Tension pay-off mechanism for cable reels

Claim 1

IN A LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR A REEL HAVING A HELICALLY WOUND CABLE EMANATING THEREFROM, THE COMBINATION OF: A REEL, A PAIR OF SPACED VERTICALLY DISPOSED SUPPORTS; A PAIR OF SPACED ALINED STUB AXLES PROJECTING HORIZONTALLY FROM SAID SUPPORTS, SAID AXLES ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THEREBETWEEN THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID REEL; A PAIR OF DISKS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID AXLES; INTERLOCKING MEANS FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN EACH OF SAID DISKS AND THE ADJACENT REEL END; BRAKING MEANS ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS FOR RESTRAINING ROTATION OF SAID REEL, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING A BRAKE DRUM, A SET OF RADIALLY EXPANSIBLE BRAKE SHOES ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM, AND A CONDUIT INTERCONNECTING SAID DRUMS; MEANS INCLUDING A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY EFFECTING EQUALIZED BRAKING ACTION BETWEEN SAID SHOES AND THE RESPECTIVE DRUMS TO PRODUCE REVERSELY PITCHED TORSIONAL REEL STRESSES BETWEEN THE POINT OF CABLE EMANATION AND THE RESPECTIVE REEL ENDS, AND MEANS OPERABLE ALTERNATELY WITHSAID LAST-NAMED MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID BRAKING ACTION.