Fluid handling – Inflatable article – With coupling means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-24
2003-10-14
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
With coupling means
C137S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06631729
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concerns a valve connector for connecting to inflation valves of vehicle tires.
For reasons of clarity, some of the standards used will be cited. In the ISO standard No. 10475:1992(E), thread for tire inflation valves of vehicles is described. The most used threads are designated 5V2 (DIN: Vg 5,2), which has a nominal diameter of 5.2 mm and a pitch of 1.058 mm, and 8V1 (DIN: Vg 8), that has a nominal diameter of 7.7 mm and a pitch of 0.794 mm respectively. These thread types are used in the valve types of Dunlop-Woods, Sclaverand or Schrader. The last mentioned valve type is frequently used on common cars, where a spring-loaded core pin in the valve must be kept down in preparation of the passage of air, while pumping a tire. For this purpose, the valve connector must be equipped with suitable means, which can serve this aim. Moreover, suitable means, e.g., a contra valve or the like, must be used to ensure that loss of air is avoided when activating the valve plug pin. The Sclaverand valve—just like the Dunlop-Woods valve—the distinctive character that its plug pin is solely opened by air pressure. The necessary air pressure for opening a Sclaverand valve is up to 16 bar, and the valve is mostly used in connection with high-pressure tires with a pressure of up to 16 bar. The opening pressure for the Dunlop-Woods valve is approximately 4 bar, which ensures that it is easier to open.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Well-known valve connectors (e.g., GB-B-977,139) can only be connected to the Dunlop Woods valve type and/or the Sclaverand valve type, or the Schrader valve type.
A well-known connector for a Schrader valve is of the type, where a rubber cylinder is tightly squeezed against the stem by means of a lever, which axially compresses the rubber cylinder. Consequently, the rubber cylinder is squeezed radially against the stem. With reference to different valve diameters, it is necessary, that auxiliary equipment, such as nut
6
, is screwed onto or out of the valve thread to reduce or increase the internal diameter in advance to ensure the establishment of a connection from the valve connector to other valve diameters. Loose parts can disappear and can be loosened when used, if the pump hose is turned, so that the connection is no longer air-tight.
GB-A-15 99 304 shows a universal valve connector which can be screwed on all valve types. The thread (
4
) corresponding to 8V1 also keeps the bushing (
26
) in position. The bushing (
26
) an internal thread (
30
) corresponding to 5V2 for Sclaverand or Dunlop-Woods valves. The plug pin of the Schrader valve is opened mechanically by means of a stationary pin indicated with (
12
). The disadvantage of this connector type is that the bushing (
26
) with a 5V2 thread has to be removed before connecting to a Schrader valve, and also that the bushing (
26
) must be mounted again before connecting to a Dunlop-Woods or Sclaverand valve. Also in this case loose parts are used. They can disappear and loosen when used, if the pump hose is turned, resulting in an untight connection.
From DE-A-38 19 771, a universal connector on a handpump with two coupling holes is known[: one] for Dunlop-Woods and Sclaverand valves and one for Schrader valves of which the plug pin is opened mechanically. The disadvantage of this way of coupling is firstly, that it cannot be fastened to a valve and secondly, that, it can, only be used in a certain position, where the coupling hole is turned almost vertically upwards, and finally that the user to find out which of the two holes to use for the valve in question.
From WO-A-92/22448, it is known to provide a sealing means, which is placed in a single level, from GB-B-977.139 a valve connector operated by a lever cam is known. Common to both prior art references is that they can only be used together with a Schrader valve, and that neither Sclaverand type nor Dunlop-Woods type valves can be served by this type of connector, as the sealing means only show one diameter fitting e.g., the Schrader valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Inflating a tire is a problem too many people, especially if the tires have different valve types, and only one pump to be used. This is the case in most households. The aim of the invention is to provide a valve connector which fits on all current valve types, which is easy to operate, is economical, and which has the possibility of automatically adjusts itself to the valve in question. Also, it should be possible to use the connector with existing pumps.
According to the invention this task is solved by means of the provisions in claim 1.
By a connector for inflation valves of vehicle tires, where the connector consists of a housing connected to a pressure source, preferably a hand or foot pump, and with a coupling hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the valve to which it is connected, where the coupling hole is equipped with a securing means for securing on the valve and a sealing means against valves of different sizes, the sealing means is mounted coaxially in the connector housing and is established on at least two parallel separate levels having the centre line of the connector housing, which is coaxial to the centre line of the valve when used, as is normal, where the internal diameter of the sealing means approximately corresponds to the external diameter of the present valve dimensions, on which the connector is mounted when used. The sealing means which is nearest to the opening of the coupling hole in the connector housing has the biggest diameter, while the sealing means which is farthest from the opening of the coupling hole in the connector housing has the smallest diameter, and diameters between the extremes are lying in corresponding separate distances between these extremes. The coupling place on a valve, which is to be connected, is positioned against a sealing surface on the sealing means in the coupling hole of the concerned valve. The connector has only one coupling hole. The use of it is therefore simple, even without a user manual, and loose nipples are superfluous. Therefore, a connection can always be established in only one operation.
The securing means is a rotational bushing mounted on the housing, which is equipped with a thread in the coupling hole, which fits on the respective valves, and which is sealed with the sealing means against the connector housing, which is farthest from the coupling hole in the connector housing. The connector can be positioned here on the valve with an airtight connection, which does not become untight, when the connected hose is turned. In addition, mounting is quickly accomplished without applying significant strength. (Dis)-Connecting of the coupling can be done using only one hand.
To reduce the wear of the gasket seal surface in the connector housing and also to reduce the force by means of which the rotational bushing has to be turned, and furthermore to ensure a reliable sealing against valves with 5V2 thread, the innermost thread may be provided by a bushing with a 5V2 thread, where the bushing is embedded and slightly axially sliding in a taper milling in the rotational coupling bushing and is coupled rotational-free to the coupling bushing by means of a set of ribs, which are distributed around the bushing circumference, and which are geared into corresponding grooves in the coupling bushing, wherein the sealing means rests on a stepped milling. This ensures that frictional forces do not occur between the gasket seal and the coupling bushing during the main part of its fastening and unscrewing, whereas the coupling bushing is pulling the connector housing and its gasket seal against the valve when tightening. Tightening occurs against the core of the valve thread and is stabilized as a result of the reduced radius of the inner part of the gasket seal.
In order to be able to use the valve connector on a Sclaverand type valve, which is not standardized, i.e., some of the threads are removed thereby forming two parallel secants on each side of the Sclaverand type valve
NVB International
Rivell John
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