US 11,999,466 B2
Ultra-wide-chord propeller
Michael S. Deloyer, Etobicoke (CA)
Assigned to Skydio, Inc., San Mateo, CA (US)
Filed by Skydio, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/094,960.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/935,333, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0147091 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 11/18 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 11/18 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A propeller comprising:
a central hub mountable for drivable rotation about a central axis of rotation; and
at least one blade extending from the central hub and rotatable about the central axis of rotation by the central hub to generate a backward airflow;
wherein the at least one blade,
extends from a proximal attachment end attached to the central hub to a blade tip, distal from the central hub;
comprises a leading edge extending from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip, and a trailing edge extending from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip;
comprises a front surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip, and a back surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip; and
at each point along the blade from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip, the blade:
defines a mean camber line extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge halfway between the front surface and the back surface; and
defines a chord line extending straight between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein a chord length of the chord line varies along the blade from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip, the at least one blade defining a maximum chord length in a blade tip region of the blade at a location spaced proximally from the blade tip, the blade tip region extends from a proximal border to the blade tip, and the proximal border is located toward the blade tip by at least 75% of a distance from the proximal attachment end to the blade tip,
wherein the blade defines a maximum camber between 3% and 10% of the chord length at each point along the blade in the blade tip region, and the maximum camber equals a maximum distance from the mean camber line to the chord line at any point along the blade from the leading edge to the trailing edge.