Abstract: A machine for winding a cable on a circular area (100), the cable (10) arriving vertically above the center of said area and being deployed by a deployment wheel (11), said area including an inner ring wall (102) and an outer ring wall (103) delimiting a winding tank therebetween, the machine comprising a stand (2) removably mounted at the center of the inner ring wall of the tank, a generally vertical pillar (3) rotatably mounted on said stand, and a hinged guide arm (4) for guiding the cable from leaving the deployment wheel to a winding end (8) of adjustable radial position thereby enabling: firstly successive coils to be laid next to one another as the cable is wound; and secondly the guide arm to be stored along the pillar when not in use. The machine is particularly intended for use when loading cable onto cable ships.

Abstract: A coiling-down tank (1) comprises a circular outer wall (3) delimiting a coiling-down zone, and cable (4) to be coiled down (e.g. heavy electric cable) is delivered to the machine (10) from a point (80) vertically above the center of the tank. The machine comprises an upper support bracket (70) mounted to rotate about the vertical axis of the tank, a sloping coiling-down arm (20) connected at its upper end to said bracket and supported at its lower end by running means disposed to run along the said wall (3) of the tank (1). The arm is fitted with a carriage (30) that is longitudinally displaceable along the arm, and an inlet chute (60) receives cable from the point (80). The inlet chute guides the cable into the carriage, and the lower end of the carriage serves to dispense the cable into the tank for coiling down.