Tire valve

Abstract

A tire connection valve (1) serves as a connecting element between an inflation hose of a puncture repair kit and a tire valve (2) of a tire, wherein the tire connection valve is designed to be self-closing by means of a spring-loaded valve body (3) and the valve body is opened by placing the tire connection valve onto the tire valve, wherein the tire connection valve has a device for detachable connection with the tire valve, preferably a knurled nut (8) with an internal thread (10) complementary to the external thread (9) of the tire valve, whereby the tire connection valve (1) and tire valve (2) can be connected for the inflation process of the tire, in which air and / or sealant flow from a sealant container or compressor through the inflation hose into the tire, characterized in that the tire connection valve includes a ring seal (5) arranged in its inner cross-section for air and / or sealant, which a) has a sealing surface on the outlet side in the direction of flow for sealing the screwed-in tire valve (2) on the front side, b) has sealing surfaces on its outer circumference and in the direction of flow on the inlet side for sealing the knurled nut (8) against the end piece (16) of the filling hose, and c) has sealing and contact surfaces on its inner circumference and in the direction of flow on the inlet side for the contact of the spring-loaded valve body (3), wherein in the tire connection valve (1) the ring seal (5) has a central passage with an annular inner sealing and contact surface as a valve seat (6) and the valve body (3) has an annular contact surface designed to complement this.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tire connection valve or an adapter as a connecting element between an inflation hose of a tire repair kit and a tire valve, wherein the tire connection valve is self-closing by means of a spring-loaded valve body and the valve body is opened by placing the tire connection valve onto the tire valve, wherein the tire connection valve has a device for detachable connection with the tire valve, preferably a knurled nut with an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the tire valve, whereby the tire connection valve and the tire valve can be connected for the tire inflation process, in which air and / or sealant from a sealant container or compressor flow through the inflation hose into the tire. A tire repair kit with such a tire connection valve is also disclosed.

[0002] In the event of a flat tire, the problem usually arises that – as is common practice with passenger cars – a filled spare tire mounted on a rim must be carried. This spare tire is then mounted in place of the wheel with the flat tire, after which the flat tire must be secured in the designated spare tire compartment in the vehicle and later repaired. This often requires not only unloading the vehicle to access the spare tire compartment, but also jacking up the vehicle itself and carrying out a cumbersome repair procedure.

[0003] To avoid these disadvantages, repair kits or puncture repair kits are already available, which include a compressor, a sealant that coagulates in the tire (usually a latex milk mixture), the corresponding connecting hoses and the necessary cable connections for power supply, as well as switches, pressure gauges and control elements, thus providing a constantly usable and complete repair kit, eliminating the need to carry a spare wheel mounted on a rim or to constantly check other repair materials such as hoses, various wrenches, jacks, etc.

[0004] DE 29812740 U1 1 discloses a repair kit with a portable container for holding on-board tools and work equipment for vehicles, in particular for holding a compressor, tools, work equipment and accessories for tire repair, wherein the container is designed in the form of a case and includes several compartments for the accessories as well as switching, control and display devices.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 202013101644U1 discloses an air compression device for repairing and inflating tires, comprising a safety adapter connectable to a tire's vent, wherein the safety adapter in turn comprises a cylindrical outer sleeve, a valve tap and a cylindrical connecting base, wherein the connecting base engages with the receiving groove of the outer sleeve located at the first end of the axial bore via the outer end of its cylindrical section.

[0006] However, using such commercially available breakdown kits or repair kits is not entirely easy.

[0007] Typically, the air compressors included in the puncture repair kit must first be connected to the tire to be repaired via a sealant bottle, a hose, and a connector at the end of the hose. To seal the damaged tire, the sealant is then pumped into the tire by the air compressor, and the tire is subsequently inflated to a specific minimum pressure.

[0008] Valve adapters for connecting to the tire valve are already known. For example, DE 91 06 647 U1 discloses such a valve adapter, which can be quickly mounted using an attached intermediate piece with a locking mechanism. Special features for pumping in sealant are not disclosed.

[0009] After application, liquid sealant residue often remains in the hose system of the puncture repair kit. To prevent this residue from leaking out and contaminating the surrounding area (e.g., rim, user's clothing, vehicle storage compartment), a self-sealing tire connector is frequently used. Of course, the use of a manually attached cap is also possible.

[0010] A self-sealing tire connector is, in most cases, technically more complex and therefore more expensive to manufacture. Additional sealing elements for a valve function, in particular, increase material and production costs. A manually attached cap, on the other hand, is cheaper, but inconvenient for the end user. Specifically, with a manually attached cap, the leakage of sealant when unscrewing the tire connector is not prevented in time.

[0011] The invention therefore aimed to provide a tire connection valve or such an adapter which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, which is automatic and self-closing, has a simple construction and allows the connection between the tire and the puncture repair kit or the inflation hose to be securely closed without manual intervention.

[0012] This problem is solved by the features of the main claim. Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0013] The tire connection valve contains a ring seal arranged in its inner passage cross-section intended for air and / or sealant, which a) has a sealing surface on the outlet side in the direction of flow for sealing the screwed-in tire valve on the front side, b) has sealing surfaces on its outer circumference and in the direction of flow on the inlet side for sealing the knurled nut against the end piece of the filling hose, and c) has sealing and contact surfaces on its inner circumference and in the direction of flow on the inlet side for the contact of the spring-loaded valve body.

[0014] The inventive design of the tire connection valve significantly simplifies the connection valves typically found in the prior art with regard to the large number of their parts. In particular, the sealing function of different seals is integrated into a single seal. In the tire connection valve according to the invention, three sealing functionalities are achieved with a single sealing ring. This simplified design reliably prevents the unintentional leakage of liquid sealant residue from the hose system of the puncture repair kit. Furthermore, it enables easier and more cost-effective manufacturing of the tire connection valve.

[0015] A further development of the invention consists in the ring seal having a central passage with an annular inner sealing and contact surface, and the valve body having a complementary annular contact surface. In particular, in such a embodiment, where the ring seal has a conical-concave central passage and the valve body has a complementary conical contact surface, a fast and completely tight-closing valve function is achieved, reliably preventing any leakage of the sealing medium. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the spring force, flow forces also assist in closing the valve.

[0016] A further advantageous embodiment consists in the valve body being fixed and guided centrally in a spring-loaded, slidably mounted holder opposite its mounting surface within the through-passage cross-section. Such a design expands the possibilities for fixing and slidably guiding the valve body in that the valve body itself does not need to be arranged in additional guide elements, but rather the existing through-passage cross-section can be used for guidance.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment consists in the spring-loaded, slidably arranged bracket being designed as a ring guided in the through-passage cross-section with at least two spokes, which fix and hold the valve body. The spokes thus form flowable openings and offer as little resistance as possible to the flowing sealant or the conveyed air.

[0018] Another advantageous design consists in the fact that the valve body is designed as an essentially double conical, teardrop-shaped or torpedo-shaped flow body and is thus designed as a flow body optimized with regard to flow resistance on both the upstream and downstream sides.

[0019] A further advantageous design consists in the valve body having a pin extending from its contact surfaces on the outlet or downstream side in the direction of flow, which interacts with the spring-loaded plunger of the tire valve that opens it. This allows the functions "closing the valve" and "opening the valve" to be easily achieved by moving the plunger, which also opens the tire valve against spring force.

[0020] The tire connection valve according to the invention is particularly suitable for a portable puncture repair kit for sealing and inflating motor vehicle tires, a compressor driven by an electric motor for generating the sealing or pumping pressure, a connection for a container with sealant, a valve and distribution unit for sealant and compressed gas, furthermore connecting means between the valve and distribution unit and the inflatable object, means for supplying energy, switching and / or control and display devices for the operation of the device, wherein the connecting means are provided with such a tire connection valve according to the invention.In such a design of a puncture repair kit, where all necessary parts are integrated and do not need to be assembled before use, an automatically and self-closing tire connection valve according to the invention is important to round off the overall functionality as a repair kit to the satisfaction of the user.

[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown: Fig. 1 a tire connection valve according to the invention, Fig. 2 a state-of-the-art tire connection valve.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows, in illustration A, the tire connection valve 1 in its rest position or closed position, and in illustration B, the tire connection valve 1 in the state in which it is screwed onto the tire valve 2 and both the tire connection valve 1 and the tire valve 2 are open to allow the flow of air and / or sealant. The direction of flow is indicated by the arrows S in both figures.

[0023] The tire connection valve thus serves as an adapter or connecting element between an inflation hose of a puncture repair kit (not shown in detail here) connected to the right side of the tire connection valve and the tire valve 2 of a tire. The inner tubular body of the tire connection valve 1 therefore forms the coupling at its right end, as shown here, and thus the end piece 16 of the inflation hose.

[0024] The tire connection valve 1 is designed to be self-closing in that the valve body 3 is spring-loaded by the spring 4 and is pressed into its sealing seat / valve seat 6 provided by the sealing ring or the ring seal 5, which is designed as a conical-concave central passage (Figure A).

[0025] The valve body 3 is designed as an essentially double conical flow body with a conical contact surface adjacent to the valve seat 6 and has a pin 7 adjoining its valve seat contact surfaces on the downstream side in the flow direction, which interacts with the spring-loaded plunger 11 of the tire valve that causes the opening of the tire valve.

[0026] The valve body 3 is lifted from the sealing seat and opened by attaching the tire connector valve to the tire valve (Figure B), the tire connector valve having a knurled nut 8 with an internal thread 10 complementary to the external thread 9 of the tire valve. Screwing the knurled nut 8 onto the tire valve lifts the valve body 3 from the sealing seat 6 and also actuates the spring-loaded plunger 11 of the tire valve, thereby also opening the tire valve.

[0027] Afterwards, air and / or sealant can flow from a sealant container or compressor through the inflation hose into the tire.

[0028] The ring seal 5, located inside the tire connection valve or in its inner cross-section intended for air and / or sealant, has several integrated sealing surfaces, namely, on the outlet side in the direction of flow, a sealing surface for sealing the screwed-in tire valve at the front; on its outer circumference and on the inlet side in the direction of flow, sealing surfaces for sealing the knurled nut against the end piece of the inflation hose; and on its inner circumference and on the inlet side in the direction of flow, sealing and contact surfaces for contact with the spring-loaded valve body, namely the valve seat 6.

[0029] Opposite its valve seat contact surface, the valve body 3 is fixed and guided centrally in a spring-loaded holder 12, which is arranged to be displaceable within the through-passage cross-section. The holder has at least two spokes which fix the valve body and hold it in such a way that air and / or sealant can flow between the spokes.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows, for comparison, a conventional tire connection valve from the prior art in its rest position (A) i.e. in its closed position and in the state (B) in which it is screwed onto a tire valve.

[0031] In this version, which conforms to the state of the art, a total of three sealing rings are installed. Sealing ring 13 closes the system against the hose connection. Sealing ring 14 seals the knurled nut against the hose connection, and sealing ring 15 seals the tire connection against the tire valve. Reference symbol list 1 tire connection valve 2 tire valves 3 valve bodies 4 springs 5 sealing rings 6 Sealing seat / valve seat as sealing and contact surface 7 cones 8 knurled nuts 9 External threads of the tire valve 10 internal threads of the knurled nut 11. Plunger of the tire valve 12 slidably arranged brackets 13 Sealing ring of a tire connection valve (state of the art) 14 Sealing ring of a tire connection valve (state of the art) 15 Sealing ring of a tire connection valve (state of the art) 16 End piece of the filling hose

Claims

A tire connection valve (1) as a connecting element between an inflation hose of a puncture repair kit and a tire valve (2) of a tire, wherein the tire connection valve is designed to be self-closing by means of a spring-loaded valve body (3) and the valve body is opened by placing the tire connection valve onto the tire valve, wherein the tire connection valve has a device for detachable connection with the tire valve, preferably a knurled nut (8) with an internal thread (10) complementary to the external thread (9) of the tire valve, whereby the tire connection valve (1) and tire valve (2) can be connected for the inflation process of the tire, in which air and / or sealant flow from a sealant container or compressor through the inflation hose into the tire, characterized in that the tire connection valve includes a ring seal (5) arranged in its inner cross-section for air and / or sealant passage.a) has a sealing surface on the outlet side in the direction of flow for sealing the screwed-in tire valve (2) at the end face, b) has sealing surfaces on its outer circumference and on the inlet side in the direction of flow for sealing the knurled nut (8) against the end piece (16) of the inflation hose, and c) has sealing and contact surfaces on its inner circumference and on the inlet side in the direction of flow for contact with the spring-loaded valve body (3), wherein in the tire connection valve (1) the ring seal (5) has a central passage with an annular inner sealing and contact surface as a valve seat (6) and the valve body (3) has a complementary annular contact surface. Tire connection valve according to claim 1, wherein the ring seal (5) has a conical-concave central passage and the valve body (3) has a complementary conical contact surface. Tire connection valve according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the valve body (3) is fixed opposite its contact surface in a holder (12) which is arranged to be spring-loaded and slidably in the passage cross-section and is guided centrally. Tire connection valve according to claim 3, wherein the spring-loaded slidably arranged holder (12) is designed as a ring guided in the passage cross-section with at least two spokes which fix and hold the valve body (3). Tire connection valve according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the valve body (3) is designed as a substantially doubly conical, teardrop-shaped or torpedo-shaped flow body. Tire connection valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the valve body (3) has a pin (7) adjoining its contact surfaces in the flow direction on the outlet side or outflow side, which cooperates with the spring-loaded plunger (11) of the tire valve (2) that causes the opening of the tire valve. A puncture repair kit for sealing and inflating motor vehicle tires, comprising a compressor driven by an electric motor for generating the sealing or pumping pressure, a connection for a container with sealant, a valve and distribution unit for sealant and compressed gas, furthermore connecting means between the valve and distribution unit and the inflatable object, means for supplying energy, switching and / or control and display devices for the operation of the device, wherein the connecting means are provided with a tire connection valve according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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