A cable spooling apparatus for use with a storage drum for spooling and storing cable. The cable spooling apparatus comprises a tensioning unit for adjusting the tension of a cable as it is being spooled onto the storage drum. The tensioning unit traverses a path between the opposite ends of the storage drum. Methods of spooling and unspooling cable using the apparatus are also disclosed.

Described is a tugboat 1 for assisting a marine vessel 2 to manoeuvre. The tugboat 1 comprises a hull 11 having a perimeter P. The tugboat 1 also comprises a line handling system 10 comprising a line guide mechanism 100. The line guide mechanism 100 protrudes, or is positionable to protrude, away from the hull 11 for guiding a line 20 of the marine vessel 2 towards a predetermined region R of the perimeter P.

An apparatus serves to grip a cable for delivery into a borehole in a surface of a mine passage in connection with an actuator, such as a drill mast having a carriage capable of being advanced and retracted along the drill mast. A pusher is formed from a pair of jaws for engaging the cable. The jaws may be biased toward a first position for engaging the cable during an advance of the carriage, and automatically movable to a second position for releasing from engagement with the cable during a retraction of the carriage. The pusher may be pivotally mounted to a carriage capable of being advanced and retracted along a drill mast, which movement may cause the jaws to self-actuate for engaging and advancing the cable during an upstroke and release therefrom during a downstroke. Related methods are also disclosed.

An apparatus for use with a sheet of rigid support material at a hole formed therein through a thickness of the sheet to provide an anchoring point at a proximal face of the sheet for anchoring an object thereto comprises a frame member supporting a face-engagement member for engaging a distal face of the sheet which is spaced from the proximal face by the thickness of the sheet, so as to resist removal from within the hole by the object anchored to the apparatus, and a buttress member also supported on the frame member for buttingly engaging a peripheral wall of the hole so as to resist movement transversely to a thickness direction of the sheet.

A crawl space winch system including a base plate; a winch box carried by said base plate; a winch mechanism disposed in said winch box and having a cable extending out of an opening in a front side of said winch box for attaching to an item; a winch drive shaft extending through a sidewall of said winch box and being operatively associated with said winch mechanism for retracting said cable; and, a primary anchor opening disposed in a generally central portion of said base plate for receiving a portion of a primary anchor to secure said base plate to the ground, and wherein said primary anchor provides a pivot point around which said base plate rotates.

A machine for extracting a ductile pipe. The machine has a vise which can grip the pipe, and a wire clamp. Each of the wire clamp and vise are supported on a carriage which is movable relative to a frame. This enables the vise to grip and pull the ductile pipe. Additionally, a wire strand may be disposed through the pipe from a far end to the end at which the machine is placed. The wire clamp allows the machine to pre-stress the strand to improve the extraction of the ductile pipe.

A miniature handheld electric traction device including a shell, a power supply part, a power motor, a reduction gear set, a braking part and a winding drum, wherein the power motor, the reduction gear set and the winding drum are arranged in the shell; the power motor is linked with the winding drum through the reduction gear set; a surface of the winding drum is wound with a traction rope; the reduction gear set includes a planetary gear; the sun gear of the planetary gear is coaxial with the winding drum; the power motor or the motor shaft of the power motor is inserted into the inner ring of the winding drum; the motor shaft is linked with the planetary gear.

A system and method including a counter pressure mechanism with a retractable wheel lift arm that retracts into a compact position underneath a bed of a recovery vehicle when not in use; a wheel lift base plate for supporting the retractable wheel lift arm, and increasing a stability of the counter pressure mechanism while winching a vehicle for towing purposes; wherein the counter pressure mechanism is configured to be operable for transferring pressure from winching the vehicle to the wheel lift base plate and distribute the pressure into a ground; and a wheel lift bracket having adjustable arms that are configured to move in and out to adjust to different widths of vehicles. The system further including a winching mechanism having a winch implement; a winch cable; a cable guide; and a pulley device.

Provided herein is a electronically-controlled wheelchair securement system with a winch apparatus that is adapted for pulling and steering a mobility device (e.g., wheelchair, scooter, stretcher, etc.) up and down the ramp of a rear-entry wheelchair accessible vehicle and for providing securement for the mobility device during transport. The system includes two motorized front tie-down units adapted to be positioned in the vehicle at the front of the wheelchair securement area. The front tie-down units have extendable/retractable restraints adapted to connect to the front corners of the mobility device frame. By varying the motor speed between the two front tie-down units, the mobility device can be steered up the ramp. For example, when pulling the mobility device up the ramp, the mobility device can be directed to the left by increasing the speed of the right tie-down unit, slowing the speed of the left tie-down unit, or both. Similarly, the mobility device can be directed to the right by increasing the speed of the left tie-down unit, slowing the speed of the right tie-down unit, or both. Similar adjustments can be made to the speeds of the motors when the mobility device is being directed down the ramp.

The present invention relates to a user interface for a portable power driven system, specifically in relation to an integrated user interface for controlling such an arrangement, and being applicable for example in relation to an ascender/descender arrangement. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and computer program product for operating such a portable power driven system.