Unitary fastener and cable guidance devices for helicopter block pulleys and methods of assembly and use

A method of using a pulley block assembly, comprising the steps of:

• providing a pulley block assembly comprising:
• a unitary fastener and cable guidance device, the device comprising:
• a pair of discs, each disc comprising an inner side, an outer side, a disc rim, and a disc hub forming an annular depression between the pair of discs, the annular depression defining a minimum outer diameter about an axis, wherein each inner side extends inward toward the minimum outer diameter, such that the annular depression forms a hyperbolic shape;
• and
• a cantilevered axle comprising an outer axle diameter, an outer end, and an opposing inner end integral to the outer side of one of the discs, the cantilevered axle having a threaded axle borehole formed therein about the axis;
• a cavity comprising an axially extending wall comprising a hexagonal shape formed in the outer side of the other disc;
• the outer axle diameter being equal to or greater than the minimum outer diameter
• wherein the pair of discs, the cantilevered axle, and the cavity are monolithic;
• the unitary fastener and cable guidance device rotatably connected to an arm assembly that is rotatably connected to a frame to which a sheave wheel having a circumferential groove is rotatably connected, the unitary fastener and cable guidance device operable to rotatably direct a cable in a circumferential direction toward, and in alignment with, the circumferential groove in the sheave wheel;
• the pulley block assembly further comprising a spring-loaded mechanism connected at a first end to the frame and at a second end to the arm assembly, the spring-loaded mechanism configured to hold the arm assembly at a nominal angular position with respect to the frame, and further configured such that the angular position of the arm assembly with respect to the frame can change when one or more springs in the spring-loaded mechanism are deflected by a radial force applied to the unitary fastener and cable guidance device;
• directing a cable against the annular depression of the unitary fastener and cable guidance device and causing the unitary fastener and cable guidance device to rotate relative to the arm assembly;
• and
• directing the cable from the unitary fastener and cable guidance device into the circumferential groove in the sheave wheel and causing the sheave wheel to rotate relative to the arm assembly.

A pulley block assembly including:

• a unitary fastener and cable guidance device formed from a single piece of material, the device comprising:
• a pair of discs, each disc comprising an inner side, an outer side, a disc rim, and a disc hub forming an annular depression between the pair of discs, the annular depression defining a minimum outer diameter about an axis;
• a cantilevered axle comprising an outer axle diameter, an outer end, and an opposing inner end integral to the outer side of one of the discs, the cantilevered axle having a threaded axle borehole formed therein about the axis;
• a cavity comprising an axially extending wall comprising a hexagonal shape formed in the outer side of the other disc;
• and
• the outer axle diameter being equal to or greater than the minimum outer diameter;
• an arm assembly, wherein the unitary fastener and cable guidance device is rotatably connected to the arm assembly;
• the arm assembly is rotatably connected to a frame to which a sheave wheel having a circumferential groove is rotatably connected, and the unitary fastener and cable guidance device operable to rotatably direct a cable in a circumferential direction toward, and in alignment with, the circumferential groove in the sheave wheel;
• and
• the unitary fastener and cable guidance device is rotatably connected to the arm assembly with a tamper-resistant flower nut having a tapered outer surface and a curvilinear inner wall surface having a shape configured to engage a correspondingly-shaped tool, the tamper-resistant flower nut rotationally engaged with a threaded fastener fastened to the threaded axle borehole.