JPS6132513B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates to pumps that generate high pressure air for inflating pneumatic objects, such as car tires. The field of the invention further relates to relief valves that can be preselected to various selected pressure levels, so that when the air pump is activated, there is no possibility of over-inflation of the pneumatic device.

When pressurizing automobile tires, it is often necessary to inflate the tires with a manual pump. Pumps commonly used in this type of pump are usually driven by a person's hands or feet in a reciprocating motion. Such prior art pumps have been made of poor quality materials to keep manufacturing costs low. Furthermore, the assembly techniques for such pumps have not been very efficient. As a result, the total production cost is not very cheap, and the manufacturing quality of such prior art pumps does not reach the desired level.

Prior art pumps often include some type of pressure gauge to indicate to the operator whether the pressure is within specifications for the inflating device. The types of pressure gauges used in the past were dials operated by Bourdon tubes. This type of instrument is quite fragile and, moreover, is expensive to manufacture.

The air pump of the invention includes a lever hingedly connected to the base plate. Connection between the lever and the base plate is accomplished simply by using a bushing assembly. A spring-loaded retainer ring assembly is disposed above the bushing assembly to continuously maintain rotatable interconnection between the lever and the base plate. An actuator that produces high pressure air is pivotally connected between the lever and the free end of the substrate. The actuator essentially consists of a conventional piston and cylinder with a spring assembly that continuously applies a force to maintain the piston rod in an extended position.

Included within the air pump of the present invention is a relief valve assembly that utilizes a pair of members, an outer member and an inner member, telescopically connected to each other by threaded adjustment, the inner member being referred to as the body. includes an air passageway connected thereto to an air receiving chamber formed within the body. A relief passage is created within the body and leads to the air intake chamber. The air receiving chamber is normally closed by a valve assembly connected to a spring so that a constant force is applied to maintain the valve in the closed position to prevent air from flowing from the air passageway into the air receiving chamber. There is.
The valve assembly includes an inner valve member and an outer valve member, and when the inner valve member is first displaced, high air pressure is applied to a very large surface, momentarily actuating the entire valve assembly against the force of the spring. do. As a result, high pressure from the air passage is led out to the outside air via the relief passage. The free end of the spring is connected to a spring retainer secured within the outer member. The outer member is threadably movable onto the body, and as the outer member is threaded onto the body, the spring force increases and therefore more force is required to displace the valve. Appropriate markings are made on the outer member and the body based on their relative positions and a preselected value of air pressure is required to displace the valve. Therefore, an automobile tire or other inflatable object can be inflated to a predetermined pressure without fear of overinflation by simply presetting the relief valve before beginning the inflation procedure.

One of the main objectives of the air pump of the present invention is to make the air pump with fewer parts, thus minimizing manufacturing costs.

Another object of the present invention is to create an air pump with fewer parts that can be easily assembled by unskilled personnel.

A further object of the invention is that the air pump can be easily adjusted to a predetermined and precise value of pressure prior to the inflation of the inflatable object.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an air pump 10 of the present invention is comprised primarily of a lever 106, a substrate 108, and an actuator 104.
0 is shown. The lever 106 is also the substrate 108
Both are made of hard materials such as aluminum. Bottom surfaces 110 and 112 of substrate 108
is the substrate 10 when it is supported on one surface.
8 is made to be easy to grasp. This will prevent unwanted movement of the air pump when in use.

Actuator 104 uses a conventional cylinder 114 containing a movable piston (not shown). This piston extends outside the cylinder 114 and is connected to a piston rod 116 that is fixed to a bridge plate 120. Next attached to the bridge plate 120 around the piston rod 116 is a spring retainer cap 122. coil spring 124
is disposed around the piston rod 116 and is in contact with the cap 122. The opposite end of the coil spring 124 is disposed within an annular groove 126 in a cap 128 secured over the cylinder 114. Coil spring 124 (not shown) moves piston rod 11 to a fully extended position within cylinder 114.
It acts to apply continuous force to fully extend 6. When actuator assembly 104 is fully compressed, coil spring 124 is also fully compressed to the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. As further explained herein, this position is the smallest and is therefore the position in which the air pump of the present invention is normally stored. This position is maintained with locking clips 130 as required. Locking clip 130 has a hook that hooks into an opening 132 made in lever 106. Locking clip 130 is pin 134
is pivotally mounted on the Pin 134 connects spaced side members 136 and 138 of substrate 108.
It is fixed between. Side members 136 and 13
8 are connected to each other via legs 110 and 112.

A first bushing 139 is disposed around one end of the pin 134, and a second bushing 140 is disposed around the other end. 2nd bushing 14
0 is in contact with side member 138 and first bushing 139 is in contact with side member 136. Bridge plate 120 includes a pair of hook-shaped members 142 and 144. Hook-type member 142 surrounds bushing 139 by slightly more than 180 degrees so as to maintain a predetermined position around bushing 139. Similarly, hook member 144 surrounds bushing 140. Nut 146 tightening piston rod 116 to bridge plate 120
is located in close proximity to a bushing 148 which is rotatably mounted on pin 134. From what has been said so far, the piston rod 116
It will be appreciated that the can pivot about pin 134. This pivoting is necessary for the operation of air pump 100.

The upper end of the cylinder 114 is closed with a cover 102. Inside the cover 102 is a cylinder 114.
There is an air exhaust passageway 150 that directs air into the conduit 152 through the outside of the. It will be appreciated that conduit 152 connects to a pneumatic device, such as a tire, via a suitable fitting. A conventional one-way check valve 154 is located within conduit 150.

Threaded into cover 102 is relief valve assembly 10 . This relief valve assembly is described in more detail herein.

Lever 106 and base plate 1 to facilitate pivoting
08 interconnection is accomplished through a portion of the cylinder 156 that is integrally made on the lever 106. This portion of cylinder 156 is positioned over a matching recess 158 made in nylon bushing 160. Bushing 160
includes an enlarged toroidal head 162.
Pin 164 makes a tight but movable connection to inner wall 166 of bushing 160. The head 162 is positioned opposite a projection 168 integrally formed on the side member 138.

A pin 164 is disposed within the inner wall 166 and the head 1
62 is opposed to protrusion 168 and member 156 is placed in position on bushing 160 such that retainer ring 170 is placed over member 156 and bushing 160. This retainer ring 170 then provides a clamping connection between the lever 106 and the side member 138 while still allowing pivoting of the lever 106 with respect to the side member 138. coil spring 172
is simply in contact with retainer ring 170.
Bushing 160, member 156, and pin 164
Connections similar to those described above are similarly configured to the side member 136. The free end of spring 172 also contacts retainer ring 174 so that spring 172 holds retainer rings 170 and 174 in their respective positions, thereby causing lever 106 to
and the substrate 108.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 6 through 10 of the drawings, there is shown a relief valve 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention consisting primarily of an outer member or cap 12 and an inner member or body 14. Cap 12 is screwed onto the inner end of body 14. The outer end of the body 14 includes a set of tapered threads 16. Screw 16 is pumping actuator 1
Threaded opening 4 made in cover 102 of 04
2 is connected.

An air or gas passage 18 is created within the body 14 leading to an air or gas receiving chamber 20 . The cross section of the receiving chamber 20 is circular, like the passageway 18. A valve member 22 of rubber or other semi-resilient material is movably mounted within the receiving chamber 20. The valve member 22 moves into tight contact with a valve seat 24 disposed about the inner end of the passageway 18, thereby closing the passageway 18 and preventing air from passing from the passageway 18 into the receiving chamber 20. be able to. Surrounding the valve member 22 is the outer valve member 2.
It is 3. Members 22 and 23 are placed very close together, but are allowed to move relative to each other therebetween.

Also movably mounted within receiving chamber 20 and in continuous simple contact with valve members 22 and 23 is a first spring retainer 26.
A portion of the retainer 26 tightly surrounds a portion of the member 23, but is movable therebetween. Retainer 26 is typically made of a hard material such as plastic. A coil spring 28 extends into the receiving chamber 20 and the spring
It is connected to the retainer 26.

The free end of coil spring 28 is disposed about second spring retainer 30.
A second spring retainer 30 is seated within a suitable recess 32 formed in plug 34.
Plug 34 is threaded into the outer end of cap 12.

Cap 12 located right next to main body 14
The distal end forms a conical surface 36. On the conical surface 36 are first indicia in the form of numbers 0, 5, 10, and 15, each number spaced 90 degrees apart. Furthermore, a number of graduations in the form of lines 38 are made on the outer surface of the cap 12 near the conical surface 36. The fact that there are 20 lines 38 and the construction of the assembly 10 means that if the cap 12 is rotated from one graduation line to the next, it will take 352 grams per square centimeter to displace the valve member 22. It should be noted that the air pressure must be increased by 5 pounds per square inch.

There is also a second indicia in the form of a series of numbers and lines on the outer surface of the body 14. Second
The scale is divided into 4536 grams per 6.45 square centimeters (10 pounds per square inch) of barometric pressure (the zero is omitted). When the cap 12 is screwed onto the body 14 and the front surface of the cap 12 is moved the distance from one graduation to the next, 703 grams per square inch (703 grams per square inch) is deposited in the passageway 18 to displace the valve member 22. per 10
(pounds) of air pressure must be increased. To read a pressure less than 703 grams per square centimeter (10 pounds per square inch), 70.3 grams per square centimeter (10 pounds per square inch)
The mark 38, which is a scale of 1 pound per square inch, should be observed. Therefore, by rotating the cap 12 with respect to the body 14, the operator of the apparatus 10 of the present invention can increase the operating pressure of the apparatus of the present invention in increments within 352 grams per square centimeter (5 pounds per square inch).
352 grams per square centimeter (5 pounds per square inch) to 8436 grams per square centimeter (5 pounds per square inch)
You can pre-select up to 120 lbs.

Once the air pressure within passageway 18 exceeds the preselected pressure level for member 22, member 22, as well as spring retainer 26, are initially moved within receiving chamber 20 to the position shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. It can be done.
In this position, the high pressure gas in the passageway 18 is able to contact the outer valve member 23, as well as at the front of the member 22, allowing a considerably larger area (the member 22
Member 2 in contact with the entire front surface of 2 and the top of member 22
3) is exposed to high-pressure gas, the front surface of member 22
and 23 move instantaneously there. As a result, the high pressure gas is rapidly discharged to the outside air via the relief passage 40.

When the pressure in the passageway 18 becomes slightly less than the preselected pressure, the member 22 again seats against the valve seat 24, thereby closing the passageway 18. External valve member 2
3 also returns into position in contact with the portion of body 14 surrounding passageway 18. In this position, member 2
The tips of 3 will deform (or collide) slightly to create a leak-tight seal. The pressure level established within the inflatable device (not shown) is maintained at the desired level.

Although the present invention has the above characteristics, the substrate 108
has a bushing assembly 160 rotatably mounted on the pin for connecting the lever 106 to the pin, the pin member may be cast as part of the base plate so that the bushing assembly simply slides onto the pin. It can be assembled virtually without tools. Also, the retainer ring 170 and spring 172 in this section act to prevent the lever from being accidentally disengaged from the pin, but allow the lever to be easily disengaged from this section if desired.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the air pump of the invention, partially cut away in cross-section in order to observe the advantageous features of the invention, and FIG. 2 depicts the air pump in the closed position for easy storage. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the hinged connection between the lever and the base plate of the air pump of the present invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; FIG. Line 4 in Figure 3
5 is a top view of the hinged connection between the actuator assembly and the substrate taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but initially FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the valve assembly in a fully open position;
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the hinged connection between the lever and the base plate. 10... Relief valve assembly, 12... External member or cap, 14... Internal member or main body, 18
... air or gas passage, 20 ... air or gas receiving chamber, 22 ... internal valve member, 23 ... external valve member, 26 ... first spring retainer, 28 ...
... Coil spring, 30 ... Second spring retainer, 34 ... Plug, 40 ... Relief passage, 100 ... Air pump, 104 ... Actuator, 106 ... Lever, 108 ... Board, 124 ... Coil・Spring, 130...
Locking Clip, 134...Pin, 13
6,138... Side member, 156... Cylinder,
160...nylon bushing, 164...pin, 170...ring retainer, 172...coil spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air pump for inflating an inflatable object, the pump having a base plate 108 and a lever 106 rotatably connected to the base plate by a pivotable attachment means, the lever 106 having a is pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
an actuator assembly 104 including a cylinder 114 having a piston 116 interconnected between the lever 106 and the base plate 108, the actuator assembly 104 being pivotally connected to the base plate 108 by pin attachment means; and an output conduit 152 connected to the cylinder for receiving air compressed by the movement of the piston 116 and distributing the air to the object.
and check valve means 154 for the output conduit 152 to prevent compressed air directed to the object from returning to the cylinder 114, and a pressure value created in the object by the actuator assembly 104. a relief valve assembly 10 responsive to a pressure higher than the pressure of said piston for selection, and means for regulating operation of said relief valve assembly to a preselected pressure value; The body 10 closes an air passage within the body, usually by a valve seat, and when the air pressure in the air passage exceeds a certain level, the valve seat of the valve assembly is moved against the force of the spring device 28, and the air is closed. Relief passage 40 from passage
The substrate 108 further includes a pair of spaced apart side members 136, 138, and the lever attachment means and the actuator pin attachment means are arranged between the pair of side members. and the means for attaching the lever is located on a pin assembly 164 fixed to the base plate.
The bushing 16 is attached so that it can be rotated to
0, a portion of the lever 106 can be carried on the bushing 160, a retainer ring 170 surrounds the bushing and the portion of the lever placed on it, and the retainer ring is placed around the bushing. An air pump characterized in that a spring 172 applies continuous pressure against the retainer ring to hold it in place.