GB2409668A

GB2409668A - Motorcycle tyre inflation aid

Info

Publication number: GB2409668A
Application number: GB0330136A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Rainer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-30
Filing date: 2003-12-30
Publication date: 2005-07-06
Also published as: GB0330136D0

Abstract

The aid comprises a flexible tube B with means C at one end for coupling to and operating a motorcycle tyre valve and means A at the other end to couple with an air supply device. The aid enables improved access to a motorcycle tyre valve so that a user can avoid contact with chain lubricant, brake dust &c. The means C has a retaining sleeve with an internal sealing ring to grip the tyre valve exterior and a valve operating lever D.

Description

Motorcycle Tyre Inflator Aid

Description

Existing problem Modern motorcycles tend to be fitted with disc brakes (also drive chains, for the rear wheel) that obstruct access to the standard inflation tools that are commonly available at petrol station forecourts.

It is often virtually impossible to attach the supplied tool to the tyre valve due to the restricted space.

Various angled adaptors are available but these are prone to point the wrong way when screwed onto the valve, and do not fully resolve the problem.

Some petrol stations do have angled or flexible tooling that works quite well but these are few and far between, and also tend to become damaged and are quickly taken out of service.

Once the standard tooling is manoeuvred into position and located over the valve, full alignment is often hard to achieve and deflation rather than the intended inflation occurs. Tyre valves also tend to become damaged or even fracture due to the excessive forces imposed when struggling to align the tooling with the valve.

Rear wheels can become very dirty due to the chain lubricant making the operation of struggling with the tooling even more unpleasant.

Essential features This device seals onto the existing valve body by the use of a lever operated cam that operates upon a plunger to compress; a seal ring around the valve body. This stops the deflation / leakage that can result if the standard tooling is misaligned. The plunger also opens the tyre valve air path.

As it is a simple quick connection to the valve, able to rotate through 360 degrees (limited only by the presence of wheel spokes etc) misalignment with the valve is obviated. Less contact with the oily surfaces is an additional bonus.

Motorcycle Tyre Inflator Aid The flexible hose from the plunger / lever assembly brings the attachment point, for the air supply, remote to the wheel.

Incorporation of an additional valve at the end of the hose supplies a standard interface for the air supply and seals the device from leakage.

Introduction to drawings

This simple device consists of 5 main components as listed below and shown on the attached drawing.

A = Interface valve assembly. This seals the device and provides an interface connection to the standard tooling that is available B = Flexible hose. This connects the Interface valve (A) through to the plunger assembly (E). The hose length is minimised to provide the required flexibility whilst retaining a desirable stiffness to the device.

C = Retaining sleeve. The sleeve is required to ensure that the internal seal ring is held against the tyre valve to correctly gripthe valve and provide correct alignment for the tool D = Cam pivot pin. The pin serves a dual purpose, to act as the point of rotation for the lever / cam and also retains the plunger once locked into position E = Lever operated plunger / seal assembly. Required to open the tyre valve air path and seal the device to the tyre valve.

Claims

Motorcycle Tyre Inflator Aid Claims 1. This device enables motorcycle

tyres to be inflated easily by extending the relative position of the valve to outside of the wheel rim, allowing for a simpler attachment to the air supply.

This tool can be used to inflate any object that uses the International Standard tyre valve upto pressures of 50psi(g)
2. By having the air attachment remote to the often oily or dirty wheel, provides a cleaner operationfor the user.
3. A self-sealing mechanism exists to prevent deflation occurring.
4. Flexible to enable access to awkward locations.
5. It is simple to use taking only a few seconds to attach to the tyre valve.
6. Saves time that would have been spent attempting souse the supplied tooling.
7. Checking of tyre pressures, rather than inflation, has the same advantages as outlined above. (Cleaner operation, better accessibility for the meter etc).