A spool holding device configured to fold upon itself in a storage mode and to support a spool of wound material in an operation mode. The device includes a base upon which a pair of feet, a pair of legs, a hoop segment and a horizontal axis are detachably connected for quick set-up and take-down of the device. The hoop segment is positioned a clearance distance from the horizontal axis and includes a wide hoop through which the wound material may pass such that unwinding of the material without undue force is achieved; the hoop also includes a contact surface having a large bend radius.

A spool holding device configured to fold upon itself in a storage mode and to support a spool of wound material in an operation mode. The device includes a base upon which a pair of feet, a pair of legs, a hoop segment and a horizontal axis are detachably connected for quick set-up and take-down of the device. The hoop segment is positioned a clearance distance from the horizontal axis and includes a wide hoop through which the wound material may pass such that unwinding of the material without undue force is achieved; the hoop also includes a contact surface having a large bend radius.

An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.

An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.

A ground thawing hose cleaning reel guide assembly cleans a ground thawing hose as the hose is reeled back onto a reel within a vehicle. The assembly includes a hose guide coupled to a frame such that the hose guide is movable between opposite ends of the frame. The hose guide has an interior edge defining an aperture extending through the hose guide. A sheet is coupled to the hose guide extending over the aperture. A channel extends into the sheet. The channel is configured to receive a hose within the channel whereby the sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide.

A ground thawing hose cleaning reel guide assembly cleans a ground thawing hose as the hose is reeled back onto a reel within a vehicle. The assembly includes a hose guide coupled to a frame such that the hose guide is movable between opposite ends of the frame. The hose guide has an interior edge defining an aperture extending through the hose guide. A sheet is coupled to the hose guide extending over the aperture. A channel extends into the sheet. The channel is configured to receive a hose within the channel whereby the sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide.

An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.

An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.

The invention involves an improved wire spool guide including a frame that comprises adjacent legs for coupling with a support rod that typically traverses the center of a wire spool hub. Each leg includes a terminal end comprising a spring arm and rod-registering area configured to capture a portion of the rod while allowing the rod to rotate therein. In exemplary embodiments, each leg extends from an anterior support of the frame that is roughly perpendicular to both legs. A wire-guiding element extends substantially form a center portion of the anterior support. The wire-guiding element may be defined by a helical structure configured for allowing a portion of the wire to be weaved into the helical structure rather than having to be threaded through. The helical structure may include an incongruous element, which prevents the wire from tangling at an exit point of the wire-guiding element.

The invention involves an improved wire spool guide including a frame that comprises adjacent legs for coupling with a support rod that typically traverses the center of a wire spool hub. Each leg includes a terminal end comprising a spring arm and rod-registering area configured to capture a portion of the rod while allowing the rod to rotate therein. In exemplary embodiments, each leg extends from an anterior support of the frame that is roughly perpendicular to both legs. A wire-guiding element extends substantially form a center portion of the anterior support. The wire-guiding element may be defined by a helical structure configured for allowing a portion of the wire to be weaved into the helical structure rather than having to be threaded through. The helical structure may include an incongruous element, which prevents the wire from tangling at an exit point of the wire-guiding element.