Overhead ropeway crab for conveying loads

Claim 1

Load hauling apparatus comprising a substantially stationary cable, a displaceable cable separate from and displaceable along said stationary cable, a crab, coupling means to clamp said crab selectively to said stationary cable or to said displaceable cable whereby said crab is affixed to said cable or displaceable with said displaceable cable, a load lifter displaceable with the displaceable cable and extending through said crab by an amount corresponding to relative displacement between the crab and load lifter, the displaceable cable including ends, further means connecting said ends and thereby connecting the displaceable cable in a loop, means slidably supporting said further means on said stationary cable and preventing twisting of said cables, the load lifter extending through said crab and including an end connected to said further means, said further means holding the said end of the load lifter in spaced relation relative to the ends of the displaceable cable to promote the avoiding of engagement between the load lifter and displaceable cable, said load lifter including a free end, and load engaging means on the free end of the load lifter.