Foldable propeller blade with locking mechanism
AssigneeAnduril Industries, Inc.
InventorsNicholas Robert Alley, Joshua Lemming Steele, Jesse Owen Williams, Daniel Kuehme
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle with deployable components (UAVDC) may comprise a foldable propeller blade with a locking mechanism. Foldable propeller blades may have a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration relative to the UAVDC, and the foldable propeller blades may pivot about a hinge to move between configurations. In the deployed configuration, the foldable propeller may experience forward folding forces acting upon it. The locking mechanism may lock the foldable propeller blade in the deployed configuration. The locking mechanism may keep the foldable propeller locked into place to prevent forward folding tendency.
Claims11
At least one foldable propeller blade configured to an aerial vehicle in a pusher configuration comprising:
- a hinge that enables forward folding against a fuselage of the aerial vehicle in a volume-limited storage application;
- and
- a locking mechanism designed to prevent forward folding tendency resulting from thrust generated by the at least one foldable propeller blade.
At least one foldable propeller blade configured to an aerial vehicle in a pusher configuration comprising:
- a first arrangement, wherein the at least one foldable propeller blade is configured against a fuselage of the aerial vehicle;
- a second arrangement, wherein the at least one foldable propeller is deployed in the pusher configuration;
- and
- a locking mechanism that enables the at least one foldable propeller blade to:
- transition of at least one foldable propeller blade from the first arrangement to the second arrangement, and
- counteract forward folding tendency resulting from thrust generated by the at least one foldable propeller blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.