A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.

A method of operating a cable handling system of a longwall mining machine having a shearer movable along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system including: i) a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation, ii) a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line, iii) a plurality of sensor nodes distributed along a length of the service line, and iv) a plurality of transceivers distributed along a length of the pan line, the method comprising: a) sensing orientation, acceleration and/or position data of the service line using the plurality of sensor nodes, b) using the plurality of transceivers to receive the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit the orientation, acceleration and/or position data to a controller, and c) detecting, by the controller, an actual or imminent failure mode of the service line using analysis of the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of the sensor nodes.

A cable carrier for accommodating and guiding cables, comprising parallel first link strands of opposing first links which are connected to each other by means of first cross stays, wherein outside at least one first link strand and parallel to this a second link strand of second links is arranged, which are opposite the first links of the adjacent first link strand and of which at least some are connected by way of second cross stays to the opposite first links, and wherein, between at least some of the opposing first and second links, rollers are arranged which project beyond the first and second links on at least one side of the cable carrier perpendicular to the first and second cross stays.

A cable carrier for accommodating and guiding cables, comprising parallel first link strands of opposing first links which are connected to each other by means of first cross stays, wherein outside at least one first link strand and parallel to this a second link strand of second links is arranged, which are opposite the first links of the adjacent first link strand and of which at least some are connected by way of second cross stays to the opposite first links, and wherein, between at least some of the opposing first and second links, rollers are arranged which project beyond the first and second links on at least one side of the cable carrier perpendicular to the first and second cross stays.

A long object guiding device includes a belt-shaped unit that includes flexible and elongated tubular members. The tubular members are arranged side by side. Adjacent ones of the tubular members are coupled together so that all the tubular members are integrated. The tubular members include at least one protective tubular member. The protective tubular member is configured to accommodate a long object. The protective tubular member includes a first joint portion and a second joint portion. The first joint portion is formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of the protective tubular member. The second joint portion is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction. The second joint portion is configured to be joined to and disjoined from the first joint portion.

A long object guiding device includes a belt-shaped unit that includes flexible and elongated tubular members. The tubular members are arranged side by side. Adjacent ones of the tubular members are coupled together so that all the tubular members are integrated. The tubular members include at least one protective tubular member. The protective tubular member is configured to accommodate a long object. The protective tubular member includes a first joint portion and a second joint portion. The first joint portion is formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of the protective tubular member. The second joint portion is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction. The second joint portion is configured to be joined to and disjoined from the first joint portion.

In a protective frame articulated body, a range of an connection angle between the protective frame body and the adjacent protective frame body is determined such that a plurality of protective frame bodies, being connected in series, through which a body to be protected is passed becomes a shape having a first bent portion, an intermediate linear portion being in a portion closer to a movable-side connection than the first bent portion, a suspending portion hanging from the movable-side connection, and a second bent portion connecting the intermediate linear portion and the suspending portion. In intermediate linear portion, a long-and-short ratio being a value obtained by dividing a long side of a smallest rectangle surrounding the protective frame body viewed from a side by a short side of the smallest rectangle is greater than or equal to a determined intermediate minimum long-and-short ratio.

In a protective frame articulated body, a range of an connection angle between the protective frame body and the adjacent protective frame body is determined such that a plurality of protective frame bodies, being connected in series, through which a body to be protected is passed becomes a shape having a first bent portion, an intermediate linear portion being in a portion closer to a movable-side connection than the first bent portion, a suspending portion hanging from the movable-side connection, and a second bent portion connecting the intermediate linear portion and the suspending portion. In intermediate linear portion, a long-and-short ratio being a value obtained by dividing a long side of a smallest rectangle surrounding the protective frame body viewed from a side by a short side of the smallest rectangle is greater than or equal to a determined intermediate minimum long-and-short ratio.

A system may include a manifold having a plurality of fluid inlets, a first pump truck having a first pump disposed thereon with a first fluid outlet, and a first flexible pipe. The first flexible pipe may include a first end of the first flexible pipe coupled to a first of the plurality of fluid inlets, a second end of the first flexible pipe is coupled to the first fluid outlet, and a first outer shell mounted on the manifold. The first outer shell may extend from the manifold a length between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the first outer shell may be curved to have a radius to arch the first flexible pipe from the manifold to the first pump truck.

A cladding (10) for an elongate member to be deployed underwater includes multiple cladding sections (12, 26) each being configured to receive the elongate member and each having proximal and distal ends configured to engage with longitudinally neighbouring cladding sections (12, 26) enabling a continuous length of the cladding to be constructed from multiple cladding sections. At least one of the cladding sections is provided with a sensor module dock (28) configured to receive and releasably mount a sensor module (30) to the cladding.