Aircraft Rescue Hoist Layout for High-Wrap Cable Anti-Fouling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional rescue hoists for aircraft have a tall profile and cable configurations that result in cable fouling, which are undesirable for aerodynamic and practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact rescue hoist design with a cable drum and traction sheave positioned to minimize the profile, allowing the cable to change direction without fouling, featuring a housing with a lateral portion and a hook outside the housing, and a traction sheave positioned higher than the cable drum, with a cable wrap that maintains contact with half the sheave's circumference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cable exits the cable drum in a downward direction to minimize cable direction changes, then cable fouling is reduced, but the rescue hoist develops a tall profile that is aerodynamically undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The cable exit position is moved from below the cable drum to the side of the housing, changing the cable's spatial trajectory from a vertical downward path to a lateral exit path. This dimensional repositioning allows the cable to maintain minimal direction changes while the housing provides a compact, aerodynamic profile suitable for under-wing aircraft mounting.
2Ease of operation
If the hook and intermediate winding mechanism are positioned directly below the cable drum, then cable operation is simplified, but the rescue hoist achieves a tall profile
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate winding mechanism and hook are integrated within the housing structure rather than being positioned separately below the cable drum. This merging of components into a compact enclosed space maintains operational simplicity while achieving a shallow overall profile that is aerodynamically suitable for aircraft applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a shallow profile and prevents cable fouling by maintaining back tension, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a cable wrapped around the cable drum in a first direction, over the traction sheave in a second direction opposite the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A rescue hoist includes a housing mountable to an airframe, a cable drum rotatably mounted in the housing, a traction sheave rotatably mounted in the housing positioned to one side of the cable drum, a cable, and a hook mounted to one end of the cable. The cable is wrapped around the cable drum in a first direction, over the traction sheave in a second direction opposite the first direction, and exits the housing under the traction sheave. The housing is compact and configured to be mounted to an aircraft under-wing.