Abstract: A drum assembly and a method of laying a line (L) onto a drum (D) uses an oscillator device to apply vibrations to the line as it is being wound onto the drum. The oscillator device (17) sequentially increases and decreases the load on the rope as it is being wound onto the drum, causing differential fluctuations in the tension of the line as the line is diverted away in opposite directions from a straight line path to the drum. The vibrations typically cause a rapidly alternating load on the line, which is additional to any load applied to the line during laying of the line onto the drum. This alternating load typically reduces the available stretch in the line, and therefore assists in compaction of the line on the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in handling a load, the apparatus comprising a load bearing elongate member (2) and a load bearing mechanism for paying out and recovering the load bearing elongate member; at least one service umbilical (9, 10) and a mechanism (12) for paying out and recovering the service umbilical; at least one securing member, and a wrapping device (15, 16) for rotating the securing member around the load bearing elongate member and the service umbilical as they are being paid out and to unwrap the or each securing member from the load bearing elongate member and the service umbilical as they are recovered. The rotation of the securing member by the wrapping device is powered by power supplied via a power conduit (25) in the form of an elongate flexible conduit wrapped onto a power conduit drum that has a central axial bore arranged concentrically with the load bearing elongate member during handling of the load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a conduit to relatively inaccessible structures, for example, oil tanks on submerged ships. The method involves providing a conduit with a neck, temporarily securing the conduit to the surface, for example by means of magnets, etc, drilling a hole through the structure and passing the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure, and passing an expander device through the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure to widen a portion of the internal passage of the conduit in the region of the neck.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in handling a load, the apparatus comprising a load bearing elongate member (2) and a load bearing mechanism for paying out and recovering the load bearing elongate member; at least one service umbilical (9, 10) and a mechanism (12) for paying out and recovering the service umbilical; at least one securing member, and a wrapping device (15, 16) for rotating the securing member around the load bearing elongate member and the service umbilical as they are being paid out and to unwrap the or each securing member from the load bearing elongate member and the service umbilical as they are recovered. The rotation of the securing member by the wrapping device is powered by power supplied via a power conduit (25) in the form of an elongate flexible conduit wrapped onto a power conduit drum that has a central axial bore arranged concentrically with the load bearing elongate member during handling of the load.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling an elongate member such as a cable between two points has a support line extending between the points, and winch mechanisms and wrapping devices at each of the points, to permit the elongate member to transit between the two points in a wrapped bundle that is supported mechanically against damage and deviation from a controlled path between the points, and to permit the bundle to be unwrapped at the second point for further manipulation of the elongate member. The invention is particularly useful in raising and lowering a load, towing, and also handling service cables, tubes, pipes, hoses or other elongate lines that are connected between two points. A preferred embodiment is described for the subsea deployment of wireline and the deployment of signal and power cables to subsea wells.

Abstract: A winch drum assembly has a barrel to receive a line, and a spooling device for guiding the line onto the barrel. The line is wound onto the barrel at a point that moves axially with respect to the barrel, and the orientation of the line on the barrel is adapted to change at least once per revolution of the barrel, so that radially adjacent layers of line are non-parallel. Spooling gear is described for guiding the line and the barrel can have ramps and walls to guide the line in the different directions. Non-parallel layers of line exhibit a reduced tendency to interfere with one another, so that the spooled line comes off the barrel more consistently.

Abstract: A winch drum assembly has a barrel to receive a line, and a spooling device for guiding the line onto the barrel. The line is wound onto the barrel at a point that moves axially with respect to the barrel, and the orientation of the line on the barrel is adapted to change at least once per revolution of the barrel, so that radially adjacent layers of line are non-parallel. Spooling gear is described for guiding the line and the barrel can have ramps and walls to guide the line in the different directions. Non-parallel layers of line exhibit a reduced tendency to interfere with one another, so that the spooled line comes off the barrel more consistently.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a conduit to relatively inaccessible structures, for example, oil tanks on submerged ships. The method involves providing a conduit with a neck, temporarily securing the conduit to the surface, for example by means of magnets, etc, drilling a hole through the structure and passing the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure, and passing an expander device through the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure to widen a portion of the internal passage of the conduit in the region of the neck.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling an elongate member such as a cable between two points has a support line extending between the points, and winch mechanisms and wrapping devices at each of the points, to permit the elongate member to transit between the two points in a wrapped bundle that is supported mechanically against damage and deviation from a controlled path between the points, and to permit the bundle to be unwrapped at the second point for further manipulation of the elongate member. The invention is particularly useful in raising and lowering a load, towing, and also handling service cables, tubes, pipes, hoses or other elongate lines that are connected between two points. A preferred embodiment is described for the subsea deployment of wireline and the deployment of signal and power cables to subsea wells.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in handling a load where a load-bearing rope and a service cable are inter-wound as they are being paid out, having a wrapping device for wrapping a securing member around the service cable and the load-bearing rope, and to unwrap the securing member from the service cable and load-bearing rope as either of them is recovered. The securing member is wound around the service cable and the hoist rope, to hold the service cable relative to the load-bearing rope and to reduce the extent of creeping of the service cable down the load-bearing rope. The securing member can be planar, in the form of a strip, tape or ribbon, or can have a circular cross-section, in the form of a rope. In preferred embodiments, the securing member is resilient and is applied to the rope in tension.

Abstract: An improvement to lifting devices where a service cable 1 and hoist rope 2 are wound around one another, wherein the load-bearing rope 2 is wound around the cable 1 that is paid off from a cable winch 13 so that when the wound cable and rope 2 leave the device, the higher tension on the rope pulls that into an axial configuration with the service cable 1 helically coiled around it.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for use in handling a load includes a load-bearing rope, and a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope. There is also a drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending from the drum. A wrapping device rotates the length of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cable around the rope, and to unwrap the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for use in handling a load includes a load-bearing rope and a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope. There is also a drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending from the drum. A wrapping device rotates the length of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cable around the rope, and to unwrap the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for use in handling a load is described. The apparatus includes a load-bearing rope (1, 19), and a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope (1, 19). There is also a drum (3, 12, 15, 16) for holding a service cable (2, 17) with a length of the service cable (2, 17) extending from the drum (3, 12, 15, 16). A wrapping device rotates the length of service cable (2, 17) around the rope (1, 19) as the rope (1, 19) is payed out to wrap the service cable (2, 17) around the rope (1, 19), and to unwrap the service cable (2, 17) from the rope (1, 19) as the rope is recovered.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for use in handling a load includes a load-bearing rope (1, 19), and a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope (1, 19). There is also a drum (3, 12, 15, 16) for holding a service cable (2, 17) with a length of the service cable (2, 17) extending from the drum (3, 12, 15, 16). A wrapping device rotates the length of service cable (2, 17) around the rope (1, 19) as the rope (1, 19) is payed out to wrap the service cable (2, 17) around the rope (1, 19), and to unwrap the service cable (2, 17) from the rope (1, 19) as the rope is recovered.