Abstract

A drum assembly and a method of laying a line (L) onto a drum (D) uses an oscillator device to apply vibrations to the line as it is being wound onto the drum. The oscillator device (17) sequentially increases and decreases the load on the rope as it is being wound onto the drum, causing differential fluctuations in the tension of the line as the line is diverted away in opposite directions from a straight line path to the drum. The vibrations typically cause a rapidly alternating load on the line, which is additional to any load applied to the line during laying of the line onto the drum. This alternating load typically reduces the available stretch in the line, and therefore assists in compaction of the line on the drum.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66D 1/38 - Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel
• B66D 1/52 - Control devices automatic for varying rope or cable tension, e.g. when recovering craft from water

Abstract

A winch drum (1) assembly has a barrel (b) to receive a line, and a spooling device (50) for guiding the line onto the barrel. The line is wound onto the barrel at a point that moves axially with respect to the barrel, and the orientation of the line on the barrel is adapted to change at least once per revolution of the barrel, so that radially adjacent layers (L1, L2) of line are non- parallel. Spooling gear is described for guiding the line and the barrel can have ramps and walls (34, 35) to guide the line in the different directions. Non- parallel layers of line exhibit a reduced tendency to interfere with one another, so that the spooled line comes off the barrel more consistently.

IPC Classes  ?

• B66D 1/38 - Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel