Patent ID: 6045292
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A fitting for mounting a winch on a structure of a helicopter, wherein said winch is adapted to be moved between a rest position close to said structure and a working position distant from said structure, said winch being adapted to be attached to one end, distant from said structure, of a mobile jib comprising another end adapted to be articulated on said structure about a geometrically horizontal axis and is provided with two horizontal shaft ends adapted to be respectively mounted in two corresponding bearings of said structure, wherein one of said bearings is arranged to receive one of said horizontal shaft ends in a freely rotating manner and the other bearing is provided with an unlockable device adapted to lock the other horizontal shaft end with respect to rotation, by means of which said horizontal shaft ends and said mobile jib are adapted to occupy two positions, comprising a locked position in which said mobile jib is adapted to be raised and to hold said winch separated from said structure in said working position, and an unlocked position in which said mobile jib is adapted to be lowered and to bring said winch into said rest position close to said structure to allow the maintenance of said helicopter, wherein the unlockable device adapted to lock the other horizontal shaft end comprises an intermediate ring engaged between said other horizontal shaft end and said other bearing, and a plurality of assemblies of mutually cooperating splines, comprising a first assembly comprising, on said other horizontal shaft end, a set of straight external splines and, on said ring, a set of straight internal splines, and a second assembly comprising, on said other bearing, a set of straight internal splines and, on the said ring, a set of straight external splines, and wherein said ring is coupled with means of axial displacement between a plurality of positions comprising:a locked position in which the said set of straight external splines on said other horizontal shaft end and said set of straight internal splines on said ring of said first assembly are meshed with one another, and said set of straight internal splines on said other bearing and said set of straight external splines on said ring of said second assembly are meshed with one another; andan unlocked position in which in at least one of said plurality of assemblies, said set of splines are mutually disengaged.