Patent ID: 6896243

Claim:
A machine for installing a catenary cable formed by a contact wire or a carrying cable of an electrical catenary of a track, comprising: a) a machine frame extending in a longitudinal direction and supported for mobility on the track by undercarriages; b) a storage drum containing a rolled-up catenary cable which is pulled off the storage drum during installation with a pull-off force; c) a deflection roller, mounted for vertical adjustment, for guiding the catenary cable during installation; d) an auxiliary frame mounted on the machine frame for supporting the storage drum; e) a friction winch for creating a pull-off resistance counteracting the pull-off force when the catenary cable is pulled off the storage drum during installation, thereby producing an installation tension, said friction winch being arranged between the storage drum and the deflection roller and mounted on a winch frame which is connected to the auxiliary frame; and f) a force sensor for measuring the installation tension, said force sensor being positioned between the winch frame and the auxiliary frame.