Helicopter electric connecting unit, and helicopter equipped with such a connecting unit

1. An electric connecting unit ( 2 ) in a helicopter ( 1 ), comprising a stator ( 15 ) connected rigidly to a fixed part ( 11 ) of said helicopter ( 1 ) and having first electric contact means ( 16 ); and a movable member ( 17 ) rotated about a respective axis (A) by a rotary member ( 12 ) of said helicopter ( 1 ), and having second electric contact means ( 18 ) cooperating in sliding manner with said first electric contact means ( 16 ); characterized in that said movable member ( 17 ) comprises rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) for connection to said rotary member ( 12 ) of said helicopter ( 1 ).

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said stator ( 15 ) and said movable member ( 17 ) are mounted coaxially with each other; and in that said movable member ( 17 ) is interposed radially between said stator ( 15 ) and said rotary member ( 12 ).

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that said rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) comprise two bushes ( 23 ) wedged tightly between said rotary member ( 12 ) and respective opposite end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ).

4. A unit as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that said rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) comprise a number of bolts ( 25 ) for gripping said bushes ( 23 ) to the respective said end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ).

5. A unit as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that said end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ) are bounded towards said rotary member ( 12 ) by conical first surfaces ( 22 ) tapering towards each other; and in that said bushes ( 23 ) are bounded towards said movable member ( 17 ) by conical second surfaces ( 24 ) of the same shape as said first surfaces ( 22 ) and cooperating with the first surfaces ( 22 ).

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said rigid fastening means comprises a mechanical fastening system interposed between said moveable member ( 17 ) and said rotary member ( 12 ).

7. A unit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said mechanical fastening system comprises at least one bushing ( 23 ) interposed between said movable member and said rotary member ( 12 ).

8. A unit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said mechanical fastening system comprises an interlocking member ( 25 ) interlocking said movable member ( 17 ) and said second electric contact means ( 18 ).

9. A unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said rigid fastening means comprises a pair of angled bushes ( 23 ) interposed between said movable member and said rotary member ( 12 ).

10. A unit as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising wherein said movable member comprises angled surfaces engaging said angled bushes ( 23 ) interposed between said movable member and said rotary member ( 12 ).

11. A helicopter comprising a fixed part ( 11 ), at least one rotary member ( 12 ) rotating with respect to said fixed part ( 11 ), and an electric connecting unit ( 2 ) for connecting said rotary member ( 12 ) and said fixed part ( 11 ) electrically; said electric connecting unit ( 2 ) comprising a stator ( 15 ) connected rigidly to said fixed part ( 11 ) of the helicopter ( 1 ) and having first electric contact means ( 16 ); and a movable member ( 17 ) rotated about a respective axis (A) by said rotary member ( 12 ) and having second electric contact means ( 18 ) cooperating in sliding manner with said first electric contact means ( 16 ); characterized in that said movable member ( 17 ) comprises rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) for connection to said rotary member ( 12 ).

12. A helicopter as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said stator ( 15 ) and said movable member ( 17 ) are mounted coaxially with each other; and in that said movable member ( 17 ) is interposed radially between said stator ( 15 ) and said rotary member ( 12 ).

13. A helicopter as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that said rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) comprise two bushes ( 23 ) wedged tightly between said rotary member ( 12 ) and respective opposite end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ).

14. A helicopter as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that said rigid fastening means ( 23 , 25 , 27 ) comprise a number of bolts ( 25 ) for gripping said bushes ( 23 ) to the respective said end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ).

15. A helicopter as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that said end portions ( 21 ) of said movable member ( 17 ) are bounded towards said rotary member ( 12 ) by conical first surfaces ( 22 ) tapering towards each other; and in that said bushes ( 23 ) are bounded towards said movable member ( 17 ) by conical second surfaces ( 24 ) of the same shape as said first surfaces ( 22 ) and cooperating with the first surfaces ( 22 ).

16. A helicopter as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said stator ( 15 ) is fixed rigidly to an outer casing ( 11 ) of a power transmission unit ( 8 ) interposed between a drive unit ( 6 ) and a rotor ( 5 ) of the helicopter ( 1 ); and in that said rotary member is a shaft ( 12 ) of said transmission unit ( 8 ).

17. A helicopter as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said first electric contact means comprise a number of radial contact blades ( 16 ); and in that said second electric contact means comprise a number of annular conducting tracks ( 18 ) cooperating in sliding manner with respective said contact blades ( 16 ).

18. A helicopter as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said rigid fastening means comprises a mechanical fastening system interposed between said movable member ( 17 ) and said rotary member ( 12 ).

19. A helicopter as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said mechanical fastening system comprises at least one bushing ( 23 ) interposed between said movable member and said rotary member ( 12 ).

20. A helicopter as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said rigid fastening means comprises a pair of angled bushes ( 23 ) interposed between said movable member and said rotary member ( 12 ).