Foldable propeller for air traffic

Abstract

The present application relates to a foldable propeller for aerial traffic, comprising a linkage assembly comprising a plurality of links that cause the blades to rotate around the hub when a moving part is vertically slid, so that the blades are folded to or unfolded from each other. The foldable propeller for aerial traffic according to the present application can be folded so that the propeller for lift purposes can be loaded on the airframe in a folded state during the flight of the aerial traffic, thereby effectively reducing the drag during the cruise when the propeller is loaded on the airframe in a folded state, which can improve the energy efficiency and accordingly increase the flight distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable propeller for air traffic, which can be folded so that the propeller for lift purposes can be mounted on the fuselage in a folded state during flight, thereby effectively reducing drag during cruise when the propeller is mounted on the fuselage in a folded state, which can improve energy efficiency and correspondingly increase flight range. Background Technology

[0002] The most distinctive feature of urban air mobility (UAM) compared to traditional aircraft is vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). More propellers are needed to provide greater thrust during vertical takeoff and landing compared to the propellers required for flight.

[0003] On the other hand, during flight (during cruise), lift generated by the wings allows flight to continue, so some propellers (lift propellers) used during VTOL are not used. Propellers not used during high-speed flight generate drag (air resistance), resulting in energy loss.

[0004] To reduce drag and improve energy efficiency, it is necessary to mount folded propellers on the fuselage. Folding technology is essential to mounting each lift propeller, consisting of three or more blades with a radius of 1 meter or greater, on the fuselage. Furthermore, the propellers need to be folded and unfolded during flight, therefore the folding technology must be highly reliable, safe, and stable.

[0005] However, there is currently no structure that can fold the propeller during flight or that can fold and control the pitch simultaneously in an independent manner.

[0006] The information disclosed in the background section of this invention is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or any implication that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Various aspects of the present invention are intended to provide a foldable propeller for air traffic, such that the propeller for lift purposes can be mounted in a folded state on the fuselage during flight, thereby effectively reducing drag during cruise when the propeller is mounted in a folded state, thereby improving energy efficiency and correspondingly increasing flight range.

[0008] According to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a foldable propeller for air traffic includes: a shaft with a hub disposed at the upper end portion of the shaft; blades, each mounted to the hub via a rotating shaft to rotate with or relative to the hub; a movable portion slidably mounted on the shaft; and a linkage assembly including a plurality of links connecting the movable portion and the blades, which cause the blades to rotate about the hub when the movable portion slides vertically along the shaft, such that the blades fold or unfold relative to each other.

[0009] When the shaft rotates, the hub and the blade can rotate together. When the moving part slides along the shaft while the shaft is stationary, the blade can fold or unfold relative to the hub while the hub is stationary.

[0010] The blades can be connected to the hub at corresponding points spaced apart from each other, and each of the blades can be pivotally connected to the moving part via the linkage assembly.

[0011] One of the plurality of blades may be fixed to the hub, and each of the other blades may be pivotally connected to the moving part via the linkage assembly such that when the moving part slides along the axis, the other blades fold toward the fixed blade or unfold in a direction away from the fixed blade.

[0012] A first link can be connected to the moving part, and a second link can be connected to the point on the shaft between the moving part and the hub. The first link and the second link can intersect each other, such that when the moving part slides along the shaft, a scissor motion occurs between the first link and the second link.

[0013] When the moving part moves upward, the first link and the second link can move in the unfolding direction; when the moving part moves downward, the first link and the second link can move in the convergence direction.

[0014] The third link can be connected to the end portion of the first link, the third link can be bent in its horizontal direction, the fourth link can be connected to the bent end portion of the third link, and each of the blades can be connected to the fourth link.

[0015] The fourth link can be guided by the third link to perform rotational motion, and the blade folds or unfolds while rotating according to the rotation of the fourth link.

[0016] When the first link moves in a direction that gets closer to the axis as the moving part slides along the axis, the third link can be driven closer to the axis, the fourth link can rotate according to the movement of the third link, and the blade can fold while rotating according to the rotation of the fourth link.

[0017] As the moving part slides along the axis and the first link moves in a direction away from the axis, the third link can be driven away from the axis, the fourth link can rotate according to the movement of the third link, and the blade can unfold while rotating according to the rotation of the fourth link.

[0018] The first link and the second link may be links existing in a plane perpendicular to the ground, the fourth link may be a link existing in a plane horizontal to the ground, and the third link may be a link having two end portions respectively connected to the first link and the fourth link and having a curved central portion.

[0019] The blades can be folded or unfolded in a plane that is horizontal to the ground.

[0020] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages, which will become apparent or set forth in more detail from the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and, together with the following detailed description, serve to explain the particular principles of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is an exemplary view showing the deployed state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is an exemplary view showing the folded state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] It is understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and present slightly simplified representations of various features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention disclosed herein, including, for example, particular dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the specific intended application and environment of use.

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals throughout the drawings refer to parts that are the same as or equivalent to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments thereof, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0026] Figure 1 This is an exemplary view showing the deployed state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exemplary view showing the folded state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] A foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a shaft 100, on which a hub 500 is disposed at its upper end; blades 700, each disposed on the hub 500 via a rotation shaft 710 to rotate together with or relative to the hub 500; a movable portion 300 configured to be vertically slidable on the shaft 100; and a linkage assembly 900 including a plurality of links connecting the movable portion 300 and the blades 700 to each other, and causing the blades 700 to rotate about the hub 500 when the movable portion 300 slides vertically, thereby folding or unfolding the blades 700.

[0028] The propellers according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not only substantially constructed for generating thrust through rotation, but also have structures for folding or unfolding blades. When the propellers according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are used as propellers for lift purposes, the propellers generate thrust through rotation during lift operation and fold during cruise or flight after lift operation to reduce air resistance, thereby improving energy efficiency and reducing noise.

[0029] Shaft 100 is configured for the basic rotational function of the propeller. Shaft 100 is connected to the drive unit to receive rotational force for rotation, and the propeller generates thrust while rotating according to the rotation of shaft 100.

[0030] The hub 500 is located at the upper end of the shaft 100. In addition, multiple blades 700 are connected to the hub 500, and when the hub 500 rotates through the shaft, the blades 700 generate thrust.

[0031] As shown, the blades 700 are respectively mounted on the hub 500 via the rotating shaft 710, so as to rotate together with the hub 500 or rotate relative to the hub 500. The rotation of the blades 700 relative to the hub 500 realizes the folding movement of the blades 700.

[0032] To fold the blade 700, an additional component is provided on the shaft 100. The movable part 300 is configured to slide vertically on the shaft 100. The movable part 300 is connected to the shaft 100 via a spline connection, allowing the movable part 300 to rotate with the shaft 100 and also to slide vertically relative to the shaft 100. The movable part 300 can slide via a separate linear actuator or the like.

[0033] Furthermore, a linkage assembly 900 is disposed between the moving portion 300 and the blade 700. Therefore, the linkage assembly 900 transmits the sliding motion of the moving portion 300 to the blade 700, and the blade 700 folds up when rotated relative to the rotation axis 710. Thus, the moving portion 300 folds up in relation to the blade 700 as... Figure 1 When fixed to the shaft 100 in the deployed state shown, propulsion is generated by the propeller when the shaft 100 rotates. With the moving part 300 sliding, the blade 700 rotates as shown... Figure 2 The ground is folded as shown in the diagram.

[0034] The linkage assembly 900 includes multiple links connecting the movable portion 300 and the blade 700 to each other, and allows the blade 700 to rotate around the hub 500 as the movable portion 300 slides vertically, enabling the blade 700 to fold or unfold. Therefore, when the movable portion 300 slides with the shaft 100 stationary, the blade 700 can fold or unfold relative to the hub 500 while the hub 500 is stationary, and when the shaft 100 rotates, the hub 500 and the blade 700 rotate together.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, blades 700 can be connected to hub 500 at corresponding points spaced apart from each other, and each of the blades 700 can be connected to moving part 300 via linkage assembly 900. One blade 700' of the plurality of blades is fixed to hub 500, and each of the other blades 700 is connected to moving part 300 via linkage assembly 900. In this configuration, when moving part 300 slides, fixed blade 700' remains stationary in the same position, and the other blades 700 rotate via linkage assembly 900, allowing the blades 700 to fold toward fixed blade 700' or unfold away from fixed blade 700'. In this configuration, the propeller can be folded so that all blades converge at a single point, thereby reducing drag acting on the fuselage.

[0036] A first link 910 is connected to the moving part 300, and a second link 920 is connected to the point on the shaft 100 between the moving part 300 and the hub 500. The first link 910 and the second link 920 are intersecting each other, so that when the moving part 300 slides, the first link 910 and the second link 920 can perform a scissor motion. Furthermore, when the moving part 300 moves upward, the first link 910 and the second link 920 can move in an unfolding direction, and when the moving part 300 moves downward, the first link 910 and the second link 920 can move in a converging direction.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second link 920 is connected to the body 110 of the shaft 100 between the moving portion 300 and the hub 500. The body 110 of the shaft 100 is connected to the shaft 100 and can restrict the upward movement of the moving portion 300.

[0038] Furthermore, a third link 930 can be connected to the end portion of the first link 910, and the third link 930 can be bent to its horizontal direction. A fourth link 940 can be connected to the bent end portion of the third link 930, and the blade 700 can be connected to the fourth link 940. The fourth link 940 can be guided by the third link 930 to perform rotational movement, and the blade 700 can fold or unfold simultaneously with the rotation of the fourth link 940.

[0039] In other words, as the sliding first link 910 moves closer to the axis 100 with the sliding part 300, the third link 930 can also be driven closer to the axis 100, the fourth link 940 can rotate according to the movement of the third link 930, and the blade 700 can fold while rotating according to the rotation of the fourth link 940.

[0040] On the other hand, when the sliding first link 910 moves away from the axis 100 along with the sliding part 300, the third link 930 can also be driven away from the axis 100. The fourth link 940 can rotate according to the movement of the third link 930, and the blade 700 can rotate in the opposite direction and unfold according to the rotation of the fourth link 940.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown, the first link 910 and the second link 920 can be links existing in a plane perpendicular to the ground, the fourth link 940 can be a link existing in a plane horizontal to the ground, and the third link 930 can be a link having two end portions respectively connected to the first link 910 and the fourth link 940 and having a curved central portion. Additionally, the blade 700 can be folded or unfolded in a plane horizontal to the ground.

[0042] Figure 1 This is an exemplary view showing the deployed state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exemplary view showing the folded state of a foldable propeller for air traffic according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Referring to the accompanying drawings, the movement of the propeller during folding according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

[0043] In Figure 1 The movable portion 300 slides downwards along the arrow on axis 100, as shown in Figure 2. When in the state... Figure 1 When the movable part 300 slides downward, the first link 910 and the second link 920 move according to the following... Figure 2 The scissor motion shown rotates in the direction in which they converge.

[0044] When the first link 910 moves in such a manner, it is driven closer to the axis 100, and correspondingly, the third link 930 also moves to become closer to the axis 100 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

[0045] Based on the movement of the third link 930, the third link 930 guides the fourth link 940, which in turn moves and rotates simultaneously. Therefore, the blade 700 rotates relative to the rotation axis 710 in the direction indicated by the arrow, resulting in the blade 700... Figure 2 The ground is folded as shown in the diagram.

[0046] According to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a foldable propeller for air traffic can be folded so that the propeller for lift purposes can be mounted on the fuselage in a folded state during the flight of the air traffic, thereby effectively reducing drag during cruise when the propeller is mounted on the fuselage in a folded state, which can improve energy efficiency and correspondingly increase flight distance.

[0047] For ease of interpretation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “up,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “rear,” “back,” “inner,” “outer,” “inward,” “outer,” “inside,” “external,” “internal,” “external,” “forward,” and “backward” are used to describe features of exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features shown in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0048] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and variations can be made based on the teachings above. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A foldable propeller for air transportation, the foldable propeller comprising: A shaft, with a hub provided at the upper end of the shaft; Multiple blades, each of which is mounted to the hub via a rotating shaft to rotate with or relative to the hub; The movable part is slidably mounted on the shaft; A linkage assembly includes multiple links connecting the moving part and the blades, and causes the blades to rotate about the hub when the moving part slides along the axis, such that the blades fold or unfold from each other. The plurality of links include a first link and a second link. In this configuration, a first end portion of the first link is pivotally connected to the moving portion, a first end portion of the second link is pivotally connected to the shaft at a point between the moving portion and the hub, and a portion of the first link is pivotally connected to a second end portion of the second link, such that a scissor motion occurs between the first link and the second link when the moving portion slides along the shaft. The plurality of links also includes a third link and a fourth link. The first end portion of the third link is pivotally connected to the second end portion of the first link, the second end portion of the third link is bent in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the third link, the first end portion of the fourth link is pivotally connected to the second end portion of the third link, and the second end portion of the fourth link is connected to one of the blades except for the fixed blade fixed to the hub.

2. The foldable propeller according to claim 1, wherein, When the shaft rotates, the hub and the blades rotate together. When the moving part slides along the shaft while the shaft is stationary, the blades fold or unfold relative to the hub while the hub is stationary.

3. The foldable propeller according to claim 1, wherein, The blades are connected to the hub at corresponding points spaced apart from each other, and each of the blades is pivotally connected to the moving part via the linkage assembly.

4. The foldable propeller according to claim 3, wherein, One of the blades is the fixed blade fixed to the hub, and each of the remaining blades other than the fixed blade is pivotally connected to the moving part via the linkage assembly such that when the moving part slides along the axis, these remaining blades fold toward the fixed blade or unfold in a direction away from the fixed blade.

5. The foldable propeller according to claim 1, in, The plurality of links includes a first link and a second link. Wherein, a first end portion of the first link is pivotally connected to the moving part, a first end portion of the second link is pivotally connected to the shaft at a point between the moving part and the hub, and a portion of the first link is pivotally connected to a second end portion of the second link, such that when the moving part slides along the shaft, a scissor motion occurs between the first link and the second link.

6. The foldable propeller according to claim 5, wherein, When the moving part moves toward the hub, the first link and the second link move in a direction that expands outward from the axis; when the moving part moves away from the hub, the first link and the second link move in a direction that converges toward the axis.

7. The foldable propeller according to claim 5, in, The plurality of links also includes a third link and a fourth link. The first end portion of the third link is pivotally connected to the second end portion of the first link, the second end portion of the third link is bent in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the third link, the first end portion of the fourth link is pivotally connected to the second end portion of the third link, and the second end portion of the fourth link is connected to one of the blades.

8. The foldable propeller according to claim 7, wherein, The fourth link is guided by the third link to perform the rotational movement of the fourth link, and one of the blades folds or unfolds while rotating according to the rotation of the fourth link.

9. The foldable propeller according to claim 7, wherein, As the moving part slides along the axis and the first link moves in a direction close to the axis, the third link is driven closer to the axis, the fourth link rotates according to the movement of the third link, and one of the blades rotates and folds according to the rotation of the fourth link.

10. The foldable propeller according to claim 7, wherein, As the first link moves away from the axis along the sliding part, the third link is driven away from the axis, the fourth link rotates according to the movement of the third link, and one of the blades rotates and unfolds according to the rotation of the fourth link.

11. The foldable propeller according to claim 7, wherein, The first link and the second link are links existing in a plane perpendicular to the ground, the fourth link is a link existing in a plane horizontal to the ground, and the third link is a link having two end portions respectively connected to the first link and the fourth link and having a curved central portion.

12. The foldable propeller according to claim 7, wherein, One of the blades is folded or unfolded in a plane horizontal to the ground.

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