Cable umbilical gripper

In a linear cable engine useful for propulsion of a marine umbilical cable having:

• a first conveying means having a first plurality of deformable polymeric gripping elements mounted in spaced relation upon an outermost surface of said first conveying means;
• a second conveying means having a second plurality of deformable polymeric gripping elements mounted in spaced relation upon an outermost surface of said second conveying means;
• at least one drive means constructed and arranged for rotational movement of said first and second conveying means whereby said first and second conveying means are traversed in counter-rotating relation;
• each of said first and second plurality of deformable polymeric gripping elements including an elastomeric indented surface effective to embrace an outer circumferential area of said cable;
• wherein said rotational movement of said first and second conveying means cause opposing pairs of said first and second plurality of deformable polymeric gripping elements to converge in opposing relationship about said outer circumferential cable area;
• the improvement comprising each of said first and second plurality of deformable polymeric gripping elements including hollow cavities, stiffener elements disposed in said hollow cavities;
• whereby opposing pairs of said deformable polymeric gripping elements encompass said cable and apply radial pressure effective to propel the cable in a desired direction.