A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member. The device can include a chassis having a chassis peripheral surface, with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan, the capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle, the throttle being attached to the chassis. The throttle can an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass with the interior surface being in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces work in the form of a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A propulsion unit includes a platform, a propulsion assembly, and a tether. The propulsion assembly facilitates selective launching of a tire deflation device from the platform. The tether is coupled to the platform and is configured for attachment to a deflation device.

A slide-out room system includes a motor-driven sheath with wound cables for extending and retracting the slide-out room. The cables and the sheath are configured such that rotation of the sheath in one direction displaces the cables to extend the room and such that rotation of the sheath in an opposite direction displaces the cables to retract the room.

Apparatus for adjusting the length of a support sling includes a set of pulleys and may be useful, for example, to allow a moving device to keep an object level when being transported.

Described are various embodiments of capstan drive transmission self-tensioning apparatus and method. In one embodiment, the capstan drive transmission self-tensioning apparatus comprises a body coupled to the capstan drive drum comprising a force providing member coupled to the cable and configured to displace the cable along a path increasing an effective distance between said first end and said second end of the cable thereby increasing a tension within said cable; a jamming assembly directly or indirectly coupled to said cable and configured to: allow motion of said cable along said path upon said tension being below a lower designated level; and prevent motion of said cable along an opposite path upon said tension being above an upper designated level. In some embodiments, the jamming assembly may comprise a spring-loaded rocker mechanism, a ratcheting mechanism or a directional frictional material to provide the jamming effect.

A cable puller is provided to pull rope or cable where the cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted on the puller frame around a first axis of rotation, an output shaft rotatably mounted to the puller frame and coupled to the capstan, The capstan is configured to rotate when the output shaft is driven. A shift motor is configured to drive a cam to engage gearing coupled to the output shaft to a gear position comprising a low speed position, a medium speed position, and a high-speed position.

Disclosed is a system for the storage and traction of a cable, in particular a synthetic cable fitted to an offshore crane. The storage/traction system includes a frame that carries in particular a storage device including a support carrying a storage reel through an assembly defining an axis of rotation. Between the storage reel and the support, the assembly includes of a single slewing ring including two rings that are free to rotate with respect to each other: a fixed ring that is fastened to the support; and a moving ring that is, on the one hand, fastened to the storage reel and, on the other hand, rotated by a motorization.

A method of spooling a crane rope (2) onto a crane drum through a crane rope spooling system (1) from a reel (31) under a predetermined back tension is described and includes the steps of: unspooling the crane rope (2) from a reel (31) and passing the crane rope through a tensioning system (10) comprising a primary back tensioner (12) and a secondary back tensioner (16); gripping the crane rope (2) within the secondary back tensioner (16) and thereby preloading the crane rope (2) with tension prior to the crane rope (2) passing through the primary back tensioner (12); and applying a predetermined back tension to the crane rope (2) with the primary back tensioner (12) as the crane rope (2) is being spooled onto the crane drum under the predetermined back tension. A crane rope spooling system (1) for spooling crane rope (2) onto a crane drum under a predetermined back tension is also described, said system (10) comprising a tensioning system (10) comprising at least a primary back tensioner (12) and a secondary back tensioner (16) and a reel (31).

A system for ascending and descending a balloon. The system includes a first car, a first winch, a first cable, a second car, a second winch, a second cable, a memory, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to perform a method, the method comprising ascending and descending the balloon by control movements of the first car, the first winch, the first cable, the second car, and the second winch.

Cable pullers are provided. A cable puller includes a frame, and a boom assembly rotatably connected to the frame. The boom assembly includes a drive assembly, a first arm extending in a first direction from the drive assembly, a second arm extending in a second opposite direction from the drive assembly, and a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm. Rotation of the boom assembly relative to the frame causes rotation of the third arm relative to the second arm to a position wherein a longitudinal axis of the third arm is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the second arm.