Abstract: A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, the spool configured to rotate about an axis to retrieve or let out a fishing line, a drive mechanism concentric with the axis, the drive mechanism configured to receive rotational kinetic energy from a user and drive the spool to take-up fishing line when a counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than a target torque, and a drag mechanism. The drag mechanism is configured to be driven by the drive mechanism and at least one of (a) drive the spool to take-up the fishing line when the counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than the target torque or (b) provide a drag force to the spool when the counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than the target torque.

Abstract: A compensated elevator link is disclosed. In at least one aspect, the compensated elevator link comprises a plurality of cylinder housings and a rod having a plurality of ends, each end comprising a piston head adapted to be slideably received within one of the cylinder housings for defining first and second hydraulic cylinders. Each hydraulic cylinder has at least one annulus for receiving a non-compressible fluid. The rod comprises a passage for receiving a compressible fluid, wherein each piston head comprises at least one passage to allow selective displacement of the non-compressible fluid between the annulus of the cylinder housing and the passage within the rod during selective displacement of the hydraulic cylinders between a contracted condition to an extended condition for either compression or expansion of the compressible fluid by the non-compressible fluid.

Abstract: A winch control system includes: a distance measurement unit that measures a winch-to-winch distance between first and second winches based on the wound length of a second wire or the unwound length of a first wire when an object suspended through the first wire from the first winch and suspended through the second wire from the second winch is moved from the first winch to the second winch; and a relative position determination unit that determines the relative position of the second winch with respect to the first winch based on the winch-to-winch distance. The length of the first wire unwound from the first winch and the length of the second wire unwound from the second winch are calculated based on the relative position of the second winch with respect to the first winch and the target position of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods can be used in connection with a wellbore environment for automatically controlling wire being spooled around a drum. A system comprising a spooler, a sensor assembly, and a communication link can be used to adjust the position of wire being spooled around a drum. A first motor can control the spooler and a second motor can control the sensor assembly. The spooler can be positioned to control spooling of wire around the drum as the drum rotates to reel in wire. The sensor assembly can be configured to detect a distance between the sensor assembly and the wire being spooled. A communication link can communicatively couple the sensor assembly with the first motor and the second motor to control movement of the spooler and the sensor assembly relative to the drum based on the distance detected by the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A plurality of sensors measure rope depth at a plurality of locations along an axis of a winch drum for use by a control unit in determining rope defects.

Abstract: A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel is disclosed that includes but is not limited to an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel, an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch, a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch, an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable, an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable and a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch. The winch controller is configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in the case of loss of the generated power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subsea marine load raising and lowering system (1) for use on a vessel, preferably a vessel for laying an offshore pipeline, which system comprises first and second winches (2, 6) for raising or lowering first and second cable portions (4, 8) connected via an equalizing sheave (11), to the axle (12) of which a load connector (13) is connected. The system comprises operating means to perform synchronous raising or lowering of the cable portions. The system further comprises overload protection systems provided at both winches, and a safety assembly (15) preventing any substantial further movement of the cable portions (4, 8) in case the cable portions do not operate synchronously, comprising a structure (15a) mounted to the axle (12) of the equalizing sheave (11) having passages (15c) for the cable portions and further comprising stops (15b) arranged on each cable portion above and in the vicinity of the structure (15a).

Abstract: A device for use with apparatus for installing a cable into a tube, the apparatus including means to mechanically drive the cable into the tube, the device being suitable for directing an air flow into the tube and comprising a bore into which the air flow is directed, the bore having a length and a longitudinal axis, shielding means to reduce air flow from the bore along the longitudinal axis of the bore, wherein the shielding means extends the length of the bore, and wherein the bore is formed from the shielding means.

Abstract: A method and device for adjusting the unstored length of tubing directed to improving the use of infusion sets that deliver fluids to a user. The device includes a storage module and other features for adjusting, storing and securing the length of the tubing. The method of adjusting the length of the tubing to a desired length typically comprises removably attaching the tubing to the adjuster, adjusting the tubing by wrapping the tubing around a hub or post of the adjuster, and fixing the length of the unstored tubing by attaching the tubing to a securing device such as a friction structure or fastener.

Abstract: A system for raising and lowering equipment and including a fixed support arm for attachment to an elevated support structure, a movable carriage for carrying the equipment, a cable extending between the fixed support arm and the movable carriage, and a winch for spooling and unspooling the cable to raise and lower the movable carriage relative to the fixed support arm. A locking mechanism secures the carriage in its raised position, and alignment guides position the carriage to make electrical connections as the carriage is engaged onto the support arm.

Abstract: A towrope winch with a safety shutoff device includes a winch configured to wind a rope; and a safety shutoff device which deactivates the winch if the rope moves outside a designated range of angles relative to an intake of the winch.

Abstract: A hoist system for handling a 400 Hz cable used for aircraft electrical servicing, that utilizes electrical circuitry where wire rope position sensing is accomplished using a grounding circuitry. The system employs an AC drive that relies on circuit completion through “sinking logic.” Electrically connected are wire rope guide rollers, a control pendant, a bridge horizontal control relay, which is in electrical communication with a horizontal bridge lock-out bar. The wire rope is used as an electrical conductor for control voltage only. A lower limit contact bar extends above a plane between the wire rope guide rollers and the take-up spool, as serves to prevent the wire rope from rewinding in a reverse manner on the take-up spool. A horizontal bridge lock-out bar extends above a plane between the wire rope guide rollers and the take-up spool and is used to allow or inhibit horizontal bridge movement.

Abstract: A lifting device utilizing a utility winch having an electric motor and cable drum. The cable on the cable drum extends around a pulley located on a load cell beam. Excessive loads will deflect the load cell beam causing a contact on a micro switch to be engaged to shut off power to the motor. The cable is attached to a trolley which reciprocates along a mast between upper and lower limits. The trolley includes a brake which has a drum which engages the mast to stop in travel of the trolley in the event of a cable breakage. Cable tension is also sensed and cable slack will actuate a switch to interrupt power to the electric motor. Various load handling attachments are detachably securable to the trolley.

Abstract: A hoist apparatus (10) including a rope sensing device (14) for detecting rope fouling events. The rope sensing device (14) includes a lever arm (74) having a first end portion (74g), a second end portion (74h), and a pivot point (74j) located between the first (74g) and second (74h) end portions along the lever arm (74). The lever arm (74) is pivotably mounted to a frame (18) of the hoist apparatus for movement between a sensing position and a fouled position. A follower (78) is connected to the first end portion (74g) and positioned adjacent and spaced from a drum (30) of the hoist apparatus such that rope (38) winds on to the drum spaced from and relative to the follower (78) when the rope sensing device is in the sensing position. A switch actuator (82) is connected to the second end portion (74h) adjacent a switch (86) such that the switch is actuated to a motor stop position when a rope fouling event occurs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a winch, particularly for driving an umbrella, comprising a rope drum (48a) which is driven by a hand crank (24) and winds up a rope (28). Functioning of the winch is improved by the fact that said winch is provided with a feeler (100) which responds to the direction of entry of the rope when the rope (28) is fully unwound or to the winding of the rope onto the rope drum (48a). Said feeler (100) is connected to a locking member (102) that cooperates with a stop (104) if winding occurs in the wrong direction, said stop (104) being assigned to the rope drum (48a) and locking the wrong winding direction.

Abstract: A lifting device comprising a rope or wire provided at one end with a gripping device for an object to be lifted, a pulling device provided at the other end of the rope or wire and a rope wheel around which the rope or wire is wound. The rope wheel is provided with a groove for the rope. The rope wheel has a bulge in which a raised screw is inserted wherein, when the rope is wound on the rope wheel and reaches the bulge, the rope is lifted and interacts with a breaker, thereby stopping lifting.

Abstract: An active feedback levelwind apparatus and method for winding cable on a drum has a rotary encoder providing signals representative of drum rotation and a shuttle adjacent the drum receives, bidirectionally moves and wraps the cable on the drum. An outboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an angular sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an outboard extending portion of the cable. An inboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an inboard sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an inboard extending portion of the cable. A stepper motor coupled to a computer system bidirectionally displaces the shuttle and cable in response to the rotation signals, outboard angular signals, inboard angular signals and limit signals to smoothly wind the cable. Error position feedback signals from the computer system create corrective displacements for the shuttle to smoothly wind cables of varying widths.

Abstract: To prevent a random coil of and an overwind of a belt with simple structure, a belt hoist includes a random coil preventing member pressed against the belt wound around a winding member to prevent a random coil of the belt, the random coil preventing member being movable in response to changes in circle diameter of the belt; and control means for controlling drive of drive means in association with the random coil preventing member when the circle diameter becomes a specified diameter. Further, a belt guide having a belt guide portion is supported between two side plates in such a freely sliding manner as to allow the winding of the belt onto the winding member.

Abstract: To prevent a random coil of and an overwind of a belt with simple structure, a belt hoist includes a random coil preventing member pressed against the belt wound around a winding member to prevent a random coil of the belt, the random coil preventing member being movable in response to changes in diameter of the belt; and control means for controlling drive of drive means in association with the random coil preventing member when the diameter becomes a specified diameter. Further, a belt guide having a belt guide portion is supported between two side plates in such a freely sliding manner as to allow the winding of the belt onto the winding member.

Abstract: A cable foul sensor device for winches includes a flapper plate extending from a cover for the cable drum, and a sensing finger extending along the edge of the flapper plate to terminate above an upper layer of cable wound on the drum. The flapper plate is connected to a pivot member through which an adjustable set screw is mounted. A stationary housing for spring loaded switches is mounted on the cover and includes a contact plate which is depressed downward by the set screw of the pivot member to force the switches to the closed position to provide power for the drum. Upon fouling of the cable at the drum, the cable foul will displace the sensing finger and the flapper plate which will cause the pivot member to pivot away from the actuator plate, thereby permitting the spring loaded switches to bias in the open position to interrupt power to and lock the drum. An audio and/or visual signal is provided to indicate that a cable foul at the drum has occurred.

Abstract: A safety device for the manoeuvring and auxiliary winching of self-propelled vehicles used on steep slopes is provided with a winding drum (30) around which a winching cable (28) is wound, said cable having one end (28a) fixed to the top of the slope to be travelled up. The device (18) comprises moreover a pair of rollers (34, 36) around which the cable (28) is passed in advance, before being wound around the winding drum (30). The device (18) comprises finally a manoeuvring arm (20), rotatable about a vertical axis (Y), along which the cable (28) runs. The manoeuvring arm (20) is provided with a motor (26) for positioning thereof about the vertical axis (Y) and can be tilted through 90.degree. about a horizontal axis (X).

Abstract: A primary device placed at the upstream end of a duct and a relay device placed at an access point pull a cable through respective duct segments. The pulling speed of the primary device is controlled by an operator. The pulling speed of the relay device is variable in response to movement of the cable by the primary device to maintain equilibrium between the pulling speeds of the devices. The pulling tension exerted upon the cable by each device is monitored and discontinued upon reaching a predetermined maximum value. At the inlet to the second segment, lubricant is supplied to the cable at a quantitative rate which is proportional to the pulling speed.

Abstract: A rope hoist rope guide is readily mounted on a drum by a unique split ring construction and includes unique rollers which cooperate with the grooves in the drum to position the guide ring and accurately deploy the rope to appropriately lay the rope in the drum grooves regardless of side forces applied.

Abstract: An elevator roped in a triple-wrap configuration has a deflector located near a "pay-on" position to urge the rope to move from one side of a sheave groove to the other side of the groove to minimize the probability that adjacent wraps of the rope contact each other. The deflector may be a fixed comb or a rotatable wheel.

Abstract: A compact retrieval winch and a control therefor are mounted on a recovery vehicle for pulling an immobilized heavy vehicle, such as a military tank, back onto suitable terrain. The winch comprises a support structure, a rotatable hollow cable drum with a cable wrapped thereon, a reversible variable displacement hydraulic motor for driving the drum through a multi-stage power transmission mechanism located within the drum, and a drum brake. The winch control comprises a sensing mechanism for sensing the number of layers of winch cable wrapped on the drum while the drum is operating in the pulling mode and the cable is connected to the tank. The winch control further comprises a hydraulic control circuit, including a constant line pull valve assembly responsive to movement of the sensing mechanism, for controlling the displacement of the hydraulic motor so as to maintain constant maximum cable pulling force regardless of the number of layers of cable on the cable drum.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for preventing the traveling block of a drilling rig from being drawn into the top of the rig and also for preventing the traveling block from falling downwardly below a predetermined bottom position. A high position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a valve stem providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled onto the drum. A low position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a stem yieldably urged at all times into engagement with the cable for actuation and providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled off of the drum. An air supply is connected to the inlets of the valve and the outlets of the valves supply air to stop the actuation of the cable drum. The longitudinal axis of the valves are positioned generally perpendicular to the surface of the cable drum and their stems are longitudinally movable.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a cable recovery device for use on bo a surface ship. The invention compensates for excessive tensions arising in cables carrying submerged loads which are caused by the swell of the ocean acting on the ship, and controls the tension at which the cable is wound. The invention includes a cable winding drum which is rotationally driven by a variable-speed motor, a loop-shaped cable passageway which circumscribes the drum which forms a loop of cable of varying length, and a means for sensing the length of said cable loop and for automatically controlling the speed of the variable speed motor in response thereto. The loop of cable of varying length compensates for excessive cable tensions resulting from the swell of the ship, and allows the cable to be wound around the drum at a desired uniform tension.

Abstract: A manually initiated, brake actuating system for immediate stoppage of the traveling block in a drilling derrick drawworks that overrides a conventional automatic drawwork safety control device. The system includes a normally closed, solenoid-controlled pneumatic valve mounted in an explosive resistant container between the system air supply and the pneumatic brake for the drawworks drum. A manually operated electrical switch, when actuated, simultaneously (1) energizes the solenoid to the emergency override pneumatic valve,and (2) de-energizes the drawworks power circuit, cutting off power to the drawworks motor.

Abstract: A rotatable line storage spool is mounted transverse to the direction of line payout. A disengageable spool gear is associated with the spool, and a drive gear meshes with the spool gear. A drive mechanism and associated star drag mechanism includes an adjustable friction coupling between the crank drive shaft and the drive gear, the friction coupling being manually variable or adjustable by rotation of a star wheel. The drag mechanism includes an extension assembly, which functions as a spacer in the drag adjusting mechanism, and which is extended or contracted independently of the manual drag adjustment to provide a further drag control. The extension or contraction of this extension assembly is controlled by a follower arm bearing either against the spooled line or the line merging with the spool to detect the reeling radius, and coupled to the extension assembly.

Abstract: An overhead door cable safety device for suspending adjacent a cable drum on an overhead door assembly and monitoring the condition and location of the cable on the drum. The cable when becoming loose on the cable drum or frayed contacting the cable safety device, which in turn closes an electrical switch for signalling the operator of the overhead door that the cable on the cable drum is in need of repair.