An electrical connection device for tethered unmanned aerial vehicles in rotation

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specifically to an electrical connection device for a tethered UAV with rotating fuselage. The motor of the tethered UAV is connected to a power supply cable via the electrical connection device. The motor and the power supply cable are rotatable relative to each other. The electrical connection device consists of a stator and a rotor. A ground power supply is connected to an input wire, which transmits electrical energy to the rotor slip ring through the contacts between the stator and rotor. The rotor slip ring is connected to an output wire, which is connected to the motor, supplying electrical energy to the motor. Small blades are mounted on the stator of the electrical connection device, positioned below the rotor assembly. The electrical connection device decouples the rotation of the motor from the power supply cable. It transmits electrical energy from the ground power supply to the motor and prevents the power supply cable from rotating with the motor, thus preventing the cable from twisting and breaking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and in particular to an electrical connection device for a tethered UAV with rotating fuselage. Background Technology

[0002] Tethered drones are a type of drone powered by a ground-based power source connected to the drone via a power cable. They are widely used in reconnaissance, surveillance, firefighting, and forest fire prevention. Tethered drones typically connect to the power cable via a connector. However, if a traditional connector were used to connect the drone and the power cable when the drone is rotating, the power cable would be broken. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide an electrical connection device for a tethered drone with rotating body. The electrical connection device decouples the motor from the power supply cable during rotation. It is used to transmit electrical energy from the ground power source to the motor and prevents the power supply cable from rotating with the motor, thus preventing the power supply cable from twisting and breaking.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention is: an electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with rotating body. The motor of the tethered UAV is connected to a power supply cable through the electrical connection device. The motor and the power supply cable can rotate relative to each other. The electrical connection device consists of a stator and a rotor. A ground power supply is connected to an input wire. The input wire transmits electrical energy to the rotor slip ring through the contact between the stator and the rotor. The rotor slip ring is connected to an output wire. The output wire is connected to the motor and outputs electrical energy to the motor. Small blades are provided on the stator of the electrical connection device and are located below the rotor assembly.

[0005] Furthermore, the fuselage of the tethered drone is a ducted disk, and the rotor and motor are fixed inside the ducted disk by a support frame. The central axis of the rotor coincides with the center line of the inner duct. When the rotor blades of the rotor rotate, the ducted disk will rotate in the opposite direction.

[0006] Furthermore, the cross-section of the small blade is airfoil-shaped.

[0007] Furthermore, the number of the small blades is one or more.

[0008] Furthermore, a small blade is provided on the stator of the electrical connection device.

[0009] Furthermore, when there are multiple small blades, the small blades are arranged symmetrically around the center line of the electrical connection device.

[0010] Furthermore, the tethered drone also includes a disc wing, which is fixed to the outer surface of the ducted disk. The disc wing on the ducted disk rotates with the ducted disk, thereby providing additional lift.

[0011] Furthermore, the diameter and angle of attack of the small blades are related to the speed and magnitude of the downward airflow from the rotor blades.

[0012] Furthermore, the output wires are connected to the stator of the motor, and the rotor of the electronic device is fixedly connected to the central shaft of the rotor device.

[0013] This invention offers the following advantages: When the entire fuselage of a tethered drone rotates, directly powering it via a power cable would cause the cable to break. To address this issue, this invention employs a specially designed electrical connection device to decouple the motor from the power cable's rotation. This device transmits electrical energy from the ground power source to the motor and prevents the power cable from rotating with the motor, thus preventing breakage. Furthermore, the rotor of the electrical connection device generates a frictional torque, which the power cable needs to twist to counteract. This twisting not only damages the power cable but also causes it to sway under crosswinds, gusts, and rotor blade turbulence. This swaying force transmitted to the drone affects its stability. This invention addresses this by using small, appropriately sized blades that generate a torque opposite to the frictional torque under the airflow from the rotor blades. This counteracts most of the frictional torque, reducing torsional damage to the power cable and minimizing its swaying, thereby increasing the drone's stability. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the internal wiring connections of the electrical connection of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is an external structural diagram of the electrical connection of the present invention.

[0017] The above-mentioned figures include the following reference numerals: 1. Rotor assembly; 2. Support frame; 3. Ducted disc; 4. Disc wing; 5. Motor; 10. Input wire; 11. Contact; 12. Rotor slip ring; 13. Output wire; 14. Stator; 15. Small blade; 16. Rotor. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, an electrical connection device for a tethered drone for body rotation is provided. The motor 5 of the tethered drone is connected to a power supply cable through the electrical connection device. The motor 5 and the power supply cable can rotate relative to each other. The body of the tethered drone is a ducted disk 3. The rotor device 1 and the motor 5 are fixed inside the ducted disk 3 by a support frame 2. The central axis of the rotor device 1 coincides with the center line of the inner duct. When the rotor blades of the rotor device rotate, the ducted disk 3 will rotate in the opposite direction.

[0022] The ducted disk 3 is equipped with an inner duct, which can suppress wingtip turbulence and reduce rotor rotation drag. When the rotor blades of the rotor device 1 rotate, they generate a counter-torque that acts on the ducted disk 3 of the tethered UAV. Under the action of the counter-torque, the ducted disk 3 of the tethered UAV rotates. In the presence of crosswinds, the ducted disk 3 has a smaller frontal area than other multi-rotor UAVs under the same total weight conditions, and due to its airfoil-like cross-sectional drag, it can effectively reduce energy consumption. The rapid rotation of the rotor blades and the ducted disk 3 of the tethered UAV has a gyroscopic effect, which can effectively counteract the vibration of the tethered UAV and provide a stabilizing torque when encountering gusts, thereby improving the stability and environmental adaptability of the tethered UAV.

[0023] The ducted disk 3 is an airfoil disk that generates additional lift under crosswind conditions, thereby reducing the UAV's energy consumption. The ducted disk 3 also includes a fixed wing 4, which is fixed to the outer surface of the duct shell 3. The fixed wing 4 is symmetrically arranged around the centerline of the duct shell and rotates with the duct shell 3 to provide additional lift.

[0024] Existing tethered drones all have rotating rotors and motor rotors, while other parts do not rotate, so they can be directly powered by ground power. In this invention, the entire body of the tethered drone rotates. If the power supply cable is used directly, it will break. To solve this problem, this invention uses a specially designed electrical connection device to decouple the rotation of motor 5 from the power supply cable. It is used to transmit electrical energy from the ground power supply to motor 5 and prevent the power supply cable from rotating with motor 5, thus preventing the power supply cable from breaking.

[0025] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, the electrical connection device includes a stator 14 and a rotor 16. The ground power supply is connected to the input wire 10, which is connected to the stator 14. The input wire 10 transmits electrical energy to the rotor slip ring 12 through the contact 11 between the stator 14 and the rotor 16. The rotor slip ring 12 is connected to the output wire 13, which is connected to the motor 5, and outputs electrical energy to the motor.

[0026] The output wire 10 is connected to the stator of the motor 5, and the rotor of the electronic device 5 is fixedly connected to the central shaft of the rotor device 1.

[0027] Small blades 15 are provided on the stator 14 of the electrical connection device. The small blades 15 are fixed on the outer surface of the duct housing 3 and are symmetrically arranged around the center line of the duct housing.

[0028] When the rotor 16 of the electrical connection device rotates, it exerts a frictional torque on the actuator 14. This torque needs to be counteracted by twisting the power supply cable. This twisting not only damages the power supply cable but also causes it to sway under the influence of crosswinds, gusts, and the oscillations of the rotor blades 6. This swaying force transmitted to the drone affects its stability. This invention addresses this by incorporating small blades 15, and by using appropriately designed blades, which generate a torque opposite to the frictional torque under the airflow from the rotor blades 6. This counteracts most of the frictional torque, reduces the torsional damage to the power supply cable, minimizes its swaying, and increases the drone's stability. (Assuming the rotor 16 of the electrical connection device exerts a counterclockwise frictional torque on the actuator 14...) Based on the downward airflow speed and magnitude of rotor blade 6, the diameter, angle of attack, and other parameters of small blade 15 are set to generate a reverse torque. close to , and The difference This will be provided by the minute twist of the power cable; the relationship between the three torques is... or The small blades reduce the torque applied by the stator 14 to the power supply cables on the stator, thereby reducing torsional damage and sway of the power supply cables.

[0029] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments. Any changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, or simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be considered equivalent substitutions and shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connection device for tethered unmanned aerial vehicle, characterized in that: the body of the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle is a ducted disc, the rotor device and the motor are fixed in the ducted disc through a support frame, the central axis of the rotor device coincides with the center line of the inner duct, and the ducted disc rotates in the opposite direction when the rotor blades of the rotor device rotate; the motor of the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle is connected with the power cable through the electrical connection device, the motor and the power cable can rotate relative to each other, the electrical connection device is composed of a stator and a rotor, a ground power supply is connected with an input lead wire, the input lead wire transmits electric energy to the rotor slip ring through the contact of the stator and the rotor, the rotor slip ring is connected with an output lead wire, the output lead wire is connected with the motor, and the output lead wire outputs electric energy to the motor, and the stator of the electrical connection device is provided with small blades, the small blades are arranged below the rotor device; the output lead wire is connected with the stator of the motor, and the rotor of the motor is fixedly connected with the central axis of the rotor device.

2. An electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in rotation relative to a body according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross section of the small blade is airfoil-shaped.

3. The electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in rotation with respect to a body according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of small blades is one or more.

4. An electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in rotation relative to a body according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the number of small blades is more than one, the small blades are symmetrically arranged around the center line of the electrical connection device.

5. The electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in rotation with respect to a body according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the rotor of the electrical connection device rotates, a counterclockwise friction torque M1 is generated for the stator, a torque M2 is generated by the rotation of the small blades, and a torque M3 is generated by the torsion of the power cable, and the relationship between the three torques is M1=M2+M3 or M1=M2-M3. The diameter and attack angle of the small blades are related to the speed and size of the downward blowing of the rotor blades.

6. The electrical connection device for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in rotation with respect to a body according to claim 1, characterized in that: ​

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