Patent classifications
B65H75/44
Retriever device and method
A tether line is mounted in a retriever and, when a water vessel is launched into the water, the retriever applies a tension force to the tether line. After the water vessel is launched, the tension on the tether line pulls the water vessel from its launched floating position towards the stationary object. The retriever is rotatably mounted on the water vessel or the stationary object such that it will pivot around a vertical axis and point in a direction towards and along the tether line. A spool mounted on the structural unit holds the tether line, and an electrical or mechanical motor, such as a spring B-motor, places a torque on the spool and a tension on the tether line. After the water vessel is launched, the tension force from the motor pulls the water vessel from a launched position to the stationary object. A self-governing control mechanism in the retriever senses at least one operating parameter of the retriever and limits the retrieval of the tether line to within predetermined operating conditions. The self-governing control mechanism may sense the tension on the tether line and stop retrieval of the tether line when the tension on the tether line drops below a predetermined tension. The self-governing control mechanism may also (or alternatively) sense the speed of the spool and apply a brake force proportional to the spool's rotational speed.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A POWERED VERTICAL AXIS HOSE REEL
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for a powered vertical axis hose reel is shown. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a powered hose reel is disclosed having a spool around which a hose may be coiled, in which the spool is on a vertical axis relative to the ground. In various embodiments, the powered hose reel includes a programmable controller for implementing a rewind protocol adapted to encourage the hose to fill from the bottom of the spool cup to the top.
FALL PROTECTION DEVICE
A fall protection device is used to connect with a safety belt, including a frame having a receiving space, a shaft disposed on the frame, a decelerating member connected to the shaft and disposed in the receiving space, and a safety belt base fitted around the decelerating member. An outer peripheral surface of the decelerating member has a plurality of friction surfaces arranged at intervals. The safety belt base has an outer peripheral surface adapted to be wrapped by the safety belt and an inner peripheral surface being in contact with the friction surfaces thereof. With the design describing above, the friction surfaces rub the inner peripheral surface to generate a rolling friction, thereby to slow down an unwound speed of the safety belt.
COILED TUBING AND SLICKLINE UNIT
A coiled tubing unit includes a coiled tubing assembly and a slickline assembly sharing an axis of rotation with the coiled tubing assembly. A shaft of the coiled tubing assembly is received by bearings on a slickline drum of the slickline assembly and extends through an interior of the slickline drum. A swivel joint connection is rotatably affixed on an end of the shaft as it exits the interior of the slickline drum, thus allowing for introduction of fluid or cabling into the shaft and into the coiled tubing. The coiled tubing drum and slickline drum can rotate independently and are powered independently of each other. The coiled tubing and slickline assemblies are preferably affixed to a removable module, the removable module being positioned on a skid having a power unit and appropriate controls.
FALL ARREST DEVICE
A fall arrest device includes a bracket, a rotating member rotatably mounted to the bracket, a safety belt wound around the rotating member, a brake wheel connected to the rotating member, a brake block pivotally connected to the brake wheel, and a restoring spring fitting around the second segment and having one end thereof terminating in a ring that has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first segment. Another end of the restoring spring is connected to the brake block. The brake wheel has a fixed rod having a first segment and a second segment. An outer diameter of the first segment is greater than an outer diameter of the second segment. The restoring spring urges the brake block to be located in a restoring position. Thus, the restoring spring could be prevented from falling out of the fixing rod.
FALL PROTECTION DEVICE AND SAFETY BELT BASE THEREOF
A fall protection device and its safety belt base. The fall protection device adapted to be connected to a safety belt includes a frame, a shaft, and a safety belt base, wherein the frame has a receiving place. The shaft is disposed on the frame. The safety belt base fits around the shaft and is located in the receiving place. The safety belt base includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a ring, and the second portion has a sleeve and a reinforcement portion connected to the sleeve. The sleeve is surrounded by the ring and is adapted to be connected to the safety belt. The reinforcement portion is embedded in the ring. With the reinforcement portion, the structural strength of the safety belt base could be reinforced, and the first portion and the second portion could be prevented from disengaging from each other.
LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PET RETRACTOR
A pet retractor includes a housing having an anchor, a rotary member rotatably engaged in the housing for engaging with a pet leash, a follower pivotally attached to the housing for engaging with the rotary member, a lever pivotally attached to the housing and having a knob engageable into and out of the housing, the lever includes a guide member engaged with the follower for pivoting the follower relative to the housing when the lever is pivoted relative to the housing and for actuating the hook of the follower to engage with and to be disengaged from the rotary member selectively, and a switch member is slidably engaged with the lever and engageable with the anchor for locking the lever and the follower and the switch member to the housing.
Unit for winding and unwinding cables of a cable-laying machine
Unit for winding and unwinding cables of a cable-laying apparatus, comprising a reel to support the cables to be wound or unwound, a support frame configured to keep said reel in a raised position with respect to the ground, and a rotation shaft solid with the reel and associated with a corresponding hydraulic drive unit; the unit also comprises at least a dynamic braking device associated with the rotation shaft and configured to allow, according to a first operating mode, the normal rotation of the shaft and therefore of the reel for winding or unwinding the cables, and to exert on the shaft and therefore on the reel, according to another operating mode, a dynamic braking condition that allows the shaft to rotate in a braked configuration for at least a certain period of time and prevents the instantaneous stoppage of the rotation of the reel.
Wirelessly Controlled Hose Reel
A wirelessly controlled hose reel including a housing with a back wall and a lower enclosure. The back wall has a hose reel connected thereto such that the lower portion of the hose reel sits within the lower enclosure. A motor is connected to the lower enclosure and the center of the hose reel. The motor is further connected to a wireless transceiver. The motor is capable of spinning the hose reel forward or backward. A remote valve is connected to a side wall of the lower enclosure. The remote valve has a water input hose fluidly connected to a first end of the valve and a hose intake pipe fluidly connected to the second end. The remote valve is operably coupled to the wireless transceiver. The valve can be remotely opened and closed.
Tether Lock
A retractor for an anti-theft display includes a lock that may hold the retractor's spool in fixed position against further rotation. The retractor's spool carries an anti-theft tether that normally extends or retracts as a tethered product is lifted to and from a retail display. The lock is capable of holding the tether in fixed position.