FR3111881A1 - "Hauling device of the passing cable type, in particular portable and / or manual" - Google Patents

Abstract

"Towing device of the passing cable type, in particular portable and/or manual" The invention relates to a towing device (1), in particular portable and/or manual, of the "passing cable" type that can be implemented at any chosen position along the length of said cable (9), to exert traction only from said position regardless of the length of the cable. This device, typically a portable template on foot, implements a drum (2) compartmentalized, provided with a storage part (22) and a working part (21). This drum has a passage or orifice (29) allowing the cable to pass from one compartment to another to another, ensuring its initial anchoring. The cable is inserted into it until the slack is taken up, before winding up the drum. It then remains immobile in this passage (29) during the rotation (R2) of the drum and the actuation under load. The device preferably uses a synthetic cable, in particular with a friction sheath and a traction core, but not necessarily. Figure for the abstract: Fig.1

Description

"Towing device of the passing cable type, in particular portable and/or manual"

The invention relates to a towing device, in particular portable and/or manual, of the "passing cable" type which can be implemented in any chosen position along the length of said cable, to exert traction only from said position which regardless of the length of the cable.

This device, typically a portable template on foot, implements a compartmentalized drum, provided with a storage part and a working part. This drum has a passage or hole allowing the cable to pass from one compartment to another to another, ensuring its initial anchoring. The cable is inserted into it until the slack is taken up, before the drum is rolled up. It then remains immobile in this passage during the rotation of the drum and the actuation under load.

The device preferably uses a synthetic cable, in particular with a friction sheath and a traction core, but not necessarily.

Prior art

It is known to produce light towing devices by pulling a cable, which can be used outside any vehicle or any heavy platform, or even transported by hand, for example by one or two people.

This type of device makes it possible to have a substantial towing capacity, without requiring heavy equipment on the infrastructure or on the vehicle. Such a device uses different types of effort reduction, and is often operated by hand, that is to say by human power alone, or by a small autonomous motor.

It is used, for example, on land that is not accessible to vehicles, or for tasks that do not require the power of heavy equipment, for example in hard-to-reach forests. It is also used, for example, by mobile intervention teams, and/or multi-purpose teams which must be ready to respond to very varied and unforeseen needs, for example rescue teams or firefighters or military engineers.

A large family of this type of device is that of so-called "through-cable" devices. That is to say, they can be used to apply a traction to a cable at any point of this cable. This capacity is very important in a number of situations, among other things because it allows traction to be applied at a location very close to the load to be hauled, for example a few meters, even if the cable is very long, which allows example of working in a very small work area.

For this, it has long been known to apply traction to the cable by means of internal jaws or jaws, which pinch the cable within a casing through which the cable passes. A manual ratchet lever is used to operate these jaws by combining pinching and translation, to grip the cable and pull it towards the rear of the device. By anchoring the device to a fixed point, this translation makes it possible to exert traction on the cable by swallowing it from the front of the device.

This jaw architecture is still used today, and is very similar to the device manufactured under the "Tirfor" brand, described for example in document FR 1,174,533 of 1957. This brand is often used as a term generic for this type of device.

Goals

One objective of the invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art.

It is sought in particular to improve the reliability of the drive of the cable and to reduce the weight and bulk of the device and its accessories, while retaining the possibility of putting only part of the cable length. It is also sought to improve the simplicity of manufacture, use and maintenance, of the apparatus and of the cable, to allow more flexibility in the choice of the cable and a better lifespan, and to improve the simplicity, reliability, speed and safety of use.

Presentation of the invention

The invention proposes a towing device comprising a frame carrying pulling means actuated by actuating means, arranged to exert a pull of approach on a towing cable passing through said device and having a first end and a second end, by swallowing of the cable at a pulling point of said device, located on the side of the first end of the cable.

This device is of the type arranged to be able to be implemented in any chosen position along the length of said cable so as to exert said traction only from said chosen position regardless of the length of the cable, and in particular only from this chosen position.

Such a device is said to be "passing cable". This feature makes it possible to position the device, see its anchorage, at any point on the cable, therefore without requiring tensioning and/or winding the entire cable, and without constraints linked to the total length of the cable. . This makes it possible, for example, to operate in a restricted work area, even with a very long cable that you do not want to cut.

This feature is important in many cases, and so these devices are a very different family to conventional wrap winches, even multi-layer winches, where all the slack in the cable has to be rolled up onto the drum before the cable can be tensioned. . Indeed, this prior winding requires a bulky and heavy winch, and represents a waste of time and effort before tensioning. In addition, the implementation will be impossible if the length of slack to be wound exceeds the maximum winding capacity of the drum.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the traction means comprise at least one winding drum having at least:

• a work compartment receiving or capable of receiving the cable from the pulling point,
• a storage compartment, typically coaxial with the work compartment, receiving or able to receive the cable on the side of its second end,
• and an intermediate path allowing said cable to pass between said compartments.

According to the invention, said drum is then driven in rotation by the actuating means so that, while keeping the cable immobile relative to the drum within said intermediate path, said rotation:

• drives the working compartment in rotation so that it produces the approach traction by winding the cable from the pulling point into the working compartment,
• simultaneously drives the storage compartment in rotation so that it winds the cable on the side of its second end.

In the invention, it is thus possible to position the device in any chosen position along the length of the cable. Winding then begins from this chosen position, and tension is applied to the cable as the drum rotates. Gripping the cable, or wedging, is then obtained by tightening the winding on the drum.

The architecture of the invention is much simpler than the mechanism of a jaw winch. The wedging obtained provides much greater reliability than that produced by jaws, more independent of the condition and cleanliness of the cable, unlike jaws. It also produces much less wear on the cable. A simpler, more reliable, lighter and more compact mechanism is obtained.

In addition, the jaws require the use of a cable with a large diameter to ensure a good grip. The cable is therefore sized not on the basis of its breaking strength but on the surface it offers to the gripping parts constituting the jaws. This has the effect of increasing the diameter of the cable in relation to the requirements of the effort to be supported. These constraints represent a size and a non-negligible weight. For example, a classic device with a capacity of 3.2 tons represents a weight of about 60-70kg.

On the contrary, the device according to the invention makes it possible to use a cable of smaller diameter, in any case for the smallest traction capacities, and therefore to produce a more compact and lighter device.

Additionally, the jaw system is currently not compatible with non-metallic cables, particularly due to damage to the cable. it therefore makes it necessary to use a steel cable.

On the contrary, the invention makes it possible to use a synthetic cable, with all the advantages which are brought to this type of cable, for example lightness, ease and safety of handling, less fragility when bending.

According to one feature, the apparatus according to the invention comprises, or is intended to use, a so-called "synthetic" cable, that is to say made of a material based on non-metallic, plant and/or plastic fibers, c ie entirely or for example at least 80% by mass.

In particular, the cable comprises an outer sheath made of a first composition chosen for its qualities of resistance to frictional wear, in particular polyester or aramid, which sheath surrounds a tensile core made of a second composition, different from the first composition and which has better tensile strength than said first composition, in particular high-density polyethylene.

A good compromise is thus obtained, including a good load capacity due to the core, while the sheath gives the cable a good service life.

Alternatively, the apparatus according to the invention may also comprise, or be designed to use, a metal cable of a known type.

According to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is arranged to form a manual and/or portable device, typically weighing less than 50 kg, in particular less than 30 kg and more particularly less than 15 kg. Optionally but not necessarily, the traction means are manually actuated by at least one operating member with anti-return blocking, for example with ratchet effect, in particular by a reciprocating lever driving the drum by a drive pawl .

In this embodiment, in which the frame carries at least one hooking means capable of being hooked removably or temporarily to a flexible link or a ground anchoring device, arranged to form an anchor point on the opposite side relative to the drum.

It is thus possible to produce a mobile device that is easy to transport and store, for example within a kit of manual traction and lifting tools for an intervention team or mobile, for example on foot or working without a vehicle. specialist, for example forestry or military or relief work.

The invention provides the following features, which can be combined with one another.

According to one feature, the storage compartment is arranged to have a cable storage capacity which is greater than or equal to that of the working compartment.

According to another feature, the working compartment and the storage compartment are separated by at least one intermediate flange which is crossed by at least one orifice forming the intermediate path.

According to yet another feature, the drum comprises at least one or more cores around which the cable is or are wound in the working compartment and in the storage compartment. The intermediate path is then formed in whole or in part by a duct or channel, closed or open in the form of a trench or groove, which runs through said core(s) over a non-zero axial distance to connect them together.

Yet according to another feature, the working compartment and the storage compartment both comprise a core around which the cable is wound, said working compartment and the storage compartment being integral in rotation with each other at least as far as of their nucleus.

According to one embodiment, the frame carries at least:

• a hooking means, capable of being temporarily or removably hooked to a flexible link or a hauling accessory, arranged on the same side as the pull point with respect to the drum to form a hauling point arranged to apply a pulling force secondary traction substantially parallel to the approach traction;
• an anchor point arranged in a position which is not collinear with the pull point and the haul point, thus defining a traction plane which will contain the traction forces applied respectively to the pull point, to the attachment point and at the anchor point, at least in the case of a flexible anchor; And
• a pull hole, arranged to let the cable pass at the pull point, which has an edge arranged opposite the cable in one or more determined positions to come into abutment against said cable in the event of rotation of the frame around a axis parallel to said forces

Said tensile forces then cooperate with each other to stabilize said rotational position of the frame. In particular, these three pulling, hauling and anchoring points are located in a determined position with respect to the travel of the operating member to stabilize its position, for example to stabilize the lever in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cables. .

According to a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a chassis forming a frame which is traversed on two opposite sides by a shaft carrying the drum. This frame surrounds the work compartment and preferably the storage compartment; which each comprise a core between two guide flanges, said cores being integral with each other and for example forming a single piece with said shaft, in particular of constant diameter.

This frame bears, on a pulling face directed in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the drum, at least one pulling orifice and a reeving point which between them determine a straight line coplanar with the axis of the drum. This frame also carries at least one anchor point on an anchor face in a direction opposite to said pull face, for example a lifting hook or ring, or male or female thread, or a fixing bolt, a shackle, chainplate or tie rod.

In addition, these actuating means comprise at least one operating lever movable in rotation around an axis parallel to the axis of the drum, for example around the axis of the drum, and which drives the drum by a succession of back and forth via one or more sprockets by means of at least one drive pawl, directly or indirectly. This drive is done for example by a drive pawl pivoting on the lever and which directly engages a ratchet wheel integral with the rotating drum. In the unwinding direction, the ratchet wheel is retained by a retaining pawl 33 pivotally mounted on the frame.

In this example, two similar or even identical drive mechanisms are provided, one on each side of drum 2.

According to particularities, which can be combined with each other, these work and storage compartments:

• are adjacent on the drum
• are both located inside the frame,
• are have cores and/or flanges of equal diameter, and/or
• are made in one piece.

Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the various optional characteristics set out here.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of a non-limiting mode of implementation, and from the appended drawings in which:

Fig.1 is a semi-schematic perspective view which illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, in a hand version and synthetic cable, implemented in a traction situation with a haul system;

Fig.2 is a partial scale view of the apparatus of Fig.1;

Fig.3 is a partial scale view of the apparatus of Fig.1, from another perspective and without its cable;

: Fig.4 is a partial view to scale of the apparatus of Fig.1, in transparent side view;

Fig.5 to Fig.8 are partial top views of the device of Fig.1, at different stages of the installation of the cable in the device;

: introduction and passage of the cable into the storage compartment,

: resorption of the slack of the working side,

: first winding of the cable on the drum,

: cable tensioning;

: Fig.9 is a partial top view of a variant of the embodiment of Fig.1 adapted for a metal cable;

: Fig.10 is a partial top view of another variant of the embodiment of Fig.1 adapted for a metal cable;

Example with synthetic cable

Fig.1 illustrates an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, in a synthetic hand and cable version. In this figure, the towing device 1 is shown to scale, while its environment is only shown schematically.

Fig.2 to Fig.4 illustrate in more detail and from different angles the mechanism and the architecture of the apparatus 1 in this exemplary embodiment.

The towing device 1 is here illustrated in a situation where it is moored at its anchor point 11 to a fixed point PF, here by a cable 8. This fixed point PF is here symbolized by a piton, but can also be a anchor fixed in the ground or any other type, such as a tree or a building or a fixed or mobile vehicle.

On the side of its pull point 12, here opposite the anchor point 11, the device rolls up a towing cable 9 on its drum 2, in its storage compartment 21. This towing cable is here fixed to a point of reeving 17 on frame 2. It is mounted in reeving by passing over a reeving pulley 97, which is moored to a load to be moved CH.

The drum 2 is actuated in rotation, the actuating means 3, by manual operation of the operating lever 30 in the form of successive round trips, by pivoting around the axis 20 of the drum in a motor direction M9 then in a direction return M0.

As illustrated in Fig.3 and Fig.4, the lever 30 carries a drive pawl 32 which drives a ratchet wheel 31 during motor M9 pivoting. This ratchet wheel 31 is here directly integral in rotation with the winding drum 2. In other embodiments, known mechanisms can be used in addition or instead to add a reduction in this drive.

During a return pivot M0, the ratchet wheel 31 and therefore the drum 2 are held fixed in rotation by the retaining pawl 33, which pivots on the frame 10.

In this example, the frame 10 is made up of plates shaped and assembled together to produce a rectangular or square frame, which is crossed on two opposite sides by a shaft carrying the drum 2 and which is rotatable according to the axis 20. This frame surrounds the working compartment 21 and the storage compartment 22.

On a pull face directed in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation 20 of the drum, the frame carries a pull orifice 120 and a reeving point 17 which determine between them a straight line D1 coplanar with the drum axis 20. the pull hole 120 has a circumference of rounded cross section, for example forming the inside of a torus, of a determined radius to facilitate the sliding of the cable and act as a hawse cable guide. This perimeter is for example formed by an added piece, made of an anti-friction material, for example of graphited aluminum, or of a material known for this. The reeving point 17 is here produced by a lifting ring, which is bolted into the plate forming the pull face.

On an anchor face oriented towards a direction opposite to said pull face, the frame also carries an anchor point 11, here a lifting ring bolted into the plate forming the anchor face.

As illustrated in Fig.1, the straight line D1 defined by the pulling 12 and hauling 17 points is not collinear with the anchor point 11. These three points therefore define a determined traction plane P1. As soon as the reeving system is not free to rotate relative to the load CH, the plane of the reeving system will impose itself on the frame 10 via the points of pull 12 and reeving 17. The tensile forces T8, T9, T7 exercised at these three points will thus stabilize this traction plane, and therefore the frame 10, in a determined position relative to the ground.

In this example, the pulling 12, hauling 17 and anchoring 11 points are positioned so that the traction plane P1 is perpendicular to the travel of the operating lever 30. The position of the lever 30 will therefore be stabilized with respect to the ground, which stabilizes it and makes it easier and safer to handle.

In this example, although it could be done otherwise, the axis 20 of the drum is parallel to this traction plane P1, and in particular parallel to the straight line D1.

In this example, the lever 30 separates into two parallel branches which join the drum at the level of the frame, each at one end of its shaft, thus axially framing the working compartment 21 and the storage compartment 22. Each branch carries a mechanism drive, one on each side of the drum.

The drum 2 has a working compartment 21 which receives the cable 9 from the pull point 12, and a storage compartment 22 receiving the cable 9 on the side of its second end 92.

These two compartments 21, 22 are adjacent to each other, and separated by a common guide flange, called intermediate or central 219. They each comprise a core 210, 220, around which the cable is wound between two outer guide flanges 221 , 222. The working core 210 and the storage core 220 are here integral with each other and of the same diameter, for example forming a single piece with said shaft or even with the flanges 212, 219, 222.

As illustrated in Fig.3, the drum has an orifice forming a duct 29 which is hollowed out in the intermediate flange 219 and/or in the cores 210, 220, to form the intermediate path 29. This duct connects the space of the work compartment 21 and the space of the storage compartment 22, at the level of the first winding layer of the towing cable 9 once they receive.

Fig.5 to Fig.8 illustrate different steps of the installation of the cable in the device. The presence or absence of a haul system has no influence on this aspect, and is not taken into account in these figures.

In , the second end 92 of the cable 9 is introduced into the frame by crossing the pull hole 120, to reach the work compartment 21. It is then threaded into the conduit 29 forming the intermediate path to emerge in the work compartment. storage 22.

In , the second end 92 of the cable 9 is then pulled D90 over the entire length of the cable necessary to absorb the slack of the working strand 91, that is to say of the strand 91 which protrudes from the drum on the side of the pull point 12 and on the side of the first end. The device 1 is thus positioned at the chosen pulling point on the cable 9, and established to be tensioned.

In , the drum was actuated in rotation R2 over one revolution. As can be seen, the cable has a first winding on the core 210 of the storage compartment 21. The intermediate path 29 has returned to its initial position after its first turn, but the cable 9 which crosses it has folded back on itself. same, stuck in the conduit 29 and driven by its rotation.

In , by continuing the rotation R2 of the drum, the working strand 91 continues to roll up in the working compartment 21 and therefore to be swallowed D91 at the pulling point 120, until this working strand is tensioned , with a wedging effected by the conduit and especially the tightening on the core 210 of the working compartment. By continuing to actuate the drum according to this same rotation R2, the actuation of the lever 30 thus produces the towing traction T9 on the working strand, as long as the anchor point 11 is retained by the fixed point PF to which it applies the anchor tension T8.

As can be understood, under the effect of the rotation R2 of the drum, the working strand 91 winds up in the storage compartment 21 while the free strand 92, on the side of the second end of the cable 9, winds up around the storage compartment 22. The free strand is thus swallowed D92 at the same time as the working strand 91.

During this double winding process, the part of the cable which has been threaded into the duct of the intermediate path 29 remains stationary with respect to the drum 2. The cable therefore does not rub against the duct there, and is not damaged.

In such a device, because the slack in the working strand 91 can be fully taken up before the cable begins to wrap around the drum, cf. Fig.6, the work compartment 21 does not need to receive the entire length of the towing cable 9. It only needs to store the length necessary to establish the traction T9 and to swallow the displacement D97 of the load CH under the effect of this towing pull. This makes it possible to keep a good compactness of the drum, and therefore to limit the weight and the size of the device.

Such a device can therefore be used as a "passing cable" device, since its pulling point can be positioned at any position of the towing cable 9, regardless of the length of said cable.

Thus, for a determined traction point chosen on the cable, it suffices to pull this cable to take up the slack of the working strand 91, cf. Fig.6, until this chosen traction point is at the level of the path, or just a little before to allow the work compartment 21 to wind up a little cable 9 in order to establish the tightening on its core 210.

Any subsequent rotation of the drum in the direction of work R2 will thus produce a towing by the tensile force T9 and the displacement D91, without any risk of the cable slipping or unhooking from the device 1.

In this example, the cable 9 is a synthetic, non-metallic cable, which can therefore undergo without damage the tight half-turn which is visible in Fig.7 at the level of the intermediate flange 219.

Thus, this device implements a compartmentalized drum 2, a storage part 22 and a working part 21. This drum is provided with an orifice 29 allowing the synthetic cable 9 to pass from one to the other and to ensure its initial anchoring, simply by being driven by the walls of the path 29 in the same rotational movement R2 of the drum, under the effect of the lever 30 with ratchet 31. The use of the synthetic cable and the main parts in aluminum alloy gives the product its lightness. The anchoring of the cable is thus achieved by wedging at any point along the length of the cable, chosen according to the distance existing between the two objects to be pulled towards each other, here the fixed point PF and the CH load.

The deployment is done by simply sliding the synthetic cable 9 in the inter-compartment orifice 29, without using the lever. Traction at maximum effort T9 is then done using lever 30.

The folding is done by the relaxation of the cable using the lever 30 on a very short stroke with the retaining pawl 33 in the released position, then the unwinding of the drum 2 can continue by simple manual traction on the cable 9 until to release its jamming in the intermediate path 29.

The time saving becomes undeniable, especially when faced with the obligation to uncoil and coil a steel cable with a diameter of 16mm over its entire length, this diameter being a minimum requirement to allow the grip of the jaws in a device passing to jaws of 3, 2 tons of pull.

For example, for a device with a capacity of 3.2 tons, a synthetic cable will be satisfied with a diameter of 10mm. We therefore gain in size compared to the 16mm steel cable, in addition to the weight gain and other advantages specific to the synthetic cable.

Compared to a passing device with the same traction capacity and operation by jamming jaws, as known from the state of the art, the invention makes it possible in particular:

• Significant mass gain, mass reduced by approximately 60%;
• Greater speed of deployment and re-deployment, around 10 minutes instead of 30 minutes;
• Increased longevity of the cable, for example because a synthetic cable is not damaged during an anarchic multilayer winding, which makes it possible to do without a trancanage system,
• Maneuver safety, provided by the use of a coiled synthetic cable;
• Reliability of the effort provided, because jamming is obtained with certainty by tightening around a drum, unlike friction grip systems such as that of jaws whose reliability depends on the conditions of cleanliness and integrity of the cable .

Wire rope variant

Metal cables can also be used within the scope of the invention.

Unlike synthetic cables, metal cables cannot be bent over a very small radius without suffering permanent damage, because the metal fibers can no longer return to their initial shape.

Fig.9 Fig.10 illustrate examples of variants of the embodiment of Fig.1 adapted to these constraints, in which the radius of curvature necessary for a wire rope is obtained by a curved channel which extends between the compartments and/or in the thickness of their cores.

In Fig.9, the working compartment 21 and the storage compartment 22 are separated by a non-zero axial length L29, each have an inner guide flange 211 and 221. The intermediate path 29 is formed by a duct which runs the length axial L29, maintaining a sufficiently large radius of curvature to be able to introduce a metal cable there, and keep it there without damaging it. This path 29 is formed in part by orifices passing through the inner flanges 211 and 221, connected to each other in a duct 290 which is closed and/or in a groove whose bottom is represented by the dotted line.

In Fig.10 is a partial top view of another variant suitable for a metal cable, in which the two compartments 21, 22 are adjacent. The intermediate path is also formed by a duct 290 which runs through the core of the compartments over an axial length L29. But it opens into each compartment at its outer flange, which makes it possible to obtain a sufficient axial length so as not to damage a metal cable but while keeping the drum and therefore the device very compact.

It will be noted that such versions, compatible with a metallic cable, also make it possible to use a synthetic cable, usually without modification.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Nomenclature

1 towing device 10 frame 11 anchor 12 shooting point 120 pull hole 17 reeving point 2 winding drum 20 drum rotation axis 21 work compartment 210 storage compartment core 211, 212 working compartment guide flanges 219 intermediate guide flange separating the two compartments 22 storage compartment 220 storage compartment core 221, 222 storage compartment guide flanges 29 intermediate path 290 internal routing channel/groove in the core 3 means of actuation 30 operating lever 31 drive ratchet 32 drive wheel 33 holding pawl 7 pulley block 8 anchor cable 9 towing cable 91 first end of the hauling cable, working end 92 second end of the hauling cable, free end 97 reeving pulley CH load to haul D1 line formed by the pulling point and the reeving point D90 displacement of the installation of the device - taking up the slack of the working side D91 movement of the working strand D92 displacement of the free strand D97 moving the load L29 axial length of intermediate path M0 return movement of the lever M9 lever working movement P1 traction plane PF fixed point R2 actuation rotation T7 secondary traction at the reeving point T8 anchor point traction T9 towing pull (at the pull point) T97 traction on the load

Claims (10)

Towing device (1), comprising a frame (10) carrying traction means actuated by actuating means (3), arranged to exert a pull of approach (T9) on a towing cable (9) passing through said device and having a first end (91) and a second end (92), by swallowing the cable at a pulling point (12) of said device, located on the side of the first end (91) of the cable, of the type arranged to be able to be implemented in any chosen position along the length of said cable (9) so as to exert said traction from said chosen position regardless of the length of the cable,
characterized in thatthe traction means comprise at least one winding drum (2) having at least:

• a work compartment (21) receiving or capable of receiving the cable (9) from the pull point (12),
• a storage compartment (22) receiving or able to receive the cable on the side of its second end (92),
• and an intermediate path (29) allowing said cable to pass between said compartments (21, 22);

in thatsaid drum (2) is driven in rotation by the actuating means (30) so that said rotation:

• rotates the work compartment (21) so that it produces the approach pull (T9) by winding (D91) the cable (9) from the pull point (12) into the work compartment (21),
• simultaneously drives the storage compartment (22) in rotation so that it winds (D92) the cable (9) on the side of its second end (92),

while the cable remains stationary relative to the drum within said intermediate path (29). Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is arranged to form a manual and/or portable apparatus, and/or whose traction means are manually actuated by at least one operating member (30) with non-return blocking ,
in which the frame (10) carries at least one hooking means capable of being hooked removably or temporarily to a flexible link (8) or a ground anchoring device, arranged to form an anchor point (11 ) on the opposite side with respect to the drum (2). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage compartment (22) is arranged to have a cable storage capacity (9) which is greater than or equal to that of the working compartment (21). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working compartment (21) and the storage compartment (22) are separated by at least one intermediate flange (219) which is traversed by at least one orifice forming the intermediate path (29). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the drum (2) comprises at least one or more cores (210, 220) around which the cable (9) is or are wound in the working compartment (21) and in the storage compartment (22), characterized in that the intermediate path (29) is formed in whole or in part by a duct, closed or open in the form of a trench or groove, which runs through the said core(s) over an axial distance (L29) nonzero to link them together. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working compartment (21) and the storage compartment (22) both comprise a core (210, 220) around which the cable is wound, the said compartment working (21) and the storage compartment (22) being integral in rotation with each other at least as regards their core. Device according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the frame (10) carries at least:

• a hooking means, capable of being hooked temporarily or removably to a flexible link or a hauling accessory (7), arranged on the same side as the pull point (12) with respect to the drum (2) to form a reeving point (17) arranged to apply a secondary tensile force (T7) substantially parallel to the approach traction (T9);
• an anchor point (11) disposed in a position which is not collinear with the pull point (12) and the haul point (17), thus defining a traction plane (P1) which will contain the traction forces (T9, T8, T7) applied respectively to the pull point (12), to the attachment point (17) and to the anchor point (11); And
• a pulling orifice (120), arranged to let the cable pass at the level of the pulling point (12), which has an edge arranged facing the cable (9) in one or more determined positions to come into abutment against the said cable in case of rotation of the frame (10) about an axis parallel to said forces;

said tensile forces (T9, T8, T7) then cooperating with each other to stabilize said rotational position of the frame (10). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and according to claim 7, characterized:

• in that it comprises a chassis (10) forming a frame which is traversed on two opposite sides by a shaft carrying the drum (2);
• in that said frame surrounds the working compartment (21) and preferably the storage compartment (22);
• in that said compartments each comprise a core (210, 220) between two guide flanges (211, 212, 219, 221, 222), said cores being integral with each other and for example forming a single piece with said shaft,
• in that said frame bears, on a pull face facing a direction transverse to the axis of rotation (20) of the drum, at least one pull orifice (120) and a reeving point (17) which determine between them a line coplanar with the axis of drum (20);
• in that said frame further carries at least one anchor point (11) on an anchor face in a direction opposite to said pull face;
• and in that the actuating means comprise at least one operating lever (30) movable in rotation around an axis parallel to the axis of the drum (20), and which drives the drum by a succession of returns via one or more sprockets by means of at least one drive pawl (31), directly or indirectly.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises or is provided for the use of a so-called "synthetic" cable (9), that is to say made of a material based on non-metallic, plant and /or plastic material. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cable (9) comprises an outer sheath made of a first composition chosen for its qualities of resistance to frictional wear, in particular polyester or aramid, which sheath surrounds a traction core made into a second composition, different from the first composition and which has better tensile strength than said first composition, in particular high-density polyethylene.