GB2361679A

GB2361679A - Tyre inner tube

Info

Publication number: GB2361679A
Application number: GB9920182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond A E Baron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-26
Filing date: 1999-08-26
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB9920182D0

Abstract

The inner-tube comprises a fabricated cylindrical rubber tube member 1 having numerous individual air compartments 4 connected together by reinforcement membranes, each compartment incorporating an air inlet valve 6 connected to a main air pipe 8 for inflation, and one air outlet valve 7 which is correspondingly connected to a second main air pipe 9 for releasing pressurised airs.

Description

1 2361679 Tyre Inner-Tube Device Thi s invention rel ates to tyre

inner-tube devices, and more particularly to inner-tubes which are used within a vehicle tyre or other to act as a safety device to ensure the tyre maintains a high degree of pressure in the event of a puncture or similar.

The use of rubber inner-tubes have for a number of years been commonly used on all types of vehicles, such as cars, commercial vehicles, bi cycl es, motor cycl es, etc. to provide a means f o r inflating a rubber tyre. Although it is appreciated that many tyres used today are tubeless tyres there are still inner-tubes used to inflate many vehicle tyres today.

The safety of any vehicle or means of transport is determined by a number of factors. One of these factors is the quality and condition of the tyres, as it is we] 1 understood that a large percentage of transport accidents and incidents are tyre related and in particular are caused by punctures and or low pressure.

It is commonly known that a puncture is caused when a sharp object etc pierces the rubber skin at any point of the tyre causing the pressurised air within the tyre to escape from the breach point. The speed in which the air escapes is dependant upon the size of the breech. Also dependant upon the size and positioning of the breach 2.

determines; whether the tyre simply deflates or blows out; whether the tyre should be replaced or repaired.

In most cases of deflation a professi onal and reputable tyre i nstal 1 er or supp] ier wi 11 determine which course of action should be taken and generally will be subject to their strict code of practice, as it is known that as a result of a puncture or low tyre pressure as a result of a puncture, the chances of a so called 'blow out' occurring whilst operative are significantly increased.

1 Due to the high costs of replacing a tyre after encountering a puncture, it is also becoming increasing common that more users are resorting to using inner-tubes within their vehicle tyres, as a means of inflating the tubeless tyre rather than the tyre itself. It is a 1 S o known a f t e r repairing a punctured tyre that many users insert a innertube into their repaired tyre as a safety precaution.

One problem with the present inventions is generally in the event of a breach of their skin, the tyre and inner-tube will either deflate rapidly causing the user to stop and replace the tyre or deflate slowly increasing the chances of a blow out when operative, both of whi ch causes considerable problems to the user, the present invention seeks to provide a multi compartment inner-tube, which will prevent - a tyre from going completely flat enabling a user to reach a destination safely f o r repai r without the worry or i nconven i en ce of be i ng st ra nded - t he pos s i bi 1 i ty of encounte ri ng a blow out - the possibility of skidding due to low tyre pressure.

According to the present invention there is provided an inner-tube safety device comprising of a fabricated cylindrical rubber tube member, which is adapted to be located within a vehicle tyre for inflation purposes, the rubber tube is moulded to form a complete rubber ring which incorporates numerous individual air compartments connected together by reinforcement membranes, said compartments incorporate two air valves, one which permits air to enter into each compartment through the use of the first main air pipe, and one which allows air to be released from each compartment through the use of a second main air pipe, one end of said first air pipe being provided with a means of connecting to an external air source for inflation purposes, one end of said second air pipe being provided with a means of allowing the user to externally deflate said invention.

In order that the invention be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described of the device, by way of example only, references being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure I is a frontal elevation view of the invention in accordance with all embodiments in an inflated position.

It Figure 2 is a frontal elevation view of invention, showing one of the compartments in a deflated condition.

Referring to the drawings and figures 1 to 2, and firstly to figure 1 the device, indicated generally by reference numeral 1, comprises a first member a cylindrical rubber ring 2 which is adapted to be inserted into a commonly used tyre 3 for the purposes of inflating said tyre for use with a vehicle or similar.

On i nsi de of f i rst member there i s provi ded wi th numerous i ntegral sections 4 which are correspondingly connected together by reinforcement membranes 5 to form numerous air compartments. S a i d reinforcement membrane has a p] ural i ty of engagement with the internal dimensions of said first member so as to provide h i 9 h degree of reinforcement in the event of a puncture.

Internal and on one side of air compartments 4 there is provided two air valves 6 and 7 the first 6 which permits air to enter into each compartment 4 through the use of the first main air pipe 8, the second 7 (not shown) which allows air to be released from each compartment through the use of a second main air pipe 9.

Said first main air pipe 8 a cylindrical elongate rubber hose is connected to the rubber ring 2 by a means not shown and as will be seen in figures 1 and 2 respectively passes through each compartment 4 and correspondingly connects (not shown) to said inlet valve 6 of each corresponding compartment 4.

Said second main air pipe 9 a cylindrical elongate rubber hose is connected to the rubber ring 2 and first main air pipe 8 by a means not shown and as wi 11 be seen in f i gures 1 and 2 respecti vely and as said 8 passes through each compartment 4 and correspondingly connects to the outlet valve 7 of each corresponding compartment 4.

Said first main air pipe 8 incorporates a external valve portion 10 which is adapted to be inserted through the internal wall of a wheel rim 11, whereas to provide a means in which the said inner-tube 1 may be inflated via an external source for operative use.

Said second main air pipe 9 incorporates a external valve portion 12 which like said first main air pipe 8 is adapted to be inserted through the internal wall of a wheel rim 11, whereas to provide a means in which the said inner-tube 1 may be deflated by a means of releasing the internal pressure of said invention 1 for the purposes of replacement or similar.

In use and to provide an inner-tube for the purposes aforementioned, invention 1 i S inserted into an appropriate tyre 3 and correspondingly connected to the wheel of a vehicle or similar and valves portions 10 and 12 of first 8 and second 9 air pipes are fed (0 internal I y to externa I I y through va I ve hole 13 of s a i d vehi c I e wheel as will be seen in figure 1 and 2 respectively.

For operative use valve portion 10 is connected to an external air 1 ine and pressurised a i r i S pumped into valve, whereas the a i r travels along first main air pipe 8 and through means of valves 6 a i r is forced i n t 0 compartments 4 for inflation purposes. Upon inflation the invention 1 takes up the shape of the tyre 3 and rim, at which point the external air line is disconnected from valve portion 10.

In operative use and in the event of a puncture of the tyre 3 and one of the compartments 4 within the s a i d invention 1, the ai r within the punctured compartment be released at the breach point 14 (example only) and will deflate as will be seen in figure 2. The use of the inlet 6 and outlet valves 7 and the first 8 and second 9 a i r pipes prevent the pressurised ai r within each remaining compartment from escaping through the breach point 14 in the punctured compartment.

The remaining air within the invention 1 will provide a means of safety traveling without the threat of total deflation, blow out or skidding etc to a position whereas the puncture or wheel etc can be attended to.

During inoperative use and for replacement purposes valve portion 12 of said second main air pipe 9 is released forcing the pressurised air to be released from each compartment 4 via outlet valves 7 and second main air pipe 9.

It is clear that the invention in accordance with aforementioned is wel I adapted to carry out the objectives mentioned herein. Whi I e presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and while accomplished within the spirit of the invention.

As with the embodiments of figures I to 2, all embodiments of the device may be composed of a various light durable materials, so as to provide the degree of durability and strength necessary.

i

Claims

A tyre inner-tube device comprising of a fabricated cylindrical rubber tube member, the tube member having internally numerous individual air compartments connected together by reinforcement membranes. Each air compartment incorporating one air inlet valve which is connected to a main air pipe for the purposes of inflating from an external ai r source; one air outlet valve which is correspondingly connected to a second main ai r pi pe for the purposes of releasing pressurised air externally. I-
2. A tyre inner-tube device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement membranes have a plurality of engagement with the internal cross section dimension of the rubber tube member to provide sealed air compartments.
3. A tyre inner-tube device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein air compartments on one side thereof incorporates; one air inlet valve for the purposes of allowing air into the individual compartments; one air outlet valve for the purposes of allowing air to discharge from the individual compartments.
4. A tyre innertube device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein; inflation means is provided by a first main air pipe being correspondingly connected to all inlet valves. deflation C( means is provided by a second main air pipe being correspondingly connected to all outlet valves.
5. A tyre inner-tube device as claimed in claim 4, wherein both first and second main air pipes have external valve portions which are adapted to be fed through the internally wall of a wheel trim for the purposes of inflation or deflation externally.
6. A tyre inner-tube device substantially described herein with,"i reference to figures 1 to 2 of the accompanying drawings.