A method and a system for controlling the winding/unwinding of a rope portion onto/from a rotary drum, comprises the step of making available a rope which is at least partially wound onto a rotary drum, wherein the rope is guided from the rotary drum along a defined path as far as a hauling point, wherein a traction force acts on the rope beyond the hauling point. The method comprises unwinding or winding the rope by executing a rotation of the rotary drum, such that a defined rope portion is moved along the defined path; and determining the length of the defined rope portion in the region of the defined path. The method comprises determining an angle difference corresponding to the rotation of the rotary drum; and controlling the rotary drum for further winding/unwinding taking into account the length and the angle difference. A calibration in the region of the defined path during the use of the rotary drum provides a control for the rotary drum.

The present invention relates to a lifting device for example in the form of a crane such as a tower crane, with a hoisting gear comprising a hoisting cable which runs off from a drum that can be driven by a hoisting gear drive, and a hoisting gear brake for holding the hoisting cable in a braked position. The invention furthermore relates to a method for starting up the hoisting gear of such a lifting device from the braked position in which the hoisting gear brake holds a hoisting load, wherein a starting torque is built up by a hoisting gear drive against the closed hoisting gear brake, and the hoisting gear brake is released upon or after reaching the starting torque. According to the invention it is proposed that when the hoisting gear brake is closed, the current hoisting load is detected by means of a load detection device and the starting torque is adjusted by the hoisting gear controller with reference to the detected current hoisting load such that the hoisting force provided by the starting torque of the hoisting gear corresponds to the detected, current hoisting load.

A wire pulling wincher apparatus attachable to a tractor, loader or other mobile transport device capable of receiving attachments has a pass through frame attachable to the mobile device, a vertical support member on the frame for supporting a first winch with cable for attaching and pulling a fence wire to be tensioned, a second winch for raising and lowering a slide block assembly through which the first winch cable is guided to allow pulling the first winch cable at different vertical heights, and has winch tension limiting apparatus.

A method and system for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment includes inserting into a wellbore a tool string connected to a wireline, the tool string comprising a variable speed tractor, deploying the tractor, deploying the wireline from a winch; dynamically monitoring, by a device disposed downhole, a wireline tension as an indicator of synchronization of the tractor and winch, and adjusting, by the device, the tractor speed in response to a disparity in tension to match the winch speed.

A compensating device (200) maintains specifiable target positions of a load (206) handled using a cable hoist (202) and attached to a cable (216) of the cable hoist. The respective specifiable target position of the load may change unintentionally to an actual position deviating from the target position. The compensating device has a sensor device (240, 242) for detecting the respective actual position of the load (206). A rotational drive (226, 228, 230) specifies a cable length of the cable hoist (202). A controller (244) changes the cable length after the respective actual position has been detected until the load (206) re-assumes its target position. The respective drive (226, 228,230) can be controlled at least partly by a hydraulic motor (226, 228, 230) with opposite rotational directions. The motor is connected to an actuating device (246) having at least two separate pressure chambers (250, 252) with pressure levels that differ during operation, thereby forming a drive section (248) for the respective hydraulic motor (226, 228, 230), and which can be actuated by the controller (244).

A compensating device (200) maintains specifiable target positions of a load (206) handled using a cable hoist (202) and attached to a cable (216) of the cable hoist. The respective specifiable target position of the load may change unintentionally to an actual position deviating from the target position. The compensating device has a sensor device (240, 242) for detecting the respective actual position of the load (206). A rotational drive (226, 228, 230) specifies a cable length of the cable hoist (202). A controller (244) changes the cable length after the respective actual position has been detected until the load (206) re-assumes its target position. The respective drive (226, 228,230) can be controlled at least partly by a hydraulic motor (226, 228, 230) with opposite rotational directions. The motor is connected to an actuating device (246) having at least two separate pressure chambers (250, 252) with pressure levels that differ during operation, thereby forming a drive section (248) for the respective hydraulic motor (226, 228, 230), and which can be actuated by the controller (244).

A wire pulling windier apparatus attachable to a tractor, loader or other mobile transport device capable of receiving attachments has a pass through frame attachable to the mobile device, a vertical support member on the frame for supporting a first winch with cable for attaching and pulling a fence wire to be tensioned, a second winch for raising and lowering a slide block assembly through which the first winch cable is guided to allow pulling the first winch cable at different vertical heights, and has winch tension limiting apparatus.

A pipe bursting system and method, and components thereof, are described wherein a bursting head assembly pulled by a cable employs a relatively small pneumatic impactor (hammer) and a relatively large cable tension to impose a cyclical stress on the pipe being burst to cause fatigue failure of the pipe, resulting in lower size and power requirements, and higher efficiency for a given set of job requirements.

A pipe bursting system and method, and components thereof, are described wherein a bursting head assembly pulled by a cable employs a relatively small pneumatic impactor (hammer) and a relatively large cable tension to impose a cyclical stress on the pipe being burst to cause fatigue failure of the pipe, resulting in lower size and power requirements, and higher efficiency for a given set of job requirements.

A winch control system is disclosed. The winch control system may be used to control or operate a winch on a vehicle in a selected mode, such as a plow mode. The winch control system may include or receive input from selected sensors relative to the vehicle to assist in control and operation of the winch.