In a power cable puller system, which drum is the rope wrapped around?

• A. Pulley
• B. Rope Drum
• C. Capstan
• D. Winch

Answer: (C)

The key idea is friction-driven pulling. A capstan is a rotating cylinder whose surface is designed to grip rope by friction. When rope is wrapped around the capstan, the capstan’s rotation drags the rope along, pulling the load without the rope sliding. The rope drum is simply for storing rope, not for the actual grip that drives the pull, while a winch is the powered unit that turns the capstan. Pulleys merely guide the rope. So, in a power cable puller, the rope is wrapped around the capstan to achieve the pull.