Hoist drive train torque sensor
A drive train for a rescue hoist includes a mounting portion for mounting the drive train within the rescue hoist. A load pin extends through the mounting portion and into a static structure of the rescue hoist to secure the drive train to the rescue hoist. The load pin is configured to sense the strain generated when the drive train imparts torque to the cable drum to rotate the cable drum. The sensed strain is communicated to a computer configured to calculate a torque generated by the drive train based on the sensed strain and further configured to calculate the load on the cable based on the sensed strain.
1. A torque sensing system comprising:
a drive train having a housing with a first end and a second end, the drive train configured to drive rotation of a cable drum;
a mounting portion extending radially from the second end;
an opening extending through the mounting portion;
a load pin extending through the opening and into a static structure of a rescue hoist; and
a torque computer communicatively connected to the load pin, the torque computer configured to receive a sensed strain from the load pin and to determine a calculated torque exerted by the drive train on the cable drum.
2. The torque sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the load pin is a single shear load pin.
3. The torque sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the load pin is a double shear load pin.
4. The torque sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the torque computer includes a memory, and the torque computer is further configured to store the calculated torque in the memory.
5. The torque sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the torque computer is further configured to determine a load on a cable extending from the cable drum based on the sensed strain from the load pin.
6. A drive train comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of gear slots extending through the housing between the first end and the second end;
a plurality of output gears, wherein each one of the plurality of output gears is disposed in a gear slot of the plurality of gear slots;
a mounting portion extending radially from the second end;
an opening extending through the mounting portion; and
a load pin extending through the opening and into a static structure of a rescue hoist and configured to generate a sensed strain.
7. The drive train of claim 6 , wherein the load pin is a single shear load pin.
8. The drive train of claim 6 , further comprising:
a backing plate disposed adjacent the mounting portion;
wherein the load pin extends through the backing plate and the opening and into the static structure.
9. The drive train of claim 8 , wherein the load pin is a double shear load pin.
10. The drive train of claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of tabs extending radially from the second end.
11. The drive train of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tabs include a first tab and a second tab, the first tab offset 180-degrees from the second tab.
12. The drive train of claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a flange extending radially from the second end.
13. The drive train of claim 12 , wherein the opening is a plurality of openings spaced equidistantly about the flange.
14. The drive train of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of output gears are supported by the housing such that the output gears are prevented from rotating about an axis of the housing extending between the first end and the second end.
15. A hoist system comprising:
a cable drum rotatable about a cable drum axis;
a stationary frame supporting the cable drum;
a motor;
a drive train disposed on the cable drum axis and configured to provide rotational power to the cable drum from the motor, the drive train comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of gear slots extending through the housing between the first end and the second end;
a plurality of output gears configured to provide rotational power to the cable drum, wherein each one of the plurality of outlet gears is disposed in a gear slot of the plurality of gear slots;
a mounting portion extending radially from the second end and disposed adjacent the stationary frame; and
an opening extending through the mounting portion; and
a load pin extending through the opening and into the stationary frame, the load pin configured to generate a first sensed strain in a first shear plane disposed between the mounting portion and the stationary frame.
16. The hoist system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a backer plate disposed adjacent a side of the mounting portion opposite the stationary frame;
wherein the load pin extends through the backer plate and the opening and into the stationary frame.
17. The hoist system of claim 16 , wherein the load pin is a double shear load pin further configured to generate a second sensed strain in a second shear plane disposed between the backer plate and the mounting portion.
18. The hoist system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a torque computer communicatively connected to the load pin, the torque computer configured to receive a sensed strain from the load pin and to determine a calculated torque exerted by the drive train on the cable drum.
19. The hoist system of claim 15 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of tabs extending radially outward from the second end.
20. The hoist system of claim 15 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a flange extending radially outward from the second end.