Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for providing a wired connection between a ground-based robot and a controller. A cable handling system for a robot may include a base housing, a cable cartridge removably connected to the base housing, a control cable housed at least partially within the cable cartridge, and an outfeed assembly coupled to the base housing and configured to deploy the control cable from the cable cartridge. The control cable may be deployable from the cable cartridge to maintain a wired connection between the robot and a controller. The outfeed assembly may be configured to couple to a drive mechanism of the robot such that movement of the drive mechanism deploys the control cable from the cable cartridge. The outfeed assembly may be configured to deploy the control cable from the cable cartridge regardless of the direction of movement of the drive mechanism.

A crane (2), more particularly a mobile fast-erecting crane, having at least one supply connection to which a supply line (16), more particularly a power cable, can be connected, wherein the supply line can be wound on a cable drum (15), which can be mounted on a drum mount (10) on the crane, with the cable drum being mounted to rotate on a drum support frame (18), which has running gear (18) for moving the cable drum over the ground and which has releasable mounting means, shaped to match the drum mount of the crane, for separably mounting the drum support frame on the drum mount of the crane. The invention further relates to a cable drum unit for winding a supply line (16) of a crane (2).

In a conventional method for extracting a cable, a power cable is reeled in by rotating a reel drum using a drive motor, and therefore there are cases where a power cable in a conduit cannot be extracted with the driving force of the drive motor when a large extraction force is required to extract the power cable from the conduit. The present invention is capable of directly transmitting, to a cable drum (5), a rotational force of rubber tires (9) whose outer circumferential portions are made of elastic rubber, by rotating the rubber tires (9) while bringing the rubber tires (9) into intimate contact with outer faces of the cable drum (5), and is capable of reliably rotating the cable drum (5).

A rolling-unrolling device for a protective cover for covering a surface to be protected is presented. The device is self-propelling and includes a braking system for blocking the rotation of at least one drive wheel of the carriages and causing the cover to be automatically tensioned during the rolling up thereof on the roller tube. This braking system includes a movable pawl integral with each of the carriages, and a ratchet wheel integral with the drive wheel of each of the carriages, such that, in the direction of rotation corresponding to the unrolling of the cover, the pawl is not engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the passive position, and in the opposite direction of rotation corresponding to the rolling up of the cover, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the active position.

A rolling-unrolling device for a protective cover for covering a surface to be protected is presented. The device is self-propelling and includes a braking system for blocking the rotation of at least one drive wheel of the carriages and causing the cover to be automatically tensioned during the rolling up thereof on the roller tube. This braking system includes a movable pawl integral with each of the carriages, and a ratchet wheel integral with the drive wheel of each of the carriages, such that, in the direction of rotation corresponding to the unrolling of the cover, the pawl is not engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the passive position, and in the opposite direction of rotation corresponding to the rolling up of the cover, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the active position.

Apparatus for deployment, recovery and/or storage of a resource comprising a flexible length of equipment capable of being wound on a spool, the apparatus comprising a rigid container shaped and configured to be handled by a specified vehicle type, the container having at least a base and a pair of opposing end walls, and an open side or an opening in a side wall thereof, wherein, on said base between said opposing end walls, there is provided a mounting member on which said spool is or can be mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the external dimensions of said container conform to the ISO 668 International Standard, and the equipment comprises a surface-covering track comprised of interconnected panels.

A driven reel trolley includes a carriage having a lower carriage section formed from opposing longitudinal members and transverse connecting members extending between and connecting the opposing longitudinal members. A pair of opposing support beams extend upwardly from the lower carriage. Each beam has a shaft support opening at about the top thereof for accommodating an associated shaft. A pair of non-driven wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section and a pair of drive wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section, on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section, spaced from the non-driven wheels. A pair of drive trains operably connects the shaft and a respective one of the drive wheels. Each drive train includes a transmission and each transmission is operably engageable with and disengageable from the shaft and its respective drive wheel.

In a conventional method for extracting a cable, a power cable is reeled in by rotating a reel drum using a drive motor, and therefore there are cases where a power cable in a conduit cannot be extracted with the driving force of the drive motor when a large extraction force is required to extract the power cable from the conduit. The present invention is capable of directly transmitting, to a cable drum (5), a rotational force of rubber tires (9) whose outer circumferential portions are made of elastic rubber, by rotating the rubber tires (9) while bringing the rubber tires (9) into intimate contact with outer faces of the cable drum (5), and is capable of reliably rotating the cable drum (5).

A crane (2), more particularly a mobile fast-erecting crane, having at least one supply connection to which a supply line (16), more particularly a power cable, can be connected, wherein the supply line can be wound on a cable drum (15), which can be mounted on a drum mount (10) on the crane, with the cable drum being mounted to rotate on a drum support frame (18), which has running gear (18) for moving the cable drum over the ground and which has releasable mounting means, shaped to match the drum mount of the crane, for separably mounting the drum support frame on the drum mount of the crane. The invention further relates to a cable drum unit for winding a supply line (16) of a crane (2).

A driven reel trolley includes a carriage having a lower carriage section formed from opposing longitudinal members and transverse connecting members extending between and connecting the opposing longitudinal members. A pair of opposing support beams extend upwardly from the lower carriage. Each beam has a shaft support opening at about the top thereof for accommodating an associated shaft. A pair of non-driven wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section and a pair of drive wheels is mounted to the lower carriage section, on opposing transverse sides of the lower carriage section, spaced from the non-driven wheels. A pair of drive trains operably connects the shaft and a respective one of the drive wheels. Each drive train includes a transmission and each transmission is operably engageable with and disengageable from the shaft and its respective drive wheel.