Simple protection structure and protection method for paddle of multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle paddle simple protection structure and protection method, and belongs to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicle safety protection. The propeller comprises blades, pipeline assemblies connected with the tips of the blades, and annular pipes connected with the pipeline assemblies. The detachable pipeline assembly is installed at the tip end of each paddle, then the annular pipes are inserted into the pipeline assemblies, assembling can be completed, and a stable annular protection structure is rapidly formed. During dismounting, only the annular pipe needs to be pulled out of the pipeline assembly, and the pipeline assembly is separated from the paddles. Through the extremely simple protection structure that the blade tip pipeline assembly is connected with the annular pipe, the effects of simplifying the structure, reducing the weight, improving the disassembly and assembly efficiency and adaptability and reducing the cost are achieved, collision impact force can be absorbed, direct collision of the blades is avoided, foreign matter is prevented from entering a blade rotating area, and the safety of the motor and the blades is effectively protected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drone safety protection technology, specifically to a protective structure for the propeller blades of multi-rotor drones, applicable to consumer-grade, lightweight, or micro multi-rotor drones, which can protect the propeller blades during flight. Background Technology

[0002] During flight, the propeller blades of multi-rotor drones generate lift by rotating at high speed. The blade edges are sharp and have high kinetic energy, which can easily cause injury to personnel. Moreover, the blades are prone to damage or jamming when they collide with obstacles. To avoid injury to personnel from the high-speed rotating blades, prevent damage from collisions with obstacles, and prevent blade jamming, existing technologies typically include a protective structure around the outside of the blades, usually called a protective cover, protective ring, or anti-collision ring.

[0003] However, the blade protection structures of existing multi-rotor UAVs generally have the following defects: Complex structure: In existing technologies, propeller protection devices typically adopt a frame structure consisting of multiple radial supports and an annular outer frame, which is fixed to the drone fuselage or arm by screws, clips and other connectors. The assembly process is cumbersome and there are many parts, which increases production and maintenance costs.

[0004] Heavy weight: To ensure protection strength, traditional protective devices often use metal or high-strength plastic materials, and due to structural redundancy, the overall weight is heavy, which affects the drone's endurance and maneuverability.

[0005] Inconvenient disassembly and assembly: Traditional protective devices are tightly connected to the fuselage. When it is necessary to replace the propeller blades or remove the protective structure to reduce weight and adapt to different flight scenarios, the disassembly and assembly process is time-consuming and the connecting parts are easily worn due to repeated disassembly and assembly, which reduces the structural stability.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a blade protection structure that is simple in structure, lightweight, and easy to assemble and disassemble, in order to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies.

[0007] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention aims to address the shortcomings of existing multi-rotor drone propeller protection structures, such as complexity, heavy weight, and inconvenience in disassembly and assembly. It provides a simplified protection structure and method for multi-rotor drone propellers, which achieves the effects of simplified structure, reduced weight, improved disassembly and assembly efficiency, and improved adaptability through a minimalist structure that connects the propeller tip pipe assembly to the annular pipe.

[0009] The basic concept of the technical solution adopted in this invention is: First, this invention provides a simple protective structure for the blades of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising: Propeller blades: Multiple blades are evenly arranged and assembled along the axis to form a propeller structure. A pipe assembly, comprising a fixing part and a plug-in part, wherein the fixing part is detachably fixed to the tip of the blade, and the inner diameter of the plug-in part is adapted to the outer diameter of the annular pipe, so that the annular pipe can be inserted into the plug-in part; A ring-shaped pipe is inserted into the connector of each pipe assembly and positioned around the blade by the connector of each pipe assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, the blades are arranged at the same angle along the circumferential axis, and the central angles between adjacent blades are equal.

[0011] Furthermore, the fixing part of the pipe assembly is detachably fixed to the blade tip by means of adhesive bonding, snap fastening or threaded connection.

[0012] Furthermore, the annular tube is bent to form an annular structure that matches the rotation trajectory of the blade tip, and the length of the annular tube matches the circumference of the circle formed by the rotation trajectory of the blade tip.

[0013] Furthermore, the annular tube is solid or hollow, and its cross-section is circular or non-circular.

[0014] Furthermore, the annular tube may be a single piece or divided into multiple segments.

[0015] Secondly, this invention provides a simple method for protecting the blades of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising the following steps: A removable pipe assembly is installed at the tip of each blade; A ring-shaped pipe is inserted into the pipe assembly to form a ring-shaped protective structure.

[0016] Furthermore, the annular pipe has a cut-off point to form two free ends. One of the free ends is passed through each pipe assembly in sequence, and the annular pipe is continuously pushed until the free end has completely passed through all pipe assemblies and comes into contact with the other free end. The two free ends are then closed by a connector.

[0017] Furthermore, the annular pipe is divided into multiple arc-shaped pipe segments, with each arc-shaped pipe segment having its two ends inserted between two adjacent pipe assemblies. The multiple arc-shaped pipe segments form a closed loop with the support of the pipe assemblies.

[0018] Furthermore, the annular pipe is a single, uninterrupted unit. Each pipe assembly can be opened to form an opening, and a fastener is provided at the opening. After each pipe assembly is opened, the annular pipe is inserted through the opening of each pipe assembly, and then the opening of each pipe assembly is closed with the fastener.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: Extremely simplified structure: This invention eliminates the multiple support rods, outer frame and complex connectors of traditional protective covers, and achieves the protective function only through pipe components and ring pipes. The number of parts is reduced by more than 80%, the production and assembly process is greatly simplified, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[0020] Significant weight reduction: The pipe components of this invention can be made of lightweight composite materials, and the annular pipe can be made of hollow elastic structure. The overall weight is only 20%-30% of that of traditional protective covers. For micro drones, the weight increase can be controlled within 5g, which hardly affects flight endurance and maneuverability. For lightweight drones, it can effectively increase flight time by 5%-10%.

[0021] Easy to assemble and disassemble: The pipe assembly and the blade tip of this invention are detachably connected. Assembly can be completed by inserting the annular pipe into the pipe assembly. Disassembly only requires pulling the annular pipe out of the pipe assembly. The whole process does not require tools and takes no more than 1 minute, which greatly improves the efficiency of scene switching. For example, the protective flight mode can be used indoors, and the unprotected long-endurance flight mode can be quickly switched outdoors.

[0022] Reliable protection: During flight, if the drone approaches an obstacle, the annular tube will first contact the obstacle and absorb the impact force through the elastic deformation of the tube, avoiding direct collision of the propeller blades; at the same time, the protective ring formed by the annularly distributed tubes and pipe components can effectively block foreign objects from entering the propeller blade rotation area, reduce the risk of propeller blade jamming, and protect the motor and propeller blade safety.

[0023] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0024] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a top view of an overall assembly schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a bottom view of an overall assembly schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a detailed diagram showing the connection between the blade, pipe assembly, and annular pipe of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pipe assembly of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the annular tube of the present invention; In the attached diagram: 1. Blade; 2. Pipe assembly; 21. Fixing part; 22. Insertion part; 3. Annular pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention.

[0026] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the structure of the present invention includes a blade 1, a pipe assembly 2 connected to the blade 1, and an annular pipe 3 connecting each pipe assembly 2.

[0027] In this embodiment, three blades 1 are evenly arranged and assembled along the axis, with the blades 1 arranged at the same angle along the circumferential direction of the axis, and the central angle between two adjacent blades 1 is equal.

[0028] The pipe assembly 2 is made of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber composites or plastics. The pipe assembly 2 includes a fixing part 21 and a plug-in part 22. The fixing part 21 is a groove, snap-fit, or threaded sleeve with an anti-slip pad, and is detachably fixed to the tip of the blade 1 by adhesive, snap-fit, or threaded connection. The inner diameter of the plug-in part 22 is adapted to the outer diameter of the annular pipe 3, allowing the annular pipe 3 to be inserted into the plug-in part 22.

[0029] The annular tube 3 is made of a lightweight and tough material, such as carbon fiber composite or plastic. The annular tube 3 can be solid or hollow, and its cross-section can be circular or non-circular. The outer diameter of the annular tube 3 matches the inner diameter of the insertion portion 22 of the pipe assembly 2. The annular tube 3 is bent to form an annulus that matches the rotation trajectory of the blade 1, and its length matches the circumference of the circle formed by the rotation trajectory of the blade 1. After the processed annular tube 3 is inserted into the insertion portion 22 of each pipe assembly 2, it is positioned around the blade 1 by the insertion portion 22 of each pipe assembly 2.

[0030] The assembly and disassembly method of this invention is as follows: First, a detachable pipe assembly 2 is installed at the tip of each blade 1; then, the annular pipe 3 is inserted into the pipe assembly 2 to complete the assembly and quickly form a stable annular protective structure. Disassembly simply requires pulling the annular pipe 3 out of the pipe assembly 2 and separating the pipe assembly 2 from the blade 1.

[0031] The insertion and connection of the annular pipe 3 and the pipe assembly 2 of the present invention can be carried out in a variety of ways, and three examples are given below.

[0032] In the first method, a cut is made on the annular pipe 3, forming two free ends. One of the free ends is passed through each pipe assembly 2 in sequence, and the annular pipe 3 is continuously pushed until the free end has completely passed through all pipe assemblies 2 and comes into contact with the other free end. The two free ends are then closed by a connector, so that the annular pipe 3 forms a closed loop with the support of the pipe assembly 2.

[0033] The second method involves dividing the ring pipe 3 into multiple arc-shaped pipe segments. The two ends of each arc-shaped pipe segment are inserted between two adjacent pipe components 2. After all segments are connected, the multiple arc-shaped pipe segments form a closed loop with the support of the pipe components 2.

[0034] In the third method, the annular pipe 3 is a whole without any cut. Each pipe component 2 can be opened to form an opening, and a fastener is provided at the opening. After each pipe component 2 is opened, the annular pipe 3 is inserted from each opening, and then the openings of each pipe component 2 are closed with the fastener. In this way, the annular pipe 3 forms a closed loop with the support of the pipe components 2.

[0035] Example: Simple protective structure adapted for tri-rotor drones Pipe assembly fabrication: Lightweight materials, preferably carbon fiber composites, are used to fabricate three pipe assemblies. Each assembly is 1 cm long, 1 mm thick, and has an inner diameter of 5 mm, minimizing weight while maintaining structural strength. A fixing part is machined on one side of the pipe assembly. This fixing part is a groove structure adapted to the outer diameter of the UAV propeller tip. A 1 mm thick anti-slip pad made of rubber is bonded to the inner wall of the groove. This enhances friction when the fixing part connects to the propeller tip, preventing the pipe assembly from detaching due to vibration during flight.

[0036] Annular tube fabrication: A solid carbon fiber tube with a circular cross-section and a diameter of 5mm is selected and processed into an annular shape. The diameter of the annular tube is adapted to the rotation diameter of the UAV propeller, for example, the same as or slightly larger than the rotation diameter of the propeller. In this embodiment, it is bent into an annular shape with a circumference of 94.2cm (corresponding to a circle with a diameter of 30cm). The two ends of the annular tube are connected by carbon fiber sleeves with an inner diameter of 5mm and a length of 2cm. The carbon fiber sleeves are used to close the ends of the annular tube.

[0037] Assembly process: The fixed parts of the three pipe components 2 are respectively fitted onto the tips of the three propeller blades 1 of the tri-rotor UAV and fixed by the friction of the rubber anti-slip pads to ensure that there is no relative wobbling between the pipe components 2 and the propeller blades 1. One end of the annular pipe 3 is passed through each pipe assembly in sequence. The annular pipe 3 is continuously pushed until the free end has completely passed through all pipe assemblies 2 and is in contact with another free end. The two free ends are connected by carbon fiber sleeve to form a closed loop. At this time, the annular pipe 3 connects the three pipe assemblies 2, and the three pipe assemblies 2 support the annular pipe 3, forming a stable annular protective structure. After assembly, the total weight of the protective structure is 10g, accounting for only 5% of the total weight of the drone. During the test flight, it flew in a narrow indoor space (3m×3m). When it collided with the wall, the pipes deformed slightly, the propellers were not damaged, the flight stability was good, and there was no obvious drift.

[0038] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A simple protective structure for the propeller blades of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle, characterized in that, include: Propeller (1): Multiple blades are evenly arranged and assembled along the axis to form a propeller structure; Pipe assembly (2), the pipe assembly (2) includes a fixing part (21) and a plug part (22), the fixing part (21) is detachably fixed to the tip of the blade (1), the inner diameter of the plug part (22) is adapted to the outer diameter of the annular pipe (3) so that the annular pipe (3) can be inserted into the plug part (22); The annular pipe (3) is inserted into the plug portion (22) of each pipe assembly (2) and positioned by the plug portion (22) of each pipe assembly (2) on the periphery of the blade (1).

2. The simplified protective structure for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blades (1) are arranged at the same angle along the circumferential axis, and the central angles between two adjacent blades (1) are equal.

3. The simplified protective structure for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing part (21) of the pipe assembly (2) is detachably fixed to the tip of the blade (1) by means of adhesive, snap or thread connection.

4. The simplified protective structure for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular tube (3) is bent to form an annular structure that matches the rotation trajectory of the blade (1) tip. The length of the annular tube (3) matches the circumference of the circle formed by the rotation trajectory of the blade (1) tip.

5. The simplified protective structure for multi-rotor UAV blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular pipe (3) is solid or hollow, and its cross-section is circular or non-circular.

6. The simplified protective structure for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular pipe (3) is either a single unit or divided into multiple segments.

7. A simple method for protecting the propeller blades of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle, characterized in that: A removable pipe assembly is installed at the tip of each blade; A ring-shaped pipe is inserted into the pipe assembly to form a ring-shaped protective structure.

8. The simplified protection method for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 7, characterized in that, The annular pipe (3) has a cut-off point to form two free ends. One of the free ends is passed through each pipe assembly (2) in sequence. The annular pipe (3) is continuously pushed until the free end has completely passed through all pipe assemblies (2) and comes into contact with the other free end. The two free ends are then closed by a connector.

9. The simplified protection method for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 7, characterized in that, The annular pipe (3) is divided into multiple arc-shaped pipes. The two ends of each arc-shaped pipe are inserted between two adjacent pipe assemblies (2). The multiple arc-shaped pipes form a closed loop with the support of the pipe assemblies (2).

10. The simplified protection method for multi-rotor UAV propeller blades according to claim 7, characterized in that, The annular pipe (3) is a whole without any cut. Each pipe assembly (2) can be opened to form an opening, and a fastener is provided at the opening. After each pipe assembly (2) is opened, the annular pipe (3) is inserted from the opening of each pipe assembly (2), and then the opening of each pipe assembly (2) is closed with the fastener.

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