...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7874544 | Lifting device A lifting device comprises at least two multi-stage masts and a cable mechanism. Each multi-stage mast comprises a first length and a second length that is longer than the first length. Each multi-stage mast further comprises a plurality of stages, such that at leas... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7407150 | Self-stabilizing suspension and hoisting system A load hoisting system for raising and lowering a load. A first line supports a rigid beam with unequal mechanical advantages on either side of the load. A second line supports the same rigid beam with mechanical advantages on either side of the load that are, in to... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7357376 | Device for lifting and stabilizing loads It is described a device for lifting and stabilizing loads, comprising a frame and a height-adjustable crossmember, which is located below said frame, bears the load, and is stabilized by two intersecting telescopic struts that are hinged on the crossmember so that ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7293761 | Diagnostic system for cranes A hoist system for critical loads incorporates improved safety technology to monitor various possible fault conditions. For example, a command-not-operated function causes braking of the hoist when an encoder detects one of a group of conditions including a lack of ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7284744 | Lifting device A lifting device comprises four pairs of hoisting cables arranged in a V-shape relative to one another for lifting and lowering a load suspension apparatus at which they engage and which are taken off from drivable cable drums. The free lengths of the hoisting cable... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7261139 | Manual operating mechanism for upward acting door An upward acting door, such as a flexible curtain rollup door, is moveable between open and closed positions by an electric motor drive unit wherein the motor has a drive shaft with an external drive tang for engagement with a hand crank member. The crank member is ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258325 | Modular lift assembly A lift assembly having a drum rotatably mounted to a frame and linearly translatable with respect to the frame. A plurality of head blocks are connected to the frame along a helical mounting path, wherein linear translation of the drum during takeoff or take-up main... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7213715 | Hoisting apparatus for use at a manhole A hoisting apparatus (10) for use at a manhole (1), comprising a supporting mast and a jib crane (14) connected at an angle to an upper end portion (16) of the supporting mast (12). The jib crane (14) has a front member (... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210645 | Safety element retention reel A safety element retention system having a reel upon which a safety element or strap may be wound, a spring return mechanism, for rewinding the reel and retrieving the safety strap, and further having at least one locking plate, connected integrally with the reel, w... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7195216 | Adjustable trunk for an artificial Christmas tree An adjustable trunk for an artificial Christmas tree has a base, a telescoping post and a reel assembly. The telescoping post has a stationary outer tube, at least two inner tubes and multiple gaps. The stationary outer tube is mounted on the base. The inner tubes a... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7178788 | Even reeving system for a top drive earth drilling machine An earth drilling machine includes a mast, a crown block assembly mounted on the mast top for providing a drilling line having front sheaves, a fast line sheave mounted to a crown block sheave for reeving the drilling line, a drawworks drum, and a traveling frame as... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7093823 | Lifting unit A lifting unit, comprising a frame for supporting a motorized winch, at least one first tackle and one second tackle, the first tackle being interposed between the second tackle and the winch, each tackle being provided with two blocks, a fixed one and a movable one... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7090200 | Actuator An actuator and control algorithm which provide an operator with the ability to intuitively and responsively maneuver heavy work-pieces with ease and precision. The structure of the apparatus may provide a hoist with a compliant sensing system to measure the weight ... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7070171 | Hoisting and stabilization system for suspended load support The suspension and hoisting system for a load support comprises two cable circuits, each comprising a cable (C1, C2) fixed at one of the ends thereof to a fixed point (Pf1, Pf2) and at the other end to a lifting apparatus (T1, T... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7048257 | Winch with telescoping mast A portable winch suitable for use in underground pipe bursting and replacement includes a mounting frame positionable at a top opening of a hole such as a receiving pit or manhole. A telescoping mast having a series of nested, top and bottom mast sections is mounted... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7014172 | Electric hoist The present invention is to provide an electric hoist using a suspended electric winch that maintains a horizontal posture in any cargo handling operation. A hoist in one aspect includes a winch including a drum axially connected to a drive shaft of a motor, a suspe... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6942198 | Lifter A lifter is constructed to include a hollow main upright, a frame pivoted to the main upright to carry a hand winch, a link coupled between the frame and the main upright, a hollow auxiliary upright axially movably mounted in the hollow main upright, a lifting uprig... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6926260 | Compensation and hoisting apparatus The invention is a hoisting device for a vessel a base structure provided with fixed cable blocks with pulleys; a trolley connected to a cable pulley block and a mechanism for gripping a load; a compensator a hoisting mechanism with a hoisting cable and a winch, whe... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6926103 | Splittable block on a derrick The invention is a hoist system for a derrick with a derrick inside, a derrick outside, and a derrick top side; a splittable block connected to the derrick top side; a hoisting cable guided through the splittable block; a moveable trolley with a trolley top side and... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6908074 | Device for changing the rigging of the pulley blocks of a crane The device enables a switch from the pulley blocks being rigged with one strand to the pulley blocks being rigged with two strands and vice versa. The jib tip has a pulley moveable along its axle between a central position, when the blocks are rigged with one strand... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6840326 | Lifting apparatus and method for oil field related services Apparatus and method are provided for lifting heavy loads beneath the floor of a drilling rig or a platform. A base skid supports tables to which winch bases are attached. Winches, usually four in number, are placed on the winch bases and the cables of the winches a... | 01/11/2005 |
| 6827334 | Lifting arrangement for overhead traveling cranes A lifting arrangement for overhead traveling cranes. The lifting arrangement includes two single reeved drums that are reeved together to provide true vertical lift of a load. The lifting arrangement allows for equalization of full up and full down rope fleet angles... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6651961 | Multiple load blocks for a crane A multi-block rigging system for a heavy crane, pulling or lifting device. The system uses sheave blocks in series orientation to enable the use of standard, economical or preferred, size winch drums and standard, economical or preferred, diameter and len... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6595494 | Hoisting device, with compensator built into hoisting cable system The invention is a hoisting device for a vessel with a mast in the form of a tube or sleeve with fixed cable blocks on the top side, a trolley with moveable pulleys, a feature on the bottom side for gripping a load, a hoisting system with at least a hoist... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6592101 | Hoist with shock absorbing device for the load A shock absorbing device is provided for use on a hoist of the type generally used for safety of personnel entering a manhole or the like which has a base for mounting on a support surface at the hole and a jib portion. A winch is mounted at one position ... | 07/15/2003 |
| 6234453 | Rolling door winch apparatus Winch apparatus for raising and holding a rolling steel door includes a wheeled base with telescoping members extending upwardly from the base. A hand cranked winch raises and lowers the telescoping members, while a reversible electric motor is used to po... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6086050 | Apparatus for pulling a traction cable through an underground pipe A pulling apparatus includes a frame having a securing stirrup for securing a beam. The beam is provided at one end with a return pulley. Due to the structure of the securing stirrup, the tractive forces are transferred completely to the beam and the fram... | 07/11/2000 |
| 5957431 | Stack lifter for a blowout preventer A lifting apparatus for lifting a heavy object. The lifting apparatus including a frame assembly having a pair of side beams spaced parallel to one another. A sliding sheave assembly is mounted to the frame assembly. The sliding sheave assembly is positio... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5951227 | Deep water lowering apparatus A deep water lowering apparatus that utilizes dual davit structures mounted on a barge. Each davit structure has a pulling wire rope line spooled on a storage winch. Each pulling line is reeved onto a traction winch and through upper and lower sheaves on ... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5863029 | Swivelably mounted rope guide for guiding a rope onto and off of a winding drum A rope guide for a winch, especially for hoisting gear, with a winding drum which has rope grooves running in opposite directions, including guide means which are provided for the alignment of at least a pair of rope lines and connected with one another v... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5829737 | Rope guide for a winch having two interconnected drivable rope guides A rope guide for a winch including a rotatably supported winding drum defining an axis of rotation and having helical cable or rope grooves defined about the drum periphery and which spiral inward from the drum distal edges toward the drum center. Two gui... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5762279 | Dual draw works heavy hoisting apparatus A dual draw works hoisting apparatus. A single derrick structure is provided for two drilling rigs. The crown block platform receives the crown blocks for both drilling operations such that both crown blocks are slidable along the crown block platform. Th... | 06/09/1998 |
| 5603420 | Method for using a two-drum crane for raising or lowering a load The disclosure involves a crane having a main hoist drum and an auxiliary hoist drum for handling a load under normal and emergency (the latter actual or simulated) conditions, respectively. The latter condition involves a main hoist which is inoperative ... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5579931 | Liftcrane with synchronous rope operation An improved method and system for a liftcrane in which a load is lifted through the combined action of first and second hoist drums. The method and system use a first rope wound on one hoist drum and a second rope wound on the second hoist drum. The ends ... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5324007 | Load-hoisting system having two synchronously rotating drums operating in parallel A load-hoisting system comprising a motor and gear box unit having the parallel outlet gears. Each outlet gear drives a hoisting device connected to the load by a cable, such a device comprising a toothed disk meshing with one of the two outlet gears, the... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5257891 | Bi-planar cable cross reeving system A crane and lift apparatus for controlling the lifting and lowering of large cargo containers. A trolley assembly includes a hoist drum from which is suspended a system of cable or rope reevings connected to material securing assembly. The apparatus is ef... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5224569 | Boat lift with articulating arm A boat support framework including an elevating cradle supported between a plurality of cable and pulley containing lift towers via a plurality of roller bearings in engagement therewith. A cable take up axle includes separate cable drums and cables to ea... | 07/06/1993 |
| 5114026 | Hoisting devices A hoisting device comprises a cable controlled at one end by a conventional crane winch assembly and at the other end by a traction winch assembly comprising traction device and storage winch. The hook is raised and lowered using the crane winch assembly ... | 05/19/1992 |
| 5074528 | Redundant crane reeving apparatus A reeving apparatus for a crane hoist is disclosed as having an overhead frame, a lifting beam positioned below the frame and carrying a plurality of rotatable lifting beam sheaves, and load carrying means suspended from the lifting beam. A plurality of r... | 12/24/1991 |
| 4851980 | Double drum level winding rope lift mechanism for luminaires on high lighting masts A winch having a pair of first and second cylindrical drums; a drive to simultaneously axially rotate the drum; a reciprocating bracket which travels substantially axially parallel to the drums when the drums rotate; the bracket having a pair of spaced ap... | 07/25/1989 |