GB2227213A

GB2227213A - Pneumatic tyre assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2227213A
Application number: GB8822563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Young Ho Yoo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-11
Filing date: 1988-09-26
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Also published as: DE3832899A1; GB8822563D0

Description

( i 1

DESCRIPTION

PNEUMATIC TYRE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a pneumatic tyre assembly for cart motorcycle or bicycle tyres.

A pneumatic tyre generally has only one tube filled with compressed air. Thus, when the tube is damaged and/or puncturedr the punctured tube is repaired or replaced. Because such accidents are quite sudden and random in nature, a spare tyre or a repair kit are almost always carried.

However. cars, motorcycles, or bicycles. which are not equipped with a spare tyre or repair tools, must be-hauled to a repair shop for repair and/or exchange of the punctured tyre.

While the vehicle is in tow, the punctured tyre is compressed between the tyre wheel rim and the ground. thereby inflicting further damage to the punctured tube. Although the initial puncture may have been slightr the subsequent damage inflicted on the tube while being hauled may make repair of the tube impossible. As a result the tube having a slight puncture must be entirely replaced.

Furthermore, in the case of long distance bicycle racingi when the tube is punctured, the wheel with the damaged tyre is entirely replaced by a new wheel having another tyre, since there is not enough time to repair the tube. Changing the tyre by mounting the new wheel also takes time. Therefore, a punctured tyre is a difficult problem to overcome in long distance bicycle racing.

According to the invention, a pneumatic tyre assembly comprises a first inflatable annular memberr a second inflatable annular tubular member within the first member and air valve means for separately inflating the members.

v 50/3535/01 2 With this arrangementi the first member may be. and be used as, a conventional inner tube or tubeless tyrei and the second member provides an auxiliary inflatable tube which can promptly compensate for puncturing of the first member.

The first member and the second member may be integrally formed at a portion which arranged to be mounted on a wheel rim. or may be independent of each other, except perhaps where a valve for the second member passes through the first member.

The first and the second members may either share a common double air inlet/outlet valve or have separate air inlet/outlet valves, depending on the kind of tyres and application.

is In the accompanying drawings:- Fig. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a wheel fitted with an assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a wheel fitted with another assembly according to the present invention; and, Fig. 4 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 3.

The illustrated assemblies are composed of two members; a first tubular member 1, which serves as a conventional inner tube. and a second tubular member 2. which is used as an auxiliary inner tuber the second member 2 being contained within the first member.

The first member 1 and the second member 2 can either be integrally formed at a portion which is mounted on a rim 3-of the wheel (Pigs. 1 and 2) or be independent of each other (Pigs. 3 and 4). The first and the second members are equipped with air inlet/outlet valve means for selectively injecting air into and/or releasing air from the tubular members.

t v ( 1 k 50/3535/01 3 A common double air inlet/outlet valve 4 is shown in the first example (Figs. 1 and 2) and separate air inlet/outlet valves 4ar 4b. in the second example (Figs. 3 and 4)p the choice depending on the kind of tyre and application.

The above described assemblies are inserted into the tyre in place of a conventional inner tube.

Under normal conditionst pressurized air -is injected through the air valve 4 or 4a into the first member 1 to inflate a surrounding tyre 6. At this time, the remaining air in the second member 2 is discharged through another passage in the valve 4 or through the separate valve 4b. so that the second member 2 is contracted and compressed towards the centre of the two members, as shown in dot-line in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the case in which the first member 1 is filled with air while the second member 2 is contracted, if the first member 1 is then punctured in an accident and the air in the first tube member is releasedi pressurized air is injected into the second member through the valve by means for example, of a carried piston pump (not shown) in the case of a bicycle tyre. The punctured tyre can then promptly be restored to its original state.

The valve 4r which is only shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2, has two air passages one of which communicates with the first member 1 and the other with the second member 2.

Each of the two air passages has a check valve in it in order to close the passages so that air in the respective member cannot be released. Each check valve is opened by inserting an adaptor into the air passage, and air can then be injected and/or discharged through the adaptor. when the tyre is to be inflated normallyr the two adaptors are inserted into the air passages and air is injected into the ( 1 50/3535/01 4 first member through its adaptor and the first air passage. Simultaneouslyy air in the second member is discharged from the member 2 through the adaptor in the other air passage. After the first member has been inflated with air and the second member is completely deflated and contracted. the two adaptors are removed from the air passages. If the member is punctured, the two adaptors are inserted again into the air passages and air is then injected into the second member through its adaptor and the second air passage, and the remaining air in the first member is discharged through its adaptor in the first air passage. After the second member has been inflated and air in the first member has been fully discharged. the two adaptors are removed from the air passages so that the air passages are closed by their check valves.

In an alternative application of the invention, the second member 2 may be provided in a tubeless tyre forming the first member 1. Damage to the tubeless tyre can be compensated by inflation of the member 2 analogously to the way in which a conventional tubeless tyre may be repaired by insertion of a conventional inner tube.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tyre assembly comprising a first inflatable annular membery a second inflatable annular tubular member within the first tubular member and air valve means for separately inEting the members.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are integrally formed at a portion which arranged to be mounted on a wheel rim.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are independent of each other.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve means is a common valve, with air passages leading into respective ones of the first and second members.

5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve means comprises two separate valves, each coupled with a respective one of the members.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member is an inner tube for a tyre.

7. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to St wherein the first member is a tubeless tyre.

8. A tyre tube assemblyr substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 at The Patent office, State House, 66,f71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent OfficeSales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techmques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187