Abstract: A stator includes a stator core having a core back and a plurality of teeth, an insulator, and a coil formed by winding a conductive wire on an outer surface of the insulator to laminate a plurality of winding layers, wherein the insulator includes a cylindrical-shaped part with the conductive wire wound, a flange part provided at two ends of the cylindrical-shaped part and expanding in a lamination direction of the winding layers, and a contact part on the cylindrical-shaped part side of the flange part and contacting each of the winding layers in a winding direction; and the contact part includes a slope part inclined in the lamination direction of the winding layers with respect to a winding direction of the conductive wire and guiding the conductive wire from a winding end part of a certain winding layer to a winding start part of a subsequent winding layer.

Abstract: A winder cable guard includes a generally flat plate that is attached to an inwardly facing surface of the outer support bearing in a winder mechanism. The plate is sized and configured to fit within and seal the clearance gap between the outer end of the winder drum and the outer support bearing. This prevents a cable being wound onto the winder drum from slipping or falling into the gap. The potential for jamming and/or breakage of the lift cable is thereby reduced.

Abstract: Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine (“AWT”), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path, such as a substantially circular path, to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be coupled to a winch assembly via a tether. The winch assembly may include a winch drum and a drum door. The winch assembly may be configured such that the drum door may operate in two or more positions, such as an open position and a closed position, to reduce the likelihood of stability problems occurring at the aerial vehicle during winding or unwinding of the tether.

Abstract: A come-along for pulling loads includes a rope winding mechanism that enables the rope to be wound and fed out smoothly. The rope winding mechanism includes a positioning hole that reduces the angle between the secured end of the rope and an axial tube about which the rope is wound. The come-along also includes a rope securing mechanism. The secured end of the rope has a seal head that fits through an installation hole and rests against the positioning hole. A helical slot around the axial tube enables the rope to wind evenly.

Abstract: A spool for holding cable is disclosed. The spool has an S shaped cable pathway for connecting a first circumferential cable pathway with a second circumferential cable pathway. In one embodiment, the spool includes an S shaped groove extending through the middle portion of the spool to define the S shaped cable pathway. In one embodiment, the radiuses of the arc pathways of the S shaped cable pathway are designed to meet the minimum bending requirements of the cable to be stored on the spool. In one embodiment, cable is stored in the spool by first inserting a middle portion of cable to be stored in the spool in S shaped cable pathway and then rotating the spool in a first direction.

Abstract: A come-along for pulling loads includes a rope winding mechanism that enables the rope to be wound and fed out smoothly. The rope winding mechanism includes a positioning hole that reduces the angle between the secured end of the rope and an axial tube about which the rope is wound. The come-along also includes a rope securing mechanism. The secured end of the rope has a seal head that fits through an installation hole and rests against the positioning hole. A helical slot around the axial tube enables the rope to wind evenly.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for preventing overlap of coils on a cable of a rotatable winch drum have a rotatable roller which is mounted at a certain location with respect to the axis of rotation of the winch drum. The rotatable roller has an outer surface which is engageable with a side surface of the incoming coil of the cable as the incoming coil is being formed. The rotatable roller exerts a sufficient force through the roller and the body of the cable at the incoming coil to maintain the roller engaged portion of the incoming coil at the location of the rotatable roller and to shift all previously formed engaging adjacent coils of the cable sufficiently longitudinally on the surface of the winch drum in a direction along the axis of rotation of the winch drum so as to make room for the formation of the incoming coil directly on the surface of the winch drum.