A management system for a closed environmental facility includes one or more motorized tubular hoist mechanisms operable to adjust the height of environmental modules above one or more groups of plants. A central controller provides signals over a wireless communication network to command the hoist mechanisms to move the environmental modules to a desired position. In further embodiments, environmental sensors provide data to the central controller and the controller automatically calculates desired positions of the environmental modules based on the data and commands the hoist mechanisms to achieve the desired positioning.

A winch comprises a cable roll; a cable having one end fixed to the cable roll and another end configured to electrically connect an electric device to the cable, wherein the cable is further configured to provide the electric device with electric power and/or with data; a framework to which the cable roll is mounted; measuring means connected to the framework and configured to provide data related to the length of an unwound part of the cable; and processing means configured to control winding and unwinding of the cable based on data provided by the measuring means. The cable has a predetermined reference state at which a predetermined fixed reference point is at a reference position in relation to a coordinate system, wherein the length of unwound cable is defined as the distance measured along the cable, between the location of the predetermined fixed reference point and the reference position.

A winch comprises a cable roll; a cable having one end fixed to the cable roll and another end configured to electrically connect an electric device to the cable, wherein the cable is further configured to provide the electric device with electric power and/or with data; a framework to which the cable roll is mounted; measuring means connected to the framework and configured to provide data related to the length of an unwound part of the cable; and processing means configured to control winding and unwinding of the cable based on data provided by the measuring means. The cable has a predetermined reference state at which a predetermined fixed reference point is at a reference position in relation to a coordinate system, wherein the length of unwound cable is defined as the distance measured along the cable, between the location of the predetermined fixed reference point and the reference position.

A handling device includes a winch comprising a frame, intended to be attached to a structure of the surface vessel and a first drum capable of turning relative to the frame about a first rotation axis and an assembly comprising at least one second drum which surrounds the first drum and is capable of turning relative to the frame about a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the first rotation axis, the winch being capable of being in a decoupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally decoupled about the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis so as to allow a traction cable to be wound around the first drum during a first winding step wherein the first drum is rotated about the first axis, the second drum being capable of being in an open state wherein the second drum has a receiving opening that a towed body is capable of passing through in order to enter the interior of the space that surrounds the first drum and that is surrounded by the second drum, the winch being capable of being in a coupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally coupled about the second rotation axis so as to allow a flexible elongate body to be wound around the second rotation axis during a second winding step wherein the second drum is rotated about the second axis.

A handling device includes a winch comprising a frame, intended to be attached to a structure of the surface vessel and a first drum capable of turning relative to the frame about a first rotation axis and an assembly comprising at least one second drum which surrounds the first drum and is capable of turning relative to the frame about a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the first rotation axis, the winch being capable of being in a decoupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally decoupled about the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis so as to allow a traction cable to be wound around the first drum during a first winding step wherein the first drum is rotated about the first axis, the second drum being capable of being in an open state wherein the second drum has a receiving opening that a towed body is capable of passing through in order to enter the interior of the space that surrounds the first drum and that is surrounded by the second drum, the winch being capable of being in a coupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally coupled about the second rotation axis so as to allow a flexible elongate body to be wound around the second rotation axis during a second winding step wherein the second drum is rotated about the second axis.

The invention relates to a rope-lowering device for lowering persons from a building or the like, comprising: an axle arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a first reel connected or connectable to the axle; a second reel connected or connectable to the axle; a brake connected to the axle, which brake is configured to provide a braking force to the axle independent of a direction of rotation; a first rope connected to the first reel to be suspended from the first reel; and a second rope connected to the second reel to be suspended from the second reel, wherein the rope-lowering device is configured such that when both the first and second reels are connected to the axle, paying out one of the first and second rope will automatically cause the other one of the first and second rope to be hauled in.

The invention relates to a rope-lowering device for lowering persons from a building or the like, comprising: an axle arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a first reel connected or connectable to the axle; a second reel connected or connectable to the axle; a brake connected to the axle, which brake is configured to provide a braking force to the axle independent of a direction of rotation; a first rope connected to the first reel to be suspended from the first reel; and a second rope connected to the second reel to be suspended from the second reel, wherein the rope-lowering device is configured such that when both the first and second reels are connected to the axle, paying out one of the first and second rope will automatically cause the other one of the first and second rope to be hauled in.

A small-footprint level wind system enabling a winch to accept and operate tension members of differing sizes, simplifying the system, and reducing the system weight. Comprising an elongate support, a leadscrew, a guide substantially supported by the support, the guide adapted to accept a tension member. The guide designed to move along the support and to transfer tension member forces onto the support. Further comprising a motor, adapted to apply a motive onto the leadscrew, a shuttle connected the guide and leadscrew and adapted to transfer the motive force to the guide, moving the guide along the support. In many embodiments more than one component share the same longitudinal axis. Another aspect is providing direct tension member metering and load sensing within the guide. Another embodiment provides a load-bearing leadscrew without an additional support, instead having a direct connection between guide and leadscrew.

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.

A safe metal free and hookless winch rope includes a stopper knot formed at an end of the winch rope that is opposite an end of the winch rope intended to be wound around a winch, and a plurality of brummel style openings formed inline along at least a portion of the winch rope. The stopper knot can be selectively inserted into any brummel style opening of the plurality of brummel style openings to wrap around an object during a winch operation and the stopper knot will be securely held in the selected brummel style opening when the winch rope is under tension during the winch operation.