Pay out system and tension limiter device included therein

A pay out system for paying out a flexible elongated element connecting a first object to a second object, and including a first bobbin carried by the first object and having a first flexible elongated element wound therearound one end of which is connected to the first object and the opposite end of which is connected to the second object;

• characterized in that said opposite end of the first flexible elongated element is connected to the second object by a second flexible elongated element wound in loop form on a second bobbin adjacent to the second object, with one end of the second flexible elongated element joined to said opposite end of the first flexible elongated element, and the opposite end of the second flexible elongated element connected to the second object;
• said pay out system further including a tension sensor for sensing the tension in said second flexible elongated element;
• and a clutch normally coupling said second bobbin to said tension sensor but effective, upon the tension sensor sensing a tension in the second flexible elongated element reaching a predetermined value, to decouple the second bobbin from the tension sensor and to permit the second bobbin to rotate in a direction to pay out said second flexible elongated element from said second bobbin, and thereby to prevent the tension in said first and second flexible elongated elements from exceeding said predetermined value.