Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2025-03-19)

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1\. A rotor assembly, comprising: a propeller; a motor including a stator and a rotator rotatable with respect to the stator, and configured to drive the propeller to rotate through the rotator; and a connection assembly arranged between the propeller and the motor, and including a locking member and an elastic member, the elastic member being configured to provide a force onto the locking member in response to the propeller being locked to the motor by the locking member, to maintain a locking state of the locking member.
2\. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotator includes a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft passing through an accommodation space defined by the locking member and an accommodation space defined by the elastic member.
3\. The rotor assembly of claim 2, wherein the connection assembly further includes a restrainer, and the rotating shaft passes through an accommodation space defined by the restrainer.
4\. The rotor assembly of claim 3, wherein the restrainer and the elastic member are coaxially arranged.
5\. The rotor assembly of claim 3, wherein the restrainer or the elastic member includes a through hole for the rotating shaft to pass through.
6\. The rotor assembly of claim 3, wherein the rotating shaft passes through the accommodation space defined by the elastic member, the accommodation space defined by the restrainer, and the accommodation space defined by the locking member, successively.
7\. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotator includes a housing and a rotating shaft, and the locking member is configured to rotate with respect to the housing of the rotator to lock the propeller to the motor.
8\. The rotor assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a connecting surface facing the propeller, the elastic member being in contact with the connecting surface.
9\. The rotor assembly of claim 8, wherein the rotating shaft protrudes toward the propeller from the connecting surface by a predetermined distance.
10\. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is configured to provide a longitudinal force onto the locking member in response to the propeller being locked to the motor by the locking member.
11\. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein: the locking member includes a first locking unit; the propeller includes a second locking unit matching the first locking unit; and the first locking unit is coupled to the second locking unit in response to the propeller being locked to the motor.
12\. The rotor assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first alignment marker provided at a rotating side of the rotor assembly during a locking process; a second alignment marker provided at a non-rotating side of the rotor assembly during the locking process, the first alignment marker and the second alignment marker being configured to algin along a radial direction of the propeller in response to the propeller being locked to the locking member.
13\. An aerial vehicle comprising: one or more rotor assemblies each including: a propeller; a motor including a stator and a rotator rotatable with respect to the stator, and configured to drive the propeller to rotate through the rotator; and a connection assembly arranged between the propeller and the motor, and including a locking member and an elastic member, the elastic member being configured to provide a force onto the locking member in response to the propeller being locked to the motor by the locking member, to maintain a locking state of the locking member.
14\. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the rotator includes a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft passing through an accommodation space defined by the locking member and an accommodation space defined by the elastic member.
15\. The aerial vehicle of claim 14, wherein the connection assembly further includes a restrainer, and the restrainer or the elastic member includes a through hole for the rotating shaft to pass through.
16\. The aerial vehicle of claim 14, wherein the connection assembly further includes a restrainer, and the rotating shaft passes through the accommodation space defined by the elastic member, an accommodation space defined by the restrainer, and the accommodation space defined by the locking member, successively.
17\. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the rotator includes a housing and a rotating shaft, and the locking member is configured to rotate with respect to the housing of the rotator to lock the propeller to the motor.
18\. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein: the rotator includes a housing and a rotating shaft; the housing includes a connecting surface facing the propeller, the elastic member being in contact with the connecting surface; and the rotating shaft protrudes toward the propeller from the connecting surface by a predetermined distance.
19\. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein: the locking member includes a first locking unit; the propeller includes a second locking unit matching the first locking unit; and the first locking unit is coupled to the second locking unit in response to the propeller being locked to the motor.
20\. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more rotor assemblies further includes: a first alignment marker provided at a rotating side of the each of the one or more rotor assemblies during a locking process; a second alignment marker provided at a non-rotating side of the each of the one or more rotor assemblies during the locking process, the first alignment marker and the second alignment marker being configured to align along a radial direction of the propeller in response to the propeller being locked to the locking member.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: claims 1 – 20 are allowable over the prior art of record. The prior art of record fails to teach the connection assembly including a locking member and an elastic member, the elastic member being configured to provide a force onto the locking member in response to the propeller being locked to the motor in a locking state.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20150129711A1: Claims:
A rotary-wing drone ( 10 ) comprising a drone body ( 16 ) and a plurality of propulsion units ( 12 ) each comprising: a propeller ( 20 ) comprising a hub ( 24 ) and a plurality of blades ( 26 ); and an electric motor ( 14 ) of the rotary-cage brushless synchronous type, with a stator connected to the drone body and a rotor mobile about an axis of rotation of the motor for driving the propeller,
a propeller ( 20 ) comprising a hub ( 24 ) and a plurality of blades ( 26 ); and
an electric motor ( 14 ) of the rotary-cage brushless synchronous type, with a stator connected to the drone body and a rotor mobile about an axis of rotation of the motor for driving the propeller,
wherein: the propulsion unit is of the gearless type; the rotor is rotationally integral with the propeller hub and integral with an upper flange ( 56 ) extending in a radial plane with respect to the axis of rotation; and means for gripping the flange are provided,
the propulsion unit is of the gearless type;
the rotor is rotationally integral with the propeller hub and integral with an upper flange ( 56 ) extending in a radial plane with respect to the axis of rotation; and
means for gripping the flange are provided,
characterized in that it further comprises: reversible means for the fast coupling of the propeller to the rotor between: a decoupled position allowing the interlocking of the hub onto the flange, and a locked position in which the hub is mechanically made rotationally integral with the flange,
reversible means for the fast coupling of the propeller to the rotor between: a decoupled position allowing the interlocking of the hub onto the flange, and a locked position in which the hub is mechanically made rotationally integral with the flange,
a decoupled position allowing the interlocking of the hub onto the flange, and
a locked position in which the hub is mechanically made rotationally integral with the flange,
the switching from the decoupled position to the locked position being operated by a relative rotation of the propeller hub with respect to the flange by a fraction of a turn, in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the electric motor,
and said means for gripping the flange being means for gripping the latter in said locked position.
The drone of claim 1 , wherein the reversible fast coupling means comprise: on the flange, a plurality of studs ( 62 ) arranged radially remote from the axis of rotation, each stud comprising a rod portion ( 64 ) topped with an enlarged head ( 66 ) adapted to ensure the holding of the hub against the flange; and on the hub, a plurality of buttonholes ( 32 ) whose number and arrangement correspond to the number and arrangement of the studs on the flange, each buttonhole comprising a curvilinear slot ( 34 ) extending along a circumference, the width of the slot corresponding to the rod portion of the corresponding stud, and the slot comprising at a first end ( 38 ) an enlarged portion whose size allows the introduction of the stud head
on the flange, a plurality of studs ( 62 ) arranged radially remote from the axis of rotation, each stud comprising a rod portion ( 64 ) topped with an enlarged head ( 66 ) adapted to ensure the holding of the hub against the flange; and
on the hub, a plurality of buttonholes ( 32 ) whose number and arrangement correspond to the number and arrangement of the studs on the flange, each buttonhole comprising a curvilinear slot ( 34 ) extending along a circumference, the width of the slot corresponding to the rod portion of the corresponding stud, and the slot comprising at a first end ( 38 ) an enlarged portion whose size allows the introduction of the stud head
The drone of claim 2 , wherein, in the locked position, the stud head projects above the upper surface of the hub.
The drone of claim 2 , wherein the flange gripping means comprise a projecting portion with a ridge, formed on the stud heads.
The drone of claim 2 , wherein the edges of the slot have an increased thickness near a second end opposite to the first end, this thickness being defined, with respect to the spacing between the upper surface of the flange and the lower surface of the stud head, so as to form with the stud head a loose fit in the decoupled position and a press fit in the locked position.
The drone of claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a cylindrical lateral skirt ( 52 ) extending from the upper flange, this skirt carrying magnetic elements ( 54 ) of the rotary cage and defining with the flange an inner volume accommodating windings ( 46 ) of the motor stator.
The drone of claim 1 , wherein foolproofing means are further provided, which comprise a axis of the rotor, projecting ( 76 ), or not ( 76 ′), above the flange and a central orifice ( 74 ) formed, or not, in the hub, so as to prevent the interlocking of a hub devoid of a central orifice onto a flange provided with a projecting axis.
Ref US11420734B2: Claims:
A propeller kit, comprising a first propeller and a second propeller, one of the first propeller and the second propeller being a forward propeller, the other being a counter-rotating propeller, wherein the first propeller comprises a first hub and at least two blades connected to the first hub, the first hub being detachably mounted on a first drive apparatus by a first mounting member, a surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub being provided with a first fitting portion, a surface, facing the first hub, of the first mounting member being provided with a second fitting portion corresponding to the first fitting portion, the first fitting portion matching the second fitting portion; the second propeller comprises a second hub and at least two blades connected to the second hub, the second hub being detachably mounted on a second drive apparatus by a second mounting member, a surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub being provided with a third fitting portion, a surface, facing the second hub, of the second mounting member being provided with a fourth fitting portion corresponding to the third fitting portion, the third fitting portion matching the fourth fitting portion; and the first fitting portion does not match the fourth fitting portion, to prevent the first propeller from being mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member; and the third fitting portion does not match the second fitting portion, to prevent the second propeller from being mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member; and the first fitting portion is a first boss, the second fitting portion is a first groove, the third fitting portion is a second boss, the fourth fitting portion is a second groove, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted, in the second groove; or the first fitting portion is a first groove, the second fitting portion is a first boss, the third fitting portion is a second groove and the fourth fitting portion is a second boss, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove.
the first propeller comprises a first hub and at least two blades connected to the first hub, the first hub being detachably mounted on a first drive apparatus by a first mounting member, a surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub being provided with a first fitting portion, a surface, facing the first hub, of the first mounting member being provided with a second fitting portion corresponding to the first fitting portion, the first fitting portion matching the second fitting portion;
the second propeller comprises a second hub and at least two blades connected to the second hub, the second hub being detachably mounted on a second drive apparatus by a second mounting member, a surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub being provided with a third fitting portion, a surface, facing the second hub, of the second mounting member being provided with a fourth fitting portion corresponding to the third fitting portion, the third fitting portion matching the fourth fitting portion; and
the first fitting portion does not match the fourth fitting portion, to prevent the first propeller from being mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member; and
the third fitting portion does not match the second fitting portion, to prevent the second propeller from being mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member; and
the first fitting portion is a first boss, the second fitting portion is a first groove, the third fitting portion is a second boss, the fourth fitting portion is a second groove, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted, in the second groove; or
the first fitting portion is a first groove, the second fitting portion is a first boss, the third fitting portion is a second groove and the fourth fitting portion is a second boss, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove.
The propeller kit according to claim 1 , wherein a first clamping member extends from the surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub, the first clamping member and the first mounting member being connected by a clamping fit; and a second clamping member extends from the surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub, the second clamping member and the second mounting member being connected by a clamping fit.
a second clamping member extends from the surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub, the second clamping member and the second mounting member being connected by a clamping fit.
The propeller kit according to claim 2 , wherein when the first clamping member and the first mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the first boss is inserted in the first groove to reserve a space for the clamping fit between the first clamping member and the first mounting member; and when the second clamping member and the second mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the second boss is inserted in the second groove to reserve a space for the clamping fit between the second clamping member and the second mounting member; and when the first clamping member and the second mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the first fitting portion abuts the fourth fitting portion, to prevent the clamping fit between the first clamping member and the second mounting member; and when the second clamping member and the first mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the third fitting portion abuts the second fitting portion, to prevent the clamping fit between the second clamping member and the first mounting member.
when the first clamping member and the second mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the first fitting portion abuts the fourth fitting portion, to prevent the clamping fit between the first clamping member and the second mounting member; and when the second clamping member and the first mounting member are connected by the clamping fit, the third fitting portion abuts the second fitting portion, to prevent the clamping fit between the second clamping member and the first mounting member.
The propeller kit according to claim 1 , wherein both a central axis of the first boss and a central axis of the first groove coincide with a rotational axis of the first drive apparatus; and both a central axis of the second boss and a central axis of the second groove coincide with a rotational axis of the second drive apparatus.
The propeller kit according to claim 1 , wherein the first boss and the first groove fit in shape and fit in size and the second boss and the second groove fit in shape and fit in size; and the first boss and the second groove do not fit in shape and do not fit in size and the second boss and the first groove do not fit in shape and do not fit in size.
the first boss and the first groove fit in shape and fit in size and the second boss and the second groove fit in shape and fit in size; and
the first boss and the second groove do not fit in shape and do not fit in size and the second boss and the first groove do not fit in shape and do not fit in size.
The propeller kit according to claim 1 , wherein the cross sections of the first boss, the first groove, the second boss and the second groove are all annular.
The propeller kit according to claim 6 , wherein the thickness of the first boss is T1 and the outer diameter is D1; and the depth of the first groove is H1 and the inner diameter is D3; and the depth of the second boss is T2 and the outer diameter is D2; and the depth of the second groove is H2 and the inner diameter is D4, wherein T1=H1<T2=H2 and D1=D3>D2=D4; or T1=H1>T2=H2 and D1=D3<D2=D4.
the thickness of the first boss is T1 and the outer diameter is D1; and the depth of the first groove is H1 and the inner diameter is D3; and
the depth of the second boss is T2 and the outer diameter is D2; and the depth of the second groove is H2 and the inner diameter is D4, wherein
T1=H1<T2=H2 and D1=D3>D2=D4; or
T1=H1>T2=H2 and D1=D3<D2=D4.
A power kit, comprising: a first drive apparatus, a second drive apparatus, a first mounting member, a second mounting member and a propeller kit comprising a first propeller and a second propeller, one of the first propeller and the second propeller being a forward propeller, the other being a counter-rotating propeller, wherein the first propeller comprises a first hub and at least two blades connected to the first hub, the first hub being detachably mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member, a surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub being provided with a first fitting portion, a surface, facing the first hub, of the first mounting member being provided with a second fitting portion corresponding to the first fitting portion, the first fitting portion matching the second fitting portion; the second propeller comprises a second hub and at least two blades connected to the second hub, the second hub being detachably mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member, a surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub being provided with a third fitting portion, a surface, facing the second hub, of the second mounting member being provided with a fourth fitting portion corresponding to the third fitting portion, the third fitting portion matching the fourth fitting portion; and the first fitting portion does not match the fourth fitting portion, to prevent the first propeller from being mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member; and the third fitting portion does not match the second fitting portion, to prevent the second propeller from being mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member; and the first fitting portion is a first boss, the second fitting portion is a first groove, the third fitting portion is a second boss, the fourth fitting portion is a second groove, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove; or the first fitting portion is a first groove, the second fitting portion is a first boss, the third fitting portion is a second groove and the fourth fitting portion is a second boss, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove; the first mounting member is fixedly mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first propeller being detachably mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member; the second mounting member is fixedly mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second propeller being detachably mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member; and in the first drive apparatus and the second drive apparatus, the rotational direction of the drive apparatus corresponding to the forward propeller is the clockwise direction and the rotational direction of the drive apparatus corresponding to the counter-rotating propeller is the counterclockwise direction.
the first propeller comprises a first hub and at least two blades connected to the first hub, the first hub being detachably mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member, a surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub being provided with a first fitting portion, a surface, facing the first hub, of the first mounting member being provided with a second fitting portion corresponding to the first fitting portion, the first fitting portion matching the second fitting portion;
the second propeller comprises a second hub and at least two blades connected to the second hub, the second hub being detachably mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member, a surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub being provided with a third fitting portion, a surface, facing the second hub, of the second mounting member being provided with a fourth fitting portion corresponding to the third fitting portion, the third fitting portion matching the fourth fitting portion; and
the first fitting portion is a first boss, the second fitting portion is a first groove, the third fitting portion is a second boss, the fourth fitting portion is a second groove, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove; or
the first fitting portion is a first groove, the second fitting portion is a first boss, the third fitting portion is a second groove and the fourth fitting portion is a second boss, when the first propeller is mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first boss being inserted in the first groove, when the second propeller is mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second boss being inserted in the second groove;
the first mounting member is fixedly mounted on the first drive apparatus, the first propeller being detachably mounted on the first drive apparatus by the first mounting member;
the second mounting member is fixedly mounted on the second drive apparatus, the second propeller being detachably mounted on the second drive apparatus by the second mounting member; and
in the first drive apparatus and the second drive apparatus, the rotational direction of the drive apparatus corresponding to the forward propeller is the clockwise direction and the rotational direction of the drive apparatus corresponding to the counter-rotating propeller is the counterclockwise direction.
The power kit according to claim 8 , wherein a first clamping member extends from the surface, facing the first mounting member, of the first hub, the first clamping member and the first mounting member being connected by a clamping fit; and a second clamping member extends from the surface, facing the second mounting member, of the second hub, the second clamping member and the second mountin
[Truncated to input limit]