US 2017/0166304 A1Published application

Propeller alignment devices

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJack Erdozain, JR., Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III, Joshua White Traube

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Abstract

A propeller alignment device is described. The propeller alignment device can include a second retainer attached to a propeller and a motor. The propeller alignment device can also include a first retainer that does not rotate, but that is aligned with the second retainer. The first retainer can include two or more magnets oppositely orientated relative to each other. The second retainer can also include two or more magnets oppositely orientated relative to each other. As the second retainer rotates relative to the first retainer, the magnets may alternatingly align with each other. In the absence of a current applied to the motor, the magnets may magnetically bias the second retainer into a predetermined orientation relative to the first retainer. The predetermined orientation can be predetermined to correspond to an alignment of the propeller that is desirable (e.g., that minimizes aerodynamic drag on the propeller).

Claims20

Dependent claims

An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a frame;
a motor connected to the frame and comprising a shaft;
a propeller connected to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft by the motor causes the propeller to rotate;
a mounting housing connected to the frame;
and
an alignment structure to align the propeller relative to the mounting housing, the alignment structure comprising:
a stationary ring secured to the mounting housing, the stationary ring comprising:
a top surface;
a first magnet disposed within a first area of the stationary ring and orientated with a first north pole extending towards the top surface;
and
a second magnet disposed within a second area of the stationary ring and oriented with a first south pole extending towards the top surface;
and
a rotating ring aligned with the stationary ring and configured to rotate relative to the stationary ring as the propeller is rotated by the motor, the rotating ring comprising:
a mounting location configured to mate with the propeller;
a rotational axis extending through the rotating ring;
a bottom surface;
a third magnet disposed within a first area of the rotating ring and oriented with a second north pole extending towards the bottom surface;
and
a fourth magnet disposed within a second area of the rotating ring and orientated with a second south pole extending towards the bottom surface,
wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are positioned on the stationary ring and the third magnet and the fourth magnet are positioned on the rotating ring such that the first magnet and the second magnet alternatingly align with the third magnet and the fourth magnet as the rotating ring rotates relative to the stationary ring, and wherein the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet produce a force that causes the rotating ring to rotate about the rotational axis to a predetermined orientation, the first magnet being disposed below the fourth magnet and the second magnet being disposed below the third magnet when the rotating ring is in the predetermined orientation.

17 more elements

An alignment device, comprising:

a motor comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator about a rotation axis in response to a current applied to the motor;
a first retainer coupled to the stator, the first retainer comprising a plurality of stator magnets;
a first set of stator magnets of the plurality of stator magnets having north poles oriented in a first direction;
a second retainer spaced apart from the first retainer along the rotation axis and coupled to the rotor, the second retainer comprising a plurality of rotor magnets;
and
a first set of rotor magnets of the plurality of rotor magnets having north poles oriented in a second direction that is opposite the first direction,
wherein, in the absence of the current applied to the motor, the first set of stator magnets and the first set of rotor magnets magnetically bias the rotor into a predetermined orientation about the rotation axis with respect to the stator.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/967,070Filed 11 Dec 2015
Published: 15 Jun 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B64C 27/58
Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement: transmitting means, e.g. interrelated with…
B64C 11/02
Propellers, e.g. of ducted type; Features common to propellers and rotors for rotorcraft: hub construction
B64C 27/12
Helicopters: rotor drives
B64U 30/29
Rotors; Rotor supports: constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof