REEL ASSEMBLY

A capstan winch (10) includes a reel assembly comprising a reel (12), which rotates, and two generally annular floating flanges (20) which are supported so that the planes in which they rotate converge towards one another, which has the effect of creating an apparent axial movement of the flanges with respect to the reel as they rotate together. The cylindrical surface of the reel (12) is provided with alternating lands (19) and grooves (18) and the floating flanges (20) have formed on them alternating inclined faces (26 and 24) which correspond with lands (19) and grooves (18). The inclined faces (24 and 26) are angled so that the faces (26) which correspond to each land (19) on the reel (12) are generally parallel to one another. The inclined faces (24) which correspond to each groove (18) converge. Consequently, substantial lateral forces are exerted on a cable being wound onto the reel (12) only when the cable overlies the grooves (18) and frictional forces on the cable are minimized.