Apparatus for lifting a flexible cable

An apparatus for lifting and stiffening a predetermined length of flexible cable is attached to the rear of a machine body and comprises a plurality of generally rectangular-shaped blocks, each block having flat sides, a convex-shaped front face and a concave-shaped back face and a longitudinal channel therethrough for mounting each block on the cable;

• the front face of one block facing the back face of the successive block, each block having at least one longitudinal hole from front to back in the lower portion thereof for passage of a block retaining wire therethrough, and
• at least one retaining wire for keeping the blocks closely together and longitudinally oriented along the length of the cable when said blocks are not in abutment, said retaining wire passing through the lower longitudinal hole provided in each block, the first end of said retaining wire being attached to the back face of the rearmost block, means mounted on said machine body for tensioning said retaining wire, the second end of said retaining wire being attached to said means for tensioning said retaining wire;
• a frame for mounting said apparatus to the machine body, said frame having a base plate which is anchored to the machine body, a bearing plate for preventing lateral movement of the blocks when the cable is lifted;
• said frame having an aperture of sufficient diameter to accommodate the cable, and an additional aperture of sufficient diameter to accommodate the retaining wire therethrough;
• a further means passing through said blocks for drawing said blocks into abutment with one another to thereby form a rigid support to lift the cable from a ground surface.