Multiple action hoist

A hoist apparatus for transferring the ends of power lines between first and second supports at different locations comprising:

• a hoist frame;
• a pair of independently operable hoist mechanisms supported by the hoist frame;
• said hoist mechanisms each including a respective tension line receiving drum rotatably supported by the hoist frame and a tension line having an attachment element at one end and being coupled at its opposite end to the drum for winding and unwinding about the drum, said drum of each hoist mechanism having a respective ratchet mechanism for enabling selective ratcheted rotational movement of the drum for winding and unwinding the tension line from the drum;
• said ratchet mechanisms for each drum including a ratchet wheel affixed to the drum and a respective pair of pawl mechanisms;
• a single pivotable crank arm pivotably mounted on the hoist frame for actuating said ratchet mechanisms;
• and
• one pawl mechanism of each pair including a selectively positionable pawl moveable between a first pawl position in which the respective ratchet mechanism rotates the respective drum in a take-up direction for winding the tension line on the respective drum upon pivotal movement of the single crank arm between a first crank arm position and second crank arm position and a second pawl position in which the ratchet mechanism enables rotation of the respective drum in a release direction for unwinding the tension line from the respective drum upon pivotable movement of the single crank arm from said first crank arm position to said second arm position, and said one selectively positionable pawl of each one pawl mechanism being positionable between said first and second pawl positions independently of the other.

A method of transferring the end of a power line between first and second supports at different locations comprising the steps of:

• providing a hoist apparatus having a pair of independently operable hoist mechanisms each including a respective tension line receiving rotatable drum and a tension line coupled to the drum, said drum of each hoist mechanism having a respective ratchet mechanism that includes a pair of pawl mechanisms for enabling selective ratcheted rotational movement of the drum for winding and unwinding the tension line from the drum, a single pivotable crank arm for actuating said ratchet mechanisms, and one pawl mechanism of each pair including a selectively positionable pawl moveable between a first pawl position in which the respective ratchet mechanism rotates the respective drum in a take up direction upon pivotal movement of the single crank arm from a crank arm first position to a second crank arm position for winding the respective tension line on the respective drum and a second pawl position in which the ratchet mechanism enables rotation of the respective drum in a release direction for unwinding the tension line from the respective drum upon pivotable movement of said single crank arm from said first crank arm position to the second crank arm position;
• connecting an outer end of the tension line of one hoist mechanism to the end of the power line to be transferred, and connecting an outer end of the tension line of the other hoist mechanism to a support to which the power line is to be transferred;
• selectively positioning the selectively positionable pawl of each said one pawl mechanism to the first pawl position;
• and
• pivoting the single crank arm between the first crank arm position and the second crank arm position for causing the ratchet mechanisms of the respective hoist mechanisms to simultaneously rotate the respective drum of each hoist mechanism in a take-up direction for simultaneously drawing the respective tension lines onto the respective drums of the hoist mechanisms.