Method for producing a ballast weight for damping vibrations of a structure, the ballast weight being formed from ballast components comprising a part of a ballast cable, the method comprising: connecting the ballast cable to a conveying device, by the conveying device, moving successive portions of the ballast cable from a low point to a high point, and forming the ballast weight from a part of the successive portions of the ballast cable which have been conveyed to the high point.

A carbon fiber precursor fiber bundle which permits easy bundling of a plurality of small tows into one bundle, is provided with a dividing capability to divide into the original small tows spontaneously at the time of firing, and is suitable for obtaining a carbon fiber that is excellent in productivity and quality. A carbon fiber precursor fiber bundle that has a degree of intermingle of 1 m.sup.1 or less between small tows, consists of substantially straight fibers without imparted crimp, a tow of which straight fibers has a moisture content of less than 10% by mass when housed in a container, and has a widthwise dividing capability to maintain a form of a single aggregate of tows when housed in a container, taken out from the container and guided into a firing step, and to divide into a plurality of small tows in the firing step by the tension generated in the firing step.

A carbon fiber precursor fiber bundle which permits easy bundling of a plurality of small tows into one bundle, is provided with a dividing capability to divide into the original small tows spontaneously at the time of firing, and is suitable for obtaining a carbon fiber that is excellent in productivity and quality. A carbon fiber precursor fiber bundle that has a degree of intermingle of 1 m.sup.1 or less between small tows, consists of substantially straight fibers without imparted crimp, a tow of which straight fibers has a moisture content of less than 10% by mass when housed in a container, and has a widthwise dividing capability to maintain a form of a single aggregate of tows when housed in a container, taken out from the container and guided into a firing step, and to divide into a plurality of small tows in the firing step by the tension generated in the firing step.

Method for producing a ballast weight for damping vibrations of a structure (2), the ballast weight (8) being formed from ballast components comprising at least part of a ballast cable (12).

The method comprises: connecting the ballast cable to a conveying device (14), by means of the conveying device, moving successive portions (12P) of the ballast cable from a low point (B) to a high point (H), and forming the ballast weight (8) from at least part of the successive portions of the ballast cable which have been conveyed to the high point.

Method for producing a ballast weight for damping vibrations of a structure (2), the ballast weight (8) being formed from ballast components comprising at least part of a ballast cable (12).

The method comprises: connecting the ballast cable to a conveying device (14), by means of the conveying device, moving successive portions (12P) of the ballast cable from a low point (B) to a high point (H), and forming the ballast weight (8) from at least part of the successive portions of the ballast cable which have been conveyed to the high point.

A combined unit comprises an actuator and a plurality of support members coupled together in series connected to the actuator. Each support member further comprises a retractable shear blade (26)

A remotely controlled, tethered vehicle system is comprised of a communication network interface, a system command and control module, a power source, a tether cable spooling apparatus and a remotely controlled vehicle that is tethered to the communication, control and power source by a cable that is controlled to be dispensed from or retracted into the spooling apparatus. The spooling apparatus has a spooling mechanism that is controlled to move the cable into and out of the spooling apparatus without using a slip ring device.

A remotely controlled, tethered vehicle system is comprised of a communication network interface, a system command and control module, a power source, a tether cable spooling apparatus and a remotely controlled vehicle that is tethered to the communication, control and power source by a cable that is controlled to be dispensed from or retracted into the spooling apparatus. The spooling apparatus has a spooling mechanism that is controlled to move the cable into and out of the spooling apparatus without using a slip ring device.

A combined iris and shear unit for a coil forming device is provided that includes an actuator and a plurality of support members coupled together in series to support formation of a coil and connected to the actuator. Each support member further comprises a retractable shear blade. The actuator adapted to cause movement of the support members between an open position with the blades of the combined iris and shear unit being retracted away from the reform tub wall, so that coil forming takes place within the reform tub without interference. A support position with the blades extends into the reform tub and providing support for the coil; or a shear position for cutting the coil before it is extracted.

A system can comprise a plurality of containers that are coupled together as a movable unit. A plurality of container-feeding assemblies can be configured to simultaneously deliver respective yarns into respective containers of the plurality of containers. A header can be selectively attachable to a tufting machine, the header having a longitudinal axis. A retainer can be configured to extend across the header along the longitudinal axis to secure the respective yarns in respective positions relative to each other along the longitudinal axis.