IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,272,917
Granted Patent B2
US 8,272,917 · App. 13/024,517 · Granted Sep 25, 2012

Directionally controllable flying vehicle and a propeller mechanism for accomplishing the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,272,917
App. No.
13/024,517
Granted
Sep 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flying vehicle in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention includes a propeller control mechanism for flying the vehicle. The propeller control mechanism includes a propeller having a center shaft for connecting to the drive shaft; first and second propeller blades extending from the center shaft; and a control mechanism including a first linkage connecting the center shaft to the first propeller blade and a second linkage connecting the center shaft to a region defined on the propeller, wherein a change in a driving torque of the drive shaft causes the first linkage and the second linkage to change the pitch and height of the propeller blades while substantially unchanging the tip path plane of the propeller blades.

Claims (10)

1. A propeller mechanism to fly an object in a specified direction, having a motor for rotating a drive shaft, comprising:

a center shaft for connecting to the drive shaft,

first and second propeller blades extending away from the center shaft;

a control mechanism defined to include a first linkage and a second linkage;

the first propeller blade having an opened region, the opened region defined to include an opened shaft portion to entirely surround the center shaft and defined to include an opened slot portion that extends away from the opened shaft portion to an internal terminus slot end within the first propeller blade towards a first propeller blade tip;

the first linkage having a pair of first linkage ends, one first linkage ends being positioned within the opened shaft portion and connected to the center shaft and the other first linkage end being connected to the internal terminus slot end such that the first linkage is positioned in the opened region and connects the center shaft to the first propeller blade; and

the second linkage having a substantially “L” shape design and includes a first end connected to the center shaft and a second end connected to an edge defined along a central region on the first propeller blade, whereby

a change in a driving torque of the drive shaft causes the first linkage and the second linkage to work in concert to change the pitch and height of both the first and second propeller blades while substantially unchanging a tip path plane of the first and second propeller blades.

2. The propeller control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkages are flexible.

3. The propeller control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first and second propeller blades and the first and second linkages and all defined from a unitary piece of material.