GB2309674A

GB2309674A - Tyre pressure transmitting device

Info

Publication number: GB2309674A
Application number: GB9601916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tsung-I Lo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-17
Filing date: 1996-01-31
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Also published as: GB9601916D0; ZA958750B

Abstract

An air pressure transmitting device includes an inlet valve 1, a flexible tube 2 and an outlet valve 3 combined together, with the flexible tube located between the inlet valve and the outlet valve, in which the inlet valve is connected with a spare high pressure-tyre and said outlet valve is connected with a low pressure tyre of an automobile, the high pressure air in the spare tyre is then permitted to flow through the inlet valve, the flexible tube and out of the outlet valve into the low pressure tyre until the later is filled with sufficient air pressure.

Description

TITLE: TYRE PRESSURE TRANSMITTING DEVICE DESCRIPTION This invention concerns a tyre pressure transmitting device, particularly transmitting high pressure air in a spare tyre into a low pressure tyre of an automobile, without necessity of changing the low pressure tyre to a normal pressure tyre.

So far if a tyre of an automobile does not have enough air pressure, it is filled with air by means of an air compressor. But air compressor is always located at a stationary place owing to its weight, so it cannot be easily carried to the point where an automobile is stopped because of a low pressure tyre. And a small compressor may not be able to supply high pressure air, and even if able, it will take time. Sometimes, an air pump used for bicycles may be used for pumping an automobile tire by laborious treading, but taking time, too.

However, a spare normal pressure tyre is always stored in an automobile, able to be changed in place of a low pressure or flat tyre if it happens in running.

But the task is not so easy for a driver.

The purpose of this invention is to offer a tyre pressure transmitting device to easily transmit high pressure air from a spare high pressure tyre to a low pressure tyre of an automobile.

A tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention consists of a inlet valve connected with a front end of a flexible tube, and an outlet valve connected with a rear end of the flexible tube.

The inlet valve consists of a cylindrical body, an annular gasket fitted in a center hole of the body, an inlet tube having a round post portion located on the gasket and a lateral tubular portion extending from the round post portion and protruding out of two opposite grooves in the cylindrical body, and a grip located on the round post portion of the inlet tube. The round post portion of the inlet tube has an annular cavity between a center post extending down from an upper flat wall and an outer annular wall, and the tubular portion having a center air passageway and communicating with the annular cavity, a male thread at an inner end, and a waveshaped outer surface extending from the male thread to an outer end.The tubular portion is combined with an inner end of the flexible tube, inserting in a center passageway of the flexible tube and firmly compressed by a sleeve placed around the flexible tube.

The outlet valve consists of a body with a tubular portion extending rearward from a front end portion provided with an air chamber and a gasket chamber under the air chamber, a pusher having an upper disc portion, a larger diameter wall under the disc portion and a lower rod portion extending down from the larger diameter wall and having two vertical opposite surfaces, an annular gasket under the pusher having a center through hole for lower rod portion to fit through down, and an annular cap under the annular gasket having a center through hole for the lower rod portion to fit through down.

When the outlet valve is connected with an air valve of a low pressure tyre of an automobile, high pres-sure air in a spare tyre stored in the automobile can flow through the inlet valve, the flexible tube and then the outlet valve and finally into the low pressure tyre until the air pressure of the two tyres, the spare and the low pressure ones, become the same or until the low pressure tire becomes normally pressured for running and the outlet valve is separated from the air valve of the inflated tyre.

The invention will now be described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention, showing it being in used condition; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device, showing it being in operating condition between two tyres; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet valve of the embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device, showing air flowing through it; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an outlet valve of the embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention, showing air stopped by it;; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the outlet valve of a tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention, showing air flowing through it out.

An embodiment of a tyre pressure transmitting device in the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of an inlet valve 1, a flexible tube 2 and an outlet valve 3 as its main components combined together.

The inlet valve 1 has a cylindrical body 10, a tubular gasket 11, an inlet tube 12, and a grip 13 combined together.

The cylindrical body 10 has a center through hole 100, two opposite aligned shaft holes 101, 101 near an upper end, two opposite grooves 102, 102 in an upper section and a hole 103 in a bottom for an air valve of a tyre to fit therein.

The tubular gasket 11 is made of plastics, fitted in the center through hole 100 of the cylindrical body 10 and having a center hole 110, and located under a round post portion of the inlet tube 12 of the inlet inlet valve 1.

The inlet tube 12 is located on the tubular gasket 11, having a lateral tube portion 120 with a center air passageway 121, a male thread 122 around an inner end, a wave-shaped outer surface 123 extending from the male thread to an outer end, a round post portion with a flat upper surface and a vertical annular cavity 125 formed between a round center post extending downward from the upper wall and communicating with the center passageway 121.

The grip 13 is fitted in the center through hole 100 of the cylindrical body 10, having a vertical plate 130 located at top, an intermediate post extending down from the plate 130 and standing on a base 131 bored with a shaft hole 132 through two opposite sides for fitting a shaft 133 therein so that the grip 13 may be swung down and up with the shaft 133 as a pivot, with the plate 130 manually pushed down or lifted up for about 90 for compressing the round post portion of the inlet tube and then the tubular gasket 11, functioning as a switch of the inlet valve 1 to open or close the valve.

The flexible tube 2 having a proper length is connected with the inlet valve 1 at an inner end and with the outlet valve 3 at an outer end, having a center passageway 20, a securing sleeve 21 fitted around the inner end and provided with a center through hole 210 and a female thread 211 in a rear end to engage with the male thread of the tubular portion 120, and a securing connecter 22 fitted around the outer end and provided with a center through hole 220 to fit around the flexible tube 2.

The outlet valve 3 is connected with a front end of the flexible tube 2, having a main body~30, a pusher 31, an annular gasket 32, and an annular cap 33 combined together.

The main body 30 has an air chamber 300, a gasket chamber 301 under the air chamber 300, a female thread 303 on the surface of the gasket chamber 301, a tubular portion 304 formed to extend rearward from a front end portion formed of the air chamber 300 and having a center through hole 305 communicating with the air chamber 300, several sloped stages 306 formed on an outer sloped surface of the tubular portion 304 for fitting in the center passageway of the flexible tube 2.

The pusher 31 is located in the air chamber 300 of the main body 30, having a position disc 310 at top, a larger diameter wall 311 under the disc 310, a push rod 312 extending down from the wall 311 and having two vertical opposite sides 313 and a curved concave face 314 at a bottom end for an outer end of an air valve of a tire to engage with.

The annular gasket 32 is located in the gasket chamber 301, having a sloped annular surface 320 in an upper inner side, a center hole 321, an annular contact surface 322 on a bottom, an annular sloped surface 323 around the outer portion of the contact surface 322.

The annular cap 33 has a male thread 330 on an upper portion to engage with the female thread 303 of the main body 30, a center hole 331, an annular sloped surface 332 around an upper portion of the center hole 331, an annular sloped surface 333 and a screwing groove 334 at a lower portion of the center hole 331.

In assembling, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, firstly, the tubular gasket 11 is placed in the center hole of the cylindrical body 10 of the inlet valve 1, and then the grip 13 is fitted in the body 10, with the shaft hole 132 aligned with the two shaft holes 101, 101 for the shaft 133 to extend therein to function as a pivot. After that, the lateral tube portion 120 of the inlet valve 12 is fitted in the center passageway 20 of the flexible tube 2, with the female thread 211 of the securing sleeve 21 engaging with the male thread 122 of the inlet valve 12, and with the center through hole 210 of the securing sleeve 21 urging the flexible tube 2 to firmly fit with the outer surface 123 of the inlet tube 12.Next, the pusher 31 of the outlet valve 3 is combined with the main body 30 of the outlet valve 3 with the position disc 310 fitted in the air chamber 300 and with the annular gasket 32 fitted in the gasket chamber 301, and with the sloped surface 320 contacting with the sloped surface 302 on the gasket chamber 301. Then the annular cap 33 is combined with the main body 30 by screwing the male thread 330 with the female thread 303 with the annular gasket 32 pinched between them, with the sloped surface 332 firmly contacting with the sloped surface 323 preventing air from leaking therethrough.

Then finally, the outlet valve 3 is combined with the flexible tube 2, with the tubular portion 304 fitted in the center passageway 20 of the flexible tube 2 and with the securing connecter 22 fitted around the front end of the flexible tube hiding the front portion of the main body 30 of the outlet valve 3, preventing the flexible tube 2 from loosening off the outlet valve 3.

In case a tyre of an automobile is found to have insufficient pressure and is to be augmented in its pressure, referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the cylindrical body 10 of the inlet valve 1 is combined with an air valve A of a spare tyre filled with high air pressure, with the air valve A fitted in the center hole 103 and the center through hole 125 of the cylindrical body 10.

Then the grip 13 of the inlet valve 1 is swung down from an upright position to a right side for about 90 , forcing the base 131 thereof press down the round post portion 124 of the inlet tube 12 and then the annular gasket 11, which will be compressed to extend both inward and outward because of its soft material (plastics), and thus tightly and closely contacting with the air valve A. At the same time, the round post 126 of the inlet tube 12 also presses an upper end of the air valve A, which then permits the high pressure air in the spare t re flow through the inlet valve into the flexible tube to reach the outlet tube 3. But the high pressure air is to be stopped by the larger diameter wall 311 of the pusher 31 of the outlet valve 3, although it is able to flow through the center through hole~305 and into the air chamber 300, as shown in Fig. 5.Then the outlet valve 3 has to be fitted around the air valve B of a low pressure tyre, which moves in the center through hole 331 of the annular cap 33 via the sloped surface 332, and then pushing the annular contact surface 322 of the annular gasket 32, with the curved concave face 314 of the pusher 31 forcing down the upper end of the air valve B as shown in Fig. 6. Then the high pressure air in the spare tire immediately flows quickly into the low pressure t re until the latter gets sufficient air from the former, inflated to a normal air pressure for running. After that, the outlet valve 3 is at once pulled out from the air valve B so that the pusher 31 may be forced by the high pressure air, shutting up the center hole of the pusher 31 and blocking up the high pressure air from flowing through, as shown in Fig. 5.And then the grip 13 of the inlet valve 1 is to be swung up back to an original upright position, with the annu ar gasket 11 recovering its original shape so that the inlet valve 1 may be separated from the air valve A of the spare tyre.

As can be understood from the above description, this invention has merits as follows.

1. The pressure transmitting device can be used by connecting the two, inlet and outlet, valves with air valves of a spare tyre and a low pressure tyre, very simple to operate.

2. The device can avoid more troublesome changing operation of a low-pressure tire with a normal pressure spare tyre, supplying a low pressure tyre with high air pressure.

3. The device can also be used to inflate a swimming rubber loops or basket balls or footballs, etc.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1.Anairtyrpressure transmitting device comprising: an inlet valve consisting of; a cylindrical body having a center through hole, two opposite shaft holes near an upper end, two opposite grooves in the upper portion, and a hole in a bottom for an air valve of a tyre to fit in upward; an annular gasket made of soft plastics, located in said center through hole of said cylindrical body, and having a center through hole for said air valve of a tyre to fit therein;; an inlet tube located on said annular gasket, having a round post portion and a lateral tubular portion, said tubular portion having a center air passageway, said round post portion having an upper flat surface for receiving a bottom of a grip described later to rest therein, an interior annular hollow formed between an outer wall and a center post extending down from an upper surface and communicating with the center air passageway of said lateral tubular portion; and a grip located in said center through hole of said cylindrical body, having a push plate at top, a base at bottom, an intermediate postal portion connecting said push plate and the base, said base having a lateral shaft hole for a shaft to fit therein to function as a pivot; an flexible tube of a proper length needed, having a front end combined with said inlet valve and a rear end combined with an outlet valve described later, and a center passageway for air; an outlet valve combined with the rear end of said flexible tube and consisting of:: a main body having an air chamber and a gasket chamber in a front end section, said gasket chamber located under the air chamber and having a female thread around its wall defining said gasket chamber, a tubular portion extending rearward from said front end section, said tubular portion having a center air passageway; a pusher located in said air chamber of said main body, having a lower rod portion provided with two vertical flat surfaces, an upper disc portion, a larger diameter wall between said lower rod portion and said upper disc portion; an annular gasket located in said gasket chamber of said main body, having a center through hole and an annular contact surface at bottom; and an annular cap having a male thread at an upper portion to engage with the female thread of said main body, and a center through hole; and said inlet valve combined with an air valve of a spare tyre filled with high air pressure, said outlet valve combined with an air valve of a low pressure tyre of an automobile and possible to automatically permit the high pressure air of said spare tyre flow into said low pressure tyre through said air valve.

2. An air pressure transmitting device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said inlet tube has a male thread at an inner end and a wave-shaped outer surface, and a connecter is further provided to be connected between said inlet tube of said inlet valve and said front end of said flexible tube, and said connecter has a female thread at an inner end and a center through hole, with said female thread engaging said male thread of said inlet tube, said connecter fitting around the inner end of said flexible tube with compressing tightness after said flexible tube is combined with said inlet tube.

3. The air pressure transmitting device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said gasket chamber of said outlet valve has a sloped annular surface at an upper section, and said annular gasket of said outlet valve has a sloped surface in a corresponding location so that after said annular gasket is placed in said gasket chamber, air can be blocked up, not to flow therethrough.

4. The air pressure transmitting device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said annular contact surface of said annular gasket has an annular sloped surface to correspond to an annular sloped surface provided at an upper portion of said center through hole of said annular cap, preventing air from leaking therethrough.

5. The air pressure transmitting device as claimed in Claim 1,2, 3or4, wherein said tubular portion of said outlet valve has a plurality of sloped stages on its outer surface to be fitted in the outer end of said flexible tube, which has its outer end combined with a connecter having a center through hole, with said connecter fitting around the outer end of said flexible tube with compressing tightness.

6. The air pressure transmitting device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said lower rod of said pusher of said outlet valve has a curved concave face for engaging with and pushing an upper end of an air valve of a tyre.

7. The air pressure transmitting device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said annular cap of said outlet valve has an annular sloped face for convenience of combining itself with an air valve of a tyre.

8. An air pressure transmitting device comprising an inlet valve, a flexible tube and an outlet valve combined together with the flexible tube located between the inlet valve and the outlet valve, the inlet valve being connected with a spare high pressure tyre and said outlet valve being connected with a low pressure tyre of an automobile in case of using this device, the high pressure air in the spare tyre permitted to flow through the inlet valve, the flexible tube and out of the outlet valve into the low pressure tyre until the later is filled with sufficient air pressure.

9. An air pressure transmitting device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of inflating a vehicle tyre using an air pressure transmitting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.