Method to detect homing loads in rescue hoist and winch assemblies

A rescue hoist comprising:

• a motor configured to drive a cable drum of the rescue hoist;
• a cable disposed on the cable drum, wherein an end of the cable extends through a bell mouth of the rescue hoist;
• a hook assembly disposed on the end of the cable;
• a fixture coupled to the bell mouth, wherein the hook assembly abuts the fixture when the hook assembly is in a homed position, the fixture comprising:
• a surface;
• a cylindrical wall extending from the surface, wherein at least a portion of the bell mouth is disposed within the cylindrical wall;
• a body portion extending from the surface and disposed within the cylindrical wall, wherein the bell mouth abuts the body portion;
• a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance to the hook assembly and generate a signal indicative of the distance;
• an electromagnet;
• and
• a processor,
• wherein the surface and the body portion define a through hole, wherein the cable extends through the through hole, and
• wherein the processor is configured to detect when the hook assembly abuts the surface based on the signal indicative of the distance;
• wherein the processor is configured to engage the electromagnet in response to detecting the hook assembly abuts the surface;
• wherein engaging the electromagnet causes the electromagnet to magnetically couple the hook assembly to the fixture.

A system comprising:

• an aircraft comprising a cockpit panel;
• and
• a rescue hoist coupled to the aircraft, the rescue hoist comprising:
• a motor configured to drive a cable drum of the rescue hoist;
• a cable disposed on the cable drum, wherein an end of the cable extends through a bell mouth of the rescue hoist;
• a hook assembly disposed on the end of the cable;
• and
• a fixture coupled to the bell mouth, wherein the hook assembly abuts the fixture when the hook assembly is in a homed position, the fixture comprising:
• a surface;
• a cylindrical wall extending from the surface, wherein at least a portion of the bell mouth is disposed within the cylindrical wall;
• a body portion extending from the surface and disposed within the cylindrical wall, wherein the bell mouth abuts the body portion;
• a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance to the hook assembly of the rescue hoist and generate a signal indicative of the distance;
• an electromagnet;
• and
• a processor,
• wherein the surface and the body portion define a through hole, wherein the cable extends through the through hole, and
• wherein the processor is configured to detect when the hook assembly abuts the surface based on the signal indicative of the distance;
• wherein the processor is configured to engage the electromagnet in response to detecting the hook assembly abuts the surface;
• wherein engaging the electromagnet causes the electromagnet to magnetically couple the hook assembly to the fixture.