Systems and methods for foldable arms

• US 10,472,063 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2019
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Wu, Xumin, Wu, Xiaolong, Lee, Sungki, Ao, Jiyuan, Feng, Zhuang
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kreiner, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US16/260,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20190152599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/30 Parts of fuselage relatively movable to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/291 Detachable rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body, a plurality of arms extending out from the central body, and a plurality of propulsion units. Each of the plurality of arms includes a stem portion, one or more branch portions, and a joint connecting the stem portion with the one or more branch portions. The joint includes a sleeve configured to lock a position of one of the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion. Each of the propulsion units is attached to one of the one or more branch portions of one of the plurality of arms.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a central body;

a plurality of arms extending out from the central body, each of the plurality of arms including;

a stem portion;

one or more branch portions; and

a joint connecting the stem portion with the one or more branch portions, the joint including a sleeve configured to lock a position of one of the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion and wherein the joint is configured to permit the one or more branch portions to pivot with respect to the stem portion; and

a plurality of propulsion units each attached to one of the one or more branch portions of one of the plurality of arms.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a cylindrical cap surrounding at least one of an extension of the joint or the one of the one or more branch portions.

3. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is coaxial with at least one of an extension of the joint or the one of the one or more branch portions.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is configured to slide along at least one of a longitudinal axis of an extension of the joint or a longitudinal axis of the one of the one or more branch portions.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sleeve covers at least one of a portion of an end of the one of the one or more branch portions or a portion of an end of the joint.

6. The UAV of claim 1, wherein:

the sleeve includes a first mating feature; and

the joint further includes a second mating feature arranged at an extension of the joint and configured to mate with the first mating feature.

7. The UAV of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first mating feature or the second mating feature includes a threaded interface.

8. The UAV of claim 6, wherein:

one of the first mating feature and the second mating feature includes a guide; and

another one of the first mating feature and the second mating feature includes a protrusion.

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sleeve isolates at least one of an inner portion of the joint, an interface between the joint and the one of the one or more branch portions, or a channel formed in an interior of the one of the one or more branch portions and/or the joint from an ambient environment.

10. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the joint is configured to permit the one or more branch portions to move horizontally relative to the stem portion between an extended state and a compacted state.

11. An arm configured to support a propulsion unit of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a stem portion;

one or more branch portions connected to the propulsion unit; and

a joint connecting the stem portion with the one or more branch portions, the joint including a sleeve configured to lock a position of one of the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion, and wherein the joint is configured to permit the one or more branch portions to pivot with respect to the stem portion.

12. The arm of claim 11, wherein the sleeve includes a cylindrical cap surrounding at least one of an extension of the joint or the one of the one or more branch portions.

13. The arm of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is coaxial with at least one of an extension of the joint or the one of the one or more branch portions.

14. The arm of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is configured to slide along at least one of a longitudinal axis of an extension of the joint or a longitudinal axis of the one of the one or more branch portions.

15. The arm of claim 11, wherein the sleeve covers at least one of a portion of an end of the one of the one or more branch portions or a portion of an end of the joint.

16. The arm of claim 11, wherein:

the sleeve includes a first mating feature; and

the joint further includes a second mating feature arranged at an extension of the joint and configured to mate with the first mating feature.

17. The arm of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first mating feature or the second mating feature includes a threaded interface.

18. The arm of claim 16, wherein:

one of the first mating feature and the second mating feature includes a guide; and

another one of the first mating feature and the second mating feature includes a protrusion.

19. The arm of claim 11, wherein the sleeve isolates at least one of an inner portion of the joint, an interface between the joint and the one of the one or more branch portions, or a channel formed in an interior of the one of the one or more branch portions and/or the joint from an ambient environment.

20. The arm of claim 11, wherein the joint is configured to permit the one or more branch portions to move horizontally relative to the stem portion between an extended state and a compacted state.