Abstract: Apparatus to lay cables, comprising a work unit bearing at least a pair of capstans to support the cables and provided with a safety device cooperating with the pair of capstans; a winding and unwinding unit for the cables, provided with a dynamic braking device cooperating with a reel for winding and unwinding the cables; an adjustment and safety hydraulic circuit in which a work fluid flows and with which the following are associated: a first power transmission unit to transmit power to the work unit and to pump the work fluid toward the safety device and toward said dynamic braking device, a second motorized braking unit of the work unit cooperating with a third command unit of the safety device, and a fourth regulation unit to regulate the winding and unwinding unit comprising at least a motorized counter-traction valve of the winding and unwinding unit and cooperating with said power transmission unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for depositing a thin film on a flexible substrate involve guiding the flexible substrate along a spiral transport path back and forth between spaced-apart first and second precursor zones so that the substrate transits through the first and second precursor zones multiple times and each time through an intermediate isolation zone without mechanically contacting an outer surface of the substrate with a substrate transport mechanism, thereby inhibiting mechanical damage to the thin film deposited on the outer surface, which may improve barrier layer performance of the thin film.

Abstract: A wire material accumulator is configured to accumulate a wire material. The wire material accumulator includes a plurality of fixed-side pulleys rotatably supported on a fixed axis part, and a plurality of movable-side pulleys rotatably supported on a movable axis part that is supported so as to be movable toward and away from the fixed axis part. The wire material accumulator further includes a drawing mechanism part that applies a drawing force to a wire material W in the middle of the wire material being wrapped from any one to another of the plurality of fixed-side pulleys and the plurality of movable-side pulleys.

Abstract: A rotary joint or swivel device for ensuring a continuous connection between two items that rotates with respect to each other, for example between an instrumentation unit on a fixed installation and sensor elements in a cable on a rotating cable reel or drum, is provided. The rotary joint or swivel device comprises a minimum of two spools 1A,B to coil a connecting cable 3. A first spool 1A is coupled to a first, static, item 40. A second spool 1B is coupled to a second, rotatable, item 30. A guiding arm 4 feeds the connecting cable 3 from the first 1A to the second 1B spool. Correspondingly, a method for ensuring a continuous connection between two items 30,40 that rotates with respect to each other is provided. The method comprises arranging a rotary joint or swivel device according to any of the embodiments of the invention between the two items.

Abstract: A winch (1) for pulling a cable (C) for maneuvering a load is composed of two motorized drums (3) each including an active cylindrical peripheral surface (5) equipped with several annular grooves (6), the cable intended to be wound around the two drums (3) according to a helical arrangement. The motorized drums are each formed from at least three pulleys (11), that can each be rotated around a common central axis (10), cooperating with their own dedicated motor element (4) and including a cylindrical peripheral surface equipped with at least one of the grooves: two pulleys known as outer pulleys (11a, 11d), positioned between which is at least one pulley known as a central pulley (11b, 11c). The central pulleys include at least one axial cylindrical extension, the cylindrical peripheral surface of which constitutes a rotation bearing for the central cylindrical surface of at least one of the other pulleys.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous curing of a plurality of extruded strands can include a rigid frame structure formed by interconnecting a plurality of rigid frame members. A rigid top plate member and a rigid bottom plate member are attached to the rigid frame structure. A plurality of upper spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid top plate member and a plurality of lower spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid bottom plate member. A pair of drive motors is attached to the rigid frame structure. A gear assembly attached to the rigid frame structure is operably engaged to the pair of drive motors and a chamber is supported on the rigid frame structure for curing the plurality of extruded strands. The pair of drive motors drives the gear assembly to continuously pass the plurality of extruded strands through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.

Abstract: A detention unit is provided for retrieval of an elongated body (9), such as a cable. The unit includes two or more movable friction surfaces (1, 11) adapted to pull in the elongated body (9). The moveable friction surfaces (1, 11) are arranged relative to each other so that the elongated body (9) may bear or rest against at a part of at least two friction surfaces (1, 11) in a sequential manner. The part of the friction surfaces (1, 11) adapted to pull the elongated body (9) defines a arc section, and each friction surface is provided with a separate propulsion unit (3, 14).