Cable offset detection with contact

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723602-B2
Application number	US-201816157347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2018
Priority date	Oct 11, 2018
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A hoist system for cable-reeling operations includes a housing; a drum disposed within the housing and configured to spin about an axis; a motor configured to spin the drum about the axis; an electrically-conductive cable configured to be wound and unwound from the drum as the motor spins the drum about the axis; an electrically-grounded sheave configured to guide the electrically-conductive cable through the housing; and an electrical contact sensor configured to detect contact with the electrically-conductive cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hoist system for cable-reeling operations, comprising:
a housing;
a drum disposed within the housing and configured to spin about an axis;
a motor configured to spin the drum about the axis;
an electrically-conductive cable configured to be wound and unwound from the drum as the motor spins the drum about the axis;
an electrically-grounded sheave configured to guide the electrically-conductive cable through the housing; and
an electrical contact sensor configured to detect contact with the electrically-conductive cable, wherein the electrical contact sensor includes a sensitivity adjuster.

2. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of disposed within the housing and intermediate the drum and the electrically-grounded sheave.

3. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 1 , wherein contact between the electrically-conductive cable and the sensor is configured to cause a real-time response to the hoist system.

4. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 3 , wherein the real-time response comprises generating an alarm signal.

5. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 3 , wherein the real-time response changes a control of the motor.

6. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 5 , wherein the control slows spinning of the motor.

7. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 5 , wherein the control stops spinning of the motor.

8. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 5 , wherein the control reverses spinning of the motor.

9. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive cable is configured to contact the sensor in response to a fouling of the electrically-conductive cable about the drum.

10. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 9 , wherein the fouling is along a direction parallel to the axis.

11. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-grounded sheave includes a grounding brush.

12. The hoist system for cable-reeling operations of claim 1 , wherein the hoist system is configured for use as a rescue hoist for an aircraft.

13. A cable drum assembly, comprising:
a shaft configured to rotate about an axis within a housing;
a drum positioned radially outward from the shaft and configured to rotate about the axis with the shaft;
an electrically-conductive cable configured to be wound and unwound from the drum as the shaft and the drum rotate about the axis;
a hoist system configured to raise and lower the electrically-conductive cable as the shaft and the drum rotate about the axis;
an electrically-grounded sheave configured to guide the electrically-conductive cable as the shaft and the drum rotate about the axis; and
an electrical contact sensor configured to detect contact with the electrically-conductive cable, wherein the sensor includes a sensitivity adjuster.

14. The cable drum assembly of claim 13 , wherein the electrically-conductive cable is configured to contact the sensor in response to a fouling of the electrically-conductive cable about the drum.

15. The cable drum assembly of claim 13 , wherein the electrically-grounded sheave includes a grounding brush.

16. The cable drum assembly of claim 13 , wherein the hoist system is configured for use as a rescue hoist for an aircraft.

17. A method for detecting a fouling of a cable about a drum of a hoist system for cable-reeling operations, comprising:
winding an electrically-conductive cable configured about the drum;
unwinding the electrically-conductive cable configured about the drum;
changing at least one of the winding and unwinding in response to the electrically-conductive cable contacting an electrical contact sensor and causing an electrical change within the sensor; and
adjusting a sensitivity of the sensor.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Maghsoodi Bejan

Classifications

• B66D1/485 Primary

  electrical · CPC title

• B66D1/54

  Safety gear · CPC title

• B66D1/28

  Other constructional details · CPC title

• B65H75/38 Primary

  involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material · CPC title

• B65H75/44

  Constructional details · CPC title