Orientable gate for a flying drone parking station

Abstract

The present invention relates to an orientable gate for its installation in a UAS / UAV drone parking station, with access through its upper portion and which can also be used as a windbreaker to protect the drone against wind gusts during take-off or landing manoeuvres. The gate exhibits: a horizontal rotary base with actuation means for actuating said rotary base and a central access area for accessing the parking station; attachment means for attaching to said parking station; a shutter for opening and closing the central access area; lateral guides for moving the shutter, and actuation means for actuating the shutter. Said guides comprise a horizontal section for closing the access to the parking station and a vertical section for opening the access, such that, with the shutter located vertically and duly oriented against the wind, the shutter can be used as a windbreaker, thereby protecting the drone during take-off or landing manoeuvres.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Adjustable gate for parking flying drones

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an adjustable gate for parking flying drones.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Currently, drone parking lots are known to include an access point to the parking lot, as well as interior spaces for storing the drone (in individual parking lots) or the drones (in multiple parking lots) once they enter the parking lot.

[0007] Just as there are known robotic parking lots for land vehicles, there are also known robotic parking lots for drones. A mobile lifting platform arrives at the entrance to the parking lot where the drone is deposited and / or landed, and the platform guides it through the parking lot to its own private space, which may even have means of recharging the batteries or exchanging them for recharged ones.

[0008] To close these parking spaces, there is typically a flat, laterally opening gate in equal sections, which can be moved laterally. These gates are very bulky and cumbersome, and do not serve any additional functions, which is solved by the swivel gate of the invention.

[0009] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The orientable gate for parking flying drones of the invention can be used in drone parking lots that comprise an access entrance and interior spaces for storing the drone or drones, and according to the invention comprises:

[0011] -means of fixing to the access entrance to the parking lot,

[0012] -a rotating base, and means for driving the rotating base, -a closing shutter,

[0013] -guides on which the blind is movably supported, where said guides comprise a lower closing section, with the blind overlapping the access mouth to the parking lot, and an upper section that is unfolded (that is, separated from the plane containing the access mouth, and which is ideally vertical) for opening, and -means for actuating the blind along the guides.

[0014] In this way, in addition to implementing a lightweight and automated orientable gate, in the open position the shutter generates a windbreak barrier, which thanks to the actuating means of the rotating base, can be oriented to interpose itself between the direction of the wind and the access mouth to the parking lot, preventing sudden gusts of wind from disturbing the entry of the drone through the entrance to the parking lot or landing on a mobile platform arranged therein, in robotic drone parking lots.Whether in manual or automatic control, the landing maneuver is always complicated and even more so in a reduced landing area, adjusted to the small size of the drones, such as the entrance to the parking lots, in such a way that sudden gusts of wind could abort the landing or even crash the drone during landing, a risk that is minimized with the use of the orientable gate of the invention, increasing the safety of the maneuver, whether in manual or automatic operation.

[0015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figures 1A and 2 show perspective views of two variants of the orientable gate of the invention.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a plan view of the orientable gate of the invention, and the approach of a drone, where it can be seen that the direction of the wind can disturb the approach of the drone to the entrance of the parking lot.

[0018] Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of Figure 2, where it can be seen how the rotating base of the orientable gate has rotated so that the vertical shutter stands in the way of the wind, and does not disturb the approach of the drone to the entrance of the parking lot.

[0019] Figure 4 shows an elevation view of the same situation as in Figure 2. Figure 5 shows an elevation view of the same situation as in Figure 3.

[0020] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a drone parking lot incorporating the orientable gate of the invention, and an enlarged detail thereof.

[0021] Figure 7 is similar to Figure 1A, but in this case the shutter runs along the top of the swivel gate assembly, allowing the shutter to close the access with the drone inside before the elevator begins to lower and vice versa, remaining housed in the body of the swivel gate and protected.

[0022] DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2) of the invention can be used in parking lots (3) of drones (2) that comprise (see fig. 6) an access mouth (30), and interior spaces (31) for storing the drone or drones, and according to the invention comprises (see also the rest of the figures):

[0024] -means of fixing to the mouth (30) of access to the parking lot (3),

[0025] -a rotating base (4), and means for driving the rotating base (4),

[0026] -a closing shutter (5),

[0027] -guides (6) on which the blind (5) is movably supported, where said guides (6) comprise (see fig. 4) a lower closing section (60), with overlapping of the blind (5) with the mouth (30) of access to the parking lot (3), and an upper section (61) unfolded for opening, and

[0028] -means for operating the blind (5) along the guides (6).

[0029] In a first embodiment (see fig. 1A and 2 to 6), the adjustable flap (1) comprises two lateral guides (6), in which the opposite edges of the blind (5) are inserted. Another possible embodiment may comprise (see fig. 1 B) a central guide (6) that is passed through (that is, through which the blind passes). These are alternative embodiments, where the first embodiment offers better wind resistance, and the second embodiment is more economical.

[0030] For its part, the means for fixing the swivel gate (1) to the mouth (30) of access to the parking lot (3) may be one or more of the following: anchoring pins (7) (see fig. 6), screws and adhesive pastes. As for the means for driving the rotating base (4), they preferably comprise a first fixed motor (8), with an axis (80) coupled directly or through a transmission (81) to the rotating base (4), while the means for driving the blind (5) along the guides (6) may comprise traction cables (9) coupled to a second drive motor (10). For its part, the parking lot may comprise a robotic elevator / mover (35) to internally move the drones (2) to the interior storage spaces (31), as seen in fig. 6.

[0031] It is envisaged that the orientable hatch (1) may comprise a body (100) closed, at least laterally, with the lower section (60) of the guides (6) arranged at a greater height than the height of the drone with respect to its landing level. Specifically in Figure 7, the blind (5) runs along the upper part of the body (100) to generate this height, which allows the blind (5) to close the access with the drone inside before the elevator begins to lower and vice versa, being housed in the body (100) of the orientable hatch (1) and protected (superiorly by the blind and laterally by the body (100) closed laterally) as a pre- or post-takeoff / landing parking area, increasing the speed of the manoeuvres and safety.

[0032] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the manner of its implementation in practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are susceptible to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.-Adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2), usable in drone parking lots (3) (2) comprising an access mouth (30) and interior spaces (31) for storing the drone or drones; characterized in that it comprises: -means for fixing to the mouth (30) for access to the parking lot (3), -a rotating base (4), and means for actuating the rotating base (4), -a closing shutter (5), -guides (6) on which the blind (5) is movably supported, where said guides (6) comprise a lower closing section (60), with overlapping of the blind (5) with the mouth (30) of access to the parking lot (3), and an upper section (61) unfolded for opening, and -means for operating the blind (5) along the guides (6).

2. -Adjustable door (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to claim 1, comprising two lateral guides (6), in which the opposite edges of the blind (5) are inserted.

3. -Adjustable door (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to claim 1, comprising a central passing guide (6).

4. -Adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for fixing the adjustable gate (1) to the mouth (30) for access to the parking lot (3) are selected from one or more of the following: - anchor pins (7), -screws, -adhesive pastes.

5. -Adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for driving the rotating base (4) comprise a first fixed motor (8) with an axis (80) coupled directly or through a transmission (81) to the rotating base (4).

6. -Adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for driving the blind (5) along the guides (6) comprise traction cables (9) coupled to a second drive motor (10).

7. -Adjustable gate (1) for parking flying drones (2) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a closed body (100), at least laterally, with the lower section (60) of the guides (6) arranged at a greater height than the height of the drone with respect to its landing level.

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