Method and apparatus for winding a cable

A cable winding apparatus mounted on an arm of an excavator, the cable winding apparatus comprising:

• a housing having a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall comprises an aperture and the second side wall comprises an aperture;
• a hydraulic motor disposed within the housing, wherein:
• a portion of the hydraulic motor extends through the aperture of the second side wall of the housing,
• the hydraulic motor is connected to a first end of a drive shaft, and
• a second end of the drive shaft extends through the aperture of the first side wall of the housing;
• and
• a collapsible power reel connected to the second end of the drive shaft such that the collapsible power reel is positioned entirely outside of the housing, wherein:
• the collapsible power reel comprises a plurality of segments movably coupled to the collapsible power reel and extending radially from the collapsible power reel,
• the plurality of segments are configured to engage the cable, thereby enabling the cable to be wound around the collapsible power reel as the hydraulic motor rotates the collapsible power reel,
• the collapsible power reel and the portion of the hydraulic motor extending through the aperture of the second side wall of the housing balance the apparatus while the collapsible power reel winds the cable, and
• the plurality of segments are configured to collapse in an axial direction, thereby enabling the wound cable to be removed from the apparatus.