Gimbal and locking structure

• US 10,753,532 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2019
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2015
• 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: Yan, Xin, Zhao, Xifeng, Sun, Rongjian, Guo, Zhuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling, Amy J.
• Application Number:
  US16/525,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20190353299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A gimbal includes a yaw-axis structure, a roll-axis structure connected to the yaw-axis structure and configured to be rotated by the yaw-axis structure, and a pitch-axis structure connected to the roll-axis structure and configured to be rotated by the roll-axis structure. The yaw-axis structure includes a locking structure, a rotating member including a rotor of a motor or a member fixedly connected to the rotor, and a bearing member rotatably connected to the rotating member and including a stator of the motor or a member fixedly connected to the stator. The pitch-axis structure is configured to support a load and drive the load to rotate. The yaw-axis structure is configured to be locked by the locking structure when the yaw-axis structure rotates to a preset position in a non-operational state of the gimbal.

Claims

1. A handle gimbal comprising:

a handle; and

a gimbal coupled to the handle and including;

a yaw-axis structure coupled to the handle including;

a rotating member including a rotor of a motor or a member fixedly connected to a rotor; and

a bearing member rotatably connected to the rotating member and including a stator of the motor or a member fixedly connected to a stator; and

a locking structure provided at one of the rotating member and the bearing member, and is configured to engage with another one of the rotating member and the bearing member to lock a rotational position of the rotating member relative to the bearing member, to limit a rotation of the gimbal about a yaw axis in a non-operational state.

2. The handle gimbal of claim 1, wherein the locking structure includes:

a positioning snap member movably provided on the one of the rotating member and the bearing member, and configured to engage with the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member;

a locking switch coupled with the positioning snap member and configured to drive the positioning snap member to move to put the positioning snap member in a locked state or an unlocked state; and

an elastic member configured to provide an elastic restoring force to the positioning snap member, to automatically restore a position of the positioning snap member.

3. The handle gimbal of claim 2, further comprising:

a limiting member configured to cooperate with the positioning snap member to limit the positioning snap member when the positioning snap member slides to a locked position or a released position.

4. The handle gimbal of claim 2, wherein the locking switch is slidably connected to the one of the rotating member and the bearing member, and is configured to drive the positioning snap member to slide relative to the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member, such that the positioning snap member is engaged with or disengaged from the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member.

5. The handle gimbal of claim 4, wherein:

the positioning snap member is slidably connected to the locking switch; and

the positioning snap member is configured to be driven by the elastic member to slide relative to the locking switch to automatically enter the locked state.

6. The handle gimbal of claim 4, further comprising:

a cover fixed at the one of the rotating member and the bearing member;

wherein the locking switch and the positioning snap member are slidably provided at the cover.

7. The handle gimbal of claim 4, further comprising:

a switch cap coupled to the locking switch and is at least partially exposed to an outside of the locking switch and the one of the rotating member and the bearing member.

8. The handle gimbal of claim 2, wherein the positioning snap member is configured to engage with the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member under an elastic force of the elastic member in response to the bearing member rotating relative to the rotating member to the preset position.

9. The handle gimbal of claim 2, wherein the positioning snap member and the locking switch are configured to move relative to each other.

10. The handle gimbal of claim 2, wherein the elastic member is configured to, at the preset position, push out the positioning snap member, such that the positioning snap member engages with the rotating member or the bearing member, realizing locking of the yaw-axis structure in the non-operational state of the gimbal.