US1708480A - Valve attaching and inflating machine - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1929. s MALKE 1,708,480

VALVE ATTACHING AND INFLATING momma filed June so, 1926 1 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Apr-i119, 1929.

S. MALKE VALVE ATTACHING AND INFLATING MACHINE Filed Jim so, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 9, 1929. s. MALKE VALVE ATTACHING AND INFLATING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1926 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 9, 1929. i 4 1,708,480

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SVEN MALKE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

VALVE ATTACHING AND INFLATING MACHINE.

Application filed June 30, 1926. Serial No. 119,781.

This invention relates to a valve attachframe work 1 supported by a plurality of ing and inflating machine for the inner spaced vertical standards 2, and joined tubes of tires. thereto by means of diagonal braces 3.

Heretofore, it has been the universal prac- These members are all preferably of tubular tice to manually insert and lock the filling construction. The inner ends of the hori- 55 nipples or valves to the inner tubes and to zontal members are received by a central thereafter inflate the tubes. This probearing 4 through which a vertical hollow cedure has necessarily been slow and laborispindle 5 projects. This spindle carries a ous and has, therefore, consumed quite a bevel gear 6 adjacent its lower end and is re- 10 material amount of time. ceived in a suitable bearing 7. The spin- 60 This invention is designed to overcome the dle is supplied with compressed air by defects noted above and objects of such inmeans of the supply pipe 8, for a purpose vention are to provide a machine for attachhereinafter to appear. Further, it is to be ing and locking the nipple or valve in place noted that the bevel gear is driven by a and for automatically inflating the tubes, bevel pinion 9 carried by a driving shaft 65 so that the operator may rapidly position 10, driven from any suitable source of, the tubes upon the machine, such tubes bepower.

ing automatically discharged from the ma- The outer ends of the horizontal radial ClllIlQWltll the valve attached and Wlth the arms 1 are joined by means of an annular tube in inflated condltion. track 11 having upper and lower flanges, 70

Further objects are to provide a novel as shown most clearly in Figure 1. machine adapted to perform the operations Th i dl 5 a i a t l h ll heretofore manually performed, and to yet head 12 whi h a be equipp d ith a provide a machine which is Of very simpl gauge 13, if desired, and which receives the and practical construction, and o e WlllCh 1S inner ends of a plurality of radial arms 14-. 75 thoroughly reliable in operation. The outer ends of the arms are joined by Further objects are to provide a milc means of an annular member 15, preferably for attaching the valves to inner tubes wi h of. channel shape to secure the maximum subsequent inflation of such tubes and to strength and lightness. All of the arms are so construct the mechanism that the valve closed at their outer ends to prevent escape 30 receiving chucks or units are rocked into a of air, and certain of the arms are provided position to adapt them for the ready recepwith downwardly extending air pipes 16 tion of a valve, and the ready positioning of which communicate with an annular air a tube, and to thereafter rock the chucks pipe 17. This annular air pipe supplies a downwardly into the position where they plurality of radial outwardly pro ecting may be inflated. pipes 18, as may be seen from Figures 1 An embodiment of the invention is shown and 2. These pipes are each provided with in the accompanying drawings in which a cut off manually operable valve 19, and Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with an automatic valve 20, the valve 20 40 through the apparatus, being provided with a crank arm equipped Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view with a cam operated roller 21, hereinafter thereof; described in greater detail.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on The annular channel shaped member 15 the line 3-3 of Figure 2; carries a plurality of downwardly and out- 45 Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line wardly extending diagonal arms 22 ar- I 44 of Figure 3; ranged at regular intervals. These diago- Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line nally extending arms 22 carry short, hori- 55 of Figure 3. zontal, hollow shafts 23, which are con Referring to the drawings, it will be seen nected at one end with the air supply pipe. 50 that the machine comprises a horizontal 18. (See Figure 3.) These hollow shafts also pivotally carry the heads 24 of chucks, such heads being provided with projecting arms 25 which carry controlling or guiding rollers 26, fitting within the track or channel 11, and thus control the position of the chucks. The major portion of the track 11 extends in a horizontal plane completely- V the track, indicated at 28, thus rocking the chucks upwardly. Thus camming means are provided for holding the chucks in upper position to permit the ready insertion of the valve end into an inner tube, as will hereinafter appear. As they pass from the portion 28 to the other deflected part 27 they are rocked back into their normal position.

The chucks each comprise a central hollow stem 29 upon which is revolubly mounted a sleeve 30. This sleeve is rigidly locked to a manipulating lever 31, as shown in Figure 3. Further, the sleeve 30 is provided with an inwardly projecting bottom flange 32. This flange 32, as may be seen from Figure 4, 1s provided w1th an oval or rectangular shaped opening 33 through which the stem 34 of the tire valve or nipple may project, when inserted therein. However, two of the sides of the opening 33 are provided with internal threads 35, which normally engage the threaded part of the valve stem 34, when the valve is locked to the chuck. However, to permit inserting the valve, the lever 31 is given a quarter swing to bring the teeth 35 of the flange 32 opposite the flat face 36 of the valve. Thus, the valve may be readily inserted and thereafter the lever rocked a quarter of a turn to lock the valve in place and to draw the valve inwardly. The inward motion of the valve forces its outer end against a gasket 37 (see Figure 3) mounted within the central. portion 29, of the chuck, this gasket being" carried by an inwardly extending shoulder. It is to be noted also from Figure 3, that the central stem 29, carries within its interior a downwardly projecting rod 38 which is adapted to displace the valve stem of the valve proper so as to permit the ready entrance of the pressure am of a pulley 40. This hub is threaded at its lower end and carries a shell like sleeve 41 which extends downwardly around the valve.

The sleeve 30 revolubly carries the hub 39 valve stem. In the normal operation of the machine, the valves are received by the machine with the nut unscrewed, as illustrated in Figure 3, and with the washer or bearing member 43 positioned between the head of the stem and the nut 42. It is to be noted from Figure 3 that the lower end of the extension or shell 41 of the pulley hub is socketed and is adapted to restupon the nut 42, when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3. Further, it is to be noted that the pulley is supported by the nut and, consequently, the nut is held in the socket of the sleeve 41.

\Vhen there is no valve stem held in the chuck, the bottom of the hub is adapted to rest upon the flange 44 of the sleeve 30 to prevent the pulley from sliding from the sleeve. 7

It is to be noted from reference to Figure 2 that a pin 45, as indicated in the lower portion or the figure, is carried by the stationary frame and is adapted to engage the lever 31, when the rotary member travels in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus rocking the lever into chuck unlocking position and permitting the valve stem and the tube carried thereby, to drop from the chuck. It is to be noted further from reference to Figure 2 that a cam 46 is provided for rocking the levers of the valve 20 into valve closing position, such cam member 46 engaging the rollers 21 of the valve. Further, it is to be noted from same figure, that a second cam 47 is provided for rocking rollers 21 into valve opening position to permit the entrance of air through the chuck and to the tube.

Means are provided for rapidly rotating the pulleys while the rotary member is in motion. This means comprises an endless belt 48 (see Figure 2) which travels on pulleys 49, and which engages the pulleys 40 as they pass the inner stretch of the belt. Thus the pulleys 40 are rapidly rotated and screw the nuts 42 (see Figure of the valves into locking position. 7 j

The operation of the machine is as follows The operator drops a valve into an upturned chuck, as shown at A in Figures 1 and 2. He then rocks the lever. 31 into the dotted position shown in the lower left hand portion 01": Figure 2, thus causing the teeth or threaded portions 35 of the flange 32 (see Figures 3 and 4) toengage the threaded portion of the valve and to thus lock the valve in place. He then fits the apertured portion of the inner tube 50 over the inner-head of the upturned or inverted valve, as shown in dotted lines on the right hand side of Figure 1. It is to be understood that the revolving member is continuously in motion and that these operations may be quickly performed by the attendant. As the machine rotates, the chucks are moved back into their downwardly extending position as they pass the inwardly directed portion 27 of the track 15. In addition to this,

the air is turned on and the inflation of the inner tube begins. As the machine rotates, the pulleys 40 are engaged by the rapidly travelingbelt 48 and the nut 42 is quickly screwed down into locking position, thus locking the valves to the inner tubes. As the machine continues to rotate, the inflation of the tires continues until they are brought to the desired pressure, as indicated by the gauge 13. By this time, the machine has almost completed a revolution and the lever 31, as shown in the bottom portion of Figure 2 is about to strike the pin 45. Continued motion of the machine causes the lever 31 to be rocked into detaching position, thus permitting the inflated tube with its attached valve to drop from the machine. Just prlor to this operation, the air is cut off by the action of the cam 46 on the roller 21.

It is to be noted particularly that the operator is merely called upon to drop a valve into an upturned chuck to lock the valve in place, and to fit the apertured portion of the inner tube over the end of the valve. The machine thereafter carries the parts around in its rotation, screws the nut into place and inflates the tube, finally dropping the tube and valve from the machine.

It will be seen, therefore that an automatic machine has been provided for locking the valves in place and for inflating the tubes so that a very rapid operation may be secured. In addition to this, the effort on the part of the operator is reduced to a minimum, as he has merely to perform three simple operations, namely, the dropping of the valve into place, the rocking of the lever 31, and the fitting of the inner tube over the end of the valve. Thereafter, all the other steps are automatic even to the discharging of the tube from the machine.

It is to be noted further, that the tubes are all inflated to the same pressure and, in addition thereto, that the nuts are all screwed down against the washers 43 (see Figure 3) to the same degree of pressure.

It thus follows that an absolutely uniform product results.

It is to be noted further that'the machine is of very simple and of eminently practical construction.

Further, it will be seen that the machine comprises a relatively small number of parts, easily produced and assembled by ordinary machine shop processes, without requiring elaborate castings or diflicult operations.

Further, it is to be noted that the machine may be operated even by an unskilled laborer with assurance that the product will be of uniform quality.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine for attaching valves, provided with shanks and locking nuts to inner tubes, said machine comprising a earlier, a plurality of chucks carried by said carrier and adapted to receive said valves, each of said chucks having a revolubly mounted member for engaging the nuts and having a gripping member for engaging said shanks of said valves, means for rotating said revolubly mounted member, and means for releasing said gripping means after said nuts have been screwed down.

2. A machine for attaching valves to inner tubes and for inflating such tubes, com prising a movable carrier having a plurality of valve receiving chucks thereon adapted to receive a valve with the nut backed away from the end of the valve, means for turning the chucks upwardly to permit positioning of the valves and positioning of the tube upon the valve, means for rocking the chucks downwardly and screwing the nut into locking position, and means for inflating the tire while the tire and valve are supported from the chucks.

3. A machine for attaching valves to inner tubes, comprising a movable member having a plurality of valve receiving chucks thereon adapted to receive and hold the valves with the inner tubes positioned on the valves, means carried by the chucks for engaging the locking nut of the valves and for screwing such nut into locking position, means for inflating the tubes while the member is in motion, and means for cutting off the supply of air after inflation, and for disengaging the chucks froin the valves, where by a plurality of tubes and valves may be acted upon by the machine at a single time.

4. A machine for operating upon inner tubes and valves therefor, comprising a rotary member having a plurality of chucks carried thereby, said chucks being pivotally mounted upon said rotary member and adapted to be rocked into either an upper or a lower position, said chucks being adapted for the reception of the valves, means for holding the chucks in upper position to permit the ready insertion of the valve end into an inner tube, means for subsequently rocking the chucks into lower position, means for automatically locking the valves to the inner tubes, and means for supplying compressed air to the inner tubes.

5. A machine for attaching valves to inner tubes,.comprising a rotary member having chucks positioned at regular intervals thereon, said chucks having valve receiving portions adapted to receive filling valves with the locking nuts partially unscrewed,

cam means for holding the chucks in upper ply and discharging the valves and tubes position toepermit the ready insertion of the from the machine. 10 valves into the tube and for subsequently In testimony that I claim the foregoing I rocking the chucks into lower position, have hereunto set my hand at'MilWaukee, means for rotating a portion of the chucks in the county of Milwaukee and State of for screwing the nuts into locking position, Wisconsin.

means for admitting compressed air to said 7 i V tubes, and means for cutting off the air sup- SVEN MALKE.

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