Unmanned aerial vehicle dock and battery replacement device thereof

• US 10,259,332 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lin, Yuan, Wang, Mingxi, Li, Hongju
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M Baye
• Application Number:
  US15/413,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/00 Programme-controlled manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/00 Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/40 Maintaining or repairing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

All unmanned aerial vehicle dock includes a base plate, a battery replacement device for replacing a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a battery compartment mounted on the base plate and configured to receive and charge the battery. The battery replacement device includes a first linear motion mechanism mounted on the base plate, a second linear motion mechanism mounted on the first linear motion mechanism, a third linear motion mechanism mounted on the second linear motion mechanism, and a clamp mechanism mounted on the third linear motion mechanism.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle dock, comprising:

a base plate;

a battery replacement device for replacing a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the battery replacement device comprising a first linear motion mechanism, a second linear motion mechanism, a third linear motion mechanism and a clamp mechanism;

wherein the first linear motion mechanism is mounted on the base plate and comprises a first driving member and a first carrying member, the first driving member being configured to drive the first carrying member to move translationally in a first axis direction;

wherein the second linear motion mechanism is mounted on the first carrying member and comprises a second driving member and a second carrying member, wherein the second driving member is configured to drive the second carrying member to move translationally in a second axis direction;

wherein the third linear motion mechanism is mounted on the second carrying member and comprises a third driving member and a third carrying member, wherein the third driving member drives the third carrying member to move translationally in a third axis direction, and wherein the first axis direction, the second axis direction and the third axis direction build a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and

wherein the clamp mechanism is mounted on the third carrying member and is configured to grip the battery;

a coordinate position of the clamp mechanism in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system being adjusted by the first driving member, the second driving member and the third driving member;

a battery compartment mounted on the base plate, wherein the battery compartment is configured to receive and charge the battery;

wherein the battery replacement device is configured to grip the battery, and to take out or insert the battery from or into the battery compartment.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the first linear motion mechanism further comprises a first guiding member which is disposed in parallel to the first axis direction, the first carrying member being provided with a first fitting member which is fitted with the first guiding member, such that the first carrying member slides along the first guiding member.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 2, wherein the first guiding member is a rail which is disposed in parallel to the first axis direction, and wherein the first fitting member is a sliding block which is fixed on a bottom of the first carrying member and provided with a sliding groove having a shape fitted with the rail;

or

wherein the first guiding member is a guide rod which is disposed in parallel to the first axis direction, and the first fitting portion is a hole provided on the first carrying member, and wherein the guide rod penetrates through the hole and slides inside the hole.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 2, wherein the first driving member is a rotary motor, and wherein the first linear motion mechanism further comprises a first leadscrew and a first screw nut sleeved thereon, a driving shaft of the first driving member being fixedly and coaxially connected with one end of the first leadscrew, and the first screw nut being fixedly connected with the first carrying member;

and

wherein the first driving member is configured to drive the first leadscrew to rotate, the first leadscrew is in a threaded fit with the first screw nut to drive the first screw to move, and the first screw nut is configured to drive the first carrying member to move translationally.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 4, wherein the first linear motion mechanism further comprises one leadscrew seat and two motor brackets;

wherein a bearing is provided at the leadscrew seat, wherein an end of the first leadscrew, which is distal from the first driving member, is disposed in the bearing of the leadscrew seat;

wherein the two motor brackets are fixed on a base plate and disposed opposite to and spaced from each other, a mounting tab is provided at each of two opposite ends of the first driving member, and the two mounting tabs are fixedly connected with the two motor brackets respectively to fix the first driving member on the base plate; and

wherein the first screw nut is fixed on the first carrying member.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 4, wherein two first guiding members are provided, the two first guiding members being located at two sides of the first leadscrew respectively and disposed in parallel to the first leadscrew.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 2, wherein the first driving member is an air cylinder having a link, the link being fixedly connected with the first carrying member to drive the first carrying member to move.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the first driving member is a linear motor, a primary of the linear motor being fixedly connected with the first carrying member to drive the first carrying member to move synchronously;

or

wherein the first driving member is an air cylinder having no link, a piston of the air cylinder being fixedly connected with the first carrying member to drive the first carrying member to move.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the first carrying member is a plate which is provided with a hollow portion.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the first linear motion mechanism further comprises a first limit switch which is disposed along the first axis direction for sensing a moving position of the first carrying member.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 10, wherein the first limit switch is a photoelectric limit switch, a reed switch limit switch or an inductive limit switch.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the second linear motion mechanism further comprises a second guiding member which is disposed in parallel to the second axis direction, and wherein the second carrying member is provided with a second fitting member which is fitted with the second guiding member, such that the second carrying member slides along the second guiding member.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the third linear motion mechanism further comprises a third guiding member which is disposed in parallel to the third axis direction, and wherein the third carrying member is provided with a third fitting member which is fitted with the third guiding member, such that the third carrying member slides along the third guiding member.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the clamp mechanism is a vacuum suction cup clamp mechanism, a magnet clamp mechanism or a mechanical gripper clamp mechanism.

15. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 1, wherein the battery compartment comprises a plurality of battery receiving cavities which are arranged in a matrix, and wherein each of the plurality of battery receiving cavities has an opening which is disposed at a side facing the battery replacement device.

16. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 15, wherein each of the battery receiving cavities is provided with a charging apparatus for charging the battery, the charging apparatus can charge the battery when the battery is placed into the battery receiving cavity.

17. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 16, wherein the charging apparatus is a non-contact charging apparatus which comprises one of an electromagnetic inductive circuit, a magnetic resonance inductive circuit and a microwave inductive circuit.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 16, wherein the charging apparatus is a contact charging apparatus which comprises a charging contactor, the charging contactor is provided on an inner wall of the opening of each battery receiving cavity, and wherein the battery is provided with a corresponding charging electrode in electrical contact with the charging contactor.

19. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 15, wherein a fastener structure is provided on the inner wall of the opening of each battery receiving cavity, the fastener structure fastens the battery to secure the battery within the battery receiving cavity.

20. The unmanned aerial vehicle dock according to claim 19, wherein the fastener structure is an elastic clip, an electric lock or an electromagnetic lock.