Apparatus and method for capturing energy from a drone propeller system to utilize the energy to charge a battery
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for capturing energy from an unmanned aircraft propeller system and utilizing the energy to charge a battery. The invention further provides for a belt drive system connected to one or more propellers of an unmanned aircraft system commonly referred to as a drone aircraft. The belt drive system may be linked to an alternator or dynamo such that a portion of the energy generated by the rotation force provided to the drive system of the propeller is captured by the alternator or dynamo. The present invention provides for a system where the rotational energy of the propellers is captured by an energy recovery system such as an alternator, dynamo or the like. The energy recovery system provides power to charge a battery which can be used to power the drive systems for the propellers, or other electronic systems.
1 . An apparatus for capturing energy from a drone propeller to utilize the energy to charge a power source, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of propeller systems connected to the housing, wherein each of the propeller systems is configured to have a motor, a propeller shaft and a propeller affixed to the propeller shaft;
the power source positioned in the housing configured to power each of the motors of the propeller systems;
a plurality of pulley hubs, wherein each of the pulley hubs are engaged with one of the propeller shafts of the propeller systems, wherein such that each propeller shaft is on each motor;
an energy recovery system mounted in the housing, wherein the energy recovery system includes a wire harness connecting the energy recovery system to the power source, wherein the energy recovery system includes a drive shaft, wherein the drive pulley is mounted to the drive shaft;
a belt system configured between the plurality of pulley hubs, the belt system engages the drive pulley mounted to the drive shaft of the energy recovery system wherein, upon rotation of a plurality of shafts on each of the motors operate to place a force on each of the plurality of pulley hubs causing a rotation of the belts, the rotation of the belts imparts a rotational force on the drive pulley to cause the energy recovery system to generate an electrical current, whereby a rotation of the drive shaft imparts mechanical force on the energy recovery system which converts the mechanical force to electrical energy which is stored in the power source; and
wherein the wire harness of the energy recovery system transfers the electrical current generated by the energy recovery system to the power source in such a manner that the electrical current is utilized to provide power to the power source.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery system comprises a dynamo.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery system comprises an alternator.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery system comprises a generator.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery pack.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery pack.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the belt system is positioned within the housing.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the belt system is positioned external to the housing.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a central processing unit positioned in the housing for providing control of the propeller systems in flight and a camera attached to the housing.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a radio receiver positioned in the housing configured to convey signals received to the radio receiver to the CPU, the radio receiver is configured to receive radio signals from a remote-control unit.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an alternate battery storage device, wherein the alternate storage device configured to receive a charge from the energy recovery system.