System, kit, and method for dissipating heat generated by a motor assembly

Abstract

A system and kit for dissipating heat generated by a motor assembly and methods for manufacturing and using same. The motor assembly includes a housing that defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber communicates with an air inlet and an air outlet each being formed in the housing, and can at least partially receive motor inner workings. A pump assembly can be included in the internal chamber for generating an air flow during operation of the motor assembly. The pump assembly can draw air into the internal chamber via the air inlet, generating an air flow within the internal chamber. The air drawn into the internal chamber is applied to the motor inner workings, and the air heated by the motor inner workings is expelled from the internal chamber via the air outlet. Thereby, the air flow advantageously can cool the motor assembly as the air traverses the internal chamber.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a UAV body having a first housing for accommodating a control device for controlling operation of the UAV, the first housing having a central air inlet for drawing air from an external environment of the UAV;   a plurality of motor assemblies for providing propulsion forces for moving the UAV;   a plurality of motor arms for coupling the motor assemblies and the UAV body and for supporting the motor assemblies, the motor arms being hollow and having a duct-type structure,   wherein each motor assembly includes a motor installation base and a motor installed on the motor installation base, the motor comprising a second housing and motor inner workings hosted in the second housing, the second housing comprising an air inlet and air outlet, and   wherein the first housing, the motor arms, and the second housing of each motor assembly are coupled in such way that the air drawn from the external environment sequentially passes by the control device in the first housing to dissipate heat from the control device, passes through an air transport duct formed within the motor arms to the second housing of each motor assembly via the air inlet, passes by the motor of each motor assembly to dissipate heat from the motor, and exits from the air outlet.   
     
     
         22 . The UAV according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the motor of the motor assembly comprises a central motor shaft for defining a rotating axis of the motor inner workings.   
     
     
         23 . The UAV according to  claim 22 , wherein the motor installation base is coupled to the motor assembly by a sealing member to form the second housing. 
     
     
         24 . The UAV according to  claim 23 , wherein a motor arm joins the motor installation base from outside of the motor installation base and through an opening on a sidewall of the motor installation base, such that the air transport duct connects to the second housing. 
     
     
         25 . The UAV according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the motor installation base defines an installation chamber therein for receiving a motor controller coupled with the motor assembly, and   the installation chamber has air-sealed communication with the internal chamber of the motor assembly.   
     
     
         26 . The UAV according to  claim 22 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a pump structure for drawing the air into the internal chamber via the air inlet and expelling the air out of the internal chamber via the air outlet, wherein the motor inner workings are cooled by the air traversing from the air inlet to the air outlet. 
     
     
         27 . The UAV according to  claim 26 , wherein the motor assembly is configured to simultaneously provide the propulsion forces for moving the UAV and operate the pump structure to drawing and expelling the air. 
     
     
         28 . The UAV according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the second housing comprises a duct in the internal chamber for defining an inner cavity within the duct and surrounding the central motor shaft and an outer cavity outside the duct, inside the internal chamber and surrounding the inner cavity, and   a stator of the motor inner workings is located in the outer cavity and surrounds the duct.   
     
     
         29 . The UAV according to  claim 28 , wherein the pump structure comprises a centrifugal fan exposed to the duct and the centrifugal fan comprises at least one blade rotatable with respect to the central motor shaft. 
     
     
         30 . The UAV according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the blade comprises a planar structure facing a direction vertical to the central motor shaft,   the planar structure comprises a wide portion and two narrow portions radially separated by the wide portion,   the wide portion extending farther along the rotating axis of the motor inner workings than that of the two narrow portions, and   the two narrow portions comprise a first narrow portion and a second narrow portion, the first narrow portion extends from the central motor shaft to the wide portion, and the second narrow portion is radially separated from the first narrow portion by the wide portion.   
     
     
         31 . A motor assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the UAV includes a UAV body having a first housing for accommodating a control device for controlling operation of the UAV, the first housing having a central air inlet for drawing air from an external environment of the UAV; and at least one motor arm, being hollow and having a duct-type structure, for coupling the motor assembly and the UAV body and for supporting the motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising:
 a second housing having an air inlet and air outlet;   motor inner workings hosted in the second housing and a central motor shaft for defining a rotating axis of the motor inner workings, wherein the second housing defines an internal chamber for at least partially receiving the motor inner workings and communicating with the air inlet and the air outlet in the second housing; and   a motor installation base for installing the motor on the motor installation base for providing propulsion forces for moving the UAV,   wherein the first housing, the motor arm, and the second housing are coupled together in such way that the air drawn from the external environment sequentially passes by the control device in the first housing to dissipate heat from the control device, passes through an air transport duct formed within the motor arm to the second housing of each motor assembly via the air inlet, passes by the motor of each motor assembly to dissipate heat from the motor inner workings of the motor, and exits from the air outlet of the second housing.   
     
     
         32 . The motor assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the motor installation base is coupled to the motor assembly by a sealing member to form the second housing. 
     
     
         33 . The motor assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein the motor arm joins the motor installation base from outside of the motor installation base and through an opening on a sidewall of the motor installation base, such that the air transport duct connects to the second housing. 
     
     
         34 . The motor assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 the motor installation base defines an installation chamber therein for receiving a motor controller coupled with the motor assembly, and   the installation chamber has air-sealed communication with the internal chamber of the motor assembly.   
     
     
         35 . The motor assembly according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a pump structure for drawing the air into the internal chamber via the air inlet and expelling the air out of the internal chamber via the air outlet,   wherein the motor inner workings are cooled by the air traversing from the air inlet to the air outlet.   
     
     
         36 . The motor assembly according to  claim 35 , wherein the motor is configured to simultaneously provide a propulsion force for moving the UAV and operate the pump structure to drawing and expelling the air. 
     
     
         37 . The motor assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 the second housing comprises a duct in the internal chamber for defining an inner cavity within the duct and surrounding the central motor shaft and an outer cavity outside the duct, inside the internal chamber and surrounding the inner cavity, and   a stator of the motor inner workings is located in the outer cavity and surrounds the duct.   
     
     
         38 . The motor assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein the pump structure comprises a centrifugal fan exposed to the duct and the centrifugal fan comprises at least one blade rotatable with respect to the central motor shaft. 
     
     
         39 . The motor assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 the blade comprises a planar structure facing a direction vertical to the central motor shaft,   the planar structure comprises a wide portion and two narrow portions radially separated by the wide portion,   the wide portion extending farther along the rotating axis of the motor inner workings than that of the two narrow portions, and   the two narrow portions comprise a first narrow portion and a second narrow portion, the first narrow portion extends from the central motor shaft to the wide portion, and the second narrow portion is radially separated from the first narrow portion by the wide portion.