A line tensioner is disclosed. A winch has a winch drum with at least one groove over which a line is passed. The winch has a line tensioner assembly with a stationary cam surface and a plurality of line tensioners rotating with the winch drum. Each has a line gripping portion and a cam follower. The line gripping portion is brought into and out of contact with the line as the cam follower rides along at least a portion of the cam surface.

A traction winch for winching an elongated article having a high-tension end connectable to a load and low-tension end connectable to a storage device includes two or more rotatable drums arranged adjacent to each other with their rotational axes substantially parallel, each of them having a plurality of parallel, circumferential sheaves with groove, the sheaves being axially offset with respect to each other to allow wrapping of the elongated article around the sheaves of both drums in a spiral fashion. The sheaves includes fixed sheaves, stationary relative to their underlying drum, and rotatable sheaves, rotatable relative to their underlying drum. The majority of the rotatable sheaves of at least one of the drums is arranged adjacent to each other on a high load supporting side of the winch and the rotational velocity of at least one of the rotatable sheaves is reducible by means of at least one braking device.

A method for stretching cables includes the steps of i) providing at least one first and one second stretching device; the first and second stretching device include at least one rotatable drum on which a cable can be wound or unwound; an electrical movement member associated to the drum for winding the cable; supply means connected to the movement member; a braking device associated to the drum and activatable for unwinding the cable; an energy recovery member associated to the drum and active simultaneously with the braking device for recovering energy during the unwinding of the cable; ii) activating the second stretching device for pulling the cable; iii) recovering energy from the first stretching device during the unwinding of the cable; and iv) transferring at least part of the recovered energy from the first stretching device to the second stretching device.

A double drum traction winch of which the rotatable drums are both provided with adjustable grooves is provided. Each drum includes multiple, for example three or more, curved segments, each segment defining a section of a circumferential groove, such that multiple circumferential grooves on the outer surface of the drum are each composed of several curved segments. The curved segments are each movably supported by a core body for movement in a substantial radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the drum. An actuator mechanism for the curved segments is provided, that includes actuators that cause essentially radial displacement of the curved segments, such that the circumference of the grooves can be adjusted.

A retractable roof for a building having a supporting frame and a high structure extending vertically above the supporting frame. The roof has at least one structure section with first and second panels. The first panel is hingeably mounted on the supporting frame at a proximal hinge and the second panel is hingeably mounted on the first panel at a distal hinge. A distal end of the second panel is suspended to the high structure with a distal cable connected to a distal motorized winch. A tackle member connects to both first and second panels adjacent the proximal hinge and the distal end, respectively, and includes a tackle wire that forms a wire side of a triangular cross-sectional shape with the first and second panels. The tackle wire connects to a winch mechanism to control a length of the wire side.

A system for moving a practice target includes a capstan winch assembly including a drive wheel; a target sled; a rope that connects the target sled to the drive wheel in an endless loop, wherein a first end of the rope is connected to a first end of the target sled and a second end of the rope is connected to a second end of the target sled; a sensor configured to detect a location of the sled; a motor configured to control rotation of the drive wheel bi-directionally, wherein the rope is provided on the drive wheel so as to move by rotation of the drive wheel; a user input unit located remotely from the capstan winch assembly and the target sled; and a processor including a memory programmed to control rotation of the drive wheel, thereby controlling movement of the target sled.

An apparatus includes an end effector, a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, an instrument base, and a knife driving assembly. The end effector includes a pair of jaws and a knife member capable of actuating between a proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly can actuate the knife member between the proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly includes a cable and a knife drive input assembly coupled only to a first drive input. The knife driven assembly is capable of rotating in first and second angular directions. The cable terminates into a first end and a second end, which are both attached to the knife drive input assembly. A portion of the cable is attached to the knife member. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the first angular direction drives the knife member distally. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the second angular direction drives the knife member proximally.

An apparatus includes an end effector, a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, an instrument base, and a knife driving assembly. The end effector includes jaws and a knife member capable of actuating between a proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly actuates the knife member between the proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly includes a cable and a knife drive input assembly coupled to a first drive input and is capable of rotating in first and second angular directions. The cable terminates into a first end and a second end, which are both attached to the knife drive input assembly. A portion of the cable is attached to the knife member. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the first angular direction drives the knife member distally, whereas rotation in the second angular direction drives the knife member proximally.