Mono-Spiral Reeling Drum
🧱 Construction Design
A mono-spiral drum consists of a single helical groove or spiral layer machined or fabricated along the drum shell.
The cable is guided in a single-layer spiral path from one flange to the other.
Typically equipped with a level wind mechanism or guide arm to ensure even spooling.
Compact slipring assemblies are mounted at the drum shaft for power and control transmission.
Usually driven by an electric or hydraulic motor through a gearbox (helical, bevel, or worm type).
📦 Space Management
Occupies less axial space due to single-layer winding.
Ideal where installation width is constrained but diameter can be moderate to large.
Cable bending radius is large → improves cable life.
⚙️ Cable Layering & Handling
Only one layer of cable is stored — prevents crushing, suitable for thick/heavy cables.
The single spiral ensures low torsional stress on cable cores.
Cable payout and retrieval are smooth and consistent, avoiding snatch loads.
🏭 Typical Applications
Port cranes (RTGs, STS cranes)
Stacker–reclaimers
Ship-to-shore power supply reels
Large gantry cranes or long-travel hoists
Mining shovels and reclaimer machines
🛠️ Engineering Highlights
Best suited for long cable runs with large cable diameters (50–120 mm).
Requires precise drum machining and mechanical guiding system.
Motor and gearbox are usually mounted coaxially for balance.
Can handle travel lengths up to 150–250 m, depending on cable size.
Barrel Reeling Drum
🧱 Construction Design
A barrel-type drum has a plain cylindrical shell without helical grooving.
Cable is wound in multiple random layers (multi-layered spooling).
A pressure roller or cable press arm maintains tight winding.
Generally used for shorter or medium travel lengths where layering precision is not critical.
📦 Space Management
Excellent length-to-volume efficiency because cable is layered on top of itself.
Requires more radial clearance due to multiple layers.
Compact in width but larger in diameter.
⚙️ Cable Layering & Handling
Cable experiences higher mechanical stress due to cross-over and crushing between layers.
Cable fatigue life is shorter compared to mono-spiral designs.
However, mechanical simplicity makes it easy to fabricate and maintain.
🏭 Typical Applications
Material handling transfer cars
Smaller gantry cranes or jib cranes
Machine tools with short-travel power feeds
Construction site power reels
Temporary or mobile equipment
🛠️ Engineering Highlights
Economical solution for medium loads and shorter cable lengths (≤ 80 m).
No complex guiding system — simple to maintain.
Not recommended for large-diameter or flat cables.
Often uses torque motor for retraction.
Multi-Barrel Reeling Drum
🧱 Construction Design
A multi-barrel reeling drum integrates two or more drums on a common shaft or frame, each handling a separate cable, hose, or circuit.
Barrels can be independent (separate drives) or mechanically linked (common drive shaft).
Each drum can have its own slipring or rotary union assembly.
Ideal for systems requiring multiple services — power, control, hydraulics, and fiber — simultaneously.
📦 Space Management
Uses shared frame and drive, optimizing overall length and footprint.
Each barrel’s cable path is isolated to avoid tangling.
More compact than using several independent reels.
⚙️ Cable Layering & Handling
Can combine mono-spiral, semi-spiral, or barrel-type winding depending on service type.
Balances torque between reels for synchronous operation.
Requires torque balancing clutches or multi-drive synchronization for even tension.
🏭 Typical Applications
Offshore drilling rigs (power + control + hydraulic hose)
Subsea umbilical handling systems
Container spreaders and mobile platforms
Tunnel boring machines (TBMs)
Stacker–reclaimers with hybrid power/data hoses
🛠️ Engineering Highlights
Ideal for multi-utility reeling in integrated systems.
Engineering challenge: torque matching, slipring isolation, and structural balance.
Heavier frame and higher inertia → requires robust drive control (VFD/hydraulic proportional valves).
Can manage travel lengths up to 300 m depending on configuration.
Semi-Spiral Reeling Drum
🧱 Construction Design
A semi-spiral drum combines the features of a mono-spiral and a barrel drum.
The outer section of the drum has partial helical grooves (typically 2–3 cable turns).
The remaining portion acts as a smooth barrel for layered storage.
Used where cable length is high but full spiral machining is not economical.
📦 Space Management
Optimized for moderate space — shorter than mono-spiral, smaller diameter than barrel type.
Provides an effective compromise between layer control and capacity.
⚙️ Cable Layering & Handling
Initial layers are guided by spiral grooves ensuring controlled winding start, after which the cable transitions to random lay.
Reduces cable crushing in lower layers compared to pure barrel type.
Suitable for moderate cable diameters and medium-length runs.
🏭 Typical Applications
Overhead cranes / portal cranes
Coal and bulk-material handling conveyors
Water treatment clarifier bridges
Machinery with medium-length linear motion (≤ 120 m)
EOT cranes with limited space
🛠️ Engineering Highlights
Balances cost, complexity, and performance.
Easier to manufacture than mono-spiral, with better cable life than random-lay barrels.
Often uses torque motors with tension control for smooth payout.
Recommended when cable weight and flexibility are moderate.
