On-Board Modular Hoist

Abstract

A modular winch onboard an aircraft includes at least one cable wound onto a drum. The winch includes a basic mechanical assembly intended to be attached to the aircraft. The basic mechanical assembly is capable of receiving, in a removable manner, at least one module for varying at least one of the performance characteristics of the winch.

Claims

1. A modular winch designed to be onboard an aircraft, said winch including at least one cable wound onto a drum, and comprising a basic mechanical assembly intended to be attached to the aircraft, said basic mechanical assembly being designed to receive, in a removable manner, at least one module for varying at least one of the performance characteristics of said winch, namely the length of the cable, the diameter of the cable, the power of the winch and consequently the winding and unwinding speed of said cable, the power supply of the winch: wherein the basic mechanical assembly attached to the aircraft comprises a mechanical connection connecting a drive module, which is capable of varying the characteristics relating to the power of the winch, to a cable module; and wherein the at least one module comprises a cable module, which is capable of varying characteristics relating to the cable, comprising at least one cable, at least one drum around which the cable is adapted to be wound/unwound, and a rotation portion of said drum designed to be connected to the mechanical connection.

2. The onboard modular winch according to claim 1: wherein the drive module comprises a motor whose drive shaft is designed to be connected to the mechanical connection, and; wherein said mechanical connection is designed to transmit the rotational movement of the drive shaft to the rotation portion of the drum for the winding/unwinding of said cable.

3. The onboard modular winch according to claim 1, wherein the module capable of varying the characteristics relating to the power supply consists of an electronic module, designed to produce an AC or DC current for the drive module from the electrical power generated by the aircraft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description provided below, which is for reference only and is in no way restrictive, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an onboard modular winch according to the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the modular winch from another viewing angle;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to that of FIG. 2, wherein part of the winch housing has been removed in order to view the interior of said housing;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a modular winch according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the basic mechanical assembly of the modular winch;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5, the basic mechanical assembly being represented from another viewing angle;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the cable module;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view similar to that of FIG. 7, the cable module being represented without its protective housing;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the drive module transmission means;

[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view similar to that of FIG. 9, the transmission means being represented from another viewing angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 1 through 10, the modular winch (1) onboard an aircraft according to the invention comprises a basic mechanical assembly (2) intended to be attached to the aircraft and to receive, in a removable manner, a cable module (3), a drive module (4) associated with said cable module, and an electronic module latched to the drive module (4).

[0029] The basic mechanical assembly (2) ensures the mechanical (attachment to the aircraft) and electrical (power and control) interfacing between the aircraft and the cable module (3).

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1 through 6, and more particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the basic mechanical assembly (2) forms part of the body of the winch (1) and presents lateral attachments (2a) designed to receive in a removable manner, for example by screwing, the drive module (4) on one side, and the cable module (3) on the other side.

[0031] The basic mechanical assembly (2) further comprises mechanical connection means (5) for mechanically connecting the drive module (4) to the cable module (3). The mechanical connection means (5) are arranged on the lower part of the basic mechanical assembly (2) and comprise a hollow shaft (5a) mounted in such a way as to freely rotate. The hollow shaft (5a) has internal splines (6) and is designed to receive a splined shaft that engages on both sides, for transmitting rotation from one to the other.

[0032] The cable module (3) comprises a drum (7) around which said cable (7a) is stored. The cable module (3) helps vary the characteristics relating to the cable (7a). With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, the cable module (3) comprises a housing (8) that is designed to be attached in a removable manner to the basic mechanical assembly (2) in order to form part of the body of the modular winch (1).

[0033] The housing (8) of the cable module (3) comprises internally and partially above, a drum (7) mounted such as to be able to rotate around its axis of rotation. Said drum (7) is latched, via the transmission means (9), to the rotation means (10) such as to allow the winding of a cable (7a) around said drum (7). These rotation means (10) are in the form of a splined shaft (10a) protruding outwards from the housing (8) of the cable module (3). Said splined shaft (10a) is intended to be inserted into the hollow shaft (5a) of the mechanical connection means (5) of the basic mechanical assembly (2), and to engage the internal splines (6) of said hollow shaft (5a).

[0034] The cable (7a) is then attached at one end to the drum (7) and comprises at its free end, a hook and/or a handle (not shown) according to the winching missions to be performed.

[0035] The drive cable (4) helps vary the characteristics relating to power. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive module (4) comprises a housing (11) that is designed to be attached in a removable manner to the basic mechanical assembly (2) in order to form part of the body of the modular winch (1). This housing (11) contains a motor (12) equipped with a drive shaft (12a). With reference to FIGS. 4, 9, and 10, the drive shaft (12a) is latched to the transmission means (13). These transmission means (13) include, on the one hand, receiving means (14) of the drive shaft and, on the other hand, a splined shaft (15) that is intended to be engaged within the hollow shaft (5) of the mechanical connection means (5) of the basic mechanical assembly (2). The splined shaft (15) is intended to engage the internal splines (6) of said hollow shaft (5A). The transmission means (13) are designed to transmit through gears, belts, or other means, the rotation of the drive shaft (12a) to the splined shaft (15).

[0036] The rotation of the motor (12) drives the rotation of the splined shaft (15), which leads to the rotation of the hollow shaft (5a), which drives the rotation of the rotation means (10) of the drum (7), and therefore the rotation of the drum (7) allowing the winding or the unwinding of the cable (7a).

[0037] The electronic module helps vary the characteristics relating to the power supply, and can produce an AC or DC current for the drive module from the electrical power generated by the aircraft.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 4, the electronic module contains an electronic board for the management of the mechanical connection means (5) and therefore of the motor (12). This board especially comprises electrical connection means that are intended to engage the electrical connection means of said mechanical connection means (5).

[0039] These different modules are therefore provided with means of implementing, in an easy manner, a mechanical and/or electrical connection between them, in order to facilitate the choice of the user depending upon the mission to be performed.

[0040] As is clear from the foregoing, the invention proposes a modular winch that can be interchanged quickly and easily depending, for example, upon the power of the motor, the length of cable required, etc., especially based upon the winching mission to be performed.

[0041] That said, and as mentioned in the introduction, the basic mechanical assembly (2) can integrate the functions of the drive module (4) and the electronic module.