Actuation valve and pest control device
An actuation valve for a pest control device, the actuation valve including a primary valve seat; a secondary valve seat; a valve seal, a recess between the primary and secondary valve seats, and an actuation arm. The actuation valve includes primary and secondary valves. The recess is located between primary and secondary valve seats to receive gas from the primary valve and promote displacement of the valve seal from the secondary valve seat. Also provided are an actuation valve with magnetic elements, an actuation valve with a trigger, a pest control device, a piston assembly for a pest control device, and a pest control assembly.
1 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device comprising:
a housing having an opening defined therein, the opening configured to allow a pest to access a region within the pest control device;
a pneumatic actuator within the housing configured to strike the pest in the region when actuated;
a detector within the housing configured to detect the pest in the region;
a first valve within the housing to control gas flow from a first volume;
a second valve within the housing to control gas flow from a second volume to the pneumatic actuator, the second valve including a valve seat and a valve seal that separates the second volume from the pneumatic actuator when the valve seal is seated on the valve seat, wherein there is no intermediate reservoir in a flow path between the second volume and the pneumatic actuator; and
a gas inlet within the housing to supply pressurised gas from a gas reservoir to the second volume, wherein the gas inlet opens into the second volume,
wherein the second volume is upstream of the first volume such that the pressurised gas is supplied from the second volume to the first volume,
wherein upon the detector detecting the pest in the region, the first valve is actuated, and
wherein upon activation of the first valve, gas flows out of the first volume via the first valve which allows the valve seal of the second valve to be unseated from the valve seat of the second valve such that gas flows from the second volume to the pneumatic actuator via the second valve to actuate the pneumatic actuator.
2 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the gas reservoir includes a pump to pressurise the reservoir using surrounding air.
3 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pump is a hand operated pump.
4 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:
a housing;
wherein the pressurised gas reservoir is incorporated into at least part of the housing.
5 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the housing is a two-piece housing.
6 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:
a pressure sensor to sense gas pressure in the gas reservoir or in a flow line between the gas reservoir and the pneumatic actuator; and
control circuitry operatively connected to the pressure sensor and configured to determine actuation or proper functioning of the pest control device.
7 . A pest control device according to claim 6 further comprising communication circuitry operatively connected to the control circuitry.
8 . A pest control device according to claim 2 further comprising control circuitry configured to prevent actuation of the pneumatic actuator of the pest control device during a prescribed condition.
9 . A pest control device according to claim 8 wherein the prescribed condition is determined based on a comparison of a value to a threshold.
10 . A pest control device according to claim 9 wherein the prescribed condition is when the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure of the gas is below a first threshold.
11 . A pest control device according to claim 2 wherein the gas reservoir has a volume greater than 100 millilitres, greater than about 300 millilitres, greater than about 1000 millilitres, or greater than about 3000 millilitres.
12 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pneumatic actuator can be powered by compressed gas between 150 kPa and 450 kPa.
13 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first valve further comprises an electromechanically actuated valve that controls actuation of the pneumatic actuator.
14 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electromechanically actuated valve controls the gas flow from the first volume, wherein upon actuation of the electromechanically actuated valve, the gas flows out of the first volume via the electromechanically actuated valve which allows the second valve to unseat the valve seal such that the gas flows from the second volume to the pneumatic actuator via the second valve.
15 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electromechanically actuated valve is a solenoid valve or a piezo-electric valve.
16 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gas reservoir is a gas bottle connected to the rest of the pest control device by a gas line.
17 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is a two-piece housing wherein the gas reservoir is incorporated into at least part of the housing and wherein the housing includes a lower housing and an upper housing that, when connected to each other, enclose the first volume, second volume and second valve.
18 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the valve seal provides a seal between the lower housing and upper housing when connected to each other.
19 . A pneumatically actuated pest control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the gas reservoir is incorporated into at least part of the housing.
20 . A pest control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pneumatic actuator comprises a piston body and wherein the pneumatic actuator is configured to strike the pest with the piston body.