Electro-pneumatic cable cutter assembly for aircraft hoist

1 . A cable cutter assembly for a hoist, comprising:

an actuator assembly comprising:

a first housing section;

a solenoid body disposed within the first housing section;

a second housing section adjacent to the first housing section;

an armature with a distal portion disposed partially within the second housing section and a proximal portion disposed partially within a passage segment of the solenoid body, wherein the distal portion of the armature extends between and slidably in contact with the inner radial walls of the second housing section;

a spring disposed within the passage segment between a proximal end of the proximal portion of the armature and the solenoid body;

a fluid passage between the solenoid body and the armature;

at least one pressurized fluid cavity;

a first outlet port disposed within the second housing section;

a coil disposed within the solenoid body and enclosed by the first housing section about an outer diameter of the coil and the solenoid body about an inner diameter of the coil and on both ends of the coil, wherein the armature is movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the first outlet port, wherein the armature engages the first outlet port when in the closed position and is spaced from the first outlet port when in the open position;

a non-magnetic spacer disposed within an end of the solenoid body between a proximal end of the armature and distal end of a corresponding portion of the coil;

a cutter body comprising a cutter body cavity fluidly connected with the first outlet port; and

a cutter disposed within the cutter body cavity;

wherein disposing the armature in the open position fluidly connects the at least one pressurized fluid cavity with the cutter body cavity to move the cutter in a cable cutting direction.

2 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressurized fluid cavity comprises a pressurized fluid, and wherein the pressurized fluid comprises at least one gas.

3 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the armature is moved from the closed position to the open position in response to energizing the coil.

4 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the armature comprises a valve seal that engages the first outlet port when the armature is in the closed position.

5 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring engages with the armature and biases the armature toward the closed position.

6 . A helicopter comprising a hoist assembly and the cable cutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hoist assembly comprises a hook assembly, and wherein the cable cutter assembly is operable to sever the hook assembly from a remainder of the hoist assembly.

7 . A cable cutter assembly for a hoist, comprising:

an actuator assembly comprising:

a first housing section;

a solenoid body disposed within the first housing section and comprising a first pressurized fluid cavity and a first fluid passage extending from the first pressurized fluid cavity;

a second housing section adjacent to the first housing section;

an armature with a distal portion disposed partially within the second housing section and a proximal portion disposed partially within a passage segment of the solenoid body, the distal portion of the armature extending between and slidably in contact with the inner radial walls of the second housing section, the armature comprising a second fluid passage fluidly interconnected with the first fluid passage and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the armature and the solenoid body define an airgap therebetween when the armature is in the first position;

a second pressurized fluid cavity fluidly interconnected with the first fluid passage by the second fluid passage;

a spring disposed within the passage segment between a proximal end of the proximal portion of the armature and the solenoid body;

a coil disposed within the solenoid body and enclosed by the first housing section about an outer diameter of the coil and the solenoid body about an inner diameter of the coil and on both ends of the coil;

a non-magnetic spacer disposed within an end of the solenoid body between a proximal end of the armature and distal end of a corresponding portion of the coil;

a first outlet port disposed within the second housing section, wherein the armature engages the first outlet port when the armature is in the first position;

a cutter body comprising a cutter body cavity; and

a cutter disposed within the cutter body cavity,

wherein activation of the coil moves the armature to the second position, thereby disposing the armature in spaced relation to the first outlet port, fluidly connecting the second pressurized fluid cavity with the cutter body cavity, and moving the cutter in a cable cutting direction.

8 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first pressurized fluid cavity, the second pressurized fluid cavity, the first fluid passage, and the second fluid passage each comprise a pressurized fluid, and wherein the pressurized fluid comprises at least one gas.

9 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the armature is moved from the first position to the second position in response to energizing the coil.

10 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the armature comprises a valve seal that engages the first outlet port when the armature is in the first position.

11 . The cable cutter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the spring engages with the armature and biasing the armature toward the first position.

12 . A helicopter comprising a hoist assembly and the cable cutter assembly claim 7 , wherein the hoist assembly comprises a hook assembly, and wherein the cable cutter assembly is operable to sever the hook assembly from a remainder of the hoist assembly.