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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
FOLDING DRONE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/053406
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention is related to the field of air vehicles, in particular to unmanned drones with multiple propellers. The folding drone consists of two housings (1, 2), with motors (5, 6) and impellers (7, 8) mounted thereon, which are interconnected by two parallel levers (3, 4). The levers (3, 4) are connected to the housings (1, 2) by flat hinges (9, 10). The transfer of the drone from the working position to the transport/storage position can be done by manually pulling one housing (1) from one another (2) to the positions of the fixed levers (3, 4) and vice versa by pushing the housings (1, 2) one to another till the smooth contact. Other known mechanical positioning methods or servo drive may be used. The levers (3, 4) and hinges (9, 10) are hollow which the wires connecting the drone electronic assemblies pass through.

Inventors:
MAKUSEV YURII (LT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2020/051235
Publication Date:
March 25, 2021
Filing Date:
February 14, 2020
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
UAB SG CONSULTING BALTICS & BY (LT)
International Classes:
B64C39/02
Domestic Patent References:
WO2018201417A12018-11-08
WO2018152792A12018-08-30
Foreign References:
EP3321180A12018-05-16
US20160340021A12016-11-24
CA2917434A12017-07-12
CN207208469U2018-04-10
EP3453438A12019-03-13
EP3431384A12019-01-23
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
IVANAUSKIENE, Edita (LT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

FOLDING DRONE

1. A folding drone consisting of a housing, motors (5,6) with impellers (7,8), control and communication electronics units and power supplies, characterized in that the drone consists of two housings (1,2) with motors (5,6) and impellers (7,8) mounted therein, which are interconnected by two parallel levers (3,4).

2. The drone according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housings (1,2) with the levers (3,4) are connected by flat pivots (9,10) having at least two fixed positions.

3. The drone according to Claim 1, 2, characterized in that the working and transport and storage drone positions are determined by a servo gear.

4. The drone according to Claim 1, 3, characterized in that the housings (1,2) are smoothly united with one another during transport and storage.

5. The drone according to Claim 1, 2, characterized in that the levers (3,4) and hinges (9,10) are hollow through which the wires connecting the drone electronic assemblies are passed.

Description:
DESCRIPTION

FOLDING DRONE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to the field of air vehicles, in particular, to unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with multiple propellers.

BACKGROUND

Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles are evolving so rapidly and are finding new applications, ranging from children's toys to land management, search, restoration, speleologists, police, border services, security guards, and military drones. Photographic or video drones are in high demand.

In most cases, the structure of the multi -propeller drones in the horizontal plane looks like this: there is a drone housing in the middle and impeller motors mounted around it. The number of engines and impellers is three and more. The most popular are the four-engine drones. The most vulnerable part of drone construction is the impellers, so lately the inventors and designers have shifted their focus to folding drones, which have two positions: working position (folded out) with winged motors positioned at maximum distance from the hull, and transport/storage position (folded) when impeller motors are pressed (folded) against the drone housing. In transport/storage position, drones take several times less space and their impeller motors are better protected from unintentional damage.

There is a known folding drone (see EP3453438), which consists of a housing and four folding holders with impeller motors at their ends. The drone has two positions: the working position with the holders folded out of the housing and the transport/storage position with the holders pressed against the sides of the housing. A known quadricycle and multi-wing drone having a housing and a structure of folding parallelogram brackets on which impeller motors are mounted (see WO2018152792). The structure of folding parallelograms of the present invention consists of at least six hinged brackets (three on each side of the housing).

A known quadricycle drone (see patent EP3431384) having a housing and a structure for pivoting and folding brackets above it, which consists of a main bracket mounted on the housing and hinged two peripheral brackets mounted on its ends, on which are mounted impeller motors. In the working position, the main bracket is pivoted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and the peripheral holders are perpendicular to the pivotable holder. In the transport /storage position, the main bracket is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the housing and the peripheral holders are pivoted parallel to the main holder.

All the inventions listed above are similar in technical solution to the fact that the drone construction consists of a housing and variously folded individual cantilever brackets or groups of brackets with impeller motors at their free ends. The disadvantage of the listed technical solutions is the complicated construction of the brackets.

Terms used in the invention, their synonyms and English equivalents: drone - unmanned aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle drone, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) impeller - propeller, propeller, e.g. wing, propeller, impeller, folding - foldable, levers - connectors, rods, holders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The structure of a folding drone which has two housings of identical shape, fitted with impeller motors and interconnected by two parallel levers, is hereby proposed. The levers are connected to the shells by flat pivots having at least two fixed positions. The levers and joints are made hollow and wires passed through them, connecting both housings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by the following drawings: Fig.l - a side view of the folded drone,

Fig.2 - bottom view of a folded drone,

Fig.3 - a side view of the folded drone,

Fig.4 - rear view of folded drone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drone (fig. 1,2) consists of two housings 1,2 (or two housing parts) and two levers 3,4. Housings 1,2 are fitted with two motors 5,6 with impellers 7,8. According to the form of the structure, the housings 1,2 are rotated 180° relative to one another. The levers 3,4 are completely identical and connected to the housings 1,2 by the hinges 9,10. The hinges 9,10 have fixed positions, one fixed position when the drone is folded out and another when the drone is folded.

There may be more fixed positions. Fig. 3,4 show a folded drone. Its housings 1,2 are smoothly sealed together.

Features and Modifications of the Construction.

The transfer of the drone from the working position to the transport/storage position can be accomplished by manually pulling one housing 1 from one another 2 to the positions of the fixed levers 3,4 and vice versa by pushing the housings 1,2 close to each other until smooth contact. Other known mechanical positioning methods may be used. Servo gear can also be used to fold and unfold the drone.

The housings 1 ,2 can have an elongated structure and can be fitted with three impeller motors. Enclosures 1,2 are equipped with electronic control and communication units and power supplies. For convenience, electronic enclosures 1,2 can be mounted in various ways (one for control units and one for communication units), and power supplies are recommended to be installed closer to the motors.

The proposed folding drone has the following features:

- it is very compact in transport/storage condition,

- simple transfer of the drone from working (folded out) position to transport/storage (folded) position and vice versa,

- it has the possibility to freely arrange masses and payloads (camera, etc.)