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US 9,284,040 B2Granted
Self-tightening rotor
AssigneeSz Dji Technology Co., Ltd.
InventorsTao Wang, Tao Zhao, Zhi Gang Ou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for propelling self-propelled movable objects are provided. In one aspect, a rotor assembly for a self-propelled movable object comprises: a hub comprising a first fastening feature; a drive shaft comprising a second fastening feature and directly coupled to the hub by a mating connection of the first and second fastening features, wherein the drive shaft is configured to cause rotation of the hub such that the mating connection of the first and second fastening features is tightened by the rotation; and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the hub and configured to rotate therewith to generate a propulsive force.
Claims22
A multi-rotor self-propelled movable object, the movable object comprising:
- (a) a first rotor assembly comprising:
- a first hub coupled to a first plurality of blades;
- a first adapter coupled to the first hub and comprising a first fastening feature;
- and
- a first drive shaft comprising a second fastening feature and coupled to the first hub through the first adapter by a mating connection of the first and second fastening features, wherein the first drive shaft is configured to cause rotation of the first hub in a first direction, and the mating connection of the first and second fastening features is able to be tightened by the rotation of the first drive shaft in only the first direction,
- wherein the first plurality of blades coupled to the first hub are configured to rotate therewith in the first direction to generate a first propulsive force;
- and
- (b) a second rotor assembly comprising:
- a second hub coupled to a second plurality of blades;
- a second adapter coupled to the second hub and comprising a third fastening feature;
- a second drive shaft comprising a fourth fastening feature and coupled to the second hub through the second adapter by a mating connection of the third and fourth fastening features, wherein the second drive shaft is configured to cause rotation of the second hub in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and the mating connection of the third and fourth fastening features is able to be tightened by the rotation of the second drive shaft in only the second direction,
- wherein the second plurality of blades coupled to the second hub are configured to rotate therewith in the second direction to generate a second propulsive force,
- wherein (1) the first fastening feature of the first adapter is threaded in a right-handed direction and the third fastening feature of the second adapter is threaded in a left-handed direction, or (2) the first fastening feature of the first adapter is threaded in a left-handed direction and the third fastening feature of the second adapter is threaded in a right-handed direction,
- wherein the second fastening feature is threaded to mate with the first fastening feature of the first adapter, and the fourth fastening feature is threaded to mate with the third fastening feature,
- wherein the first propulsive force (1) includes a lift component that provides lift to the movable object, and (2) is imparted via contact between the first hub, the first adapter and the first drive shaft;
- and wherein the second propulsive force (1) includes a lift component that provides lift to the movable object, and (2) is imparted via contact between the second hub, the second adapter and the second drive shaft, and
- wherein the rotation of the first hub in the first direction imparts a rotational force component that is transmitted from the first drive shaft to the first hub via contact between the first fastening feature and the second fastening feature, and wherein the rotation of the second hub in the second direction imparts a rotational force component that is transmitted from the second drive shaft to the second hub via contact between the third fastening feature and the fourth fastening feature.
14 more elements
A multi-rotor self-propelled movable object, the movable object comprising:
- (a) a first rotor assembly comprising:
- a first hub coupled to a first plurality of blades and comprising a first fastening feature;
- a first adapter coupled to the first hub and comprising a second fastening feature;
- and
- a first drive shaft coupled to the first hub through the first adapter by a mating connection of the first and second fastening features, wherein the first drive shaft is configured to cause rotation of the first hub in a first direction, and the mating connection of the first and second fastening features is able to be tightened by the rotation of the first drive shaft in only the first direction,
- wherein the first plurality of blades coupled to the first hub are configured to rotate therewith in the first direction to generate a first propulsive force;
- and
- (b) a second rotor assembly comprising:
- a second hub coupled to a second plurality of blades comprising a third fastening feature;
- a second adapter coupled to the second hub and comprising a fourth fastening feature;
- a second drive shaft coupled to the second hub through the second adapter by a mating connection of the third and fourth fastening features, wherein the second drive shaft is configured to cause rotation of the second hub in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and the mating connection of the third and fourth fastening features is able to be tightened by the rotation of the second drive shaft in only the second direction,
- wherein the second plurality of blades coupled to the second hub are configured to rotate therewith in the second direction to generate a second propulsive force,
- wherein (1) the first fastening feature of the first adapter is threaded in a right-handed direction and the third fastening feature of the second adapter is threaded in a left-handed direction, or (2) the first fastening feature of the first adapter is threaded in a left-handed direction and the third fastening feature of the second adapter is threaded in a right-handed direction,
- wherein the second fastening feature is threaded to mate with the first fastening feature of the first adapter, and the fourth fastening feature is threaded to mate with the third fastening feature,
- wherein the first propulsive force (1) includes a lift component that provides lift to the movable object, and (2) is imparted via contact between the first hub, the first adapter and the first drive shaft;
- and wherein the second propulsive force (1) includes a lift component that provides lift to the movable object, and (2) is imparted via contact between the second hub, the second adapter and the second drive shaft, and
- wherein the rotation of the first hub in the first direction imparts a rotational force component that is transmitted from the first drive shaft to the first hub via contact between the first fastening feature and the second fastening feature, and wherein the rotation of the second hub in the second direction imparts a rotational force component that is transmitted from the second drive shaft to the second hub via contact between the third fastening feature and the fourth fastening feature.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.