US Patent 7246712 Logging carriage with towline-operated grapple

A logging system including a yarder, a skyline, a towline, a carriage riding on the skyline, and a grapple depending from the carriage for grabbing logs and carrying them back to a landing. The carriage and grapple are moved along the skyline for positioning the grapple above a log(s). A remote control device for controlling the slackening and tightening of the skyline and towline, as well as the turning and opening and closing of the grapple. The towline is attached to the grapple, so that when the operator signals the tightening of the towline, the grapple closes around the log.