Propulsion system comprising separable propeller and unmanned aerial vehicle comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020164973-A1
Application number	US-201816632647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 25, 2018
Priority date	Aug 3, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to various embodiments of the present disclosure comprises: a housing; a wireless communication circuit connected to the housing or positioned in the housing and configured to connect wireless communication with an external controller; a plurality of propulsion systems connected to the housing or at least partially contained in the housing; and a navigation circuit configured to control the plurality of propulsion systems. At least one of the plurality of propulsion systems comprise a motor controlled by the navigation circuit and a propeller assembly connected to the motor. The propeller assembly may comprise: a first structure which is fixed to the motor, which has a cylindrical wall defining an inner space, and which comprises a helical slit formed through the cylindrical wall; a second structure comprising a cylinder portion, at least a part of which is rotatably positioned in the inner space, and at least one protruding portion that protrudes from the outer surface of the cylinder portion to the outside of the cylindrical wall through the helical slit; and a propeller comprising a cylindrical hub engaging with the cylinder portion of the first structure, a plurality of rotating blades extending from the cylindrical hub, and at least one rib extending from the cylindrical hub toward the motor, the propeller being configured such that at least a part of the rib detachably engages with the first structure by the at least one protruding portion of the second structure. Other embodiments are also possible.

First claim

1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a housing; a wireless communication circuitry positioned at least partially within or coupled to the housing, and configured to establish a wireless communication with an external controller; a plurality of propulsion systems embedded at least partially within or coupled to the housing; and a navigation circuitry configured to control the plurality of propulsion systems, wherein at least one of the plurality of propulsion systems comprises: a motor controlled by the navigation circuitry; and a propeller assembly coupled to the motor, wherein the propeller assembly comprises: a first structure comprising a cylindrical wall secured onto the motor to define an inner space, and a helical slit formed by penetrating through the cylindrical wall; a second structure comprising a cylinder part rotatably positioned at least partially in the inner space, and at least one protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the cylinder part to an outside of the cylindrical wall through the helical slit; and a propeller, wherein the propeller comprises: a cylindrical hub engaging with the cylinder part of the second structure; a plurality of rotor blades extended from the cylindrical hub; and at least one rib extended from the cylindrical hub towards the motor, wherein at least part of the rib detachably engages with the first structure via the at least one protrusion of the second structure.

2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first structure comprises a guide groove formed on an outside of the cylindrical wall and configured to allow the rib of the propeller to engage therewith.

3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the guide groove at least partially overlaps a helical movement path of the protrusion sliding along the helical slit.

4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion slides along the helical slit, and the cylinder part of the second structure is configured to involve a rotation and an upward movement with respect to the first structure.

5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising an elastic member disposed within the inner space and configured to push up the cylinder part from the motor.

6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a fixing member configured to restrict a range of a vertical movement of the second structure with respect to the first structure.

7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is positioned to overlap an upper end of the guide groove at least partially when the cylinder part is at a highest position with respect to the first structure.

8 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the rib further comprises a latch protruding from an end thereof in a radial direction of the cylindrical hub, and
wherein, when the rib engages with the guide groove, the latch is positioned to overlap a lower end of the guide groove at least partially.

9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the latch further comprises a flat portion formed on at least part of an upper portion of the latch and having a predetermined height.

10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the protrusion comprises a first end and a second end which is opposite to the first end along a circumferential direction of the cylinder part,
wherein the first end is positioned to overlap an upper end of the guide groove at least partially when the cylinder part is at a highest position with respect to the first structure, wherein the second end is positioned to overlap a lower end of another guide groove neighboring the guide groove at least partially when the cylinder part is at a lowest position with respect to the first structure.

11 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the protrusion comprises a chamfer formed on an upper portion thereof and facing downward.

12 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 10 , wherein each of the first end and the second end comprises a chamfer formed on an upper portion thereof and facing downward.

13 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first structure further comprises a guide chamfer formed on an outside of the cylindrical wall and inclined toward the guide groove.

14 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6 , wherein, when the propeller engages with the first structure and the cylinder part is at a highest position with respect to the first structure, a height of the cylindrical hub is higher than the cylinder part of the second structure.

15 . A propulsion system comprising:
a motor comprising a motor main body and a motor rotation part; a first structure comprising a cylindrical wall secured onto the motor to define an inner space, and comprising at least one helical slit formed by penetrating through the cylindrical wall, and at least one guide groove configured to allow a propeller to detachably engage therewith; a second structure comprising a cylinder part rotatably positioned at least partially in the inner space, and at least one protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the cylinder part to an outside of the cylindrical wall through the at least one helical slit; and an elastic member disposed within the inner space and configured to push up the cylinder part from the motor rotation part.

16 . The propulsion system of claim 15 , further comprising a propeller which includes:
a cylindrical hub engaging with the cylinder part of the second structure; a plurality of rotor blades extended from the cylindrical hub; and a rib configured to be inserted into the guide groove from the cylindrical hub, wherein the protrusion helically slides along the helical slit to interfere with a movement of the rib and prevents the rib from being separated from the guide groove when the rib is engaged with the guide groove.

17 . The propulsion system of claim 16 , wherein the rib further includes a latch protruding from an end thereof in a radial direction of the cylindrical hub, and the latch is blocked by the protrusion such that the rib is not separated from the guide groove.

18 . The propulsion system of claim 16 , wherein the guide groove overlaps a helical movement path of the protrusion with respect to the first structure at least partially.

19 . The propulsion system of claim 16 , wherein the helical movement of the protrusion involves a rotation and a vertical movement of the cylinder part with respect to the first structure.

20 . The propulsion system of claim 19 , further comprising a fixing member which is fixedly coupled with the motor rotation part by penetrating through the cylinder part and the elastic member, and restricts a range of a vertical movement of the second structure with respect to the first structure.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoon Yeonggyu
• Baek Seung-Chul
• YOO Min-Woo
• Lee Min-Sung

Classifications

• B64C2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C27/32 Primary

  Rotors · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C2201/042

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C2201/108

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic