AU2003231658A1 - Valve Connector - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: NVB International Nicolaas van der Blom WRAY ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Valve Connector" Details of Parent Application: Australian Patent Application 760196 (18470/00) Filed 21 February 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- "Valve Connector" Field of the Invention The invention concerns a valve connector for connection to inflation valves of vehicle tyres according to the introduction to claim 1.

For reasons of clarity, some of the standards used will be cited. In the ISO standard No 10475:1992(E), thread for tyre inflation valves of vehicles is described. The most used threads are designated 5V2 (DIN: Vg which has a nominal diameter of 5.2 mm and a pitch of 1.058 mm, and 8V1 (DIN: Vg which has a nominal diameter of 7.7 mm and a pitch of 0.794 mm respectively. These thread types are used in the valve types of Dunlop-Woods, Sclaverand or Schrader. The last mentioned valve type is frequently used on common cars, where a springloaded core pin in the valve core must be kept down in preparation of the passage of air, while pumping a tyre. For this purpose, the valve connector must be equipped with suitable means, which can serve this aim. Moreover, suitable means, e.g. a contra valve or the like, must be used to ensure that loss of air is avoided when activating the valve core pin. The Sclaverand valve has just like the Dunlop-Woods valve the distinctive character that its core pin is solely opened by air pressure. The necessary air pressure for opening a Sclaverand valve is up to 16 bars, and the valve is mostly used in connection with high-pressure tyres with a pressure of up to 16 bars. The opening pressure for the Dunlop-Woods valve is approximately 4 bars, which ensures that it is easier to open.

Background Art Well-known valve connectors GB-B-977,139) can only be connected to the Dunlop-Woods valve type and/or the Sclaverand valve type, or the Schrader valve type.

A well-known connector for a Schrader valve is of the type, where a rubber cylinder is tightly squeezed against the stem by means of a lever, which axially compresses the rubber cylinder. Consequently, the rubber cylinder is squeezed radially against the stem. With reference to different valve diameters, it is necessary, that auxiliary -3equipment (nut 6) is screwed onto or out of the valve thread to reduce or increase the intemrnal diameter in advance to ensure the establishment of a connection from the valve connector to other valve diameters. Loose parts can disappear and can be loosened when used, if the pump hose is tumrned, so that the connection is no longer air-tight.

99 304 shows an universal valve connector which can be screwed on all valve types. The thread corresponding to 8V1 also keeps the bushing (26) in position. The bushing (26) has an intemrnal thread (30) corresponding to 5V2 for Sclaverand or Dunlop-Woods valves. The core pin of the Schrader valve is opened mechanically by means of a stationary pin indicated with The disadvantage of this connector type is that the bushing (26) with a 5V2 thread has to be removed before connecting to a Schrader valve, and also that the bushing (26) must be mounted again before connecting to a Dunlop-Woods or Sclaverand valve. Also in this case loose parts are used. They can disappear and loosen when used, if the pump hose is turned, resulting in an untight connection.

From DE-B 38 19 771, an universal connector on a handpump with two coupling holes is known: one for Dunlop-Woods and Sclaverand valves and one for Schrader valves of which the core pin is opened mechanically. The disadvantage of this way of coupling is firstly, that it cannot be fastened to a valve and secondly, that it can only be used in a certain position, where the coupling hole is turned almost vertically upwards, and finally that the user has to find out which of the two holes to use for the valve in question.

From US-A-2 025 067 a coupling is known, where tubes of different diameters can be coupled to matching diameters in a tube. This prior art is intended for tightening against pipes without threads, and the axial displacement of each sealing is not decisive. This kind of coupling is meant for a tank filling device. The gaskets used for sealing the adaptor are basically mushroom-shaped with the stem of the mushroom arranged between trapezoidal walls in the adaptor, thereby leaving a semi-circular sealing to tighten against the nozzles without threads. Using a threaded tube in such a gasket would destroy the gasket after few connections.

-4- Another well-known universal valve type, which, apparently, does not exist in the patent literature, is of the same type as the one of the above mentioned 99 304. This rubber cylinder consists of two adjacent parts of different diameter and length, fitting on 5V2 and 8V1 threads, respectively. Axially, proximally staggered on the centre line of the holes it is possible to mount a means, which can open the core pin of a Schrader valve. The disadvantage of this coupling is partly that both hands must be used to stabilize the (dis-)-connection of the relevant valve types and partly that the rubber cylinder must be taken out of the housing and tumrned upside down to make connection to valves with different thread types possible, so that the coupling place for connecting the valve is always positioned closest to the opening of the coupling hole. Also, the pin which mechanically opens the Schrader valve has to be turned in the above-mentioned operation. This is a problem for the ordinary user, as both means must be positioned correctly in relation to each other in order to be able to connect the coupling to a valve: combinatorily, there are four possibilities to select from, which can only be done correctly if a user manual is available. Apart from that, the above-mentioned means can be lost, loosened or disappear in the said operation.

From WO-A-92/22448 it is known to provide a sealing means, which is placed in a single level, and from GB-B-977.139 a valve connector operated by a lever cam is known. Common to both prior art references is that they can only be used together with a Schrader valve, and that neither Sclaverand type nor Dunlop-Woods type valves can be served by this type of connector, as the sealing means only show one diameter fitting e.g. the Schrader valve.

Disclosure of the Invention Inflating a tyre is a problem to many people, especially if the tyres have different valve types, and only one pump has to be used. This is the case in most households. The aim of the invention is to provide a valve connector which fits on all current valve types, which is easy to operate, is economical, and which has the possibility of automatically adjusts itself to the valve in question. Also, it should be possible to use the connector with existing pumps.

According to the invention this task is addressed by means of the provisions in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject to claims 2 to 9 andl2, and a preferred pump is subject to claims 10 and 13.

By a connector for inflation valves of vehicle tyres, where the connector comprises a housing connected to a pressure source, preferably a hand or foot pump, and with a coupling hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the valve to which it is connected, where the coupling hole is equipped with a securing means for securing on the valve and a sealing means against valves of different sizes, the sealing means are positioned coaxially in the housing behind the coupling hole and are established on at least two parallel discrete levels with the centre line of the housing as their normal, where the sealing means' inner diameter approximately correspond to the outer diameter of the current valve size to which the coupling is connected, when used, that the sealing means which is closest to the opening of the coupling hole in the housing has the largest inner diameter, whereas the sealing means farthest from the opening of the coupling hole in the housing has the smallest inner diameter, and the diameters between the extremes are in corresponding discrete distances between these extremes. The coupling place on a valve, which is to be connected, is positioned against a sealing surface on the sealing means in the coupling hole of the concerned valve. The connector has only one coupling hole. The use of it is therefore simple, even without a user manual, and loose nipples are superfluous. Therefore, a connection can always be established in only one operation.

In an appropriate embodiment of the invention, the securing means is a rotational bushing mounted on the housing, which is equipped with a thread in the coupling hole, which fits on the respective valves, and which is sealed with the sealing means against the connector housing, which is farthest from the coupling hole in the connector housing. The connector can be positioned here on the valve with an airtight connection, which does not become untight, when the connected hose is tumed. In addition, mounting is quickly accomplished without applying significant strength. (Dis)-Connecting of the coupling can be done using only one hand.

To reduce the wear of the gasket seal surface in the connector housing and also to reduce the force by means of which the rotational bushing has to be tumrned, and -6furthermore to ensure a reliable sealing against valves with 5V2 thread, the innermost thread is provided by a bushing with a 5V2 thread, where the bushing is embedded and slightly axially sliding in a taper milling in the rotational coupling bushing and is coupled rotational-free to the coupling bushing by means of a set of ribs, which are distributed around the bushing circumference, and which are geared into corresponding grooves in the coupling bushing, and that the sealing means rests on a stepped milling. This ensures that frictional forces do not occur between the gasket seal and the coupling bushing during the main part of its fastening and unscrewing, whereas the coupling bushing is pulling the connector housing and its gasket seal against the valve when tightening. Tightening occurs against the core of the valve thread and is stabilized as a result of the reduced radius of the inner part of the gasket seal.

In order to be able to use the valve connector on a Sclaverand type valve, which is not standardized, i.e. some of the threads are removed thereby forming two parallel secants on each side of the Sclaverand type valve, a further development of the inner bushing is suggested, whereby the inner bushing is running in an undercut grove in the valve housing. Such Sclaverand type valve cannot tighten against the sealing means, and the pressurized air will try to escape through the secant openings. By running in the undercut grove the bushing will tighten against this when mounting the valve connector on the valve.

In connection with the (dis)connection with only one hand the connector is provided by means of temporary thread, i.e. created by squeezing e.g. a rubber cylinder against the existing valve thread of which the securing means and sealing means in a well-known way consist of the bushing of a deformable material positioned in the housing, preferably a rubber type material shaped like a and that a piston is mounted proximally to the valve and the rubber bushing which has two extremes to establish an axial compression and release of the rubber bushing, and also a lever for activating the piston, where the axis of the lever is placed perpendicularly to the centre line and concentrical with this, and that the lever for activating the piston is turned from a position forming an angle 1 P with the centre line to a position almost perpendicular to the centre line, where a locking means of the lever is working together with a corresponding locking means of the housing, whereby the -7locking means of the lever, as an example, is provided in the construction of the lever.

The rubber bushing may be provided with at the least one external V-shaped incision in the circumference perpendicular to the center axis close to those parts squeezing against the threads of the valve. Through such incisions the rubber bushing is predetermined to exert the largest radial force against the threads exactly where the incisions are, and the user of the valve connector will experience a soft working lever arm. In order to support this purpose further and securing the valve connector on the valve even under high pressures it is suggested, that a preferably toroidal shaped ring is arranged in the incisions, thereby stressing the excerted radial forces.

With a valve connector according to the invention equipped with an automatic sliding activating pin it is possible to mount the valve connector equipped with a valve to a compressor hose, which can be available to the public known, e.g. from bicycle shops, etc. There, it is not necessary to fasten the valve connector to the valve, as the user excerts the pressure necessary to secure an airtight connection.

The Schrader valve has the biggest major diameter of the extemal thread (thread type ISO 4570/3 8V1, ISO 10475:1992-12V1 resp.) and the coupling place is closest to the opening of the coupling hole. The Dunlop-Woods cores and the Sclaverand valves have the same thread type, where the major diameter of the extemrnal thread (thread type ISO 4570/2 5V2) is smaller than the minor diameter of internal thread 8V1. Therefore, it is possible that the Dunlop-Woods core type and the Sclaverand valve type can pass both the coupling place of 8V1 threads and 12V1 threads. Consequently, the coupling place of the connecting of 5V2 thread is farthest from the opening of the coupling hole. The 5V2 thread of the Dunlop- Woods core (both the type which is DIN normed and the type which in daily language is called the 'ball valve'), is sufficiently sticking out over the nut 8V1 which is keeping the core to the stem and of which the major diameter is less than the minor diameter of the internal thread for the 12V1 thread in the bushing. There is, therefore, enough space for at least two thread types each with a corresponding seal ring. The same applies for the squeezing connections, according to the invention, where the connector is squeezed to form a temporary thread. The said 8V1 nut cannot pass the coupling place of the Schrader valve. That is due to the fact that the major diameter of the said nut is bigger than the diameter of the biggest hole in the rubber cylinder (a major diameter of external thread 8V1). The beginning of the coupling place of the 5V2 thread is at distance a from the opening of the coupling hole. As the load on the connection is low, it is not necessary to use the entire length of the internal thread, as generally accepted rules say 0.8 x of the size of the coupled extemal thread. This rule is based on mechanical constructions which are high-loaded and where the thread is fastened by a wrench. It is therefore possible that the coupling place of the 5V2 thread is behind the coupling place of the 8V1 thread.

The invention can exist in a number of embodiments which will appear from the dependent claims.

More particularly, the invention provides a valve connector for operating inflation valves of vehicle tyres, comprising a housing adapted to be connected to a pressure source, within the housing one coupling hole having a central axis and an outer opening, for enabling sealed coupling of the valve connector to inflation valves, an activating pin for engaging with the central spring-force operated core pin of a first valve type of the inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole, and shifting means for axially shifting the activating pin relative to the housing in the direction of the central axis of the coupling hole into a distal shifting position which corresponds to the activating pin engaging with the central spring-force operated core pin of the first valve type of inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole and depressing the core pin inwards for allowing the conduction of gaseous media from the pressure source through the inflation valve, characterized by coupling means for selective sealed coupling of said one coupling hole to each of at least said first valve type and a second valve type of inflation valves, the -9second valve type being adapted to be operated by pressure from the pressure source, the first and second valve types having different diameters, wherein said shifting means is further designed such that the activating pin (40,142,161) is selectively shiftable into a proximal shifting position which is farther away inside the housing from the outer opening of said coupling hole than said distal shifting position for allowing said selective coupling of said one coupling hole to the second valve type of inflation valves so as to allow operation of said second valve type when coupled in the coupling hole.

The invention further provides a pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot for inflating a vehicle tire, characterized by the fact that it comprises connected thereto a valve connector according to any of claims 1 to 9.

The invention still further provides the use of a valve connector according to any of claims 1 to 9 for inflating a vehicle tire with a pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot as said pressure source which is connected to the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in details below by means of drawings and with reference to several embodiments. The drawing shows in: fig. 1 the universal connector in the first embodiment connected to the hose of a (high-pressure) foot pump, where the connector is screwed on the valve and a Schrader valve type can be opened by air pressure; fig. 2A the connector according to fig. 1 in a second embodiment where the bushing with a 5V2 thread and a gasket sealing for Schrader can slide parallel to the centre line; fig. 2B a rendering of details of the connector according to fig. 2A, (section A-

A);

fig. 3 the connector according to fig. 2 in a third embodiment designed to be used on a Sclaverand valve, which is not according to the ISO-standard; fig. 4 universal connector in a fourth embodiment connected to a hose of a (highpressure) foot pump, where the connector is squeezed on the valve and a Schrader valve can be opened by means of air pressure; fig. 5A,B universal connector in a fifth embodiment, where the coupling is connected to a hose of a foot pump, and where the coupling is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve can be opened mechanically by means of a movable pin, which is in the top and bottom position, respectively; fig. 5C section A-A according to fig. 5A resp. section B-B according to fig. 5B non-essential details are not shown; fig. 6 universal connector in a sixth embodiment made for the purpose of being used in vehicle wheels with a narrow opening for the connector, where the connector is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve is opened by means of the automatically movable pin; fig. 7 universal connector in a seventh embodiment, where the coupling is squeezed on the valve using a rubber bushing with incisions and a toroidal ring in each incision, and where a Schrader valve can be opened by means of the automatically movable pin, which is formed as a piston and is shown in the bottom position; fig. 8 universal connector in a eigth embodiment, where the coupling is squeezed on the valve using a rubber bushing with incisions and a toroidal ring in each incision, where the coupling is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve is opened by means of the automatically movable pin, which is formed as a piston with a control valve and is shown in the bottom position; Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention In fig. 1 the pump hose 1 is mounted on the housing 3 by means of the ring clamp 2. The housing 3 is bent in an angle of e.g. 300-600 in relation to the centre line 4 of coupling hole 5. The bushing 6 is in the shown embodiment equipped with two ISO thread types: 5V2 thread 7 starting farthest from the opening 8 of the coupling hole and 8V1 thread 9 starting at the above-mentioned opening. At (dis-)connection, the bushing 6 is tumrned around and is kept in the grooves 11 of the housing 3 by -11 means of grip-hooks 10. The gasket seals 12 and 13 are tightening against the thread types 5V2 and 8V1. The gasket seal 12 is also tightening the crossing 14 between the housing 3 and the bushing 6 when the connector is used on a Schrader valve. The underside of the bushing 6 is equipped with a taper Fig. 2A shows a second embodiment. The housing 190 is equipped with a coupling bushing 191, which freely and without friction can tum around the housing 190 because of the small space b between the sealing means 192 and the bushing 193 together with the connector bushing 191. The gasket seal 194 for the Schrader valve is placed freely in the connector bushing 191, on the thread 8V1 195. The bushing 193 with the 5V2 thread is unattached but axially moveable in a taper milling 202 in connector bushing 191. Both can be shifted parallel with the centre line of the valve. The sealing means 200 is embedded in a stepped milling 201 in the housing 190 with an extemrnal part 192, which is also tightening the crossing between the housing 190 and the connector bushing 191. The bushing 193 can turn together with the connector bushing 191 as it is equipped with at least two ribs 196 which fit into corresponding grooves 197 (fig. 2B) in the connector bushing 191. When a Dunlop-Woods or Sclaverand valve is connected, the sealing means 200 is tightening on the minor diameter of the valve thread. The valve is stopped at the edge 198, so that the nut of the Dunlop-Woods valve is not fastening itself on the underside 199 of the 8V1 thread. At the top, the sealing means 200 has a radially stepped, reduced diameter.

Fig. 3 presents another connector designed to be used on a Sclaverand valve, which is not according to the ISO-standard. In such valve some of the threads are removed thereby forming two parallel secants on each side of the Sclaverand type valve. Such Sclaverand type valve can not tighten against the sealing means 330 of the above mentioned valve connectors, as the presurized air will try to escape through the secant openings. The bushing 340 is fastened to the housing 341 by means of detachable locking means 339, reaching into an extemrnal grove on the housing 341 perpendicular to the center axis. The intemrnal sealing means 330 and the extemrnal sealing means 332 are arranged between the coupling bushing 331 and the housing 341 resp. the bushing 340. The coupling bushing 331 tightens against the undercut grove in the housing 341 assisted by another sealing means -12- 333 fitting into the undercut grove. When mounting the valve connector on the valve, the coupling bushing is running in the undercut grove in the valve housing, and if Sclaverand type valve can not tighten against the sealing means 330, the air will move into the space between the coupling bushing 331 and the other sealing means 333.

In fig. 4 the pump hose 1 is connected to the piston 76, which moves in the housing 110, by means of clamp ring 2. An elastic body 78 with sealing surfaces 79 (for the Dunlop-Woods and the Sclaverand valve) and 80 (for the Schrader valve) is compressed by the movable piston 76 by means of a lever 102, which is pressed down from the top position 82 to the position 83, where it is parallel with the centre line 36 of the ringclamp 2. The lever 102 tumrns around the axis 85 which is mounted in the housing 110 and to which the axis centre 107 is perpendicular and which intersects the centre line 4 of the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5. The sealing surface 79 lies at a distance from the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5, while the sealing surface 80 is adjacent to this. The area on the elastic means 78 bears against the piston 76. The piston air supply hole 75 has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the major diameter of the extemrnal thread 5V2, so that the Sclaverand valve has a natural stop at its connection. Thus the coupling place for the 5V2 thread is around the 5V2 thread.

When disconnecting, the lever 102 is released. It now automatically turns back to the rest position 82, because the elastic body 78 returns to the unstressed condition. This is possible because the distance of the surface 118 from the axis centre 107 is larger than the distance of the surface 120 of the lever 102 at the top 119 of piston 76. The turn of the lever 102 stops when the plane surface 120 of the lever 102 stops against the flat top 119 of the piston. The top of the lever 102 is in rest position 82 under an angle L of approx. 450 with the centre line 36 of the ring clamp 2. At the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5, the housing 110 is equipped with a cone 15 which facilitates the mounting of the universal connector.

Fig. 5A, 5B, 5C show the embodiment which is a combination of the connector of fig. 4 and the construction of an activating pin 142 which is shown in its top 18 position and in fig. 5A in its bottom 32 position in fig. 5B. The pin 142 is mounted on piston 138 by means of an edge 135 on the lower end of the cylinder 136. The -13construction of the pin becomes air-tight by means of a gasket seal 139 between the piston 138 and the cylinder 136. The tumrning knob 140 is equipped with a line 141 indicating the knob 140 position. The valve symbols 71, 72 correspond to the position 18 of the pin 142 and the symbol 73 corresponds to the position 32 of the pin 142 resp. The tumrning knob 140 is fixed at the valve symbols 71, 72, 73 when the piston fits in a recess 145 (fig. SC) in the knob 140 with a bulb 144: see section A-A in fig. 5A and section B-B in fig. 5B, resp. Here too, the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5 has the centre line 4.

Fig. 6 shows an universal connector in a special embodiment made for the purpose of being used in vehicle wheels with a narrow opening for the connector, where the connector is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve is opened by means of the automatically moveable pin. In order to ease the use, the lever arm 319 has a special shape, and in the reaction arm 320 there is made a grove 321 for the pressure hose.

Fig. 7 shows an universal connector in an embodiment, where the coupling is squeezed on the valve using a rubber bushing 366 with an incision 361 and a toroidal ring 362 in the incision, and where a Schrader valve can be opened by means of an automatically movable activating pin, which is formed as a piston and is shown in the bottom position. In order to avoid transfer of momentum forces to the vehicle valve, the surface 367 can be slightly cone shaped. The incision 361 weaken the rubber bushing 366 at the place shown, which causes the rubber bushing to sqeeze the threads on the valve precisely where it is most convenient.

When, further, toroidal rings are arranged in the incisions, the force excerted on the valve threads are increased.

Fig. 8 shows an universal connector in an embodiment like the one in fig. 7, but where the automatically movable pin is selfadjusting to production tolerances of the core of the Schrader valves.

Advantageous combinations of the features can be the following ones: A valve connector for inflation valves of vehicle tyres where the connector comprises a housing 16, 19, 35, 77, 110, 134, 151, 164, 190) which partly is connected to a pressure source, preferably a hand or foot pump, and which partly -14has a coupling hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the valve which is to be connected, where the coupling hole is equipped with a securing means to connect the valve and a sealing means for valves of varying sizes, wherein the sealing means (12, 13, 80, 192, 194) is positioned coaxially in the housing 16, 19, 35, 77, 110, 134, 151, 164, 190) and is established on at least two parallel discrete levels having the housing 16, 19, 35, 77, 110, 134, 151, 164, 190) centre line coaxial to the valve centre line as its normal, where the sealing means minor diameter approximately correspond to the major diameter of the current valve size to which the coupling is connected when used that the sealing means (13, 80, 194) which is closest to the opening of the coupling hole in the housing 16, 19, 35, 77, 110, 134, 151,164, 190) has the largest minor diameter, whereas the sealing means (12, 79, 192, 200), farthest from the opening of the coupling hole in the housing 16, 19, 35, 77, 110, 134, 151, 164, 190) has the smallest minor diameter, and the diameters between the extremes are in corresponding discrete distances between these extremes.

The securing means can be a rotatable bushing placed on the housing and equipped with threads matching the various valves in the coupling hole and sealed towards the housing 16) with a sealing means (12) which is farthest from the housing 16) coupling hole.

The inner thread can be provided by a bushing (193) with a 5V2 thread where the bushing (193) is embedded slightly axially sliding in a taper milling (202) in the rotational coupling bushing (191) and is coupled rotational-free to the coupling bushing (191) by means of a set of ribs (196), which are distributed around the bushing circumference (193) and which are geared into corresponding grooves (197) in the coupling bushing (191), and that the sealing means (200) on a stepped milling (201).

The inner bushing (331) can run in an undercut grove in the valve housing (341).

In continuation of and coaxially to the housing (19) centre line there can be an activating pin (161) which is fed to activate a central valve pin head in the plug (fig. 4B) via an axial shifting from a position farthest from the valve (fig. 4A).

A control knob (162) integrated in the activating pin can be used to control the activating pin (161), and the control knob (162) is rotatably attached to the housing (164) concentric with the activating pin (161) and centrally incorporating this with feeding mechanisms which cooperate with corresponding feeding mechanisms on the activating pin (161) which is rotation-free, but slidingly attached to the housing (164) to ensure the rotation-free, axial shifting of this from an inactive position (fig. 4A) to an activating position (fig. 4B).

The control knob (43) can be rotatably attached to the housing concentrically with the activating pin (40) and is centrally incorporating this and is having a cylinder which at suitable feedings reaches out between the housing and the activating pin which is moveably attached to the control knob which can shift in the cylinder (48) and uses feeding mechanisms (51, 52) to reach out between cylinder (48) slits (49, 50) and corresponding feeding mechanisms (67) in the housing (35) to axially shift the activating pin (40) from an inactive position (fig. 5A) to an activating position (fig. The activating pin in the housing (302) can be constructed as a piston (304) equipped with a suitable securing means and a piston rod (318), which can slide in the cylinder (303) shaped housing (302), and which, without any physical load, is held in a sealing longitudinal position against the cylinder wall, so that the sliding of the piston after the connection of the valve connector (301) occurs by means of the compressed air which is transported from the pressure source, and so that the piston (304) in the position farthest from the wheel valve seals less than 100% against the cylinder wall.

The piston (304) can be constructed as a central, axially sliding valve (317), which is elastically pressed to a closing position towards the top of the piston (304).

The piston valve can be levered with a valve lever which excentricly reaches through the piston (304) and its piston rod (312), and that a spring between the piston (304) and its valve (317) keeps the valve closed, when the piston (304) does not influence the central core pin (301) of the core.

-16- The piston (304) valve (317) can be levered by a core pin (318) which concentricly reaches axially through the piston (304), where it by a spring (316') is transported to a position distant from the piston (304).

The securing means and the sealing means can consist of a bushing placed in the housing (110) and made of a deformable material, preferably a rubber type material, and that proximally to the valve and the bushing, a piston (76) with two extremes in order to obtain an axial compression and release of the bushing has been placed together with a lever (102) for activation of the piston where the lever (102) axis (85) is extended perpendicularly to the centre line through this, and that the lever (102) for piston activation is shifted from a position (82) forming an angle with the centre line to a position (83) approximately perpendicular to the centre line, where a locking means works together with a corresponding locking means on the lever (102).

In continuation of and coaxially to the centre line of the housing (134), an activating pin (142) can be arranged which through axial shifting from a position farthest from the valve (fig. 12A) is fed to activate a central valve pin head in the plug (fig. 12B), and that the lever (102) is U-shaped and the free ends of the U-legs are embedding the axis (85) of the lever (102).

A control knob (140) connected to the activating pin (142) can be used to control the activating pin, and that the control knob (140) is rotatably attached to the piston (138) concentrically with the activating pin (142) and is centrally incorporating this and is having feeding mechanisms which work together with corresponding feeding mechanisms on the activating pin (142) which is shiftably attached to the piston to axially shift the activating pin from an inactive position (fig.

12A) to an activating position (fig. 12B) and that the lever (102) is U-shaped and the free ends of the U-legs are embedding the axis (85) of the lever (102).

The control knob (140) can rotatably be attached to the piston (138) concentrically with the activating pin (142) and is centrally incorporating this and is having a cylinder which with suitable guiding means reaches in between the piston (138) and the activating pin (142) which is moveably attached to the control knob (140) and which can be moved in the cylinder (48) and reaches out with -17protrusions (51, 52) through slits (49, 50) in the cylinder (48) and in corresponding feeding means (67) in the piston (138) to axially shift the activating pin (142) from an inactive position (18) to an activating position (32).

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (13)

1. A valve connector for operating inflation valves of vehicle tyres, comprising a housing (35,134,164) adapted to be connected to a pressure source, within the housing one coupling hole having a central axis and an outer opening for enabling sealed coupling of the valve connector to inflation valves, an activating pin (161, 40, 312, 318, 142) for engaging with the central spring-force operated core pin of a first valve type of the inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole, and shifting means (162-167; 43, 48, 50; 304, 303; 140, 139) for axially shifting the activating pin relative to the housing in the direction of the central axis of the coupling hole into a distal shifting position which corresponds to the activating pin engaging with the central spring-force operated core pin of the first valve type of inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole and depressing the core pin inwards for allowing the conduction of gaseous media from the pressure source through the inflation valve, characterized by coupling means (12, 13; 330, 332; 78; 336) for selective sealed coupling of said one coupling hole to each of at least said first valve type and a second valve type of inflation valves, the second valve type being adapted to be operated by pressure from the pressure source, the first and second valve types having different diameters, wherein said shifting means (162-167; 43, 48, 50; 304, 303; 140, 139) is further designed such that the activating pin (40,142,161) is selectively shiftable into a proximal shifting position which is farther away inside the housing from the outer opening of said coupling hole than said distal shifting position for allowing said selective coupling of said one coupling hole to the second valve type of inflation valves so as to allow operation of said second valve type when coupled in the coupling hole -19-

2. Valve connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said shifting means is designed for axially shifting the activating pin between said distal shifting position and said proximal shifting position (18).

3. Valve connector according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the shifting means comprises a control knob (43,162) for controlling the shifting positions of the activating pin, wherein the control knob is attached to the housing for rotation around the centre axis arranged to shift said activating pin (40,161) by means of a master feeding mechanism (48,165) and a master steering mechanism (51,166), which co-operate with a slave feeding mechanism and a slave steering mechanism of said activating pin, wherein said activating pin is arranged to move, as a response to the rotation of said control knob, axially between said proximal shifting position (18) and said distal shifting position (32).

4. Valve connector according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said activating pin is arranged to tumrn around its longitudinal axis when being axially shifted by the control knob.

Valve connector according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said control knob (43) is arranged to tum approximately 2400 between a first knob position (44) and a second knob position wherein said first knob position corresponds to said proximal shifting position (18) of said activating pin (40) and said second knob position corresponds to said distal shifting position (32) of said activating pin said control knob comprises master locking means (46,55,56,57,58) which co-operate with bulb (47) of the housing (35) and protrusions (51,52) of said activating pin the valve connector comprises the symbols of Dunlop-Woods (72) and Sclaverand (71) valves in association of said first control knob position 20 and a symbol of a Schrader valve (73) in association of said second control knob position.

6. Valve connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing has within the coupling hole inflation valve sealing means (12,1- 3,79,80,200,194,330,332) for sealing the valve connector onto the first and second valve types of inflation valves of different sizes, characterized by the fact that said coupling hole includes at least two coupling hole sections which are axially displaced from each other and have different diameters, with the larger diameter coupling hole section closer to said outer opening (8) than the smaller diameter hole section, and said inflation valve sealing means comprise a first sealing portion (13,80,194,332) and a second sealing portion (12,79,200,330) situated coaxially with the center axis of the coupling hole at different levels along the center axis with said first sealing portion (13,80,194,332) disposed at and assigned to the larger coupling hole section and said second sealing portion (12,79,200,330) disposed at and assigned to the smaller coupling hole section.

7. Valve connector according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that it comprises a lever arm (102) that is movable between a rest position (82) and an activation position and within the coupling hole a deformable bushing (78); wherein said deformable bushing is arranged to be influenced by the movement of said lever arm so that it becomes deformed when said lever arm is in said activation position and not deformed when said lever arm is in said rest position, the deformed state corresponding to the formation of temporary securing thread onto the surface of said deformable bushing when the valve connector is coupled to an inflation valve. -21

8. Valve connector according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said lever arm (102) is U-shaped and comprises an axis (85) around which said lever arm is movable between said rest position and activation position.

9. Valve connector according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a reaction arm for enabling a gripping hold of the lever arm (102) and the reaction arm.

A pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot for inflating vehicle tyres characterized by the fact that it comprises attached thereto a valve connector according to any of claims 1 to 9.

11. The use of a valve connector according to any of claims 1 to 9 for inflating a vehicle tire with a pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot as said pressure source which is connected to the housing.

12. A valve connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A pump acccording to claim 10 substantially as herein described. Dated this Seventh day of August 2003. NVB International Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant