Apparatus and a method for use in handling a load

Apparatus for use in handling a load, the apparatus comprising a load-bearing rope, a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope, at least one service cable drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending therefrom, and a wrapping device for rotating said length of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cable around the rope, and to unwrap the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered, the apparatus having at least one slot to facilitate attachment of the apparatus to the load-bearing rope.

A method for use in handling a load, the method comprising paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a service cable around the rope as it is payed out, and subsequently unwrapping the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered, wherein the rope is a fiber rope.

A method for use in handling a load, the method comprising paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a service cable around the rope as it is payed out, and subsequently unwrapping the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered, including the steps of attaching the load-bearing rope to a mechanism for paying out and recovering the load-bearing rope, attaching the load-bearing rope to the load, and subsequently attaching to the load-bearing rope apparatus for wrapping the service cable around the load-bearing rope, wherein the wrapping apparatus has at least one axial notch through which the load-bearing rope passes as the wrapping device is being attached to the load-bearing rope.

Apparatus for use in handling a load, the apparatus comprising a load-bearing rope, a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope, at least one service cable drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending therefrom, and a wrapping device for rotating said length of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cable around the rope, and to unwrap the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered, wherein said at least one service cable drum orbits around the load-bearing rope.

A method for use in handling a load, the method comprising paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a service cable around the rope as it is payed out, and subsequently unwrapping the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered, wherein the service cable is paid out and recovered onto a service cable drum, which orbits the load bearing rope.

Apparatus for use in handling a load, the apparatus comprising a load-bearing rope, a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope, at least two service cable drums for holding respective service cables with a length of service cable extending from each drum, and a wrapping device for rotating said lengths of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cables around the rope, and to unwrap the service cables from the rope as the rope is recovered.

A method for use in handling a load, the method comprising paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a first service cable and a second service cable around the rope as it is payed out, and subsequently unwrapping the first and second service cables from the rope as the rope is recovered.

A method for use in handling a load, the method comprising paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a service cable around the rope as it is payed out, subsequently attaching a load to the load-bearing rope, and lifting the load by recovering the load-bearing rope while unwrapping the service cable from the load-bearing rope.