of the hoisting force to the lifting tool.