Patent ID: 7500575

Claim:
A crane apparatus for the controlled length adjustment of a cable having two ends affixed to, and wound about a line spooling hoist drum comprising: said hoist drum having a proximate end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis of rotation; four drum sections taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said drum wherein said adjacent drum sections have different diameter profiles; and a cable having a first end and a second end, wherein said four drum sections comprise: a first generally cylindrical drum section having a first diameter: an intermediate drum section having a tapered diameter profile positioned between said first drum section and said second drum section; a second generally cylindrical drum section having a second diameter positioned between said intermediate drum section and said drum tail section; and a tapered profile drum tail section having a tapered diameter positioned adjacent said second drum section; wherein said first diameter is less than said second diameter and said intermediate drum section has a tapered or frustaconical diameter profile having a proximate end with a diameter substantially similar to that of said first drum section and a distal end with a diameter substantially similar to that of said second drum section, and said drum tail section has a tapered or frustaconical diameter profile having a proximate end with a diameter substantially similar to that of said second drum section, and wherein said first end of said cable is clockwise wound onto said drum and mechanically affixed to said drum at the proximate end, and said second end is counter-clockwise wound onto said drum and mechanically affixed at the distal end of said drum.