Reel assembly

A reel assembly adapted for use in a capstan winch, the reel assembly comprising:

• a reel mounted for rotation and having a generally cylindrical surface onto which a cable can be wound;
• a pair of generally annular floating flange elements mounted for rotation with the reel, the flange elements being supported such that a pair of planes in which said flange elements rotate converge towards one another,
• the generally cylindrical surface of said reel being provided with a plurality of alternating lands and grooves extending from one flange element to the other flange element,
• the flange elements each having formed on a generally annular surface thereof a plurality of alternating inclined faces which correspond, respectively, with the plurality of alternating lands and grooves on the generally cylindrical surface of the reel, the plurality of alternating inclined faces of the flange elements contacting a cable when said cable is wound onto the reel,
• the plurality of alternating inclined faces of the flange elements being angled such that,
• the inclined faces formed on the flange elements which correspond to each land formed on the reel are generally parallel to one another, and
• the inclined faces formed on the flange elements which correspond to each groove formed on the reel converge towards one another,
• whereby substantial lateral forces are exerted on a cable being wound onto the reel only when the cable overlies the grooves formed on the reel.