UAV having shroud cooling openings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503239-B2
Application number	US-202217730257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2022
Priority date	Apr 27, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A UAV including a shroud with cooling openings to cool electronics in the UAV. The shroud includes propeller openings surrounding respective propellers. The propeller openings include intake openings that draw air from outside the shroud into the shroud to cool UAV components. The propeller openings are formed at an interface between an upper portion of the shroud and a lower portion of the shroud. The UAV includes a selector, such as a dial, including exit openings under the selector that provide air outflow from the shroud.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a shroud having a shroud wall encompassing a cavity; electronics including a processor configured to control the UAV disposed within the cavity and encompassed by the shroud wall; a propeller opening formed by the shroud wall and extending through the shroud; a propeller coupled to the shroud and positioned within the propeller opening; an air intake vent disposed through the shroud wall in the propeller opening and communicating with the cavity, the propeller configured to force air through the air intake vent from the propeller opening into the shroud cavity and direct the forced air across the electronics; a selector coupled to the processor, wherein the selector is coupled to an exterior surface of the shroud; and an air outflow vent configured to direct air from within the shroud cavity out through the shroud wall, wherein the air outflow vent is disposed adjacent the selector.

2 . The UAV as specified in claim 1 , wherein the air outflow vent encompasses the selector.

3 . The UAV as specified in claim 1 , wherein rotation of the propeller is configured to generate pressurized air that flows from the propeller opening and through the shroud wall into the shroud cavity through the air intake vent, adjacent the electronics, and from the shroud cavity through the air outflow vent.

4 . The UAV as specified in claim 1 , wherein the UAV further comprises a battery having a battery surface, wherein the battery is configured to be inserted into the cavity such that the battery surface is flush with the shroud wall.

5 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a shroud having a shroud wall encompassing a cavity; electronics including a processor configured to control the UAV disposed within the cavity and encompassed by the shroud wall; a propeller opening formed by the shroud wall and extending through the shroud; a propeller coupled to the shroud and positioned within the propeller opening; an air intake vent disposed through the shroud wall in the propeller opening and communicating with the cavity, the propeller configured to force air through the air intake vent from the propeller opening into the shroud cavity and direct the forced air across the electronics; the shroud comprising an air outflow vent configured to direct air from within the shroud cavity out through the shroud wall, wherein the shroud wall has an upper portion and a lower portion coupled together at an interface, wherein the interface forms the air intake vent, wherein the air intake vent comprises a plurality of openings extending through the shroud wall, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each have recesses that together form the plurality of openings.

6 . The UAV as specified in claim 5 , further comprising a selector coupled to the shroud, and wherein the air outflow vent comprises the plurality of openings disposed about the selector.

7 . A method of using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising a shroud having a shroud wall encompassing a cavity, electronics including a processor configured to control the UAV disposed within the cavity and encompassed by the shroud wall, a selector coupled to the processor, wherein the selector is coupled to an exterior surface of the shroud, a propeller opening formed by the shroud wall and extending through the shroud, a propeller coupled to the shroud and positioned within the propeller opening, and an air intake vent in the propeller opening and communicating with the cavity, the propeller configured to force air through the air intake vent from the propeller opening into the shroud cavity and direct the forced air across the electronics, the shroud comprising an air outflow vent configured to direct air from within the shroud cavity out through the shroud wall, wherein the air outflow vent is disposed adjacent the selector, comprising:
forcing air from outside the shroud into the shroud cavity via the air intake vent; flowing the forced air about the electronics; and directing air from within the shroud cavity out through the air outflow vent.

8 . The method as specified in claim 7 , wherein the air outflow vent encompasses the selector.

9 . The method as specified in claim 7 , wherein the UAV further comprises a battery having a battery surface, wherein the battery is configured to be inserted into the cavity such that the battery surface is flush with the shroud wall.

10 . A method of using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a shroud having a shroud wall encompassing a cavity, electronics including a processor configured to control the UAV disposed within the cavity and encompassed by the shroud wall, a propeller opening formed by the shroud wall and extending through the shroud, a propeller coupled to the shroud and positioned within the propeller opening, and an air intake vent in the propeller opening and communicating with the cavity, the propeller configured to force air through the air intake vent from the propeller opening into the shroud cavity and direct the forced air across the electronics, wherein the shroud wall has an upper portion and a lower portion coupled together at an interface, wherein the interface forms the air intake vent comprising a plurality of openings extending through the shroud wall, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each have recesses that together form the plurality of openings, the method comprising:
forcing air from outside the shroud into the shroud cavity via the air intake vent; and flowing the forced air about the electronics.

11 . The method as specified in claim 10 , further comprising a selector coupled to the shroud, and an air outflow vent disposed about the selector.

12 . The method as specified in claim 11 , wherein rotation of the propeller generates pressurized air that flows from the propeller opening and through the shroud wall into the cavity through the air intake vent, adjacent the electronics, and from the shroud cavity through the air outflow vent.

Assignees

• Fliszar David G
• Hintermann Mathias
• Patton Russell Douglas
• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Fliszar David G
• Hintermann Mathias
• Patton Russell Douglas

Classifications

• B64U50/19

  using electrically powered motors · CPC title

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title

• B64D13/02

  the air being pressurised · CPC title

• B64D41/00

  Power installations for auxiliary purposes · CPC title