Patent Publication Number: US-2020298255-A1

Title: Spray head assembly, spray head device, and unmanned aerial vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/115243, filed Dec. 8, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the spray system technology field of plant protection and, more particularly, to a spray head assembly, a spray head device, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 
     BACKGROUND 
     In related technology, a spray system is configured to spray liquids such as pesticides, fertilizers, water, etc., in the fields of agricultural production and plant protection. A spray head device of the spray system is configured to spray liquids to crop surface. 
     For the spray head device on the market, a valve structure is usually mounted at a valve body through a thread structure. When the spray head device is re-assembled after cleaning, forces for rotating and mounting the valve structure at the valve body are different. The different forces cause different liquid pressures required to open a seal structure, which may cause ununiform spraying. The current spray head does not have a specific pressure relief structure. The liquid flows to user&#39;s hands and surfaces of the spray head each time the pressure being released. The liquid is difficult to clean and may harm human health. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the disclosure, there is provided a spray head assembly including a spray head body, a cover, a pressure relief adjustment member, and a seal assembly. The spray head body includes an inlet flow channel and an outlet flow channel. The cover is mounted at the spray head body and includes an accommodation chamber. The pressure relief adjustment member is configured to cooperate with the cover. The seal assembly is accommodated in the accommodation chamber and includes a seal valve plate, a connection member, and an elastic member. The seal valve plate is configured to connect the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel. The connection member is connected to the seal valve plate. The elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the connection member, such that the seal valve plate is normally closed. The pressure relief adjustment member is configured to drive the seal valve plate through the connection member, to cause the seal assembly to switch between a first work position and a second work position. At the first work position, the seal valve plate is open, and the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel are in communication with each other. At the second work position, the seal valve plate is closed, and the communication between the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel is blocked. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a spray head device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the spray head device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Technical solutions of the present disclosure are described in connection with the accompanying drawings in embodiments of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are only some embodiments not all embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the described embodiments without creative work are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Exemplary embodiments are described in detail here, and examples of the embodiments are represented in the accompanying drawings. In the description of the accompanying drawings, same numbers in different drawings represent same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. Implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. In contrast, the implementations are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Terms used in the present disclosure are for a purpose of describing specific embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular forms “a,” “the,” and “this” as used in the present disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “and/or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of related listed items. 
     A spray head assembly, a spray head device, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. In case of no conflict, following embodiments and features in the embodiments may be combined with each other. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the UAV includes a body, an arm, and a spray head device  100  mounted at the arm. The UAV may be used to spray liquids such as pesticides, fertilizers, water, etc., in the fields of agricultural production and plant protection. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the spray head device  100  includes the spray head assembly and a spray nozzle assembly  120 . The spray nozzle assembly  120  may be detachably mounted at the spray head assembly. The spray nozzle assembly  120  is connected to an outlet flow channel  13 . 
     The spray head assembly includes a spray head body  10 , a cover  20 , a pressure relief adjustment member  30 , and seal assembly  40 . The spray head body  10  includes an inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13 . The cover  20  is mounted at the spray head body  10 . The cover  20  includes an accommodation chamber  22 . The pressure relief adjustment member  30  cooperates with the cover  20 . The seal assembly  40  is placed in the accommodation chamber  22 . The seal assembly  40  includes a seal valve plate  41 , a connection member  43 , and an elastic member  45 . The seal valve plate  41  is configured to block communication between the inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13 . The pressure relief adjustment member  30  is configured to drive the seal valve plate  41  through the connection member  43 . The elastic member  45  is configured to provide an elastic force to the connection member  43 , such that the seal valve plate  41  is normally closed. 
     When the pressure relief adjustment member  30  is operated, the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , through the connection member  43 , causes the seal assembly  40  to switch between a first work position and a second work position. When the seal assembly  40  is at the first work position, the seal valve plate  41  is open, and the inlet flow channel  11  communicates with the outlet flow channel  13 . When the seal assembly  40  is at the second work position, the seal valve plate  41  is closed, and the communication between the inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13  is blocked. 
     Due to the elastic member  45 , the seal valve plate  41  is normally closed. The inlet flow channel  11  of the spray head body  10  is in communication with a pump. When the pump pumps liquid to the inlet flow channel  11 , liquid pressure causes the seal valve plate  41  to open. The inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13  are then in communication with each other, and the spray head device can spray liquids such as pesticides, water, etc. To release the pressure, the pressure relief adjustment member  30  is operated to switch the seal assembly  40  from the second work position to the first work position. The seal valve plate is opened to release the pressure. This effectively avoids the liquids such as the pesticides, and the water, etc., from flowing to hands of an operator and a surface of the spray head device. 
     The seal assembly  40  has the definite first work position and second work position. When the spray head assembly is re-assembled after cleaning, the seal assembly  40  is at the defined second work position, and the elastic member  45  provides a constant elastic force to the connection member  43 . As such, the connection member  43  applies a consistent pressing force to the seal valve plate  41 . When spraying, the liquid pressure, which opens the seal valve plate  41 , is also consistent. The spraying is uniform. 
     In an embodiment, the spray head body  10  includes a pair of buckles  17 . An inner wall of the accommodation chamber  21  of the cover  20  includes sliding slots  211  cooperating with the buckles  17 , correspondingly. Each sliding slot  211  includes a first sliding slot  2111  through an end surface of the cover  20  and a second sliding slot  2113 . The first sliding slot  2111  and the second sliding slot  2113  form a certain angle. The buckle  17  slides from the end surface of the cover  20  through the first sliding slot  2111  into the second sliding slot  2113 . An inner wall of the second sliding slot  2113  includes a positioning portion  2115  for limiting the buckle  17 . Assembling is convenient and reliable. 
     In the above-described embodiment, an extension direction of the first sliding slot  2111  is perpendicular to the end surface of the cover  20 . The second sliding slot  2113  is perpendicular to the first sliding slot  2111 . The second sliding slot  2113  includes a wider first section  2116  and a narrower second section  2117 . The positioning portion  2115  at the inner wall of the second sliding slot  2113  is located between the first section  2116  and the second section  2117 . The first section  2116  is connected to the second section  2117 . The positioning portion  2115  protrudes from an inner wall of the second section  2117  and limits the buckle  17  within the second section  2117 , so as to fix the cover  20  to the spray head body  10 . A side of the positioning portion  2115  adjacent to the first section  2116  is a guide surface  2118 . The guide surface  2118  facilitates the buckle  17  to slide from the first section  2116  into the second section  2117 . 
     During assembling, the buckle  17  of the spray head body  10  is first inserted into the first sliding slot  2111  of the cover  20 . The cover  20  is then rotated relative to the spray head body  10 . The buckle  17  first enters the first section  2116  of the second sliding slot  2113 , then enters the second section  2117  by guidance of the guide surface  2118 , and is held by the positioning portion  2115 . As such, the cover  20  is mounted to the spray head body  10 . 
     In an embodiment, an end of the connection member  43  is fixedly connected to the pressure relief adjustment member  30 . The other end of the connection member  43  has an abutting portion  431 . The abutting portion  431  abuts against the seal valve plate  41 . In the embodiment, an end of the connection member  43  is fixed to the pressure relief adjustment member  30  through a retaining ring  50 . That is, the end of the connection member  43  passes through the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , and the retaining ring  50  is placed at the end of the connection member  43 . An end surface of the pressure relief adjustment member  30  includes a concave slot  35 , and the retaining ring  50  is in the concave slot  35 . The retaining ring  50  is fixed to both the connection member  43  and the pressure relief adjustment member  30 . In another embodiment, the connection member  43  is connected to the pressure relief adjustment member  30  by a fastener, such as screws, or by buckles, etc., which is not limited here. 
     In other embodiments, other manners for connecting the connection member  43  to the pressure relief adjustment member  30  and the seal valve plate  41  may be used. In one manner, an end of the connection member  43  is movably connected to the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , and the other end is fixedly connected the seal valve plate  41 . In another manner, the connection member  43  and the pressure relief adjustment member  30  are formed integrally, and the connection member  43  is detachably connected to the seal valve plate  41 . In another manner, the connection member  43  is detachably connected to the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , and the connection member  43  and the seal valve plate  41  are formed integrally. The connection manner may be any manner as long as the pressure relief adjustment member  30  can be operated to drive the connection member  43  to realize the switching of the seal assembly  40  between the first work position and the second work position. 
     In an embodiment, the elastic member  45  abuts against the cover  20  and the abutting portion  431 . The elastic member  45  is configured to apply an elastic force to the abutting portion  431  in a direction toward the seal valve plate  41 . In this embodiment, the connection member  43  includes a rod-shaped main body  430 . The main body  430  is cylindrical, and may also be in another shape. The abutting portion  431  is placed at an end of the main body  430  and protrudes from the main body  430  along a circumstantial direction. An end of the abutting portion  431  is an annular surface surrounding the main body portion  430 . The elastic member  45  abuts against the annular surface of the abutting portion  431 . The other surface of the abutting portion  431  abuts against the seal valve plate  41 . 
     In another embodiment, the elastic member  45  may be fixedly or movably connected to the cover  20  and the connection member  43 . The elastic member  45  is configured to apply the elastic force to the abutting portion  431  in a direction toward the seal valve plate  41 . For example, the elastic member  45  may be connected to the cover  20  and the connection member  43  by glue bonding. Other connection manners may be used, and the present disclosure is not limited here. 
     In an embodiment, the pressure relief adjustment member  30  includes an adjustment portion  31 . The cover  20  includes a first working portion  21  and a second working portion  23  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . When the adjustment portion  31  abuts against the first working portion  21 , the seal valve plate  41  is open, and the inlet flow channel  11  is in communication with the outlet flow channel  13 . When the adjustment portion  31  abuts against the second working portion  23 , the seal valve plate  41  block the communication between the inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13 . To release the pressure, the operator operates the pressure relief adjustment member  30  to move the adjustment portion  31  from the second working portion  23  to the first working portion  21 . The seal valve plate  41  is open to release the pressure, and the operation is convenient. 
     Further, the pressure relief adjustment member  30  includes a body  32  cooperating with the connection member  43  and an edge portion  33  at a periphery of the body  32 . The edge portion  33  is easily to hold and operate. The adjustment portion  31  protrudes from the body  32  or the edge portion  33 . In other embodiments, the edge portion  33  may be omitted, and the adjustment portion  31  protrudes from the body  32 . 
     In an embodiment, the first working portion  21  and the second working portion  23  are concave from the end surface of the cover  20 . In this embodiment, the first working portion  21  and the second working portion  23  are at a surrounding wall of the cover  20 . In other embodiments, the first working portion  21  and the second working portion  23  may also protrude from different positions at the surrounding wall of the cover  20 . The present disclosure is not limited here. 
     In an embodiment, the first working portion  21  has a first surface  211  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The second working portion  23  has a second surface  231  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The first surface  211  and the second surface  231  are parallel to each other. A transition surface  24  is between the first surface  211  and the second surface  231 . The transition surface  24  is an inclined surface connecting the first surface  211  and the second surface  231 . The transition surface  24  may also be a curved surface. To release the pressure, the operator rotates the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , such that the adjustment portion  31  slides from the second surface  231  through the transition surface  24  to the first surface  211 . At this point, the seal valve plate  41  is open, and the pressure is released. 
     In another embodiment, the first working portion  21  has the first surface  211  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The second working portion  23  has the second surface  231  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The first surface  211  and the second surface  231  are parallel to each other and connected by the transition surface  24 . The transition surface  24  is perpendicular to the first surface  211  and the second surface  231 . To release the pressure, the operator first pulls the pressure relief adjustment member  30  in a direction away from the seal valve plate  41  until the end of the adjustment portion  31  is aligned with the first surface  211 . The operator then rotates the pressure relief adjustment member  30 , such that the adjustment portion  31  abuts the first surface  211 . At this point, the seal valve plate is open, and the pressure is released. 
     In another embodiment, the first working portion  21  has the first surface  211  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The second working portion  23  has the second surface  231  cooperating with the adjustment portion  31 . The second surface  231  is inclined with respect to the first surface  211 , such that the adjustment portion  31  slides along the second surface  231  with the force applied by the elastic member  45 . In this situation, the transition surface may or may not be provided between the second surface  231  and the first surface  211 . 
     A position limiting portion  213  is provided at the first surface  211  to limit the adjustment portion  31  at the first surface  211 , such that the adjustment portion  31  does not slide to the second surface  231  under the elastic force of the elastic member  45 . The position limiting portion  213  is a convex portion, and, in some embodiments, a surface of the convex portion is a smooth arc surface, which facilitates the switching of the pressure relief adjustment member  30  between the first surface  211  and the second surface  231 . The position limiting portion  213  may alternatively be a square, etc., and the present disclosure is not limited here. In the embodiment, the position limiting portion  213  is adjacent to the transition surface  24 . 
     In an embodiment, the pressure relief adjustment member  30  includes two opposite adjustment portions  31 . The cover  20  includes two pairs of the first working portions  21  and the second working portions  23 . According to specific needs, the pressure relief adjustment member  30  may include one, three, or more than three adjustment portions  31 . The cover  20  may include one, three, or more than three pairs of the first working portions and the second working portions  23 . 
     Further, the cover  20  has a cooperation portion  25 . An end of the elastic member  45  abuts against the cooperation portion  25 . The other end of the elastic member  45  abuts against the abutting portion  431  of the connection member  43 . To release the pressure, the operator rotates the pressure relief adjustment member  30 . As the adjustment portion  31  slides from the second surface  231  to the first surface  211 , the abutting portion  431  moves toward the cooperation portion  25 . The elastic member  45  deforms elastically as compressed by the abutting portion  431 , and the seal valve plate  41  switches from a closed state to an open state. The cooperation portion  25  is at an end of the cover and protrudes from the inner wall of the accommodation chamber of the cover  20 . In this embodiment, the cooperation portion  25  has a ring shape. Correspondingly, the elastic member  45  also has a ring shape, such that the elastic member  45  can uniformly apply an elastic force to the abutting portion  431  in a direction toward the seal valve plate  41 . 
     In an embodiment, an end of the cover  20  extends toward the seal valve plate  41  to form a position limiting wall  27 . The position limiting wall  27  and the inner wall of the accommodating chamber  22  surround to form an accommodation groove  29  for accommodating the elastic member  45 . The cooperation portion  25  is at an end of the accommodation groove  29 . The size of the accommodation groove  29  is slightly larger than the elastic member  45 , such that the elastic member  45  does not interfere the position limiting wall  27  and the inner wall of the accommodation chamber  22  when the elastic member  45  is compressed and deforms. The elastic member  45  is in the accommodation groove  29 . The elastic member  45  does not move under limitation of the accommodation groove  29  during working. 
     The elastic member  45  includes at least one of a spring, an elastic rubber tube, or an elastic metal sheet. As long as the elastic member  45  can provide an elastic force to the connection member  43 , the elastic member  45  is not limited to the above examples. 
     In an embodiment, the seal valve plate  41  includes a connection portion  411  clamped by the spray head body  10  and the cover  20 , and a seal portion  413  facing the inlet flow channel  11  and the outlet flow channel  13 . The cover  20  includes an annular slot. The connection portion  411  of the seal valve plate  41  is located in the annular slot, and is clamped and fixed by the spray head body  10  and the cover  20 . 
     In the specification, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or orders between these entities or operations. The terms “include,” “contain,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or includes elements that are inherent to such a process, method, article, or device. Without further restrictions, elements associated with the clause “including a . . . ” do not exclude existence of other similar elements in the process, method, article or device including the elements. 
     The methods and devices provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used herein to explain the principles and implementations of the present disclosure. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the method and core ideas of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that, according to the spirits of the present disclosure, changes may be made to the specific implementation and the scope of application. The contents of this specification should not be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure.