System for aligning a propeller

A method of securing a propeller, comprising:

• commutating a sensor trigger by commutating a shaft of a motor, said motor having stators and rotors;
• commutating a propeller indexer by commutating said shaft, said propeller indexer configured to align a propeller, when a propeller is present, at an angular position that is a propeller offset angle θPROP from said sensor trigger as referenced by a center of rotation of said shaft;
• sensing said sensor trigger as said sensor trigger rotates to a point adjacent a sensor fixedly coupled to said motor;
• switching a control signal to rotatably hold said rotors driving said rotatable shaft in response to said sensor sensing said sensor trigger;
• calculating a sensor trigger angular location verses time
• determining said sensor trigger will not pass said sensor in a next rotation of the sensor trigger;
• and
• initiating said switching said motor to electrically couple phase circuits in response to said determining said sensor will not pass said sensor in a next rotation of the sensor trigger step;
• wherein said propeller indexer may be held in position at the propeller offset angle θPROP from the sensor by commutating said shaft and holding the rotors so that the sensor is proximate to the sensor trigger;
• and
• wherein said switching a control signal to rotatably hold said rotors comprises switching the motor to electrically couple phase circuits to magnetically hold said rotors.

A method of securing a propeller, comprising:

• commutating a sensor trigger by commutating a shaft of a motor, said motor having stators and rotors;
• commutating a propeller indexer by commutating said shaft, said propeller indexer configured to align a propeller, when a propeller is present, at an angular position that is a propeller offset angle θPROP from said sensor trigger as referenced by a center of rotation of said shaft;
• sensing said sensor trigger as said sensor trigger rotates to a point adjacent a sensor fixedly coupled to said motor;
• and
• switching a control signal to rotatably hold said rotors driving said rotatable shaft in response to said sensor sensing said sensor trigger;
• wherein said propeller indexer may be held in position at the propeller offset angle θPROP from the sensor by commutating said shaft and holding the rotors so that the sensor is proximate to the sensor trigger;
• and
• wherein said propeller propels an aircraft having an aircraft wing and wherein said sensing said sensor trigger step further comprises sensing said sensor trigger as said propeller is not aligned with the aircraft wing.

A motor assembly, comprising:

• a motor having a rotatable shaft;
• a hub coupled to said rotatable shaft, said hub having a propeller indexer to receive a propeller, when the propeller is present;
• a sensor trigger rotatable with said shaft and positioned at a propeller offset angle θPROP from said propeller indexer;
• and
• a sensor coupled to said motor and positioned to detect said sensor trigger;
• wherein said propeller indexer is positioned at the propeller offset angle θPROP from the sensor through rotation of said shaft so that said sensor is proximate to the sensor trigger, and wherein said sensor trigger is coupled to said propeller.

A motor assembly, comprising:

• an aircraft having a wing;
• a motor coupled to said aircraft to provide propulsion, said motor having a rotatable shaft;
• a hub coupled to said rotatable shaft, said hub having a propeller indexer to receive a propeller, when a propeller is present;
• a magnet coupled to said hub;
• a Hall Effect sensor coupled to an interior casing for said motor;
• and
• a motor controller electrically coupled to said motor, said motor controller configured to commutate said propeller to a horizontal position indicated by the proximity of said Hall Effect sensor to said magnet
• wherein the propeller, if present, is aligned with said wing, the alignment based on the proximity of said Hall Effect sensor to said magnet.

A motor assembly, comprising:

• an aircraft having a wing;
• a motor mounted in said aircraft, said motor having a rotatable shaft;
• a propeller coupled to said rotatable shaft, said propeller having a magnet;
• a Hall Effect sensor coupled to an interior casing for said motor to detect said magnet;
• and
• a motor controller electrically coupled to said motor, said motor controller configured to commutate said propeller to a horizontal position indicated by a proximal location of said Hall Effect sensor with said magnet
• wherein said Hall Effect sensor is proximate to said magnet when said propeller is aligned with said wing.

A motor assembly, comprising:

• a motor having a rotatable shaft;
• a hub coupled to said rotatable shaft, said hub having a propeller indexer to receive a propeller, when a propeller is present;
• sensor trigger means rotatable with said shaft;
• and
• sensor means fixedly coupled to said motor and positioned to detect said sensor trigger means;
• wherein said sensor means and said sensor trigger means are aligned when said propeller is in a horizontal position, wherein said sensor trigger means is a magnet, wherein said sensor means is a Hall Effect sensor, and wherein said sensor trigger means is coupled to said propeller.