GB2322689A

GB2322689A - Tyre valve with inflator/deflator

Info

Publication number: GB2322689A
Application number: GB9703976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Henry Earl-Smith
Original assignee: EARL SMITH ROBERT HENRY
Current assignee: EARL SMITH ROBERT HENRY
Priority date: 1997-02-26
Filing date: 1997-02-26
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-26
Also published as: GB9703976D0; GB2322689B

Abstract

A valve for use with wheels fitted with tubeless tyres comprises a butyl valve member 5b retained in a bore 5c by a plug 5a. The bore 5c may be machined into an alloy wheel or may be incorporated in a capsule (figure 9c) for attachment to a steel wheel. The tyre is inflated by insertion of a hollow inflator/deflator (figures 1 and 6) through the member 5b and the inflator/deflator has holes in a rounded end through which air can enter/exit the tyre. The inflator/deflator includes a steel non-return ball valve. Gel may be contained at the base of the valve to aid in sealing.

Description

PATEI, TIC VALVE WITH INFLATORIDEFIATOR FOR VEHICLE WHEELS FITTED WITH TUBELESS TYRES This invention relates to self sealing pneumatic valves without moving parts for use with vehicle wheels fitted with tubeless tyres and an inflator/deflator devise.

Conventional pneumatic tyre valves have many moving parts. The essentia! flexible stem create imbalance, require valve caps to prevent the ingress of foreign matter, and are expensive.

Wheels with conventional valves are unbalanced due to the valve stem protruding from the wheel. The invention, with valve and retaining plug within the wheel body and hidden from view eliminates this problem for alloy wheels and reduce it considerably for steel wheels.

The valve can be considered invisible for alloy wheels almost so when used with steel wheels.

The valve is used with two different type of wheels; 1: conventional steel wheels and 2; alloy wheels. Due to the difference in construction of the wheels two different bodies are required to hold the valve in the wheel. The first, Type "A" used with alloy wheels is contained within the thickness of the wheel body, the second, Type "B" used with steel wheels is contained within a capsule which is held in place by a nut or retaining ring on the inside of the wheel well.

When used with alloy wheels the Invention consists of three components; 1 a Butyl rubber or suitable plastic self sealing valve body, 2: a non-ferrous or injection moulded plastic retaining plug, 3: an inflatorldeflator.

When used with steel wheels the invention consists of five components; 1: a abutyl rubber or other suitable plastic self sealing valve body, 2: a nonferous or injection moulded plastic capsule, 3: retainer plug, 4: capsule retaining nut or ring, 5: inflatorldeflator.

The present invention valve body has no moving parts, and is made from Butyl rubber or similar compound. The valve has a very small hole moulded through most of its length and is self sealing due to an amount of gel contained at the base of the valve which has a thin closed membrane which is pierced by the inflatorldeflator. The membrane is self sealing.

The shape of the end of the valve inside the tyre is reacted on by the air pressure and further assists in keeping the membrane sealed. The valve accepts the inflatorldeflator freely.

By varying the composition of the valve material the pressure it will contain can be adjusted to various limits.

The non-ferrous inflator/deflator has a steel non-retr'rn ball valve within the large diameter of the body which is sized to fit standard service station air hoses and tyre preasure gauges.

The ball is depressed by a central pin standard in both of these fittings, this allows air pressure to be checked without injecting air. The section which penetrates the valve is hollow with a rounded point to facilitate penetration of the valve without damage.

There are two holes close to the point enabling air to be injected or released. The non-return valve ensures air does not escapes from the tyre when the inflator/deflator is withdrawn from the valve.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Sheet 1 illustrates valve Type "A" used with alloy wheels, sheet 2 illustrates valve Type "B" for use with steel wheels.

SHEET 1 of 2 - TYPE "A".

Figure 1 is the inflator/deflator showing one of the air entry/escape holes at the lower end; Figure 2 is a cross section of alloy wheel, valve, and retainer plug; Figure 3 is a perspective of the wheel showing valve at 5 O'clock; Figure 5 is an exploded view of valve assembly. 5a non-ferrous or injection moulded retaining plug. 5b Butyl valve. Sc wheel bored and threaded to accept Sa & Sb; SHEET 2 of 2 - TYPE "B" Figure 6 is the inflatorldeflator showing one of the air entry/escape hole at the lower end; Figure 7 is the complete valve capsule in a steel wheel held by the retaining nut or ring; Figure 8 is a perspective of the valve in the wheel rim at 12 O'clock; Figure 9 is an exploded view of the valve capsule: 9a retaining plug. 9b Butyl valve.

9c capsule. 9d steel wheel. 9e capsule retaining nut or ring.

Drawing 112 Type "A" shows valve and retainer located within the thickness of wheel casting In drawing 212 Type "B" the valve capsule is located within the wheel well inside the tyre.

Air can not be injected or release from the tyre without the inflator/deflator.

The inflator/deflator is an integral and non-divisible part of the valve invention.

Claims

CLMMS

1 A pneumatic valve with inflatorldeflator for vehicle wheels fitted with tubeless tyres.

A A self sealing pneumatic valve with no moving parts as claimed in claim 1 made from Butyl rubber and entraping a designed quantity of gel 3 A self sealing pneumatic valve with no moving parts as claimed in claims 1 & 2 made from other suitable plastic compound and entraping a designed quantity of gel 4 A self sealing valve with no moving parts claimed in claims 123 which is located within the thickness of alloy wheels eliminating imbalance S A self sealing valve with no moving parts, figure 2, claimed in claims 1234 consisting of two elements, figures 5a and Sb. Figure Sc shows the alloy wheel bored and threaded to accept the valve and retainer plug.

6 A self sealing valve with no moving par s. figure 7, claimed in claims 123 contained within a capsule and consisting of 4 elements figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9e. Figure 9d illustrates the wheel with retainer nut or ring inside the wheel, Figure 9e.

7 A self sealing valve with no moving parts claimed in claims 123456 which is flush with the outside of the wheel which can be considered invisible, figure 8.

8 An inflator/deflator with non-return valve built in, figure 6, claimed in claim 1, which is a separate but indivisible part of the valve in claims 1 through 7 9 The non-return valve claimed in claim s is of ball type made from ferrous, non-lerous, ceramic or plastic compound 10 The non-return valve claimed in claim 9 is positioned in the top of the stem enabling it to be depressed by the standard central pin in all airline fittings and tyre preasure gagues enabling the injection or release of air and thereby preventing air escaping when the fittings are removed from the inflator/deflator.