Gimbal and locking structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11852282-B2
Application number	US-202217651786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2022
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

A gimbal includes an axis structure including a rotating member, a bearing member rotatably connected to the rotating member, and a locking structure. The rotating member includes a rotor of a motor or a member fixedly connected to a rotor. The bearing member includes a stator of the motor or a member fixedly connected to a stator. The locking structure includes a positioning snap member movably provided on one of the rotating member and the bearing member and configured to engage with another one of the rotating member and the bearing member. The axis structure is a yaw-axis structure, a roll-axis structure or a pitch-axis structure. The motor is configured to control a movement about a pitch axis, a movement about a yaw axis, or a movement about a roll axis. A rotational position of the rotating member relative to the bearing member is locked by the locking structure when the rotating member rotates to a preset position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gimbal comprising:
an axis structure including:
a rotating member including a rotor of a motor or a member fixedly connected to a rotor;
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 including a positioning snap member movably provided on one of the rotating member and the bearing member and configured to engage with another one of the rotating member and the bearing member,

wherein the axis structure is a yaw-axis structure, a roll-axis structure or a pitch-axis structure, and the motor is configured to control a movement about a pitch axis, a movement about a yaw axis, or a movement about a roll axis, a rotational position of the rotating member relative to the bearing member being locked by the locking structure when the rotating member rotates to a preset position.

2. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the locking structure further includes:
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 gimbal of claim 2 , wherein:
the positioning snap member is rotatably connected to the one of the rotating member and the bearing member.

4. The gimbal of claim 3 , wherein:
the locking structure further includes a locking switch coupled with the positioning snap member; and
the positioning snap member is configured to be driven by the elastic member to rotate relative to the locking switch to automatically enter a locked state.

5. The gimbal of claim 2 , wherein the locking structure further includes:
a locking switch coupled with the positioning snap member and configured to drive the positioning snap member to move relative to the one of the rotating member and the bearing member.

6. The gimbal of claim 5 , wherein the locking switch is configured to drive the positioning snap member to move to put the positioning snap member in an unlocked state.

7. The gimbal of claim 5 , 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 move 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.

8. The gimbal of claim 5 , wherein one end of the positioning snap member is connected to the elastic member and another end of the positioning snap member includes a snap-fit portion configured to be snapped to the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member to effect an axis locking of the gimbal.

9. The gimbal of claim 8 , wherein the locking switch is configured to be pushed downwards to exert a pressure on the positioning snap member, such that the snap-fit portion of the positioning snap member is disengaged from the other one of the rotating member and the bearing member.

10. The gimbal of claim 5 , wherein the positioning snap member and the locking switch are configured to move relative to each other.

11. The gimbal of claim 5 , wherein:
the locking switch is configured to drive the positioning snap member to rotate about a shaft.

12. The 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.

13. The 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 axis structure in a non-operational state of the gimbal.

14. The gimbal of claim 2 , wherein the elastic member includes an elastic compressing member for providing a pushing force onto the positioning snap member.

15. A handle gimbal comprising:
a handle including a battery compartment; and
a gimbal including an axis structure coupled to the handle and including:
a rotating member including a rotor of a motor or a member fixedly connected to a rotor;
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 including a positioning snap member movably provided on one of the rotating member and the bearing member and configured to engage with another one of the rotating member and the bearing member;

wherein the axis structure is a yaw-axis structure, a roll-axis structure or a pitch-axis structure, and the motor is configured to control a movement about a pitch axis, a movement about a yaw axis, or a movement about a roll axis, a rotational position of the rotating member relative to the bearing member being locked by the locking structure when the rotating member rotates to a preset position.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yan Xin
• Zhao Xifeng
• Sun Rongjian
• Guo Zhuo

Classifications

• F16M11/123 Primary

  the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals · CPC title

• F16M11/04

  Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F16M11/16

  Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof · CPC title

• F16M11/18

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  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 title