Hoist translating drum with bar spline bearing

1. A hoist, comprising:

a torque tube defining a longitudinal axis and having a radially outer surface and an axial length;

a cable drum having a radially inner surface; and

a bar spline disposed radially outward of the torque tube and radially inward of the cable drum and configured to transfer a torque from the torque tube to the cable drum,

wherein the bar spline includes a mount attached to the radially outer surface of the torque tube and extending along the axial length of the torque tube,

wherein the bar spline includes a race surface disposed at the radially inner surface of the cable drum and

wherein the bar spline includes a rod extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rod having a circular cross section and disposed within the mount.

2. The hoist of claim 1 , wherein the bar spline is a first bar spline from among a plurality of bar splines spaced about the radially outer surface of the torque tube and the race surface is a first race surface from among a plurality of race surfaces spaced about the radially inner surface of the cable drum.

3. The hoist of claim 1 , further comprising a level wind mechanism configured to translate the cable drum back and forth with respect to the longitudinal axis, the level wind mechanism including a first screw and a second screw.

4. The hoist of claim 3 , wherein the first screw and the second screw are secured to the radially outer surface of the torque tube.

5. The hoist of claim 4 , further comprising a follower threadedly engaged with the first screw and the second screw and coupled to the radially inner surface of the cable drum.

6. A method of hoisting a cable, comprising:

engaging a radially outer surface of a torque tube with a radially inner surface of a cable drum using a bar spline disposed radially outward of the torque tube and radially inward of the cable drum; and

transferring a torque from the torque tube to the cable drum via the bar spline to wind or unwind the cable disposed about the cable drum,

wherein the bar spline includes a mount attached to the radially outer surface of the torque tube and extending along an axial length of the torque tube,

wherein the bar spline includes a race surface disposed at the radially inner surface of the cable drum and

wherein the bar spline includes a rod extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rod having a circular cross section and disposed within the mount.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising translating the cable drum back and forth with respect to a longitudinal axis via a level wind mechanism having a first screw and a second screw secured to the radially outer surface of the torque tube.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a follower is threadedly engaged with the first screw and the second screw and coupled to the radially inner surface of the cable drum.

9. A rescue hoist, comprising:

a torque tube defining a longitudinal axis and having a radially outer surface;

a cable drum having a radially inner surface;

a bar spline disposed radially outward of the torque tube and radially inward of the cable drum and configured to transfer a torque from the torque tube to the cable drum; and

a level wind mechanism configured to translate the cable drum back and forth with respect to the longitudinal axis,

wherein the bar spline includes a mount attached to the radially outer surface of the torque tube and extending along an axial length of the torque tube,

wherein the bar spline includes a race surface disposed at the radially inner surface of the cable drum and

wherein the bar spline includes a rod extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rod having a circular cross section and disposed within the mount.