A spool assembly and method of use is disclosed having generally a first and a second mating portions which can mate along a longitudinal axis of the spool to retain a belt therein. The mating surfaces of the first and second mating portions can take a variety of geometries or splines which can efficiently retain the belt while maintaining a suitable transmission ratio. In an exemplary embodiment, the spool exit curve for the retained belt can be radially inward of a majority of the spool to reduce the overall diameter of the spool. In some exemplary embodiments, the spool can be mounted within a motor and rotated thereby to spool and unspool the belt.

A spool assembly and method of use is disclosed having generally a first and a second mating portions which can mate along a longitudinal axis of the spool to retain a belt therein. The mating surfaces of the first and second mating portions can take a variety of geometries or splines which can efficiently retain the belt while maintaining a suitable transmission ratio. In an exemplary embodiment, the spool exit curve for the retained belt can be radially inward of a majority of the spool to reduce the overall diameter of the spool. In some exemplary embodiments, the spool can be mounted within a motor and rotated thereby to spool and unspool the belt.

A winch including a drive motor, a cable drum, and a gear train assembly coupled to the drive motor and including a planetary gear set having a ring gear positioned in a gear train housing. The gear train housing including a radial clutch mount and an axial clutch mount. A clutch mechanism is selectively positionable at the radial clutch mount, in a first configuration, and the axial clutch mount, in a second configuration. The clutch mechanism is operable to selectively lock and unlock the ring gear to the gear train housing, thereby engaging and disengaging the cable drum from the gear train assembly.

A winch including a drive motor, a cable drum, and a gear train assembly coupled to the drive motor and including a planetary gear set having a ring gear positioned in a gear train housing. The gear train housing including a radial clutch mount and an axial clutch mount. A clutch mechanism is selectively positionable at the radial clutch mount, in a first configuration, and the axial clutch mount, in a second configuration. The clutch mechanism is operable to selectively lock and unlock the ring gear to the gear train housing, thereby engaging and disengaging the cable drum from the gear train assembly.

A device and method for retaining a line on a drum is disclosed. The drum has a slot which extends from a point along the periphery and into the drum in a first direction and at an acute angle relative to a tangent at the point. A clamp is provided with a slot portion and a line retaining portion. The slot portion is engaged with the slot such that relative movement between the clamp and the drum causes the slot portion to move in the first direction. As tension is applied to the line, a first force is created on the slot member in the first direction, resulting in a second force being applied by the line retaining portion in the first direction, clamping the portion of the line against the drum.

A device and method for retaining a line on a drum is disclosed. The drum has a slot which extends from a point along the periphery and into the drum in a first direction and at an acute angle relative to a tangent at the point. A clamp is provided with a slot portion and a line retaining portion. The slot portion is engaged with the slot such that relative movement between the clamp and the drum causes the slot portion to move in the first direction. As tension is applied to the line, a first force is created on the slot member in the first direction, resulting in a second force being applied by the line retaining portion in the first direction, clamping the portion of the line against the drum.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile-member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

The present invention relates generally to rope drives working with high-strength fiber ropes such as crane hoists, boom adjustment gear, trolley traveling gear, etc. The invention in this respect in particular applies to hoist drums for the rope hoist winch of such a fiber rope drive having a drum jacket body which is provided with grooving at the peripheral side and having two guard plates adjacent to the drum jacket body at the end sides. The invention further relates to a rope pulley for such a fiber rope drive having a rotatably supported pulley body whose jacket surface has at least one rope groove. In accordance with the invention, the rope grooves have a flat-pressed, round groove contour which differs from the circular and which has a larger radius of curvature in the region of the groove base than in the region of the groove flanks adjacent thereto.

The present invention relates generally to rope drives working with high-strength fiber ropes such as crane hoists, boom adjustment gear, trolley traveling gear, etc. The invention in this respect in particular applies to hoist drums for the rope hoist winch of such a fiber rope drive having a drum jacket body which is provided with grooving at the peripheral side and having two guard plates adjacent to the drum jacket body at the end sides. The invention further relates to a rope pulley for such a fiber rope drive having a rotatably supported pulley body whose jacket surface has at least one rope groove. In accordance with the invention, the rope grooves have a flat-pressed, round groove contour which differs from the circular and which has a larger radius of curvature in the region of the groove base than in the region of the groove flanks adjacent thereto.