Unmanned Aerial Vehicle With Lighting and Cooling Therefor

• US 20160152345A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WET Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WET Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Molnar, Dezso, Canavan, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,669,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/04 the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that includes a light and a cooling system is described. The light fitted to the UAV may be bright since heat it generates will be cooled by thermal conduction, convection and/or heat absorption. The light may be cooled by the airflow generated by the propellers. The cooling system of the lighted UAV may include radiator that may conduct heat to the environment and/or include an internal liquid cooling system. The cooling system may include dedicated fans to cool the lights.

Claims

1. A lighted unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a UAV that includes one or more propellers having propeller blades that generate airflow when they spin; and

at least one light that is attached to the UAV, that generates heat and that is cooled by the airflow.

2. The lighted UAV of claim 1, wherein the at least one light is an LED or a laser.

3. The lighted UAV of claim 1, wherein the UAV includes four propellers.

4. The lighted UAV of claim 3, wherein each propeller generates airflow that cools the at least one light.

5. The lighted UAV of claim 1, wherein the at least one light is positioned below an outer portion of the propeller blades.

6. The lighted UAV of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive plate that is attached to the UAV, that positions the at least one light at a location below an outer portion of the propeller blades and that conducts heat generated by the at least one light to the environment.

7. The lighted UAV of claim 6, including three lights that are positioned at locations below the outer portion of the propeller blades.

8. The lighted UAV of claim 6, wherein the thermally conductive plate includes at least one cooling fin.

9. The lighted UAV of claim 6, wherein the thermally conductive plate is a dark color to absorb heat.

11. The lighted UAV of claim 1, further comprising a radiator that is thermally coupled to the at least one light and that thermally conducts heat generated by the at least one light to the environment.

12. The lighted UAV of claim 1, further comprising a liquid cooling system that transfers heat away from the at least one light.

13. The lighted UAV of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated fan that is positioned in proximity to the at least one light.