A cable drive system having a cable drum housing, a cable drum unit mounted therein for rotation by a drive motor, a first control cable and a second control cable. The first and second control cables are each windably held on the cable drum unit for the purpose of driving the protection device. The first control cable is guided out of a first housing part of the cable drum housing along a first direction, and the second control cable is guided out of a separate, second housing part of the cable drum housing along a second direction. Different mounting positions of the first housing part are provided in which the first housing part is in different rotational positions relative to the second housing part, with the result that the first guidance direction has a different orientation than the second guidance direction in the different mounting positions.

This disclosure relates to an endless cable winch including a drive unit having an engine configured to generate a torque. The endless cable winch further including an output unit connected to the drive unit, the output unit including a power transmission assembly coupled to the drive unit, the power transmission assembly configured to apply a driving force to a cable. The endless cable winch further including a lifting force limiting device configured to stop the drive unit as soon a predetermined driving force is exceeded. In doing so, this system is also transferable to winches with multiple engines. The engine and the output unit can be movable relative to one another, and the lifting force limiting device can be configured to stop the drive unit based on the relative movement of the drive unit and the engine.

A UAV tether management system comprising: a tether-wound spool rotatably mounted on a base station, a free-pivoting angle arm, and an angle arm encoder, wherein the tether is configured to transfer power from the base station to the UAV while the UAV is in flight, and the angle arm comprises a tether guide mounted to a proximal end of the angle arm such that the tether passes through the tether guide as the tether pays out of, or is taken up by, the spool, wherein the angle arm further comprises a counter weight mounted to a distal end of the angle arm such that a center of mass of the angle arm is aligned with the spool's axis of rotation, and wherein the angle arm encoder is configured to measure an offset angle of the angle arm.

A control system for a rescue hoist attached to an aircraft is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes a first bus extending between a control module of the rescue hoist and a control input device; and a second bus extending between the control module of the rescue hoist and the control input device. The first bus is configured to transmit a first signal from the control input device to the control module and the second bus is configured to transmit a second signal from the control input device to the control module, both the first signal and the second signal being generated by the control input device in response to a manipulation of the control input device.

A handheld device is adapted to ascend and descend a cable. The handheld device includes a motor that is mechanically coupled to a gearbox shaft. A drive shaft is connected to the gearbox shaft with shaft drive bearings. A first housing is mechanically coupled to the motor and surrounding the drive shaft. The housing further includes a top side, a bottom side and at least one other side therebetween. A top housing opening and a side housing opening are arranged on the first housing. A cinch brake assembly, connected to the first housing. The cable is fed through the first housing, around the drive shaft, out of the first housing and through the cinch brake assembly such that the cinch brake assembly prevents movement of the cable through the first housing.

A portable winch system includes a frame, a pair of wheels, a motor that is secured to the frame; and a capstan that is secured to the frame and that is rotatable via the motor. A rope is wound about the capstan in a manner that enables a user to grasp a tail end of the rope and induce friction between the capstan and the portion of the rope that is wound about the capstan. A tow end of the rope is attachable to an object to be pulled by the winch. An input guide attached to the frame is configured to receive the rope and direct the rope toward the capstan as the object is pulled toward the winch. An alignment guide attached to the frame is configured to contact the rope and align the rope about the capstan as the rope is wound about the capstan.

A descent assist device for powered ascenders is discussed herein. In one embodiment, the descent assist device can include a base plate having a first guide surface, a capstan peg, a second guide surface, and a retention loop extending from the first guide surface to the second guide surface configured to retain a rope on the descent assist device. Where the angle of wrapping of the rope around the first guide surface and the capstan peg is constant during use and the angle of wrapping of the rope around the second guide surface is adjustable by the user of the device to increase or decrease the frictional drag of the rope.

A rope drum for drawing and releasing a rope under tensile stress. Support segments are arranged to provide a number of grip sections for supporting the rope through the grip sections as a continuous spiral surrounding the rotated drum part by at least two rounds so that, when the drum part is rotated, a number of grip sections move due to the guidance of the support segments along the drum part depending on the rotation direction of the drum part towards the first end of the drum part or towards the second end. Prevention grooves or ridges together with the support segments restrict the movement of the grip sections supporting the rope on the drum part with regard to the drum part in the direction of the perimeter to a maximum that is defined by the mutual geometry of the prevention grooves or ridges and the support means.

An evacuation hauling system for transporting evacuation litters during an emergency. The hauling system includes a drive line forming a pathway between a first station and a second station, and a drive system operable by a drive prime mover to move the drive line between the first and second stations. An evacuation litter is detachably coupled to the drive line and is moveable along the pathway between the first and second stations as the drive line is moved. The hauling system may include a pulley supporting the drive line to maintain a separation between a transport leg of the pathway from the first station to the second station, and a return leg of the pathway from the second station to the first station.

This disclosure relates to an endless cable winch including a drive unit having an engine configured to generate a torque. The endless cable winch further including an output unit connected to the drive unit, the output unit including a power transmission assembly coupled to the drive unit, the power transmission assembly configured to apply a driving force to a cable. The endless cable winch further including a lifting force limiting device configured to stop the drive unit as soon a predetermined driving force is exceeded. In doing so, this system is also transferable to winches with multiple engines. The engine and the output unit can be movable relative to one another, and the lifting force limiting device can be configured to stop the drive unit based on the relative movement of the drive unit and the engine.