Winch system for VTOL aircraft
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsTimothy F. Lauder, Janiece M. Lorey, Christopher M. Harrington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A winch system includes a cable storage system (34), a drive system (30) and a deployment system to deploy a cable having a hook system attached thereto. A right angle sheave (46) guides the cable between the cable storage system and the drive system. The drive system includes a dual mode transmission that provides high speed capabilities when moderate to no load is being lifted, while also providing high torque for heavy lift operations at low speeds. The deployment system is rated to support a maximum hook load and is mounted to the airframe for pivotable movement about a deployment axis to enable large cable exit angles.
Claims26
A winch system comprising:
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- and
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation and transverse to a deployment axis of rotation, said drive system operable to extend and retract a cable from said cable storage system though said deployment system.
A winch system comprising:
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- and
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation, said drive system includes a dual mode transmission which drives a traction drive capstan about said drive axis of rotation.
A winch system comprising:
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation;
- a deployment system pivotable about a deployment axis generally transverse to said drive axis of rotation;
- and
- a spring loaded arm biased about an axis of rotation of said sheave, said spring loaded arm supports a pulley which retains a cable on said sheave to create a moment arm about said deployment axis, said spring loaded arm biased such that as a cable tension increases, said spring loaded arm pivots said pulley away from the cable in response thereto.
A winch system comprising:
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation;
- a deployment system pivotable about a deployment axis generally transverse to said drive axis of rotation;
- and
- an emergency release guillotine mounted to said deployment system.
A winch system comprising:
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- and
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation;
- a deployment system pivotable about a deployment axis generally transverse to said drive axis of rotation and parallel to said cable storage axis of rotation;
- a cable threaded from said cable storage system through said drive system and said deployment system, said drive system operable to extend and retract said cable from said cable storage system through said deployment system;
- and
- a hook system attached to said cable, said deployment system rated to support a maximum hook load on said hook system.
A VTOL aircraft comprising:
- an aircraft fuselage which defines an aircraft longitudinal axis;
- a cable storage system which defines a cable storage axis of rotation;
- a deployment system defining a deployment axis transverse to said aircraft longitudinal axis, said deployment system rated to support a maximum hook load;
- a drive system which defines a drive axis of rotation transverse to said cable storage axis of rotation and transverse to said deployment axis of rotation, said drive system operable to extend and retract a cable from said cable storage system though said deployment system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.