Load bearing apparatus and method

A method for bearing a load, comprising:

• spooling a load-bearing spoolable medium around a detensioning winch apparatus for at least one turn, wherein the load-bearing spoolable medium comprises a plurality of load-bearing elements arranged side-by-side on a contact surface of the detensioning winch apparatus, wherein the load-bearing spoolable medium defines an outboard portion extending on an outboard side of the detensioning winch apparatus and an inboard portion on an inboard side of the detensioning winch apparatus;
• and
• connecting a load to the load-bearing spoolable medium on the outboard side of the detensioning winch apparatus;
• and
• individually and variably controlling the tension of each of the plurality of load-bearing elements;
• wherein the detensioning winch apparatus reduces tension within the load-bearing spoolable medium from the outboard portion to the inboard portion.

A load-bearing apparatus comprising:

• a winch apparatus;
• and
• a load-bearing spoolable medium for connecting to a load, the load-bearing spoolable medium comprising a plurality of load-bearing elements;
• a tension control apparatus for controlling the tension of each of the plurality of load-bearing elements, the tension control apparatus comprising a plurality of tension control devices, each capable of controlling the tension of a respective load-bearing element and at least one actuator for actuating one or more tension control devices;
• wherein at least a portion of the load-bearing spoolable medium is spooled about the winch apparatus,
• wherein the load-bearing elements are arranged side-by-side on a contact surface of the winch apparatus.