Rescue Hoist Fixture Detects Hook Position and Prevents Cable Slack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rescue hoists face issues with cable damage due to excessive tensile stress or slack, leading to potential breakage, deformation, or fatigue, as the crew may reel in the cable too much or too little, causing uneven tension.

Innovation Solution

A fixture is integrated with proximity sensors and electromagnets that detect the hook assembly's position and maintain magnetic coupling to prevent slack and uneven tension, ensuring the cable is neither over-tensioned nor under-tensioned by engaging and disengaging the electromagnets based on sensor feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the cable is reeled in too much, then the homing load increases, but the cable is subjected to excessive tensile stress leading to potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehoming loadVSAvoidcable strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs force sensors to continuously monitor the homing load on the cable and provides feedback signals to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of excessive tension and automatic adjustment of the reeling operation to prevent cable damage while maintaining adequate homing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical reeling control with an automated electromechanical system that uses force sensors, processors, and motor control to regulate the homing load. This substitution eliminates human error in judging cable tension and provides precise control to keep the load within safe limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If the cable is reeled in too little, then the homing load decreases, but the cable becomes loose or slack leading to bending and fatigue failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehoming loadVSAvoidcable reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The force sensors continuously monitor the homing load and provide feedback to the control system. When the load falls below the minimum threshold indicating slack cable, the system automatically adjusts the reeling operation to restore proper tension, preventing bending and fatigue failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation by automatically detecting cable tension status through force sensors and adjusting the reeling mechanism accordingly. The control system monitors and maintains the cable in the proper tension state without requiring external intervention, ensuring continuous reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If manual reeling control is used, then the operation is simple, but the crew may reel in the cable unevenly causing inconsistent tension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereeling operationVSAvoidtension consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The force sensors continuously monitor the homing load and provide feedback to the control system, enabling real-time adjustments to maintain consistent tension. This closed-loop control ensures uniform tension application regardless of reeling speed or external disturbances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 solution effectively prevents cable damage by maintaining consistent tension, reducing the risk of breakage, deformation, or fatigue, and ensuring the cable remains securely homed throughout the flight cycle.

Implementation Method 1

the fixture includes a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance to a hook assembly of the rescue hoist and generate a signal indicative of the distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProximity sensing:

Implementation Method 2

engaging and disengaging the electromagnets based on sensor feedback

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4368561A1Method to detect homing loads in rescue hoist and winch assemblies

Publication Date: 2024.05.15 HORNET ACQUISITIONCO LLC

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Figure 1C

AI summary

A fixture is described. The fixture (101) is for detecting distances between a hook assembly (108) and a bell mouth (120) of a rescue hoist (102) and magnetically coupling the hook assembly to the fixture. The fixture couples to the bell mouth such that the fixture is affixed to a main housing of the rescue hoist. A cable (106) of the rescue hoist extends through the bell mouth and the fixture. The cable includes a distal end coupled to the hook assembly. The cable is retractable causing the hook assembly to abut the fixture. The fixture may detect the hook assembly abuts the fixture and engages one or more electromagnets (246). The electromagnets cause the hook assembly to magnetically couple to the fixture, preventing the hook assembly from swaying when there is slack in the cable.