# US 10,479,502 B2 · Aircraft provided with a winch device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,502 B2 - Document ID: US10479502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/603,909 - Filed: 2017-05-24 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-25 - Assignees: Airbus Helicopters - Applicants: Airbus Helicopters - Inventors: Andre Barbieri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479502B2 ## CPC - B64D 1/22: Taking-up articles from earth's surface - B64C 1/0009: {Aerodynamic aspects} - B64C 23/00: Influencing air flow over aircraft surfaces, not otherwise provided for - B66D 1/02: Driving gear - B66D 1/60: adapted for special purposes - B64C 27/26: characterised by provision of fixed wings - B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports - B64U 70/80: Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets (rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract An aircraft provided with a wing and a winch device. The winch device is provided with a hoist device that includes a storage drum and a motor member for winding a suspension member around the storage drum and for unwinding said suspension member off the storage drum. The hoist device is surrounded at least in part by a fairing of the winning, said hoist device being arranged in an inside volume of the wing at least in a position referred to as the “streamlined” position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft comprising: a wing extending longitudinally from a streamlined leading edge towards a streamlined trailing edge, the aircraft being provided with a winch device, the winch device being provided with a hoist device including a storage drum, the winch device being provided with a suspension member extending from a first end to a second end that is free and that projects from the hoist device, the hoist device including a motor member for winding the suspension member around the storage drum and for unwinding the suspension member off the storage drum, the hoist device being at least partially surrounded by a fairing of the wing, the hoist device being arranged in an inside volume of the wing in a streamlined position, wherein the winch device includes a movable arm carried by a hinge, the hinge giving the movable arm at least one degree of freedom to move in rotation about an axis of rotation relative to the wing, the hoist device being carried by the movable arm, and the movable arm and the fairing being movable together between the streamlined position and an extended position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the fairing is a fuselage fairing of the wing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the hoist device is arranged in one of the streamlined edges of the wing, the fairing is a portion of the streamlined edge containing the hoist device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aircraft according to claim 3, wherein the wing carries a propeller arranged longitudinally beside one of the streamlined edges, and the hoist device is arranged in the other streamlined edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The aircraft according to claim 3, wherein the streamlined edge containing the hoist device comprises in succession a root segment, the fairing, and then an end segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the suspension member passes through the fairing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein, in the streamlined position, the fairing closes the inside volume, and, in the extended position, the fairing opens the inside volume to a medium outside the aircraft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the winch device includes a motor-driven system connected to the movable arm to move the movable arm in rotation about the axis of rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes a fuselage provided with at least one frame and a skin fastened to the frame, and the hinge is fastened to the frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is fastened to a member of the wing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The aircraft according to claim 5, wherein the root segment includes at least one movable flap and a movement system, the movement system co-operating with the flap to move the flap between a closed position and an open position, the flap in the closed position impeding movement of the movable arm, and not impeding the movement when in the open position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the wing includes at least one deflector for deflecting a stream of air that might impact against the winch device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft is an aircraft suitable for performing hovering flight. ### Claim 14 An aircraft comprising: a wing extending longitudinally from a streamlined leading edge towards a streamlined trailing edge, a winch provided with a hoist including a storage drum, the winch provided with a suspension member extending from a first end to a second end that is free and that projects from the hoist, the hoist including a motor for winding the suspension member around the storage drum and for unwinding the suspension member off the storage drum, the hoist being at least partially surrounded by a fairing of the wing, the hoist disposed in an inside volume of the wing in a streamlined position, wherein the winch includes a movable arm carried by a hinge, the hinge giving the movable arm at least one degree of freedom to move in rotation about an axis of rotation relative to the wing, the hoist being carried by the movable arm, and the movable arm and the fairing being movable together between the streamlined position and an extended position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein the fairing is a fuselage fairing of the wing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein the hoist is disposed in one of the streamlined edges of the wing, the fairing is a portion of the streamlined edge containing the hoist. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The aircraft according to claim 16, wherein the wing carries a propeller arranged longitudinally beside one of the streamlined edges, and the hoist is disposed in the other streamlined edge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The aircraft according to claim 16, wherein the streamlined edge containing the hoist comprises in succession a root segment, the fairing, and then an end segment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein the suspension member passes through the fairing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein, in the streamlined position, the fairing closes the inside volume, and, in the extended position, the fairing opens the inside volume to a medium outside the aircraft.