Abstract: A drum assembly having a post, and first and second spoke frames. Each of the first and second spoke frames includes expandable spokes and immovable spokes, extending away from the post. Each expandable spoke includes a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A plurality of first drum segments each are mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame. A plurality of second drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame. Mechanical actuators, extending between the post and either the expandable spokes or the first drum segments, move the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A window regulator assembly is provided that includes a guide defining a path. A window bar assembly having a window mounted thereon is supported on the guide and is movable along the path. A manual or automatic actuator is interconnected with a drum for rotationally driving the drum. A pair of cables each include an end connected to the drum with the opposing end connected to the guide. The cables are arranged in a pull-pull relationship between the drum and guide. A portion of the cables is wrapped about the circumference of the drum. A drum biasing assembly, which may include a mandrel urged into bore of the drum by a spring, expands the circumference of the drum to take up the slack in the cables. The drum includes radial grooves that divides the drum into sectors that are movable relative to one another by the mandrel.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable winding tool having a disk-shaped base with a central axis, and four quarter-circle spools. Each spool has a fiber optic cable contacting surface with a radius of curvature exceeding a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. The tool further includes four radial guides connected to the disk-shaped base for slidably mounting the four spools on the disk-shaped base such that the spools are radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A resilient ring inwardly biases the spools on the radial guides towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A moveable wedge-shaped disk engages the spools to permit the spools to be radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. The radial guides permit the spools to be radially collapsed towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base after winding the fiber optic cable to permit removal of the fiber optic cable from the spools.

Abstract: This invention relates to two apparatus and one method for use in spooling composite coiled tubing onto a coiled tubing reel. One apparatus includes the modification of tubing reel cores currently in common use by the direct adhesion of a compliant material to the hub. Another apparatus modifies the commonly used tubing reel hub by affixing several panels concentric to the hub and mounted on compression springs. The method entails the pressurization of the composite coiled tubing prior to spooling onto the tubing reel, and subsequently releasing the pressure within the composite tubing after it has been spooled onto the tubing reel. Both apparatus and the method protect the reel core by absorbing or eliminating the radially inward forces of the composite tubing resulting from the pressurization and corresponding contraction in length of the spooled composite coiled tubing.

Abstract: A wire uncoiler for holding coils of wire on mandrels for uncoiling and drawing by a downstream wire drawing machine. The movable restraining arm of each mandrel is biased by a spring mechanism to control wire payoff to the downstream drawing machine. The spring mechanism can be manually adjusted by a crank handle to control the tension in the spring and therefore the amount of restraining force applied by the restraining arm. The manual adjustment can be done while the wire drawing machine is actively drawing wire from the mandrel.

Abstract: An expandable, self-adjusting core plug which will maintain a fit between core plug and an out-of-round web roll core. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a core plug with a number of individual, elongated beveled ribs and a corresponding beveled spindle, both of which cooperatively and axially adjust the thickness of the core plug to meet variations in the inner diameter of the core.

Abstract: Force limitation in retractors is needed to avoid injury to an occupant from the seat belt itself particularly at high crash impact loads. The invention provides a seat belt retractor comprising a spool including force limiting means for allowing further payout of the seat belt webbing after the spool has locked, under the influence of an occupant's forward momentum in the crash condition.