A cable retractor includes a housing. A spool is disposed within the housing and is mechanically coupled to the housing and rotatable about an axis. A spring mechanism is operatively attached to the spool and is configured to urge the spool to rotate in a first rotational direction about the axis. An electricity operated rotation regulator is operatively attached to the spool and is configured to, when activated, prevent the spool from rotating in the first rotational direction.

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 cable reel is provided, in particular for a pipe inspection system, the cable reel having a frame and a cable receptacle. The cable receptacle is rotatably arranged on the frame, it being possible to wind a cable onto the cable receptacle and unwind it from the cable receptacle. The cable receptacle has an inner cage and an outer cage, with the diameter of the inner cage being smaller than the diameter of the outer cage. The inner cage is arranged coaxially with respect to the outer cage and is inside the outer cage. It is possible to rotate the inner cage and the outer cage independently of one another, and the inner cage is receives a first cable portion of the cable and the outer cage receives a second cable portion of the cable.

The disclosure provides an electric winder and a method for controlling the same. The electric winder includes a winder body, a socket and a controller. When a plug is inserted into the contact assembly through the insertion hole, the strain sensor is configured to detect a deformation of the contact assembly caused by the plug, and send the deformation to the controller. The controller is configured to receive the deformation sent from the strain sensor. When the deformation is greater than a deformation threshold, the controller controls the drive mechanism to be in a stop state to prevent the reel from winding.

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.

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.

An exemplary line retrieval apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise: a motor comprising an output shaft; a hand crank; a spool; and a driveshaft. The apparatus may further comprise a selector operable to shift the apparatus between, at least: a manual mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the hand crank such that rotation of the hand crank causes rotation of the spool; and a motor mode, in which the driveshaft is engaged with the spool and the output shaft of the motor such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the spool. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to spooling and unspooling linear material. Such apparatus and methods can assist the user in deploying and/or retracting linear material.

A cable retractor is disclosed and includes a housing. A spool is disposed within the housing and is mechanically coupled to the housing and rotatable about an axis. A spring mechanism is operatively attached to the spool and is configured to urge the spool to rotate in a first rotational direction about the axis. An electrically operated rotation regulator is operatively attached to the spool and is configured to, when activated, prevent the spool from rotating in the first rotational direction.

A pipeline inspection system including a first drum including a first cable having a first camera disposed on a distal end of the first cable, where the first cable is received within an interior of the first drum and is configured to be directed into a conduit, a second drum including a second cable having a second camera disposed on a distal end of the second cable, where the second cable is received within an interior of the second drum and is configured to be directed into a conduit, and a hub housing electrical components for operation of the pipeline inspection system, where the hub is removably received in the interior of the first drum, and where the hub is selectively removable from the first drum and insertable into an interior of the second drum.