An automatic wireless decoy jerk string system is disclosed. The system includes a main housing, a drive housing, and a flotation housing. The main housing contains a retractable reel wound with a line. The drive housing contains a direct current motor, a battery for powering the motor, and a wireless receiver. The flotation housing contains a counterweight and flotation material. The drive housing and the flotation housing are attached to either side of the main housing. A drive shaft runs from the drive housing through the main housing and into the flotation housing. The motor engages the drive shaft to operate the reel. The motor is controlled by signals from the receiver in response to a wireless signal received by the receiver from a remote control to cause the reel to alternatingly retract the line and let out the line.

A spool for use in a blasting system which carries a coiled signal-transmitting conductor which is connected at one end to a detonator and at an opposed end to a connector.

Various embodiments are described that relate to dispensing from an apparatus. The apparatus can be a cable dispensing apparatus that is attached to a vehicle. As the vehicle travels, the apparatus can lay or retract cable. The rate of this laying or retracting can be based, at least in part, on a travel condition of the vehicle.

A reel has a spool member on which the linear material is spooled, an electric motor that rotates the spool member, and a controller that controls the operation of the motor. The controller monitors an unwound length of the linear material based on sensed rotation of the spool member by one or more sensors. The controller causes the motor to wind the linear material at a drag speed when the linear material is on a ground, at a crawl speed lower than the drag speed when the length of linear material on the ground is shorter than a first threshold amount and through a second predetermined amount once the linear material lifts off the ground to inhibit swing of the linear material as it comes off the ground, and at a docking speed greater than the crawl speed when the unwound linear material is shorter than the second threshold amount.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to a homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform are described. In an example, the homing apparatus can include an indexing wheel, a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth. The plurality of Geneva teeth can be distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel. Each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth can include side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism. The stop tooth can be located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth. Additionally, the stop tooth can include side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

A shuttle system employs an overhead track for selectively positioning an overhead EVSE for servicing one of multiple bays of a service facility. The EVSE is mounted to rails of the track system by tandem roller assemblies. The power cord which connects the EVSE to the power supply is coilable by roller assemblies which also slide on a rail and allow the EVSE to be connected to power regardless of the position along the rail.

An automatic line reel includes a flexible line wound onto a motor-driven reel assembly. A processor controlling the motor detects contact pressure between the flexible line and a triangular pressure transducer, automatically extending the flexible line when the contact pressure exceeds a preset threshold. Line extension stops when contact pressure falls below a second preset threshold. The flexible line may be retracted and rewound around the reel assembly by activation of a switch on a wireless remoted control, by a switch on the automatic line reel, or by activation of a smart phone application program in data communication with the processor controlling the reel assembly. A reel assembly is optionally configured to maintain uninterrupted fluid communications through the automatic line reel as the reel assembly rotates. The reel assembly may optionally be configured to maintain uninterrupted electrical signal communication through the automatic line reel.

The invention relates to a winch comprising a winding device, which is simply constructed and works very reliably, regardless of the position and orientation of the winch.

In a particular illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a retractable safety banner system and method are disclosed having a retractable safety banner, a reel housing and a reel. The reel winds in and contains the wound up safety banner inside of the reel housing. The safety banner is reeled into and out of the reel housing through an organizing guide that is formed in the reel housing. The organizing guide forces the reeled out safety banner's flags and strap into longitudinal alignment on the reel so that the safety banner is restored to its original configuration when wound back into the reel housing after deployment. The safety banner includes but is not limited to longitudinal strap with a plurality of safety flags attached to the strap and so that the flags hang at a substantially perpendicular angle from the strap forming the safety banner when the safety banner is deployed.

A control system and method for tensioning an active tether for a multirotor unmanned aerial system is provided. The control system includes a tensioning pulley and a tensioning spring. The tensioning spring is arranged to generate a variable tension force on the active tether. A transducer is connected adjacent to the tensioning spring to sense a linear displacement position of the tensioning pulley and to transmit a position signal to a controller. The position signal is proportional to the linear displacement position. A servomotor in communication with the controller receives a control signal from the controller in response to the position signal. The servomotor drives a cable reel. The cable reel is rotatably mounted in the frame for spooling the tether in response to rotation of the servomotor. The cable reel is rotated by the servomotor to maintain a predetermined tension on the tensioning spring.