Patent ID: 6854932

Claim:
Apparatus for pulling a cable attached to a workload, comprising a spring-operated wedge comprising an adaptor having a tapered bore; an articulating wedge slidably disposed in said tapered bore for engaging the cable, said articulating wedge having a length proportional to the diameter of the cable and said articulating wedge capable of positioning in a first position in said tapered bore wherein said articulating wedge grips the cable and a second position in said tapered bore wherein said articulating wedge releases the cable; a coil spring disposed in said adaptor and biasing said articulating wedge in said first position; and a cable pulling mechanism engaging said adaptor for intermittently applying pressure on said adaptor and causing said articulating wedge to grip the cable and pull the workload responsive to movement of said adaptor in a first direction and causing said articulating wedge to release the cable responsive to movement of said adaptor in a second direction.