A method for operating a winch and a winch comprising a winch drum for spooling a spoolable medium for mooring a vessel, and a winch drive configured to drive the winch drum, wherein, during the driving of the winch drum, at least when a monitored tension of the spoolable medium is between a second upper tension threshold and a second lower tension threshold, an absolute value of the driving speed of the winch drum is configured to have a value that is proportional to an absolute value of a difference between the monitored tension of the spoolable medium and a predetermined tension set point.

The present invention relates to a lifting device for example in the form of a crane such as a tower crane, with a hoisting gear comprising a hoisting cable which runs off from a drum that can be driven by a hoisting gear drive, and a hoisting gear brake for holding the hoisting cable in a braked position. The invention furthermore relates to a method for starting up the hoisting gear of such a lifting device from the braked position in which the hoisting gear brake holds a hoisting load, wherein a starting torque is built up by a hoisting gear drive against the closed hoisting gear brake, and the hoisting gear brake is released upon or after reaching the starting torque. According to the invention it is proposed that when the hoisting gear brake is closed, the current hoisting load is detected by means of a load detection device and the starting torque is adjusted by the hoisting gear controller with reference to the detected current hoisting load such that the hoisting force provided by the starting torque of the hoisting gear corresponds to the detected, current hoisting load.

The present disclosure provides an appliance for towing compact loads (e.g., logs), and include an auxiliary winch provided in combination with a main winch on a tractor without the need for separate powering means or the need to transport said auxiliary winch to the area adjacent to the load (away from the main winch/tractor.) The appliance may be provided by upgrading an existing tractor winch by, for example, attaching the auxiliary winch to a casing of the main winch, or to the ground adjacent the tractor with the main winch. The auxiliary winch may be furnished with a driving means powered by disposable powering means on the tractor that may include auxiliary pulley block(s) with an accompanying accessory to provide attachment thereof to the terrain, with each pulley block suitable for guiding an auxiliary cable in the area outside of the line between the main winch and the load.

A method for securing a lifting movement of a load mechanically coupled to a hook of a lifting device by flexible links, wherein the flexible links can be, when the load is placed on the ground, either in a stretched state or in a relaxed state. The method includes detecting an initiation of a transitional phase between an initial instant when the load is placed on the ground and a final instant when the load is suspended in the air; and emitting a detection signal of a proscribed lifting situation, if the flexible links are, at least at an instant of the transitional phase, in the relaxed state.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for improved wireline tension measurement and calibration in an oil-and-gas setting. An example method can include providing a machine-learning model configured to receive inputs associated with wireline tension. The inputs can include, for example, well-trajectory information, fluid density, fluid viscosity, toolstring type, cable type, and friction coefficient. The method can include providing some or all of those inputs and receiving an output from the machine-learning model of an estimated wireline tension. The method can also include receiving a second output of a wireline location recommended for measurement. A user can then perform a measurement at the suggested location and provide the measurement as an additional input to the machine-learning model.

A drilling machine having: a string of telescopic rods provided with an excavation tool; a winch having a drum associated with a motor; a flexible pulling element connected on the one hand to the drum and on the other hand to the string of telescopic rods; a manual control element of the winch that can assume a first position, a second position and a third position; a control system configured for controlling the motor, in a first operating mode, so as to unwind the flexible pulling element from the drum when the manual control element is in the first position, wind the flexible pulling element on the drum in order to raise the string of telescopic rods when the manual control element is in the second position, stop the drum when the manual control element is in the third position; wherein it comprises a first manual selector adapted to select a second operating mode, and in that the control system is configured for controlling the motor, in the second operating mode, so as to wind the flexible pulling element on the drum in order to tension the flexible pulling element without raising the string of telescopic rods when the manual control element assumes the third position.

A method for operating a winch and an electric drive for driving a winch including a rotatable winch drum for spooling a spoolable medium and an electric motor operably coupled to the winch drum, the electric drive being configured to drive the winch drum by driving the electric motor such that a tension of the spoolable medium reaches a predetermined tension set point value or value range, and set a driving speed of the electric motor to zero, and after the setting of the driving speed of the electric motor to zero, drive the electric motor to alternate directions of rotation at predetermined driving speeds such that the direction of rotation is changed at a predetermined frequency.

A reactive tether spool comprises a drum, a signal cable, a drum actuator, a tension sensor, and a controller. The signal cable transports power and a control signal to a UAV. A controller receives a tension measurement from the tension sensor and controls the drum actuator to maintain a determined tension on the signal cable while performing at least one of the following: dispensing the signal cable; holding the signal cable steady; and collecting the signal cable.

A fairlead for use with a winch is disclosed. The fairlead is made up of a first and second roller, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The rollers are adapted to aid in spooling or unspooling a line. The motor drives at least the first roller. The sensor determines whether a winch drum is spooling or unspooling a line. The controller is connected to the motor and communicates with the sensor. The sensor determines whether the winch drum is spooling or unspooling the line. The controller is configured to direct the motor so that the rollers assist in unspooling or spooling the line in coordination with the winch drum. In some embodiments, the fairlead is integrated into the winch.

An indicator for use with a winch is disclosed. It includes; a sensor for determining the load on a winch, a controller in communication with the sensor, and a load indicator comprising multiple lights in an array. Each of the lights in the array can be changed by the controller from one appearance to another. The controller is configured to change the appearance of each of the lights in the array, with the number of lights with a changed appearance being proportional to the load sensed by the sensor. Preferably, the indicator is incorporated into a fairlead for use with a winch.