A guiding device for a material to be wound for a winding machine includes at least one blade guiding unit comprising two fiber guiding blades, which are rotationally drivable in opposite directions and are configured for feeding a material to be wound to a carrier of material to be wound of the winding machine, and the at least one blade guiding unit is configured for conveying a material to be wound which is implemented of inorganic fibers.

The blade guiding unit comprises at least one fiber guiding blade tip, which has an at least semi-oval exterior geometry, and the blade guiding unit comprises at least one fiber directing element, which is implemented at least partly of an inorganic-fiber compatible material and comprises at least one rounded fiber guiding edge.

A guiding device for a material to be wound for a winding machine includes at least one blade guiding unit comprising two fiber guiding blades, which are rotationally drivable in opposite directions and are configured for feeding a material to be wound to a carrier of material to be wound of the winding machine, and the at least one blade guiding unit is configured for conveying a material to be wound which is implemented of inorganic fibers.

The blade guiding unit comprises at least one fiber guiding blade tip, which has an at least semi-oval exterior geometry, and the blade guiding unit comprises at least one fiber directing element, which is implemented at least partly of an inorganic-fiber compatible material and comprises at least one rounded fiber guiding edge.

Cable storage drum-reel and cable guide apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for deploying and retracting at least one push-cable with a distally mounted camera into and out of a pipe or cavity for applications such as plumbing and underground utility location. In an exemplary embodiment, a cable guide assembly may include a bracket, and one or more wear guides positioned with openings in the bracket. The one or more wear guides may include two spaced-apart wear guides each having an opening defining an inner diameter. In one embodiment, the spacing between the two wear guides may be a distance of three or more times the inner diameter of the wear guides.

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.

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 thread guide wear testing machine wears a test piece by causing a thread to slide while the thread contacts the test piece. The thread guide wear testing machine includes a winding reel winding the thread thereon fed from thread feeder. A winding drum guides the thread fed from the thread feeder to the winding reel. The winding drum has an outer peripheral surface contacting an outer peripheral surface of the winding reel. Specimen holder is on a path of the thread fed from the thread feeder and moves while being wound on the winding reel. The specimen holder holds the test piece in contact with the thread under a predetermined load. Tension adjuster adjusts tension on the thread when the test piece is in contact. Contact retainer retains a state of contact between the winding reel and the winding drum by pressing the winding reel toward the winding drum.

A tether guide operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear and having a reduced size compared to a levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include a series of rollers approximating the curved shape and radius of levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include downward facing guide wings matched to a curved roller profile, but flaring out to capture and guide tether into rollers. Sensors may be included on the tether guide to provide information about tether location, including whether the tether is engaged in the tether guide.

A tether guide operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear and having a reduced size compared to a levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include a series of rollers approximating the curved shape and radius of levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include downward facing guide wings matched to a curved roller profile, but flaring out to capture and guide tether into rollers. Sensors may be included on the tether guide to provide information about tether location, including whether the tether is engaged in the tether guide.