Patent ID: 9016665
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: B64D,B66C,B66D,G01L,G06F,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A health and usage monitoring system for an aircraft hoist system, comprising: a capacitive load cell comprising a load receiving surface and a capacitive assembly coupled to the load receiving surface, the capacitive assembly comprising parallel electrically conductive plates separated by a reversibly deformable spacer construction, wherein the parallel plates comprise aligned apertures providing a passageway through the capacitive load cell for a hoist system cable; and a processing unit for communication with the capacitive load cell, wherein the reversibly deformable spacer construction has an elastic modulus rendering a change in spacing of the parallel electrically conductive plates under an applied load in a first load range resulting in a measurable change in capacitance of the capacitive assembly, wherein the load cell is positioned between a striker plate and a hook bumper of an interface assembly for the aircraft hoist system.