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 filament winding apparatus reduces fluctuations in a winding operation by bringing a plurality of guide portions that guide fiber bundles to a liner close to the liner in a winding unit. Each of the guide portions is a tubular member having a guide hole penetrated from a base end to a leading end portion. The leading end portion has a smaller thickness width. Each of the guide portions guides a second fiber bundle to the liner by passing the second fiber bundle from a side of the base end portion to a side of the leading end portion of the guide hole. By rotating each of the guide portions about an axis of the guide portion, and by sliding the guide portions in the radius direction of the liner, the guide portions can be brought close to the liner.

Abstract: A winding apparatus for and a method of applying a winding of a band-like material to a limb of a transformer core. The winding apparatus includes a guide member arranged to be fixed in relation to the core limb and a rotary member carrying a supply of a band-like material.