EP1893423A2

EP1893423A2 - Device for feeding sealing liquid into a tire

Info

Publication number: EP1893423A2
Application number: EP06762067A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eduard Hartl
Original assignee: Premium Vertriebs GmbH
Current assignee: Premium Seal Entwicklungs- und Marketing & KG GmbH
Priority date: 2005-06-17
Filing date: 2006-06-16
Publication date: 2008-03-05
Also published as: KR20080027248A; WO2006133961A3; WO2006133961A2; US20080196789A1; DE102005028257A1; JP2008543607A; DE202005021403U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for delivering sealing liquid into a tire. Said device (10) comprises a connecting flange which can be fixed to a valve (16) of the tire as well as a substantially cylindrical housing (11) that is arranged on the connecting flange. The housing (11) is provided with a connection (12) for feeding the sealing liquid and a cavity (15) which extends at least from the connection (12) to the connecting flange in order to deliver the sealing liquid. A valve screwdriver which is equipped with a receptacle (25) that is to be removably connected to the valve insert (18) is provided in the cylindrical housing (11). Said valve screwdriver is mounted in the housing in an axially movable manner such that the valve insert (18) can be removed from the liquid flow (28, 29, 30) in order to deliver the sealing liquid. The entire device (10) has an ergonomic design while essentially having an elongate cylindrical shape.

Description

Device for feeding sealing liquid into a pneumatic tire.

The invention relates to a device for supplying sealing liquid into a pneumatic tire.

Such a device is known from US 5,960,836. This publication describes a device with which both sealing and leveling fluid can be introduced into a pneumatic tire. For this purpose, each valve devices are provided on the tire, which are connected via a hose connection with a container and via this hose connection to the tire liquid, or supply compressed air.

From US 4,308,766 a device is known which can be placed on a tire valve and can be pumped with the liquid from a reservoir in the tire. In this device, the tire valve is removed by a corresponding mechanism and the liquid can flow freely. A disadvantage of this device is that it requires a large working space, which is not or only inadequate available especially on the tire valve. In addition, a further disadvantage is the unfavorable arrangement of a feed tube and a complicated handling.

Furthermore, from the German Utility Model 29812740 a repair kit with a portable container known. This repair kit may also be suitable for introducing a sealant on a vehicle tire. For this purpose, the repair kit is designed so that it fits in a spare tire.

A disadvantage of the previously known devices for sealing defective tires is that the sealing means not only closes the point to be sealed, but also leads to a bonding or deterioration of the tire valve. From the experience of examining various tire defects, it has been found that sealant residues on the valve seat lead to minor leaks and creeping pressure loss with significant impairment of the vehicle's handling. In particular, the creeping loss of air leads to a reduction in the driving stability of the vehicle and also to increased tire warming, so that a further defect or a complete loss of the tire can occur.

The invention has for its object to avoid the disadvantages mentioned and to provide a means for supplying sealing liquid in a pneumatic tire, which ensures a high density of the tire, does not lead to a bonding of the valve and is easy to handle.

This object is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

The essential advantage of the invention is that the device is provided with a valve screwdriver, with which the valve insert can be removed before the introduction of the sealing liquid, so that the sealing liquid can flow unhindered into the tire. In addition, the entire device has an ergonomically designed shape, so it is easy to handle and due to an inventive, elongated cylindrical shape can also be used in hard to reach places.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection for supplying the sealing liquid is arranged substantially so that the liquid can flow unhindered into the pneumatic tire. This means that there is little or no fluid deflection by less than 45 °. For connecting the device with the tire valve, the connecting flange is provided with a latching connection according to a further embodiment of the invention. The locking element has a spring and is inserted over the external thread of the valve. About this external thread is a positive connection, so that an unintentional release of the device from the valve is not possible.

According to the invention, the valve screwdriver is provided with a rotary handle and arranged axially displaceably on the cylindrical housing. This simplifies the unscrewing and removal of the inner part of the valve, so the valve insert from the immediate liquid flow. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device is in communication with a liquid container. This connection is made through a hose. The liquid container is a pressure-stable container and is supplied with compressed air by a compressor. This pressure build-up ensures that the sealing liquid is first supplied to the pneumatic tire when the entire device is activated. Then inflate the tire with compressed air to the desired pressure. For a compact arrangement of the entire system, a receptacle for the hose and the means for supplying the sealing liquid is provided on the outer structure of the liquid container.

According to training this recording can be a snap or plug connection, so that the hose, or the device is easily removable. On the other hand, the container itself may be provided on its outside in a preferred manner with a device for releasable attachment, so that it can be locked to a vehicle or a vehicle part.

According to one embodiment of the device for supplying sealing liquid, the container for the sealing liquid consists of a pressure-resistant plastic. At the container opening is a screw cap provided with a removal device, where there is a dip tube is arranged, which extends to the bottom of the container or is provided axially displaceable in the screw cap.

When filling a pneumatic tire with the sealing liquid, the container can stand upright. Through the dip tube, the liquid is transported up to the emptying of the container upwards and by overpressure which is generated by an external pressure source in the container or in the container itself prevails, be discharged.

The dip tube may be provided for discharging the liquid, but it may also be used for supplying compressed air. In this case, the container is virtually upside down, that is it is placed with the screw cap on a base. The liquid leaves this container in the region of the screw through an additional discharge opening.

If the dip tube is designed for supplying compressed air, it may be a check valve therein to prevent discharge of liquid through the compressed air supply line.

If the compressed air is not supplied in the region of the screw cap, in one embodiment of the invention a valve or an opening for supplying compressed air can be provided on the side of the container opposite the screw cap. Of course, it is also possible to arrange this valve laterally on the container or at a suitable location.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent not only from the claims but also from the description and drawings. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments.

It shows:

1 is a perspective view of a device for supplying sealing liquid in a pneumatic tire,

2 is a sectional view of the device according to FIG. 1 in a starting position for opening the valve, FIG.

3 is another sectional view in a position with the valve open,

4 shows the external view of a container with adapted filling device,

5 shows a container for sealing liquid in a schematic representation with a dip tube,

6 a container for sealing liquid in a schematic representation as a variant to FIG. 5, FIG.

7 shows a further variant of the container for sealing liquid shown in FIG. 5,

FIGS. 8 a and b show a device for supplying sealing liquid in an extended version,

FIG. 9 shows a device for supplying a sealing liquid with lever plug nipple,

FIG. 10 shows a variant of a valve driver, Figure 11 shows a miniature version of a valve rotator.

In the perspective view of Fig. 1, a filling device 10 is shown, i. With this handset sealing liquid can be supplied to a pneumatic tire. This hand-held device has a housing 11, on which a connecting piece 12 for supplying sealing liquid is arranged. This connection piece runs at an angle of about 30-60 ° from the longitudinal axis of the filling device 10 into it, so that the supplied liquid experiences only a small flow deflection.

On the left-hand side, the filling device 10 is provided with an actuating element 13. This will be explained in more detail below. At the opposite end of the filling device 10 is a valve screwdriver with its handle 14, and this function will be explained later.

The entire filling device 10 is ergonomically designed, the slim elongated cylindrical shape makes it easy to handle and can be connected to valves that are difficult to access.

In the sectional view of FIG. 2, the filling device 10 is shown again. Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Within the housing 11, a cavity 15 is provided, which is designed substantially cylindrical. In the illustration shown, a valve 16 of a commercially available pneumatic tire is already introduced at the front end into the filling device. This valve has in a known manner a shaft 17 in which a valve body 18 or valve insert is screwed. The valve body usually has a valve pin and a valve spring and a valve disc. The valve body 18 has at its outwardly extending end a flattened portion which makes it possible to unscrew this valve body 18 from the shaft 17. Within the filling device 10 is a sealing ring 20 which bears against a stop 21. This sealing ring forms with the front end face of the valve body 18, the sealing of the valve. To lock the valve 16 in the filling device 10, a locking element 22 is provided in the form of a slider. This locking element is moved with a spring, not shown here, on the external thread of the shaft, so that a positive connection between the filling device 10 and valve 16 is formed.

The locking element 22 can be pulled outward by the actuating element 13, which is designed in the manner of a rocker arm, for opening the connection between the filling device 10 and the valve 16. At the connection piece 12 is a hose 23, which leads to a liquid container, not shown here. On the handle 14 of the valve screwdriver is an actuating rod 24. This actuating rod has a slot 25 which serves to receive the flattened portion 19. In the illustration shown here, this slot 25 engages over the flattened section, so that the valve body 18 can be unscrewed with the handle 14. The advantage of this slot is the configuration in the form of a gripper arm, which makes it possible to rotate also differently shaped valve inserts from the valve

For sealing the cavity 15 in the region of the implementation of the actuating rod 24 through the housing 11, a profile or O-ring seal 26 is provided. On the actuating rod 24 is also a longitudinal stop 27. Within the connecting piece a check valve 40 is arranged. This consists of a valve ball which is held by a spring and is supported on a valve seat. With the valve, a reaction of the pressure prevailing in the tire is avoided. In order for the sealing liquid to be supplied to the pneumatic tire through the hose 23, it is first necessary to unscrew the valve body 18 from the valve 16 with the handle 14 and the valve screwdriver and subsequently to remove it from the valve 16. This is shown in FIG. This shows in a sectional view of the already open valve. The valve body 18 is located in the rear region of the cavity 15 and thus releases the cavity for the filling of sealing liquid via the hose 23. The sealing liquid flows according to the arrows 28, 29, 30 in the pneumatic tire. In addition, according to the arrows, the compressed air required for filling the sealed tire flows, when the operating pressure of the tire is reached. Already after filling with sealing liquid and still during filling of the tire with compressed air, the valve body 18 can be moved forward and screwed back into the valve 16. This has the advantage that possibly adhering to the valve fluid entrained with the compressed air, the valve body flushed with air and of course also again fulfills the valve function for the tire.

If the operating pressure is reached, the positive connection of the filling device 10 with the valve 16 is opened via the actuating element 13. The inflator 10 is removed and the sealed tire is fully functional.

FIG. 4 shows a compact arrangement of a complete system with a liquid container. In this external view of the liquid container 31, a receptacle 32 for the hose and the device for supplying the sealing liquid are provided in the upper region. This receptacle 32 has a latching connection 33, on which the filling device 10 is adaptable. The tube is easily wound around a head 34 of the container. At this head of the container is on the one hand the connection 35 for the hose, on the other hand another, not shown here port to connect a compressor unit with the container. On the container is on the outside in the form of one or two tabs 36, 37 provided a means for releasably securing the container to a vehicle. Thus, the container is positioned securely in the vehicle and can be removed from a holder in a simple manner for supplying sealing liquid in a pneumatic tire.

The container 40 shown in Figure 5 has a connection piece 41 with a screw thread. At this connection piece there is a screw cap 42, on which a connection 43 for a supply hose 44 is provided. At the screw cap 42, a dip tube 45 is provided which has a connection to the terminal 43. Further, a valve or a connection 43 a for supplying compressed air is provided on the container 40. This connection and, if necessary, the connection 43 is closed with a metallic plate, for example an aluminum plate, which can be pierced to activate the connection.

In the container is the sealing liquid 46. If compressed air is supplied to the container via terminal 43 a, the sealing liquid 46 exits via the dip tube 45 and the port 43 and is supplied via the supply hose 44 to the valve of a pneumatic tire.

FIG. 6 shows a container 50 which has on its upper side a connecting piece 51 which is provided with a screw cap 52. At the screw cap 52 is a pipe socket 53. With this pipe socket can be made via a hose connection to the connecting piece 12 of the valve screwdriver shown in Figure 2. Due to the container structure and the simple handling, it is possible to connect the valve screwdriver in inaccessible places with the container 40. For supplying compressed air, a valve 55 is provided on the container 50 at the bottom. It is for supplying the sealing liquid into the valve screwdriver Of course, it is necessary to tilt or tilt the container in such a way that the liquid can flow out via the pipe socket 53. Also in this embodiment, the connecting pieces are first connected to a pierceable metal plate.

Figure 7 shows only a variant of the container shown in Figure 5. Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. The connecting piece 55a for supplying compressed air is housed in the screw cap and runs partly parallel to the outlet port or connection 43. The connections are also protected by a metal plate closure before commissioning.

Figure 8a shows a device for supplying sealing liquid in the form of a valve core rotator 70 in a configuration which is already known from Figure 1 in a similar manner.

This consists of a first tube 71 and an extension piece 72. Of course, both components can also be formed from a single component. Within the tube 71 and the extension piece 72 is a rod 73 which has at its right end a rotary handle 74 and at its left-hand end a receptacle 75 for a tire valve. On the pipe 71 is the port 76 for filling with sealing liquid. To open a valve on a tire, this valve is unscrewed via the rotary handle 74 and the rod 73 pulled out on the right side. The valve 77 is located on this rod. Via the connection 76, the sealing liquid or the sealing agent can be filled into a tire (not shown here). At the extension piece 72 is located at the left-hand end of an internal thread 78 which can be screwed onto the valve of a tire. In the connecting portion between extension piece 72 and tube 71, the extension piece is provided with a reinforced portion 72a to prevent kinking. FIG. 9 shows a further variant of the valve core rotator shown in FIG. Here is located on the extension piece 72, a so-called lever plug nipple 79. This is attached to the thread 78 of the extension piece 72. This lever plug nipple has a conventional design and is modified to remove the inner pin that normally pushes a valve core inward. Thus, the flow of tire sealant improves. However, for the tire sealant to be inserted into a tire, the valve core on a tire must be removed.

Also at the terminal 76, a lever plug nipple may be attached. This Hebelstecknippel 80 is equipped with a further connection 81 for attaching a supply pipe for the sealant. The Hebelstecknippel 80 is pushed onto the Ansteck 76 and fixed there by turning the lever 82 there.

Both Figure 8 and Figure 9 shows a Ventileinsatzdreher which is particularly well suited to get at a twin tires of commercial vehicles to the interior of the two twin tires, without disassembly of the outer twin tire. So far, it was very problematic to fill the inner tire with sealant, as a very large distance between the rim of the outer tire and the valve port of the inner tire had to be bridged. This is possible with the solution according to FIG.

Furthermore, it has also been problematic to remove the valve insert in outer twin tires and to fill with a sealant, as the valve neck points to the rear. In conventional valve insert rotors, the valve insert may fall or be lost. By using a lever plug nipple can now also the valve neck which points to the rear, are filled with the sealant that is connected to the Ventileinsatzdreher.

The Ventileinsatzdreher shown in Figure 8 is - as already mentioned - passed through the spoke or rim opening of the outer twin tires to the valve neck of the inner twin tires and screwed onto this by means of a standard screw until it sits firmly on the valve neck. When using a lever plug nipple as shown in Figure 9 must of course be first unscrewed before filling with sealant valve insert.

To remove the valve core, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 each show a variant of a suitable device.

In Figure 10, a Ventileinsatzdreher is shown having a sleeve 83 which is equipped with a lever 84. Within this sleeve is the clamping device 85 for clamping a valve, which is unscrewed with the device. The sleeve 83 serves to fix the Ventileinsatzdrehers to the valve and at the same time protects the thread of the valve from damage. The sleeve 83 is rotatable relative to the lever 84 and can be reliably held with the lever when unscrewing a valve core.

FIG. 11 shows a version in a sectional view. This is a miniature valve insert rotator. This serves to be able to safely unscrew the valve insert in hard to reach places - especially on an outer twin tire. The valve inserter wraps around the neck of the valve neck, thus preventing it from slipping off. By light pressure of the valve insert snaps into the clamping device 87 of the valve core and is thus held and protected against loss. A sealant bottle can now be connected directly to the open valve neck for tire inflation. After filling, the valve core is screwed in again and the compressed air is filled up in a conventional manner.

In principle, it is possible to connect a sealant bottle directly to an open valve neck even without the use of a valve core turntable according to FIGS. 1, 8 or 9 in order to fill in the sealant. After filling the sealant, the valve is screwed in again by means of a valve insert rotator, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the tire is filled with air.

Claims

claims

A device for supplying sealing liquid into a pneumatic tire, comprising a connecting flange, which is fastened to a valve of the pneumatic tire, a substantially cylindrical housing arranged on the connecting flange, which is provided with a connection for supplying the sealing liquid and has a cavity which extends at least from the terminal to the connecting flange for supplying the liquid and wherein on the cylindrical housing a valve screwdriver is provided which has a receptacle for releasably connecting to the valve core and is axially movably mounted in the housing such that the valve core for supplying the sealing liquid is removable from the liquid flow and wherein the entire device has an ergonomically designed and substantially elongated cylindrical shape.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle of the valve screwdriver has a clamping function for different shaped valve inserts.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a lever plug nipple is provided for fastening the cylindrical housing to the valve or a screw connection.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection for supplying the sealing liquid is arranged substantially in the flow direction such that a liquid deflection takes place by less than 45 degrees.

5. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting flange has a latching connection, with a latching element which is attachable via spring pressure into engagement with an external thread on the valve.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an extension piece is provided on the cylindrical housing for bridging a greater distance between the valve to be filled and the attachment for the supply of the liquid.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve screwdriver has a rotary handle which is arranged axially displaceably on the cylindrical housing.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection for supplying the sealing liquid is connected to a hose and this hose in turn is in communication with a liquid container, wherein the liquid container has a connection for the supply of compressed air and to the outer structure the liquid container is provided a receptacle for the hose and the means for supplying the sealing liquid.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the receptacle is a latching or plug connection.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the container on at least one outer side with means for releasably securing the container in or on a vehicle.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a check valve is arranged in the feed of the sealing liquid.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one connection to a sealing liquid container is closed with a pierceable metal plate.

13. A device for supplying sealing liquid into a pneumatic tire, comprising a connecting flange, which is attachable to a valve of the pneumatic tire, said connecting flange is directly or indirectly connected to a container and in this container, the sealing liquid is contained, wherein the container substantially a cylindrical shape and at the container opening a screw cap is provided with a removal device having a dip tube which extends to the bottom of the container, or a screw cap axially displaceably arranged tube is provided.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the dip tube is provided for supplying compressed air or for discharging liquid.

15. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that there is a check valve in Fom a ball or a cylindrical closing body in the dip tube.

16. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that on the screw the dip tube for discharging the sealing liquid and on the side opposite the screw cap side of the container, a valve for supplying compressed air is provided.

17. Ventileinsatzdreher, consisting of a threaded sleeve or a cylindrical housing with a clamping device for receiving a valve of a pneumatic tire and a manual actuator

18. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that a valve or a connection for supplying compressed air is provided on the screw cap.