Deployable propeller blades for aerial vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
a motor mounted to the frame, wherein the motor comprises a shaft;
a first hub positioned on the shaft and including;
a first blade joined to the first hub;
a second blade joined to the first hub; and
a guide;
wherein the first hub is coupled to the shaft or the motor and rotates with a rotation of the shaft and the motor;
a second hub positioned along the shaft and including;
a third blade joined to the second hub;
a fourth blade joined to the second hub; and
a protrusion extending from the second hub and mating with the guide of the first hub such that a rotation of the second hub with respect to the first hub is limited by the guide and the rotation of the first hub causes a rotation of the second hub; and
a spring positioned to apply a first force to at least one of the first hub or the second hub, wherein;
when the motor is not rotating, the first force causes the second hub to align with the first hub such that the third blade and fourth blade of the second hub are coaxially aligned with the first blade and the second blade; and
when the motor is rotating, a lifting force produced by a rotation of the third blade and the fourth blade causes the second hub to rotate with respect to the first hub such that the third blade and the fourth blade are not coaxially aligned with the first blade and the second blade.
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Abstract
Aerial vehicles may be equipped with propellers having pivotable blades that are configured to rotate when the propellers are not rotating under power. A pivotable blade may rotate about an axis of a propeller with respect to a hub until the pivotable blade is coaligned with a fixed blade. When the propeller is rotating a lifting force from the blade may cause the blade to rotate to a deployed position that is not coaligned with the fixed blade.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a motor mounted to the frame, wherein the motor comprises a shaft; a first hub positioned on the shaft and including; a first blade joined to the first hub; a second blade joined to the first hub; and a guide; wherein the first hub is coupled to the shaft or the motor and rotates with a rotation of the shaft and the motor; a second hub positioned along the shaft and including; a third blade joined to the second hub; a fourth blade joined to the second hub; and a protrusion extending from the second hub and mating with the guide of the first hub such that a rotation of the second hub with respect to the first hub is limited by the guide and the rotation of the first hub causes a rotation of the second hub; and a spring positioned to apply a first force to at least one of the first hub or the second hub, wherein; when the motor is not rotating, the first force causes the second hub to align with the first hub such that the third blade and fourth blade of the second hub are coaxially aligned with the first blade and the second blade; and when the motor is rotating, a lifting force produced by a rotation of the third blade and the fourth blade causes the second hub to rotate with respect to the first hub such that the third blade and the fourth blade are not coaxially aligned with the first blade and the second blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A propeller apparatus, comprising:
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a first hub; a first blade coupled to the first hub; a second hub pivotally coupled to the first hub; a second blade coupled to the second hub; and a spring applying a first force to at least one of the first hub or the second hub; wherein; the second hub is pivotable with respect to the first hub between; a coaligned position in which the first blade and the second blade are coaligned and vertically stacked and the first force is greater than a second force resulting from a rotation of the first hub; and a deployed position in which the first blade and the second blade are not coaligned and the first force is less than the second force. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a first hub operable to engage and be coupled with at least one of a shaft of a motor or the motor; a second hub pivotably coupled to the first hub and operable to pivot with respect to the first hub between a coaligned position and a deployed position in response to a rotation of the first hub; a first blade coupled to the first hub; and a second blade coupled to the second hub; wherein; the second hub rotates when the first hub is rotated; the second blade generates a lifting force when the second hub rotates; the lifting force causes the second hub to rotate into the deployed position; and the first blade is separated from the second blade when the second hub is in the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification