A device for holding onto a rope to form a loop that can be tighten about two objects. The device including a base portion having at least one hole for securing one end of the rope. A clamping portion slidably engages a plurality of posts enabling the clamping portion to slide between a clamp position and release position for securing a portion of the rope therebetween. A clamp/release mechanism provides a means to clamp and release the clamping portion onto from the posts. The clamp/release mechanism includes a plurality of levers to selectively engage a respective post to clamp the clamping portion onto the posts when in a clamp position and disengage the at least one post to release the clamping portion from the posts when in a release position.

A brake device comprising: a brake receiver pivotally supported in a non-rotatable manner on the drive shaft and including a flange part and a boss part; a female screw member pivotally supported in a rotatable manner on the drive shaft and screwed to a male screw part; a ratchet wheel including ratchet teeth provided on an outer peripheral side and configured to restrict a rotation direction to one direction; a brake plate arranged between the ratchet wheel and at least one of the flange part and the female screw member; and at least one pawl member engaging, on a tip side, with a valley part located between adjacent ratchet teeth, and meshing with the ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet teeth include tall teeth and short teeth lower in projection height from a rotation center of the ratchet wheel than the tall teeth.

A brake device comprising: a brake receiver pivotally supported in a non-rotatable manner on the drive shaft and including a flange part and a boss part; a female screw member pivotally supported in a rotatable manner on the drive shaft and screwed to a male screw part; a ratchet wheel including ratchet teeth provided on an outer peripheral side and configured to restrict a rotation direction to one direction; a brake plate arranged between the ratchet wheel and at least one of the flange part and the female screw member; and at least one pawl member engaging, on a tip side, with a valley part located between adjacent ratchet teeth, and meshing with the ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet teeth include tall teeth and short teeth lower in projection height from a rotation center of the ratchet wheel than the tall teeth.

Height adjusting device (1) for adjusting the height of an agitating device (2) in a digester (101) of a biogas plant (100), biogas plant (100) comprising a digester (101), a support unit (10), a displacement member (6), an agitating device (2), and a height adjusting device, and method for operating an agitating device (2). The height adjusting device comprises a housing unit (4), a drum device (5) rotatably accommodated on the housing unit (4), and a displacement member (6). The displacement member (6) is in functional connection with the drum device (5) and the agitating device (2) and the displacement member (6), depending on the direction of rotation of the drum device (5), can be wound onto the drum device (5) or unwound from the drum device (5) in sections, so that the agitating device (2) can be displaced upwardly or downwardly. Furthermore a fixing device (7) is provided which is suitable and configured to fix the drum device (5) at least temporarily to prevent the displacement member (6) from unwinding if the displacement member (6) is not retained tautly between the drum device (5) and the agitating device (2).

Height adjusting device (1) for adjusting the height of an agitating device (2) in a digester (101) of a biogas plant (100), biogas plant (100) comprising a digester (101), a support unit (10), a displacement member (6), an agitating device (2), and a height adjusting device, and method for operating an agitating device (2). The height adjusting device comprises a housing unit (4), a drum device (5) rotatably accommodated on the housing unit (4), and a displacement member (6). The displacement member (6) is in functional connection with the drum device (5) and the agitating device (2) and the displacement member (6), depending on the direction of rotation of the drum device (5), can be wound onto the drum device (5) or unwound from the drum device (5) in sections, so that the agitating device (2) can be displaced upwardly or downwardly. Furthermore a fixing device (7) is provided which is suitable and configured to fix the drum device (5) at least temporarily to prevent the displacement member (6) from unwinding if the displacement member (6) is not retained tautly between the drum device (5) and the agitating device (2).

A method for securing an angular position of a crane jib displaceable in lifting and in lowering by a winch integrating a motor driving a drum on which is wound a rope and secured to a platen provided with arcuate oblong locking holes, the method including measuring a speed parameter representative of an angular speed of the jib, controlling the motor to displace the jib with a limitation of the speed parameter to a first maximum value and a limitation of a motor torque to a first limit value, until reaching an angular position in which a lock is aligned with and locked into the locking hole, and controlling the motor to displace the jib in lowering with a limitation of the speed parameter to a second maximum value and a limitation of the motor torque to a second limit value, until the speed parameter is null for a predetermined time period to stop the motor.

The invention relates to a rope-lowering device for lowering persons from a building or the like, comprising: an axle arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a first reel connected or connectable to the axle; a second reel connected or connectable to the axle; a brake connected to the axle, which brake is configured to provide a braking force to the axle independent of a direction of rotation; a first rope connected to the first reel to be suspended from the first reel; and a second rope connected to the second reel to be suspended from the second reel, wherein the rope-lowering device is configured such that when both the first and second reels are connected to the axle, paying out one of the first and second rope will automatically cause the other one of the first and second rope to be hauled in.

A device for holding onto a rope to form a loop that can be tighten about two objects. The device including a base portion having at least one hole for securing one end of the rope. A clamping portion slidably engages a plurality of posts enabling the clamping portion to slide between a clamp position and release position for securing a portion of the rope therebetween. A clamp/release mechanism provides a means to clamp and release the clamping portion onto from the posts. The clamp/release mechanism includes a plurality of levers to selectively engage a respective post to clamp the clamping portion onto the posts when in a clamp position and disengage the at least one post to release the clamping portion from the posts when in a release position.

Buoy apparatus and buoy control system for identifying an underwater object, and method for identifying an underwater object are disclosed. A buoy apparatus for use underwater, comprises a buoy securely connected to a first end of a rope; a spool structure securely connected to a second end of the rope; a retractable head for engaging the spool structure; and a spool control device for actuating retraction of the retractable head, wherein in response to an instruction from the spool control device, the retractable head disengages the spool structure, and the spool structure releases the rope when the buoy raises toward a surface of water.

A load support device and load support systems. The load support device may include a body. The body may include a first fixed bollard. The body may additionally include a pivotable bollard. The pivotable bollard and the first fixed bollard may be configured such that friction is applied to a line between the first fixed bollard and the pivotable bollard without locking the line to preclude movement in response to a force applied to the pivotable bollard. A load support system may include a load support device and a line threaded through a body of the load support device in one of several different line configurations.