A flap-type shut-off valve, a UAV and a method for controlling oil stringing rate thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a turning plate type cut-off valve, a unmanned plane and a oil stringing rate control method thereof, and belongs to the field of unmanned planes, which comprises a base, a cover plate, a valve rod, a rotating part, a traction rope and a first spring; the base is arranged on the surface of the side of a partition plate facing a main oil tank, a through hole is arranged on the base, the through hole is communicated with a through hole, the cover plate is rotationally connected with the base, and the first spring is used for providing elastic force for the cover plate, so that the cover plate is pressed on the base and seals the through hole; the valve rod is installed on the side wall of the main oil tank and rotationally connected with the main oil tank, the rotating part is fixedly connected with the valve rod, one end of the traction rope is connected with the rotating part, and the other end is connected with the cover plate; when the valve rod rotates, the rotating part is driven to rotate, when the rotating part rotates, the cover plate is driven to rotate away from the base through the traction rope, so that the main oil tank and a sub-oil tank are communicated, and the sealing performance of the turning plate type cut-off valve can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, specifically relating to a flap-type shut-off valve, a UAV, and a method for controlling the oil flow rate. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of drone technology, drones have gradually come into people's view and play an important role in fields such as surveying, aerial photography, agriculture, and rescue.

[0003] Typically, a drone's fuel system includes a main fuel tank, an auxiliary fuel tank, and a shut-off valve. A partition separates the main and auxiliary tanks, with a through-hole connecting them. The shut-off valve is located on the partition and seals the through-hole. When the drone performs a long-range mission and requires fuel exchange between the main and auxiliary tanks, the shut-off valve is open, allowing fuel exchange through the through-hole. When the drone performs a short-range mission, fuel exchange is not required, and the shut-off valve is closed, preventing fuel exchange between the main and auxiliary tanks through the through-hole.

[0004] A typical shut-off valve consists of a valve body and a valve stem. The valve body is mounted on the side wall of the main oil tank, and the valve stem has a sealing element. With this structure, the valve stem can move the sealing element towards the partition, allowing it to seal tightly around the through-hole on the partition. Alternatively, the valve stem can move the sealing element away from the partition, allowing oil to flow between the main and auxiliary oil tanks through the through-hole. However, when the partition is inclined relative to the side wall of the main oil tank, the angle between the valve stem and the sealing element during the sealing process results in a poor sealing effect, leading to poor sealing performance of the shut-off valve. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this invention provides a flap-type shut-off valve, a drone, and a method for controlling the oil flow rate thereafter. The technical problem to be solved by this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a flap-type shut-off valve for controlling the connection and disconnection between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank in the fuel system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A partition is provided between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank, and the partition has a through hole for connecting the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The flap-type shut-off valve includes a base, a cover plate, a valve stem, a rotating component, a traction rope, and a first spring. The base is disposed on the surface of the partition facing the main fuel tank, and the base has a through hole that communicates with the through hole. The cover plate is rotatably connected to the base. The first spring provides an elastic force to the cover plate so that the cover plate is pressed against the base and seals the through hole. The valve stem is installed on the side wall of the main fuel tank and is rotatably connected to the main fuel tank. The rotating component is fixedly connected to the valve stem. One end of the traction rope is connected to the rotating component, and the other end is connected to the cover plate. When the valve stem rotates, it drives the rotating component to rotate. When the rotating component rotates, it drives the cover plate away from the base to rotate, thereby connecting the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a mounting base and a handle are further included. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the side wall of the main oil tank. The side wall of the main oil tank is provided with a mounting hole, and the mounting base is provided with a positioning hole. The positioning hole and the mounting hole are coaxially arranged. The first end of the valve stem is connected to the rotating part, and the second end of the valve stem extends through the positioning hole to the outside of the main oil tank. The handle is installed on the second end of the valve stem.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, a second spring is further included, which is disposed between the handle and the mounting base. When the handle is rotated in the first direction, pressure is applied to the second spring to cause the second spring to undergo elastic deformation.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, an annular positioning member is further included. The annular positioning member is fixedly connected to the mounting base, and the annular positioning member and the positioning hole are coaxially arranged. The annular positioning member is provided with a slot, and the handle is provided with a claw. When the handle is rotated, the claw and the slot engage to restrict the rotation of the handle in the second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the chuck and the handle are rotatably connected, and a third spring is provided between the chuck and the handle. The third spring is used to apply an elastic force to the chuck so that the chuck is pressed into the slot.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pawl is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the pawl groove is a serrated groove. The serrated groove includes a plurality of teeth grooves distributed sequentially along the circumference of the annular positioning member. The number of teeth grooves is greater than the number of protrusions, and the protrusions and teeth grooves engage with each other. The annular positioning member is provided with a limiting block. The limiting block engages with the pawl along the circumference of the annular positioning member to limit the excessive rotation of the handle. The teeth groove is provided with a guide slope to facilitate the rotation of the pawl along a first direction. The guide slope faces the side away from the limiting block.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating component is a cam, the cam's shaft has a shaft hole, one end of the valve stem is inserted into and fixed in the shaft hole, and the cam's protrusion is connected to the traction rope.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover plate is arranged along the height direction of the partition, and the end of the cover plate connected to the base is higher than the end connected to the traction rope, and the protrusion of the cam faces the through hole.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing ring is provided between the base and the cover plate, the sealing ring is nested around the perforation, and a first spring applies an elastic force to the cover plate so that the cover plate presses the sealing ring onto the base to achieve a seal.

[0015] Secondly, the present invention provides a drone, including a fuel system and a flap-type shut-off valve as described above. The fuel system includes a main fuel tank and an auxiliary fuel tank, with a partition between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The partition has a through hole for connecting the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The flap-type shut-off valve is disposed on the partition and is used to seal the through hole. The drone's fuel system also includes a center of gravity detection device and a processor. The center of gravity detection device is used to detect the center of gravity position data of the drone. The center of gravity detection device and the processor are electrically connected. The processor is used to determine the degree of center of gravity offset of the drone based on the center of gravity position data.

[0016] Thirdly, the present invention provides a method for controlling the fuel transfer rate of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising the UAV as described above, the UAV including a fuel system and a flap-type shut-off valve, the fuel system including a main fuel tank and an auxiliary fuel tank, and the flap-type shut-off valve including a handle, a valve stem, a traction rope, a cover plate, and a base, the method comprising:

[0017] The valve stem is controlled by the handle to rotate in the first direction. When the valve stem rotates, the cover plate moves away from the base through the traction rope, so that the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank are connected through the perforation on the base.

[0018] The first center of gravity position data of the drone is detected in real time by the center of gravity detection device;

[0019] The second center of gravity position data of the drone is detected by the center of gravity detection device at the second time.

[0020] The processor calculates the difference between the first and second centroid position data.

[0021] The processor compares the difference with a set threshold. When the difference is greater than the set threshold, the control handle rotates in the second direction, which is the opposite of the first and second directions.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0023] In the above-described scheme of this application, the flap-type shut-off valve includes a base, a cover plate, a valve stem, a rotating component, a traction rope, and a first spring. The base is disposed on the surface of the partition facing the main oil tank. The base has a through hole, which communicates with the through hole. The cover plate is rotatably connected to the base. The first spring provides elastic force to the cover plate, pressing it against the base and sealing the through hole. The valve stem is installed on the side wall of the main oil tank and rotatably connected to it. The rotating component is fixedly connected to the valve stem. One end of the traction rope is connected to the rotating component, and the other end is connected to the cover plate. With this structure, when the valve stem rotates, it can drive the rotating component to rotate. When the rotating component rotates, it can drive the cover plate away from the base to rotate, thereby connecting the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank, allowing oil to flow between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank through the through hole. When the valve stem is released, the first spring provides elastic force to the cover plate, pressing it against the base and sealing the through hole, allowing oil to flow between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank through the through hole. Furthermore, since the base is set on the partition plate and the valve stem is set on the side wall of the main oil tank, the cover plate on the base and the rotating part on the valve stem are connected by a flexible traction rope. Therefore, when the partition plate is tilted relative to the side wall of the main oil tank, the cover plate and the rotating part can adapt to the tilt of the partition plate by the offset of the traction rope, thereby improving the sealing effect between the cover plate and the base and thus improving the sealing performance of the flap-type shut-off valve.

[0024] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a flap-type shut-off valve provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a flap-type shut-off valve provided in an embodiment of the present invention disposed on a partition plate;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the handle, mounting base, and annular positioning component in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a fuel flow rate control method for a drone provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Reference numerals: 1-base, 2-cover plate, 3-valve stem, 4-rotating component, 5-traction rope, 6-first spring, 7-mounting seat, 8-handle, 9-annular positioning component, 10-slot, 11-claw, 12-partition. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] Example 1:

[0032] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a flap-type shut-off valve for controlling the connection and disconnection between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank in a drone's fuel system. A partition 12 is provided between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank, and the partition 12 has a through hole for connecting the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The flap-type shut-off valve includes a base 1, a cover plate 2, a valve stem 3, a rotating component 4, a traction rope 5, and a first spring 6. The base 1 is disposed on the surface of the partition 12 facing the main fuel tank, and the base 1 has a through hole that communicates with the through hole. Plate 2 and base 1 are rotatably connected. The first spring 6 is used to provide elastic force for cover plate 2 so that cover plate 2 is pressed against base 1 and the perforation is sealed. Valve stem 3 is installed on the side wall of main oil tank and rotatably connected to main oil tank. Rotating part 4 and valve stem 3 are fixedly connected. One end of traction rope 5 is connected to rotating part 4 and the other end is connected to cover plate 2. When valve stem 3 rotates, it drives rotating part 4 to rotate. When rotating part 4 rotates, it drives cover plate 2 away from base 1 through traction rope 5 so that main oil tank and auxiliary oil tank are connected.

[0033] In some embodiments of this application, the fuel system of the UAV is provided with a structural fuel tank, which has a receiving cavity for containing fuel. The structural fuel tank is provided with a partition 12, which divides the receiving cavity into a main fuel tank and a secondary fuel tank.

[0034] In some embodiments of this application, the base 1 and the partition 12 are fastened together by bolts. The base 1 has a disc-shaped structure, and four connecting protrusions are fixed on the base 1. The four connecting protrusions are evenly distributed along the circumference of the disc-shaped structure, and each of the four connecting protrusions is provided with a threaded fastening hole. In this way, four threaded fasteners can pass through the threaded fastening holes on the four connecting protrusions respectively, locking the base 1 onto the partition 12.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, a sealing ring is provided between the base 1 and the partition 12, the base 1 has a through hole at its axis, the sealing ring is nested in the outer periphery of the through hole, and the base 1 has an annular groove for fixing the sealing ring.

[0036] In some embodiments of this application, one end of the cover plate 2 is provided with two oppositely arranged protruding ears, each of which is provided with a first shaft hole. The base 1 is provided with two positioning ears, the two protruding ears are located between the two positioning ears, each of which is provided with a second shaft hole. A rotating shaft is provided between the cover plate 2 and the base 1, and the rotating shaft is inserted into both the first shaft hole and the second shaft hole, so that the cover plate 2 and the base 1 are rotatably connected.

[0037] In some embodiments of this application, the first spring 6 is a torsion spring, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft, and the protruding part of one end of the torsion spring presses against the cover plate 2, while the protruding part of the other end presses against the base 1.

[0038] In some embodiments of this application, a connecting block is provided at one end of the cover plate 2 near the traction rope 5, the connecting block and the cover plate 2 are rotatably connected, and one end of the traction rope 5 is connected to the connecting block.

[0039] In some embodiments of this application, the traction rope 5 includes a rope body and a locking buckle. The rotating part 4 and the connecting block are both provided with rope holes. The end of the rope body extends through the rope hole and is locked to the rope body by the locking buckle, which makes the installation of the traction rope 5 more convenient and improves the stability of the connection between the traction rope 5 and the cover plate 2 and the rotating part 4.

[0040] In some embodiments of this application, an elastic washer is installed on the valve stem 3, and the elastic washer is located on the side of the rotating member 4 away from the handle 8 to prevent the rotating member 4 from disengaging from the valve stem 3.

[0041] In some embodiments of this application, the oil in the main oil tank can apply pressure to the cover plate 2, thereby improving the sealing effect of the cover plate 2 on the perforations on the base 1.

[0042] In the above-described scheme of this application, the flap-type shut-off valve includes a base 1, a cover plate 2, a valve stem 3, a rotating component 4, a traction rope 5, and a first spring 6. The base 1 is disposed on the surface of the partition plate 12 facing the main oil tank. The base 1 is provided with a through hole, which is connected to the through hole. The cover plate 2 is rotatably connected to the base 1. The first spring 6 is used to provide an elastic force for the cover plate 2 so that the cover plate 2 is pressed tightly against the base 1 and the through hole is sealed. The valve stem 3 is installed on the side wall of the main oil tank and is rotatably connected to the main oil tank. The rotating component 4 is fixedly connected to the valve stem 3. One end of the traction rope 5 is connected to the rotating component 4, and the other end is connected to the cover plate 2. With this structure, when the valve stem 3 rotates, it drives the rotating component 4 to rotate. The rotation of the rotating component 4, via the traction rope 5, causes the cover plate 2 to rotate away from the base 1, thus connecting the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank. This allows oil to flow between the main and auxiliary oil tanks through the perforation. When the valve stem 3 is released, the first spring 6 provides elastic force to the cover plate 2, pressing it against the base 1 and sealing the perforation, allowing oil to flow between the main and auxiliary oil tanks through the perforation. Furthermore, since the base 1 is mounted on the partition 12, and the valve stem 3 is mounted on the side wall of the main oil tank, the cover plate 2 on the base 1 and the rotating component 4 on the valve stem 3 are connected by the flexible traction rope 5. Therefore, when the partition 12 is tilted relative to the side wall of the main oil tank, the cover plate 2 and the rotating component 4 can adapt to the tilt of the partition 12 through the offset of the traction rope 5, improving the sealing effect between the cover plate 2 and the base 1, thereby improving the sealing performance of the flap-type shut-off valve.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, the flap-type shut-off valve further includes a mounting base 7 and a handle 8. The mounting base 7 is fixedly connected to the side wall of the main oil tank. The side wall of the main oil tank has a mounting hole, and the mounting base 7 has a positioning hole. The positioning hole and the mounting hole are coaxially arranged. The first end of the valve stem 3 is connected to the rotating component 4, and the second end of the valve stem 3 extends through the positioning hole to the outside of the main oil tank. The handle 8 is installed on the second end of the valve stem 3. With this structure, the operator can manually rotate the handle 8 from outside the oil tank to control the rotation of the valve stem 3, thereby controlling the rotation of the cover plate 2 to open or close the flap-type shut-off valve, making the control of the flap-type shut-off valve more convenient and simple. The valve stem 3 is rotatably connected to the side wall of the main oil tank via the mounting base 7, which improves the stability of the valve stem 3.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, a bearing is provided between the valve stem 3 and the positioning hole of the mounting base 7, with the inner ring of the bearing fitted onto the valve stem 3 and the outer ring fitted into the positioning hole. Thus, the valve stem 3 can be rotatably connected to the mounting base 7 via the bearing.

[0045] In some embodiments of this application, a sealing ring is provided in the positioning hole of the mounting base 7 to prevent impurities outside the main oil tank from entering the main oil tank through the positioning hole of the mounting base 7 and causing oil contamination.

[0046] In some embodiments of this application, the mounting base 7 has two fastening holes on both sides, and two threaded fasteners pass through the two fastening holes and are threadedly connected to the main oil tank.

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the handle 8 includes a rotating plate and a sleeve. The sleeve is fitted over the valve stem 3. The rotating plate includes a circular plate portion and an extension portion. The circular plate portion is fixedly connected to the end of the sleeve. One end of the extension portion is connected to the circular plate portion, and the other end extends radially along the circular plate portion. Two extension portions are provided and are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the circular plate portion. The rotating plate is fastened to the end face of the valve stem 3 by bolts. Thus, the rotation of the valve stem 3 can be controlled by manually turning the extension portion.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the flap-type shut-off valve further includes a second spring disposed between the handle 8 and the mounting base 7. When the handle 8 rotates in the first direction, it applies pressure to the second spring, causing the second spring to undergo elastic deformation. With this structure, when the operator releases the handle 8, the handle 8 can reverse to its initial position under the elastic force of the second spring, facilitating the reuse of the handle 8. Simultaneously, when the operator releases the handle 8, the elastic force applied by the first spring 6 to the cover plate 2 can drive the cover plate 2 to rotate and press against the base 1. Through the cooperation of the first spring 6 and the second spring, the cover plate 2 can seal faster and with better sealing effect, thereby enabling the flap-type shut-off valve to close faster and with better sealing effect.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, the second spring is a torsion spring, one end of which is fixedly connected to the handle 8 and the other end of which is fixedly connected to the mounting base 7. The torsion spring can be nested inside the sleeve.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the flap-type shut-off valve also includes an annular positioning element 9, which is fixedly connected to the mounting base 7, and the annular positioning element 9 and the positioning hole are coaxially arranged. The annular positioning element 9 has a slot 10, and the handle 8 has a claw 11. When the handle 8 rotates, the claw 11 and the slot 10 engage to restrict the rotation of the handle 8 in a second direction, where the first and second directions are opposite. With this structure, the handle 8 can be fixed at a certain rotation angle by the engagement of the claw 11 and the slot 10. This allows the operator to release the handle 8 after it has rotated to the designated position, eliminating the need to continuously grip the handle 8 and apply external force, thus making operation more convenient. Meanwhile, the rotation angle of the handle 8 is positioned by the claw 11 and the slot 10, so that the handle 8 can be rotated to a specified position. By controlling the rotation angle of the handle 8 and the valve rod 3, the opening angle and size between the cover plate 2 and the base 1 can be controlled. In turn, the oil transfer rate between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank can be controlled to avoid the center of gravity of the UAV shifting when the oil transfer rate between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank is too high, or to avoid the auxiliary oil tank affecting the oil supply to the engine when the oil transfer rate between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank is too low.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the annular positioning member 9 is sleeved in the positioning hole of the mounting base 7, and the slot 10 is disposed on the side surface of the annular positioning member 9 near the handle 8, with the opening of the slot 10 facing the handle 8.

[0052] In some embodiments of this application, an arc-shaped block is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve in the handle 8, and the pawl 11 is an arc-shaped pawl. The arc-shaped pawl matches the outer periphery of the sleeve, and the arc-shaped pawl corresponds to the annular positioning member 9. Along the axial direction of the sleeve, the projection of the arc-shaped pawl coincides with the projection of the annular positioning member 9, or the projection of the arc-shaped pawl is located within the projection of the annular positioning member 9. One end of the arc-shaped pawl is rotatably connected to the arc-shaped block.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the chuck 11 and the handle 8 are rotatably connected. A third spring is provided between the chuck 11 and the handle 8. The third spring applies an elastic force to the chuck 11 to press it firmly into the slot 10. With this structure, the elastic force applied to the chuck 11 by the third spring can keep the chuck 11 pressed firmly into the slot 10, preventing the handle 8 from rotating abnormally if the chuck 11 comes out of the slot 10.

[0054] In some embodiments of this application, the third spring may be a torsion spring.

[0055] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the pawl 11 has multiple protrusions, and the slot 10 is a serrated groove. The serrated groove includes multiple teeth distributed sequentially along the circumference of the annular positioning member 9. The number of teeth is greater than the number of protrusions, and the protrusions and teeth engage in a locking fit. The annular positioning member 9 has a limiting block, which engages with the pawl 11 along the circumference of the annular positioning member 9 to limit the excessive rotation of the handle 8. The teeth have a guide slope to facilitate the rotation of the pawl 11 in the first direction, with the guide slope facing away from the limiting block. With this structure, the engagement stability of the pawl 11 and the slot 10 is improved by having multiple protrusions engage with multiple teeth respectively; the limiting block limits the pawl 11 to prevent the handle 8 from over-rotating; and the guide slope guides the movement of the pawl 11, making it easier for the pawl 11 to rotate in the first direction.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the groove is a right-angled triangular groove, the protrusion is a triangular protrusion, and the triangular protrusion matches the right-angled triangular groove.

[0057] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the rotating component 4 is a cam, with a shaft hole at its center. One end of the valve stem 3 is inserted into and fixed within the shaft hole, and the protrusion of the cam is connected to the traction rope 5. With this structure, when the valve stem 3 rotates, it can drive the cam to rotate. When the cam rotates, it can drive the traction rope 5 to move and pull the cover plate 2 to open, thus enabling the flap-type shut-off valve to be opened.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 As shown, the cover plate 2 is positioned along the height of the partition 12, with the end of the cover plate 2 connected to the base 1 higher than the end connected to the traction rope 5. The protrusion of the cam faces the through hole. With this structure, firstly, when the cover plate 2 rotates to close, its own weight can exert a downward force, making the cover plate 2 rotate and close faster. Secondly, since the cover plate 2 is located above the main oil tank, when the main oil tank is not full, the oil pressure on the cover plate 2 is relatively low, ensuring that the cover plate 2 can seal while preventing excessive oil pressure from affecting its opening. Furthermore, when the protrusion of the cam faces the through hole, the cam can rotate upwards to open the cover plate 2, making it easier for the traction rope 5 to drive the cover plate 2 to open.

[0059] In some embodiments of this application, a sealing ring is provided between the base 1 and the cover plate 2. The sealing ring is nested around the periphery of the perforation. The first spring 6 applies an elastic force to the cover plate 2, so that the cover plate 2 presses the sealing ring tightly onto the base 1 to achieve a seal. This structure can improve the sealing performance between the cover plate 2 and the base 1 and prevent oil leakage from the gap between the cover plate 2 and the base 1.

[0060] Example 2:

[0061] This invention provides a drone, including a fuel system and a flap-type shut-off valve as described in Embodiment 1 above. The fuel system includes a main fuel tank and an auxiliary fuel tank, with a partition between them. The partition has a through hole for connecting the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The flap-type shut-off valve is disposed on the partition and is used to seal the through hole. The drone's fuel system also includes a center of gravity detection device and a processor. The center of gravity detection device is used to detect the drone's center of gravity position data. The center of gravity detection device and the processor are electrically connected. The processor is used to determine the degree of center of gravity offset of the drone based on the center of gravity position data.

[0062] The beneficial effects of Embodiment 2 of the present invention and its various implementations can be found in the analysis of the beneficial effects of Embodiment 1 and its various implementations. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the center of gravity position data of the UAV is detected by a center of gravity detection device, and the angle that the handle needs to rotate is calculated by the processor based on the center of gravity position data. This allows for precise determination of the handle's rotation angle, thereby enabling precise control of the fuel transfer rate between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. This avoids excessive fuel transfer rate between the main and auxiliary fuel tanks, which could cause the UAV's center of gravity to shift, or excessively low fuel transfer rate, which could affect the auxiliary fuel tank's fuel supply to the engine, preventing the UAV from flying normally.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, the center of gravity detection device is an existing detection device capable of detecting the center of gravity position of a drone, such as Chinese Invention Patent Publication No. CN112722253A, entitled "A Center of Gravity Detection Device for a Drone". Specifically, in the embodiments of this application, the center of gravity detection device can be a balancer.

[0064] In some embodiments of this application, the processor can be a microchip, such as a CPU. The processor is used to calculate the difference between the first center of gravity position data and the second center of gravity position data, and compare the difference with a set threshold. Specifically, when the difference is less than the set threshold, the drone's center of gravity shift is minor, and there is no need to adjust the angle between the cover plate and the base. When the difference is greater than the set threshold, the drone's center of gravity shift is significant, and it is necessary to adjust the angle between the cover plate and the base by turning the handle to reduce the fuel transfer rate between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The first and second center of gravity position data are both coordinate data, such as three-dimensional coordinate values. The set thresholds are all preset values ​​and can be adjusted according to factors such as the drone model and the operating environment.

[0065] Example 3:

[0066] Please see Figure 4This invention provides a method for controlling the fuel flow rate of a drone, including the drone as described in Embodiment 2 above. The drone includes a fuel system and a flap-type shut-off valve. The fuel system includes a main fuel tank and an auxiliary fuel tank. The flap-type shut-off valve includes a handle, a valve stem, a traction rope, a cover plate, and a base. The method includes:

[0067] The valve stem is controlled by the handle to rotate in the first direction. When the valve stem rotates, the cover plate moves away from the base through the traction rope, so that the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank are connected through the perforation on the base.

[0068] The first center of gravity position data of the drone is detected in real time by the center of gravity detection device;

[0069] The second center of gravity position data of the drone is detected by the center of gravity detection device at the second time.

[0070] The processor calculates the difference between the first and second centroid position data.

[0071] The processor compares the difference with a set threshold. When the difference is greater than the set threshold, the control handle rotates in the second direction, which is the opposite of the first and second directions.

[0072] The beneficial effects of Embodiment 3 and its various implementations of the present invention can be found in the analysis of the beneficial effects of Embodiment 2 and its various implementations. Further details will not be provided here.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the first time and the second time are preset times that can be adaptively adjusted according to the start time of oil transfer between the main fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank. The time difference between the first time and the second time can be 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, etc.

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, a level sensor may also be installed inside the auxiliary fuel tank. The level sensor can detect the liquid level of the oil in the auxiliary fuel tank. The method further includes:

[0075] The liquid level sensor detects the first liquid level position data of the oil in the auxiliary oil tank in real time.

[0076] The second liquid level position data of the oil in the auxiliary oil tank is detected by the liquid level sensor at the second time.

[0077] The processor calculates the difference between the first liquid level position data and the second liquid level position data;

[0078] The processor compares the difference with a set threshold. When the difference is less than the set threshold, the control handle rotates in the first direction. This avoids the problem of slow oil transfer between the main and auxiliary fuel tanks affecting the normal operation of the engine when using an auxiliary fuel tank to supply fuel to the drone's engine.

[0079] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "circumferential", "axial", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0080] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0081] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0082] The above description, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of the present invention. It should not be construed that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and all such modifications and substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the fuel flow rate of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), characterized in that, The drone includes a fuel system and a flap-type shut-off valve, the fuel system including a main fuel tank and an auxiliary fuel tank; The flap-type shut-off valve is used for on / off control between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank. A partition is provided between the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank. The partition is provided with a through hole for connecting the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank. The flap-type shut-off valve is disposed on the partition and is used to seal the through hole. The flap-type shut-off valve includes a base, a cover plate, a valve stem, a rotating part, a traction rope, and a first spring. The base is disposed on the surface of the partition facing the main oil tank. The base has a through hole, which communicates with the through hole. The cover plate is rotatably connected to the base. The first spring is used to provide an elastic force to the cover plate so that the cover plate is pressed against the base and the through hole is sealed. The valve stem is installed on the side wall of the main oil tank and is rotatably connected to the main oil tank. The rotating part is fixedly connected to the valve stem. One end of the traction rope is connected to the rotating part and the other end is connected to the cover plate. When the valve stem rotates, it drives the rotating part to rotate. When the rotating part rotates, it drives the cover plate to rotate away from the base through the traction rope, so that the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank are connected. The drone's fuel system also includes a center of gravity detection device and a processor. The center of gravity detection device is used to detect the center of gravity position data of the drone. The center of gravity detection device and the processor are electrically connected. The processor is used to determine the degree of center of gravity offset of the drone based on the center of gravity position data. The drone's fuel system also includes a mounting base and a handle. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the side wall of the main fuel tank. The side wall of the main fuel tank is provided with a mounting hole. The mounting base is provided with a positioning hole. The positioning hole and the mounting hole are coaxially arranged. The first end of the valve stem is connected to the rotating component. The second end of the valve stem extends through the positioning hole to the outside of the main fuel tank. The handle is installed on the second end of the valve stem. The method includes: The valve stem is controlled to rotate in the first direction by the handle. When the valve stem rotates, the cover plate is moved away from the base by the traction rope so that the main oil tank and the auxiliary oil tank are connected through the perforation on the base. The first center of gravity position data of the UAV is detected in the first instant by the center of gravity detection device; The second center of gravity position data of the UAV is detected by the center of gravity detection device at a second time. The processor calculates the difference between the first center of gravity position data and the second center of gravity position data; The processor compares the difference with a set threshold. When the difference is greater than the set threshold, it controls the handle to rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein, The drone's fuel system also includes a second spring disposed between the handle and the mounting base. When the handle is rotated in a first direction, pressure is applied to the second spring to cause the second spring to undergo elastic deformation. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein, The fuel system of the UAV also includes an annular positioning component, which is fixedly connected to the mounting base, and the annular positioning component and the positioning hole are coaxially arranged. The annular positioning component is provided with a slot, and the handle is provided with a claw. When the handle is rotated, the claw and the slot engage to restrict the rotation of the handle in the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein, The chuck and the handle are rotatably connected. A third spring is provided between the chuck and the handle. The third spring is used to apply an elastic force to the chuck so that the chuck is pressed into the slot. 5.The method of claim 3, wherein, The claw is provided with multiple protrusions, and the slot is a serrated groove. The serrated groove includes multiple teeth that are sequentially distributed along the circumference of the annular positioning member. The number of teeth is greater than the number of protrusions, and the protrusions and the teeth engage in a locking fit. The annular positioning member is provided with a limiting block, which cooperates with the pawl along the circumference of the annular positioning member to limit the excessive rotation of the handle. The tooth groove is provided with a guide slope to facilitate the rotation of the pawl along the first direction, and the guide slope faces the side away from the limiting block. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein, The rotating component is a cam, and the cam has a shaft hole at its center. One end of the valve stem is inserted into and fixed in the shaft hole, and the protrusion of the cam is connected to the traction rope. The cover plate is arranged along the height direction of the partition, and the end of the cover plate connected to the base is higher than the end connected to the traction rope, and the protrusion of the cam faces the through hole. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein, A sealing ring is provided between the base and the cover plate. The sealing ring is nested around the perforation. The first spring applies an elastic force to the cover plate so that the cover plate presses the sealing ring onto the base to achieve a seal.

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