Self-tailing winch with a release function, where said winch comprises: a stator body adapted to be fastened on a surface; a drum body arranged concentrically and rotatable around said stator body; a self-tailing device arranged concentrically to said drum body, where said self-tailing device comprises: two self-tailing jaws defining an opening suitable to receive a rope, sheet or halyard; a self-tailing cover which is rotatable relative to the drum body and the self-tailing jaws; a releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws, said coupling being able to couple the self-tailing jaws to the drum body and by manipulating the self-tailing cover completely releasing the self-tailing jaws from their engagement with the drum body, allowing the self-tailing jaws to rotate relative to the drum.

A control system for a rescue hoist attached to an aircraft is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes a first bus extending between a control module of the rescue hoist and a control input device; and a second bus extending between the control module of the rescue hoist and the control input device. The first bus is configured to transmit a first signal from the control input device to the control module and the second bus is configured to transmit a second signal from the control input device to the control module, both the first signal and the second signal being generated by the control input device in response to a manipulation of the control input device.

A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris.

A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris.

A system for moving a practice target includes a capstan winch assembly including a drive wheel; a target sled; a rope that connects the target sled to the drive wheel in an endless loop, wherein a first end of the rope is connected to a first end of the target sled and a second end of the rope is connected to a second end of the target sled; a sensor configured to detect a location of the sled; a motor configured to control rotation of the drive wheel bi-directionally, wherein the rope is provided on the drive wheel so as to move by rotation of the drive wheel; a user input unit located remotely from the capstan winch assembly and the target sled; and a processor including a memory programmed to control rotation of the drive wheel, thereby controlling movement of the target sled.

The present disclosure relates to a portable device for hoisting/lowering/storing a rope from a tall structure, such as a wind turbine. The device is formed of an assembly of a rope storage container and a rope driver reversibly connected thereto. The rope storage container defines a rope storage volume bound between a bottom surface and an outer side wall. The rope driver is reversibly connectable to the container and comprises a rope passage having a dimension matching a diameter of the rope. The passage is formed between a pair of adjacent rollers or between a drive coil and a clamp. The rope is driven (hoisted and stored or provided and lowered) by an electric motor arranged to drive at least one of the rollers or the drive coil.

A retractable roof for a building having a supporting frame and a high structure extending vertically above the supporting frame. The roof has at least one structure section with first and second panels. The first panel is hingeably mounted on the supporting frame at a proximal hinge and the second panel is hingeably mounted on the first panel at a distal hinge. A distal end of the second panel is suspended to the high structure with a distal cable connected to a distal motorized winch. A tackle member connects to both first and second panels adjacent the proximal hinge and the distal end, respectively, and includes a tackle wire that forms a wire side of a triangular cross-sectional shape with the first and second panels. The tackle wire connects to a winch mechanism to control a length of the wire side.

The removable roof system includes a set of guy ropes (10), each of the guy ropes extending between a top anchor point (2) and a bottom anchor point (3) of a structure to be covered, a velum (1) mobile between a deployed configuration in which the velum covers the structure to be covered and a retracted configuration in which the structure to be covered is uncovered, and a set of carriages (20) to which the velum is attached, arranged so as to be moved along the guy ropes of the set of guy ropes between the top and bottom anchor points in order to cause the velum to pass between its deployed and retracted configurations and comprising for each of the guy ropes of the set of guy ropes at least one motorized carriage, at least one motorized carriage cooperating with the associated guy rope by meshing or by alternating wedging.

A road barrier transfer machine includes an improved capstan control system that reduces unwanted migration of road barrier spans without requiring inaccurate visual observations and reliance on outdated scripts. The barrier transfer machine includes a moveable chassis, an entry snout, an exit snout, a conveyor system, a capstan system, and the capstan control system. The capstan control system automatically operates the capstan system or provides instructions to an operator of the machine to maintain the tension and compression of a road barrier span within desired ranges to reduce unwanted migration of the span.

A winch engagement apparatus that is configured to be operably coupled to a strap winch on a flatbed trailer wherein the present invention provides a technique to rotationally move the shaft on the strap winch so as to tighten a strap. The present invention includes a housing wherein the housing has a first side and a second side. A passage is present through the housing and extends between the first side and the second side having openings at each end thereof. The passage is configured to surroundably mount a portion of a shaft present on the strap winch. Engagement levers are present wherein the engagement levers are pivotally secured to the housing. The engagement levers includes a hole engagement edge that is operable to penetrate a hole formed on the shaft portion in order to operably lock the housing into position so a rotational force can be applied.