multicopter

Abstract

Multicopter comprising a body (1) and arms for attaching propeller motors (7), wherein the arms are attached to the body (1) and arranged along a common plane, wherein each of the arms comprises: - a fixed component (21 A) attached to the body (1) and provided with a locking mechanism, and - a tillable component (2 IB), said tillable component (2 IB) being tiltably attached with its first end to a distal end of the fixed component (21 A) and being provided at its first end with a principal locking retainer (4) and with an additional locking retainer (6) at its second end, wherein the tillable component (2 IB) can be tilted: - into a flight position in which it abuts with its first end onto the distal end of the fixed component (21 A) to which it is tiltably attached, and can be locked in this flight position by engaging the locking mechanism with the principal locking retainer (4) of the tillable component (2 IB), and - into a transport position in which in which at least a portion of its additional locking retainer (6) assumes a position in which the principal locking retainer (4) of a tillable component (22B) of a neighbouring arm is located in the flight position.

Description

[0001] Multicopter

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a multicopter comprising a body and arms for attaching propeller motors, wherein the arms are attached to the body and arranged along a common plane.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Multicopters comprise a main body with a central axis. Arms are fixed to the main body, wherein a single propeller with a corresponding motor is arranged on each of the arms. The arms provide a sufficient mutual spacing between the propellers. The shape of the multicopter is thus too bulky to be comfortably transported.

[0006] Some multicopter allow tilting of the arms as a whole or their parts towards the central axis of the multicopter, i.e. upwards or downwards. This essentially creates a tall cylindrical shape which does not contribute much to the transportability of the multicopter.

[0007] Furthermore, it is possible to tilt the arms of multicopters in the horizontal plane either individually or by means of a mechanism which couples their movements. Such a mechanism is complicated and takes up a large amount of space inside the multicopter, thus restricting the space for service load.

[0008] Additionally, the folded construction is, in both cases, insufficiently rigid.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] The above-mentioned drawbacks of prior art are eliminated by a multicopter comprising a body and arms for attaching propeller motors, wherein the arms are attached to the body and arranged along a common plane, wherein each of the arms comprises:

[0011] - a fixed component fixed relative to the body and provided with a locking mechanism, and

[0012] - a tiltable component, said tiltable component being tiltably attached with its first end to a distal end of the fixed component and being provided at its first end with a principal locking retainer and with an additional locking retainer at its second end, wherein the tiltable component can be tilted: - into a flight position in which it abuts with its first end onto the distal end of the fixed component to which it is tiltably attached, and can be locked in this flight position by engaging the locking mechanism with the principal locking retainer of the tiltable component, and

[0013] - into a transport position in which in which at least a portion of its additional locking retainer assumes a position in which the principal locking retainer of a tiltable component of a neighbouring arm is located in the flight position.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment the fixed components of the arms are arranged with a uniform mutual angular spacing.

[0015] The axes of tilting of the tiltable components are preferably parallel to each other.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment the locking mechanism is a toggle latch and is arranged on a lateral side of the fixed component.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the additional locking retainer (comprises an abutment surface with which it, in the transport position, abuts against a distal end or a locking mechanism of a fixed component of a neighbouring arm.

[0018] A free end of the additional locking retainer is preferably formed by a projection, wherein the shape of the projection corresponds to the shape of the principal locking retainer and / or the position of the projection in the transport position corresponds to a position in which the principal locking retainer of the tiltable component is located in the flight position.

[0019] A motor with a propeller may be attached to the second end of each of the tiltable components.

[0020] Brief Description of Drawings

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail by means of an embodiment depicted in Figures, wherein Fig. 1 is a top view of a part of a multicopter with arms in a transport position, Fig. 2 is a detail of a part of two arms of the multicopter of Fig. 1, wherein a first arm is attached to a second arm for the purpose of transport, and Fig. 3 is a detail of an arm in an operational position, i.e. in flight position. Description of Exemplifying Embodiments

[0022] A part of a multicopter disclosed in Fig. 1 comprises a body 1, to which arms are attached with a uniform angular spacing about a central axis of the body 1. In the depicted embodiment, these are a first arm, a second arm, a third arm (partially depicted) and a fourth arm (partially depicted).

[0023] The first arm comprises a fixed component 21 A, wherein its proximal end is fixed to the body 1, and a tiltable component 2 IB which is, by its first end, articulately attached to a distal end of the fixed component 21A. The axis of tilting of the tiltable component 21B of the first arm is parallel to the central axis of the body 1, or perpendicular to a common plane in which the arms are arranged.

[0024] The other arms have a similar form, i.e. the second arm comprises a fixed component 22 A and a tiltable component 22B attached thereto, as well as the third arm and the fourth arm. The axes of tilting of all tiltable components 2 IB, 22B, 23B, 24B are mutually parallel and arranged with the same distance from the central axis of the body 1 and with a uniform mutual angular spacing.

[0025] A toggle latch 3 is fixed to the distal end of the fixed component 22A of the second arm on its lateral side facing away from the axis of the joint. In a similar fashion, all of the other arms are provided with a non-depicted toggle latch at the distal end of the fixed component 21A, 23 A, 24A.

[0026] The tiltable component 2 IB of the first arm 21 is - at its first end with which it is articulately attached to the fixed component 21 A - provided with a principal locking retainer 4 for locking of the tiltable component 2 IB in its flight position, and the other tiltable components 22B, 23B, 24B are similarly provided with (non-depicted) principal locking retainers 4 for locking of the tiltable components 22B, 23B, 24B in their flight positions.

[0027] The tiltable component 2 IB of the first arm is also provided at its second end with an additional locking retainer 6 for locking the tiltable component 2 IB in a transport position and similarly the other tiltable components 22B, 23B, 24B are provided with additional locking retainers (not shown) for locking them in the transport position.

[0028] In the depicted preferred embodiment, the additional locking retainer 6 comprises an abutment surface 61. In the transport position, the additional locking retainer 6 abuts with the abutment surface 61 against a carrier 31 of the toggle latch 3 of the neighbouring arm, i.e. the second arm, or to the distal end of the fixed component 22A of the second arm. Furthermore, the additional locking retainer 6 of the first arm comprises a projection 62 which, in said transport position, assumes a position in which the principal locking retainer 4 of the second arm is arranged when in the flight position.

[0029] Thus, the toggle latch 3 may retain the principal locking retainer 4 of the second arm in the flight position (Fig. 3) and the same toggle latch 3 may retain the projection 62 of the additional locking retainer 6 of the neighbouring arm, i.e. the second arm, in the transport position (Fig. 2).

[0030] The toggle latch 3 comprises a carrier 31 which is attached to the lateral side of the fixed component 22 A of the second arm. A first end of a swingable spreader 33 is swingably attached to the carrier 31 via a first pin 32. A first end of a clasp 35 is swingably attached to a second end of the swingable spreader 33 via a second pin 34, wherein a second end of the clasp 35 is provided with a catch hook 36 for catching the principal locking retainer 4 or the projection 62 of the additional locking retainer 6.

[0031] Additionally, the tiltable component 2 IB of each arm is adapted for fastening a motor 7 of a propeller, namely at its end opposite the end by which the tiltable component is articulated to the respective fixed component 21A, 22A, 23 A, 24A, wherein the adaptation is such that the tiltable element is provided with a mounting surface 71 with mounting holes 70.

[0032] The tiltable component 21B of the first arm can be positioned into a working position, i.e. the flight position, in which the longitudinal axis of the tiltable component 2 IB corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the fixed component 21A, i.e. both component 21A, 21B are arranged in the same axis. In this position, the tiltable component 2 IB can be locked by means of the catch hook 36 of the clasp of the toggle latch 3 which is tilted, fastened to the principal locking retainer 4 and tilted to a closed locking position.

[0033] The other arms 22, 23, 24 can be moved into the flight position and locked in this position by corresponding toggle latches 3 in a similar manner.

[0034] For transport, each of the tiltable components 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B can be tilted about a corresponding axis so that the locking retainer 6 of the first tiltable component 2 IB of the first arm abuts against a distal end of the fixed component 22A of the second arm and is fastened by the toggle latch 3 fixed to the second arm, the locking retainer 6 of the second tiltable component 22B abuts against the distal end of the fixed component 23 A of the third arm and is fastened by the toggle latch 3 fixed to the third arm, the locking retainer 6 of the third tiltable component 23B abuts against the distal end of the fixed component 24A of the fourth arm and is fastened by the toggle latch 3 fixed to the fourth arm, the locking retainer 6 of the fourth tiltable component 24B abuts against the distal end of the fixed component 21 A of the first arm and is fastened by the toggle latch 3 fixed to the first arm.

[0035] Therefore, in the transport position, the tiltable arms extend along imaginary sides of a square, in general terms along imaginary side of a regular polygon whose number of angles corresponds to the number of the arms used.

[0036] The arms, or at least their ends, are preferably made of metal, e.g. a suitable aluminium or titan alloy. The arms as such can be made of metal, but also of a composite with a circular, quadratic or polygonal profile. The arms can also have a form of a lattice structure with a regular or an irregular shape which allows the locking mechanism to be attached and simultaneously presents mechanical properties for carrying driving units, i.e. the motors 7 with propellers.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment, the arms differ from each other in their length and / or in their mutual spacing. In such a case, it necessary to compensate these differences so that, after tilting of the tiltable components 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B, their additional locking projections 6 assume positions in which corresponding locking retainers 4 are located in the flight position of the tiltable components 21B, 22B, 23B.

[0038] Although a particularly preferable embodiment has been described, it is clear that a skilled person would readily find additional possible alternatives to this embodiment. The scope of protection thus is not restricted to these embodiments, but is rather defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Multicopter comprising a body (1) and arms for attaching propeller motors (7), wherein the arms are attached to the body (1) and arranged along a common plane, wherein each of the arms comprises:- a fixed component (21 A) fixed relative to the body (1) and provided with a locking mechanism, and- a tiltable component (2 IB), which is tiltably attached by its first end to a distal end of the fixed component (21 A) and which is provided at its first end with a principal locking retainer (4) and at its second end with an additional locking retainer (6), wherein the tiltable component (2 IB) is tiltable:- into a flight position in which it abuts with its first end onto the distal end of the fixed component (21 A) to which it is tiltably attached, and in which it can be locked by engaging the locking mechanism with the principal locking retainer (4) of the tiltable component (2 IB), and- into a transport position in which in which at least a portion of its additional locking retainer (6) assumes a position in which a principal locking retainer (4) of a tiltable component (22B) of a neighbouring arm is located in its flight position.

2. Multicopter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed components (21 A, 22 A, 23 A, 24A) of the arms are arranged with a uniform mutual angular spacing.

3. Multicopter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that axes of tilting of the tiltable components (2 IB, 22B) are parallel to each other and / or are arranged with a same distance from a central axis of the body (1) and / or with a uniform mutual angular spacing about the central axis of the body (1).

4. Multicopter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking mechanism is a toggle latch (3).

5. Multicopter according to claim 4, characterized in that the toggle latch (3) comprises a tiltable spreader (33), a first end of which being tiltably attached to a lateral side of the fixed component (21 A) or to a carrier (31) which is fixed to the lateral side of the fixed component (21 A), wherein a first end of a clasp (35) is attached to a second end of the tiltable spreader (33), wherein a second end of the clasp (35) is provided with a catch hook (36) for engaging with the principal locking retainer (4) in the flight position of the tiltable component (2 IB) and for engaging with the additional locking retainer in the transport position of a tiltable component of a neighbouring arm.

6. Multicopter according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism is arranged on a lateral side of the fixed component (21 A).

7. Multicopter according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking mechanism is arranged on that side of the fixed component (21 A) which faces the arm whose tiltable component is, in the transport position, tilted to this fixed component (21 A), and / or the locking mechanism is arranged on a lateral side of the fixed component (21 A) and an axis of tilting of a tiltable component (2 IB) tiltably attached thereto is arranged on an opposite side of this fixed component (21 A).

8. Multicopter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the additional locking retainer (6) comprises an abutment surface (61) with which it, in the transport position, abuts against a distal end and / or a locking mechanism of a fixed component (22A) of a neighbouring arm.

9. Multicopter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a free end of the additional locking retainer (62) is formed by a projection (62), wherein the shape of the projection (62) corresponds to the shape of the principal locking retainer (4) and / or the position of the projection (62) in the transport position corresponds to a position in which the principal locking retainer (4) of the tiltable component (22b) is located in the flight position.

10. Multicopter according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a motor (7) with a propeller is attached to the second end of each of the tiltable components (2 IB).

11. Multicopter according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that all tiltable arms (2 IB) are tiltable into their respective transport position clockwise when viewed in the direction of the axes of tilting of the tiltable arms (2 IB), or all tiltable arms (2 IB) are tiltable into their respective transport position counter-clockwise.

12. Multicopter according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the tiltable component (2 IB) is lockable in its transport position by engaging its additional locking retainer(6) with the locking mechanism fixed to the fixed component (22A) of a neighbouring arm.

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