Supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire

Abstract

A supply device (1) for supplying pressurized gas to a tire (100) comprises: an inlet (2) connectable to a source (101) of pressurized gas; an outlet (3) connectable to said tire (100); a supply valve (4) receiving pressurized gas from said inlet (2) and configurable at least in an active state, in which it delivers pulses of pressurized gas to said outlet (3), and in an inactive state, in which the delivery of pulses of pressurized gas to said outlet (3) is blocked; a bypass channel (6) having a restriction (7), said bypass channel (6) fluidically connecting said inlet (2) and said outlet (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, inflation devices that operate in a "pulse" manner have been developed to improve safety during tire beading and inflation.

[0003] These devices distribute pressurized gas pulses to the tires, with the pressurized gas pulses varying from a maximum of about 10 bar at the inlet to a minimum of about 4 bar, at a frequency of about 1 Hz.

[0004] Once the tire's preset pressure (calibration pressure) value is reached, the compressed air supply line is shut off, and pulse distribution stops. This prevents the tire pressure from reaching a value that is mismatched with the actual tire pressure. Figure 1 and Figure 2 A known type of inflation device is shown.

[0005] This inflation device includes a supply valve 4 and a correction valve 5. The supply valve 4 is configured to deliver pressurized gas pulses to the tire 100 during the hemming step.

[0006] Figure 2 The structure of the supply valve 4 according to the prior art is shown, in which the following components can be observed:

[0007] - First chamber 9, first chamber 9 receives pressurized gas from supply source 101;

[0008] -Second chamber 10, the second chamber 10 outputs gas pulses to tire 100;

[0009] - Shut-off element 11 is disposed inside the receiving cavity 12 between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the shut-off element 11 enables a partial passage for gas from the first chamber 9 to the second chamber 10. When in the second position, it interrupts the fluid communication between the two chambers 9 and 10.

[0010] At the end of the hemming / inflation step, when the gas inlet valve 13 is closed, any pressure drop downstream of the device (e.g., due to leakage) can cause an undesirable recovery of the device. This defect is particularly relevant to tire professionals.

[0011] Even during testing, leaks can occur, resulting in the component being deemed non-compliant and discarded. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Against this backdrop, the technical objective of the present invention is to provide a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire, which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art described above.

[0013] Specifically, one object of the present invention is to provide a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire, which avoids reversion caused by downstream leakage at the end of the hemming step.

[0014] The established technical task and specific objective are essentially achieved by a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to the tire, the supply device comprising:

[0015] - Can be connected to the inlet of a pressurized gas source;

[0016] - It can be connected directly or indirectly (through a gas inlet valve) to the tire outlet;

[0017] A supply valve receives pressurized gas from the inlet and is configurable to be in at least an active state and an inactive state. In the active state, the supply valve pulses pressurized gas to the outlet; in the inactive state, the supply of pressurized gas pulses to the outlet is interrupted.

[0018] The supply device is characterized in that it includes a bypass channel that fluidly connects the inlet and the outlet, wherein the bypass channel is provided with a throttling element.

[0019] The throttling element preferably has a diameter in the range of 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm.

[0020] The supply valve preferably includes:

[0021] - A valve body having a first chamber and a second chamber therein, the first chamber being connected to the inlet of the pressurized gas and the second chamber being connected to the outlet of the gas pulse;

[0022] - A closure element having an elongated shape, the closure element being disposed in a receiving cavity formed inside the valve body between the first chamber and the second chamber;

[0023] - A component for moving the shut-off member within the receiving cavity between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position, the shut-off member provides a partial passage for gas from the first chamber to the second chamber, thereby enabling the supply valve to be in the enabled state; and when in the second position, the shut-off member blocks the fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, thereby enabling the supply valve to be in the disabled state.

[0024] In a first embodiment, the bypass channel is formed in the valve body and extends from the first chamber to the second chamber.

[0025] In the second embodiment, the bypass channel consists of a pipe outside the valve body.

[0026] The supply device preferably further includes a calibration valve, which is operable to act on the supply valve to switch the supply valve from the enabled state to the disabled state when the pressure value is greater than a preset maximum limit. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the illustrative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire, as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0028] - Figure 1 A pneumatic schematic diagram of a pressurized gas supply device according to the prior art is shown;

[0029] - Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the pressurized gas supply device in the middle;

[0030] - Figure 3 A pneumatic schematic diagram of a pressurized gas supply device according to the present invention is shown;

[0031] - Figure 4 Show Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the pressurized gas supply device. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a supply device for supplying pressurized gas to tire 100.

[0033] Supply device 1 includes:

[0034] - It can be connected to inlet 2 of pressurized gas source 101;

[0035] - Gas inlet valve 13 that can be connected to tire 100;

[0036] - Supply valve 4 receives pressurized gas from inlet 2 and can be configured to be at least in an active state and an inactive state. When in the active state, the gas inlet valve 13 allows pressurized gas pulses to pass through, and when in the inactive state, the gas inlet valve 13 shuts off the supply of pressurized gas pulses to the tire 100.

[0037] - Correction valve 5, which is operable to act on supply valve 4, to switch supply valve 4 from the enabled state to the disabled state when the pulse has a pressure value greater than the preset maximum limit.

[0038] The supply valve 4 includes a valve body 8, in which a first chamber 9 and a second chamber 10 are formed. The first chamber 9 is connected to the inlet 2 for pressurized gas, and the second chamber 10 is connected to the inlet valve 13 for gas via an outlet pipe 3 (hereinafter referred to as "outlet" for simplicity).

[0039] The shutting element 11 is located inside the valve body 8. The shutting element 11 has an elongated shape and is disposed in the receiving cavity 12, which is formed inside the valve body 8 between the first chamber 9 and the second chamber 10.

[0040] The closing element 11 can move between a first position and a second position within the receiving cavity 12:

[0041] - In the first position, the shut-off element 11 creates a local passage for gas from the first chamber 9 to the second chamber 10, thereby activating the supply valve 4, and

[0042] When in the second position, the shut-off element 11 blocks the fluid communication between the first chamber 9 and the second chamber 10, thus disabling the supply valve 4.

[0043] The supply device 1 advantageously includes a bypass channel 6 provided with a throttling element 7, which fluidly connects the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.

[0044] The throttling element 7 preferably has a diameter in the range of 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm, and serves to prevent excessively rapid pressure compensation between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.

[0045] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the bypass channel 6 is shaped in the valve body 8 and extends from the first chamber 9 to the second chamber 10.

[0046] In one alternative embodiment not shown, the bypass passage 6 consists of a pipe outside the valve body 8 that connects the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.

[0047] The operation of the supply device for supplying pressurized gas to a tire according to the present invention is described below.

[0048] During the hemming process of tire 100, the gas inlet valve 13 is opened, enabling the delivery of pressurized gas pulses through the supply valve 4 – the supply valve 4 is in the active state. In practice, the pressurized gas pulses reach the outlet pipe 3, which is connected to tire 100 via the gas inlet valve 13.

[0049] The bypass channel 6 allows airflow to pass between inlet 2 and outlet 3, but this does not affect the curling.

[0050] When the hemming process of tire 100 is completed, that is, when tire 100 has reached the calibration pressure, the gas inlet valve 13 is closed and the supply valve 4 is in an inactive state, so that it no longer generates gas pulses to guide outlet 3.

[0051] Because of the existence of bypass channel 6, inlet 2 and outlet 3 are fluidly connected, so that the gas pressure at outlet 3 can quickly reach the gas pressure at inlet 2, for example, 8-10 bar.

[0052] Thus, there is no pressure drop downstream of supply valve 4 (the pressure remains at approximately 8-10 bar), and therefore, pulse formation will no longer be triggered.

[0053] In different ways, Figures 1 to 2 In the solution shown, at the end of the crimping step, the inlet and outlet are isolated, i.e., they are at different pressures, approximately 8-10 bar and approximately 4.2 bar respectively, and any leakage downstream of supply valve 4 triggers the resetting of the device.

[0054] From the provided description, the features and advantages of the supply device according to the invention for supplying pressurized gas to a tire become clear. Specifically, the presence of a bypass passage with a throttling element allows for maintaining fluid communication between the inlet and outlet. Thus, at the end of the crimping step, any leakage at the outlet is compensated by the inlet pressure.

Claims

1. A supply device (1) for supplying pressurized gas to a tire (100), comprising: It can be connected to the inlet (2) of a pressurized gas source (101); It can be connected to the outlet (3) of the tire (100); A supply valve (4) receives pressurized gas from the inlet (2) and is configurable to be at least in an active state and an inactive state. When in the active state, the supply valve (4) delivers pressurized gas pulses to the outlet (3), and when in the inactive state, the delivery of pressurized gas pulses to the outlet (3) is blocked. The supply device (1) is characterized in that it includes a bypass channel (6) that fluidly connects the inlet (2) and the outlet (3), and the bypass channel (6) is provided with a throttling element (7).

2. The supply device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the throttling element (7) has a diameter in the range of 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm.

3. The supply device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply valve (4) comprises: A valve body (8) having a first chamber (9) and a second chamber (10) therein, the first chamber (9) being connected to the inlet (2) for pressurized gas, and the second chamber (10) being connected to the outlet (3) for the gas pulse, and a bypass passage (6) being formed in the valve body (8) and extending from the first chamber (9) to the second chamber (10); A closure element (11) having an elongated shape is disposed in a receiving cavity (12) formed inside the valve body (8) between the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (10); A component for moving the shut-off member (11) within the receiving cavity (12) between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the shut-off member (11) provides a partial passage for gas from the first chamber (9) to the second chamber (10), thereby enabling the supply valve (4) to be in the enabled state. When in the second position, the shut-off member (11) blocks the fluid communication between the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (10), thereby enabling the supply valve (4) to be in the disabled state.

4. The supply device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply valve (4) comprises: The valve body (8) has a first chamber (9) and a second chamber (10) formed therein. The first chamber (9) is connected to the inlet (2) for pressurized gas, and the second chamber (10) is connected to the outlet (3) for the gas pulse. The bypass channel (6) is composed of a pipe outside the valve body (8). A slender closing element (11) is disposed in a receiving cavity (12) formed inside the valve body (8) between the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (10); A component for moving the shut-off member (11) within the receiving cavity (12) between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the shut-off member (11) provides a partial passage for gas from the first chamber (9) to the second chamber (10), thereby enabling the supply valve (4) to be in the enabled state. When in the second position, the shut-off member (11) blocks the fluid communication between the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (10), thereby enabling the supply valve (4) to be in the disabled state.

5. The supply device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a calibration valve (5), which is operable to act on the supply valve (4) to switch the supply valve (4) from the enabled state to the disabled state when the pressure value of the pulse is greater than a preset maximum limit.

6. The supply device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a gas inlet valve (13) for receiving gas pulses from the outlet (3) and is directly connected to the tire (100).

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