Hand tool for assembling valve devices for motor vehicles

Abstract

Hand tool (8) for mounting valve devices on vehicle rims (1), wherein the vehicle rims (1) have a rim base (3) for receiving a tire and a rim flange (5) projecting in the radial direction, the rim flange (5) is arranged in the axial direction at a first end of the rim base (3) forming a tire shoulder (4), and the axial direction coincides with a rotation axis (2) of the vehicle rim (1), wherein the hand tool (8) has a receiving device (11) for receiving the valve device, which is pivotally mounted on a first end (10) of an actuating lever (9), wherein a second end (14) of the actuating lever (9), opposite the first end (10), has an actuating handle (15), wherein a holding device (13) intended for engagement with the rim flange (5) is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever at a distance from the pivotally mounted receiving device (11). (9) is stored,and wherein the holding device (13) has a holding hook (16) which, when used as intended, engages behind the rim flange (5), characterized in that the holding device (13) has a support support (19) arranged at a distance from an end (17) of the holding hook (16) projecting from the actuating lever (9) and which, when used as intended, can be supported on the rim base (3) or on the rim shoulder (4), so that, when the hand tool (8) is used as intended, the actuating lever (9) is supported on the vehicle rim (1) exclusively via the holding device (13) during assembly of the valve device.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hand tool for mounting valve devices on vehicle rims, wherein the vehicle rims have a rim base for receiving a tire and a rim flange projecting in the radial direction, and wherein the rim flange is arranged in the axial direction at a first end of the rim base forming a tire shoulder, and the axial direction coincides with a rotational axis of the vehicle rim, wherein the hand tool has a receiving device for receiving the valve device, which is pivotally mounted on a first end of a two-armed actuating lever, wherein a second end of the actuating lever opposite the first end has an actuating handle, wherein a holding device intended for engagement with the rim flange is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever at a distance from the pivotally mounted receiving device,and wherein the holding device has a holding hook which, when used as intended, engages behind the rim flange.

[0002] For tubeless vehicle tires, a tire inflation valve must be attached to the vehicle rim so that a vehicle tire that is also attached to the vehicle rim can be filled with air through the tire inflation valve. For this purpose, such vehicle rims have a valve hole into which the tire inflation valve can be inserted in an airtight and pressure-tight manner. Tire inflation valves known from practice have an elastic casing, for example made of rubber, on the circumference of which a groove or slot is formed that seals against an edge of the valve hole formed in the vehicle rim. The casing of the tire inflation valve serves to secure the tire inflation valve in the valve hole, or rather to the edge of the valve hole. During installation, the tire inflation valve must be regularly pressed into the valve hole from the inside of the rim and thus secured to the vehicle rim.

[0003] Hand tools for installing tire inflation valves, known from DE 298 09 919 U1 or DE 200 10 672 U1, for example, grip an end of the tire inflation valve, initially loosely guided through the valve hole, like a pair of pliers, and then pull the tire inflation valve and its casing into its final fastening position in the valve hole. However, this carries the risk of damaging the tire inflation valve and, in particular, its casing.

[0004] For example, US 7,836,569 B2, US 2,947,073 A, or JP 2000-238519 A each disclose hand tools with an operating lever. At the end of the lever opposite the operating handle, a receiving device for a tire inflation valve is pivotally mounted. The operating lever can be supported on the rim by a holding device pivotally mounted on the operating lever, with a retaining hook of the holding device being able to be hooked behind the rim flange. By pivoting the operating lever, which is hooked behind the rim flange, the tire inflation valve mounted in the receiving device can be pressed into the valve hole.

[0005] DE 202 17 023 U1 discloses a hand tool comprising an actuating lever, at one end of which an actuating handle is arranged and at the other end of which an insertion mandrel is articulated and can be supported on the tire inflation valve. A holding device of the hand tool, which is also articulated, engages around the rim flange protruding from the edge of the vehicle rim when used as intended and serves to manually secure the hand tool near the valve hole. Guide rollers are rotatably mounted on the actuating lever near the articulated insertion mandrel, so that the end of the actuating lever facing the vehicle rim can be supported on the rim base of the vehicle rim via the guide rollers and can be guided or rolled over the rim base during installation of the tire inflation valve.

[0006] To install the tire inflation valve, the valve to be installed is mounted on the mandrel and initially loosely inserted into the valve hole. The holding device is brought into engagement with the rim flange near the valve hole, and the end of the actuating lever facing the rim, with its guide rollers, is brought toward the rim base and supported there. By applying sufficient force, the actuating lever is pivoted about a pivot axis defined by the articulated holding device in such a way that the end facing the vehicle rim, with its guide rollers, is displaced toward the valve hole, thereby pressing the tire inflation valve, supported on the mandrel, into the valve hole.

[0007] In modern vehicles, the tires are often equipped with tire pressure sensors. A tire pressure sensor has a sensor device for detecting the tire pressure, usually located in a housing at the end of the tire inflation valve that opens into the tire interior. A metal shaft of the tire inflation valve serves as an antenna for wirelessly transmitting the tire pressure measured by the sensor device. Powered by a battery, the tire pressure sensor can usually be operated for several years and transmits the measured tire pressure to a vehicle control system. Both a tire inflation valve and a tire pressure sensor therefore each have a valve and can therefore be collectively referred to as a valve device.

[0008] Hand tools are known in practice which are largely similar to the hand tool described in DE 202 17 023 U1, but instead of an insertion mandrel they have a nest for holding the tire pressure sensor. To install the tire pressure sensor, the housing of the tire pressure sensor is accommodated in the nest such that the tire inflation valve protrudes from the nest and towards the valve hole. By operating the hand tool, the tire inflation valve can be inserted into the valve hole and secured therein so that the housing of the tire pressure sensor rests against the inside of the rim and, once the tire is mounted on the rim, is arranged in the interior of the tire. It must be ensured that no excessive forces, and in particular no major transverse forces, are exerted on the tire pressure sensor when inserting it into the valve hole, so that neither the tire inflation valve nor the housing attached to it are damaged.

[0009] Particularly in the case of vehicle rims whose rim base is not flat, especially in the area of the rim shoulder near the valve hole, but has radially protruding contours, the actuating lever, supported by the guide rollers on the rim base, often cannot be pivoted evenly and with the desired precision. This can lead to the tire pressure sensor being pressed unevenly and uncontrollably into the valve hole via the nest pivotally mounted at this end of the actuating lever. However, the user must ensure that the tire pressure sensor is inserted into the valve hole essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tire inflation valve to avoid damage to the tire pressure sensor.

[0010] It is therefore considered an object of the present invention to further develop such a hand tool in such a way that easy handling and reliable installation of the tire pressure sensor on the vehicle rim is possible. It would be advantageous if the hand tool could also be used for installing tire inflation valves.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the holding device has a support which is arranged at a distance from an end of the holding hook protruding from the actuating lever and which, when used as intended, can be supported on the rim well or on the rim shoulder, so that when the hand tool is used as intended, the actuating lever is supported on the vehicle rim exclusively via the holding device during assembly of the valve device. Due to the inventive design of the holding device, it is no longer necessary for the end of the actuating lever facing the vehicle rim to be supported on the rim well or on the rim shoulder via guide rollers. In order to fasten the valve device to the vehicle rim, the holding device only has to be secured to the vehicle rim using the holding hook and the support.Subsequently, by pivoting the operating lever, the receiving device, which is pivotally mounted on the operating lever, together with the valve device attached to it, can be pressed into the valve hole in the vehicle rim. The arrangement and support of the holding device on the vehicle rim remains unchanged. With the tool according to the invention, both tire inflation valves and tire pressure sensors can be attached to the vehicle rim. It is only necessary to use a receiving device adapted to the respective intended use, which either has a pressing mandrel for a tire inflation valve or a nest for receiving a tire pressure sensor. It is also conceivable for the receiving device to have both a pressing mandrel and a nest and to be suitable for both uses, or for both tire inflation valves and tire pressure sensors.

[0012] The specific shape of the vehicle rim has no significant influence on the operation of the hand tool during installation of the tire pressure sensor. The shape of the holding device is expediently predetermined in such a way that the hand tool can be reliably secured to many different vehicle rims, whose rim well or rim shoulder may each have a different profile or shape. The hand tool according to the invention can also be advantageously used for vehicle rims whose rim well, particularly in the area of the rim shoulders, does not have a flat shape but rather one that varies significantly in the radial direction, which would be unsuitable or only partially suitable for the rolling of guide rollers in a conventional hand tool.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, the holding device comprises a rigid holding element, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever and the opposite second end of which is designed as a holding hook. The support is formed between the two ends of the rigid holding element. A rigid holding element can be manufactured without great effort and can simplify the operation of the hand tool during the installation of a tire pressure sensor or tire inflation valve, since no moving parts are provided that must be aligned relative to one another before the holding device is secured to the vehicle rim.

[0014] Alternatively, according to an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, it can be provided that the support on the holding device is displaceable relative to the holding hook. The support can, for example, be connected to the holding hook via a threaded engagement and, depending on requirements or depending on the shape of the vehicle rim, can be secured to the holding hook with a greater or lesser laterally projecting distance. It is also conceivable for the support to be pivotably mounted on the holding hook, so that the orientation of the support relative to the holding hook can be changed and adapted to the respective shape of the vehicle rim. Such pivotable displacement can be specified in various locking steps and fixed with suitable locking means during operation of the hand tool.It is also possible for the system support to be pivoted as desired within a pivoting range and to be fixed in the desired orientation, for example by means of suitable clamping devices.

[0015] Regardless of whether the support is rigid or movable, the support can have a single contact surface for support on the vehicle rim or several contact surfaces arranged at a distance from one another. By forming, for example, two support legs arranged next to one another and at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the vehicle rim, at the end of each of which facing the vehicle rim is a contact surface for support on the vehicle rim, lateral tilting of the hand tool secured to the vehicle rim with the holding device can be prevented or at least made significantly more difficult. This facilitates operation of the hand tool and supports reliable and damage-free pressing of the tire pressure sensor or tire inflation valve into the valve hole.

[0016] With a view to achieving the simplest possible structural design of the holding device, which on the one hand facilitates cost-effective production and on the other hand promotes reliable fixing of the holding device to the vehicle rim, it is optionally provided that the holding device has an F-shaped shape in a side view.

[0017] Preferably, the holding device is pivotably mounted in an elongated hole formed in the actuating lever. The holding device can, for example, be mounted on a pivot shaft that extends transversely to a longitudinal direction of the actuating lever through the elongated hole. The elongated hole is expediently arranged in an area at the first end of the actuating lever that faces the vehicle rim when the hand tool is used as intended. A pivotable mounting of the holding device in an elongated hole can be manufactured cost-effectively and is suitable for absorbing and transmitting large forces.

[0018] Alternatively, the holding device can also have a fork-shaped bearing end that engages around a rod-shaped portion of the actuating lever, with a pivot shaft mounted on both sides in the respective associated fork leg of the holding device passing through a bore in the rod-shaped portion of the actuating lever to pivotally attach the holding device to the actuating lever. The rod-shaped portion of the actuating lever can have a rectangular cross-sectional area and be designed like a flat bar, so that the outer sides facing the fork legs form a positive guide for the fork-shaped bearing end of the holding device and prevent undesired tilting of the holding device relative to the actuating lever.

[0019] It is also advantageously possible for the receiving device to be pivotably mounted in an elongated hole formed in the operating lever or in a receiving fork formed at the first end of the operating lever. This can optionally be the same elongated hole in which the holding device is also mounted. It is also possible for a separate elongated hole, arranged at a distance from one another, to be formed in the operating lever for both the holding device and the receiving device. An elongated hole can also be arranged at the end of the operating lever facing the vehicle rim and be open towards that end, forming a receiving fork, wherein the receiving fork is designed like a slot projecting from the end into the operating lever with two lateral fork legs.

[0020] In many cases, it will be expedient and advantageous for easy operation of the hand tool that the receiving device is mounted on the first end of the operating lever facing the vehicle rim or in the vicinity of the first end of the operating lever, while the holding device is mounted on the operating lever at a distance from this end and at a distance from the pivotally mounted receiving device.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the receiving device is mounted on the actuating lever in a detachable and replaceable manner. The receiving device can then be easily detached from the actuating handle and replaced in order to be able to accommodate a different tire pressure sensor or a different housing of a tire pressure sensor and mount it on the associated rim by means of a different shape of the receiving device with a predetermined nest. If required, instead of the receiving device with a nest, a receiving device with a pressing mandrel for a tire inflation valve can be mounted on the actuating lever and used to mount a tire inflation valve on a rim. This means that the hand tool can be quickly and easily converted, for example in order to be able to accommodate different tire pressure sensors orTire inflation valves or to be adapted for different rim geometries of vehicle rims.

[0022] Below, various embodiments of the inventive concept are explained in more detail, as shown in the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a vehicle rim with a hand tool according to the invention arranged thereon, Fig. 2 an enlarged view of part II of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a sectional view through a first end of a first arm of an actuating lever of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrated hand tools, Fig. 4 a perspective view of a holding device which is pivotally mounted on the operating lever and can support the hand tool on the vehicle rim, Fig. 5 a perspective view of a differently designed holding device, Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a receiving device with a nest formed therein and with a tire pressure sensor, Fig. 7 a receiving device with a pressing mandrel for a tire inflation valve, and Fig. 8 a hand tool with a receiving device mounted thereon with an insertion mandrel according to Fig. 7.

[0023] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows a side view of a vehicle rim 1. The vehicle rim 1 has, in a central region in an axial direction coinciding with a rotational axis 2 of the vehicle rim 1, a rim base 3 which, at each end in the axial direction, transitions into a radially raised rim shoulder 4 and, at the outermost edge, into a radially projecting rim flange 5. In the region of a rim shoulder 4, a valve hole 6 is arranged, not visible in the side views shown, in which a tire pressure sensor 7, only partially visible in these figures, is to be mounted and secured.

[0024] For mounting the tire pressure sensor 7 in the valve hole 6, the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 can be used. The hand tool 8 has an actuating lever 9. At a first end 10 of the actuating lever 9 facing the vehicle rim 1, a Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, each enlarged and shown in different variants, is pivotally mounted. The receiving device 11 has a Fig. 6 has a nest 12 shown, into which a housing of the tire pressure sensor 7 to be mounted can be fixed for insertion and fixing in the valve hole 6.

[0025] At a distance from the first end 10 and the nest 12 pivotably mounted there, a Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the holding device 13, which is illustrated in various variants by way of example, is also pivotally mounted on the first end 10 of the actuating lever 9. At a second end 14 of the actuating lever 9 opposite the first end 10, a handle 15 is formed for operation by a user, which can be grasped by a user for mounting the tire pressure sensor 7 in the valve hole 6 and can be actuated or pivoted to insert the tire pressure sensor 7 into the valve hole 6.

[0026] The holding device 13 has in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a substantially F-shaped design. A portion of the holding device 13 forms a holding hook 16 projecting from the actuating lever 9, on the laterally projecting hook end 17 of which a contact surface 18 is formed, with which the rim flange 5 of the vehicle rim 1 can be gripped behind when the hand tool 8 is used as intended. At a distance from the hook end 17, a contact support 19, likewise projecting laterally, is formed with a contact surface 20 arranged at its end. The holding hook 16 and the contact support 19 form Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a rigid holding element 21 which forms the holding device 13 and is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever 9.

[0027] In order to be able to insert the tire pressure sensor 7 into the valve hole 6 of the vehicle rim 1 using the hand tool 8 according to the invention, the tire pressure sensor 7 must first be secured in the nest 12 in the receiving device 11. The tire pressure sensor 7, with its protruding tire inflation valve, is then initially loosely inserted into the valve hole 6. The holding device 13 is then arranged and secured on the vehicle rim 1 in such a way that the hook end 17 of the holding hook 16 engages behind the rim flange 5 and the contact support 19 of the holding device 13 is guided laterally towards the rim shoulder 4 and rests against it. The hand tool 8 is thus in contact with the vehicle rim 1 and secured thereto exclusively via the contact surface 18 of the hook end 17 and via the contact surface 20 of the contact support 19.By pivoting the actuating lever 9, which can be grasped and pivoted by the handle 15, the first end 10 with the receiving device 11 mounted thereon and the tire pressure sensor 7 mounted therein is displaced in the direction of the valve hole 6 until the tire inflation valve of the tire pressure sensor 7 is fully inserted into the valve hole 6, so that the tire pressure sensor 7 is fixed and secured to an opening edge of the valve hole 6.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the first end 10 of the actuating lever 9. A receiving fork 22 is formed on the outer end of the actuating lever 9, which is open toward this first end 10. The receiving device 11 is pivotally mounted on the first end 10 of the actuating lever 9 via a receiving guide shaft 23 extending transversely across the receiving fork 22. The receiving guide shaft 23 can be pulled out as needed to detach and replace the receiving device 11 from the actuating lever 9.

[0029] Spaced apart from the receiving fork 22 with the nest guide shaft 23 is an elongated hole 24 with a holding device shaft 25, which is also arranged transversely to the elongated hole 24 and parallel to the receiving guide shaft 23. The holding device 13 is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever 9 on the holding device shaft 25.

[0030] In Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a different version from that shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown variant. Instead of a rod-shaped support 19 with a single contact surface 20, the one shown in Fig. 4, the embodiment shown has two support legs 26 arranged at a distance from one another and aligned parallel to one another, which protrude laterally from the retaining hook 16. Each support leg 26 has a contact surface 28 on an end face 27 facing the vehicle rims 1. The two contact surfaces 28 of the support legs 26 and the contact surface 18 on the hook end 17 of the retaining hook 16 can each be provided with a contact element 29 made of an elastic material in order to prevent damage to the vehicle rim 1, for example by scratching or notching during operation of the hand tool 8, when the retaining device 13 is secured to the vehicle rim 1. The contact elements 29 made of an elastic material can be, for example, rubber buffer elements or felt elements, which can also be replaced and renewed as needed after wear.

[0031] In Fig. 5 shows a variant of the holding device 13 with a different design. The support 19 is displaceably attached to the holding hook 16 via a threaded rod section 30 in a continuous internal thread. Using a wing screw-like actuating element 31, the distance between the contact surface 20 of the support 19 facing the vehicle rim 1 and the holding hook 16 can be varied in order to change the two contact surfaces 18 and 20 of the holding device 13 relative to one another and to adapt them to the shape of the vehicle rim 1.

[0032] In Fig. 6 shows, merely schematically, an exemplary embodiment of the receiving device 11 and a tire pressure sensor 7 arranged therein in an exploded view. The tire pressure sensor 7 has a housing 32 in which a sensor device for detecting a tire inflation pressure in an interior of the tire and a transmitter device for transmitting the detected tire inflation pressure to a receiver located outside the tire, usually for a vehicle control device, are arranged. The housing 32 is connected to a tire inflation valve 33, wherein the tire inflation valve 33 usually has a covered shaft 34 made of metal, which serves as an antenna for the transmitter device. The covered shaft 34 of the tire inflation valve 33 is inserted into the valve hole 6 and secured therein in order to attach the tire pressure sensor 7 to the vehicle rim 1.

[0033] To mount the tire pressure sensor 7, the housing 32 is inserted into the recess 12 in the receiving device 11, wherein the recess 12 is adapted to the shape of the housing 32 of the tire pressure sensor 7 such that the recess 12 at least partially surrounds the housing 32 in a tight fit and accommodates it in such a way that damage to the tire pressure sensor 7 due to excessive local or punctual stress can be avoided. At the same time, the tire inflation valve 33 of the tire pressure sensor 7 is aligned by the recess 12 located in the receiving device 11 and can be inserted into the valve hole 6 and secured therein by actuating the actuating lever 9 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 34.

[0034] In Fig. 7 also schematically shows a different embodiment of the receiving device 11. The receiving device has a pressing mandrel 35 for mounting a tire inflation valve (not shown separately) on the vehicle rim 1. It is also conceivable for a receiving device 11 to have both variants, i.e., both a nest 12 for receiving a tire pressure sensor 7 and a pressing mandrel 35, oriented, for example, in an opposite direction, for mounting tire inflation valves.

[0035] In Fig. 8, the hand tool 8 according to the invention is shown with a receiving device 11 arranged in the receiving fork 22, which according to the Fig. 7 and has a pressing mandrel 35. The Fig.The hand tool 8 shown in Fig. 8 is suitable for mounting tire inflation valves, which are placed on the pressing mandrel 35 and inserted and pressed into the valve hole 6 by the pressing mandrel 35.

Claims

[1] Hand tool (8) for mounting valve devices on vehicle rims (1), wherein the vehicle rims (1) have a rim base (3) for receiving a tire and a rim flange (5) projecting in the radial direction, the rim flange (5) is arranged in the axial direction on a first end of the rim base (3) forming a tire shoulder (4), and the axial direction coincides with a rotation axis (2) of the vehicle rim (1), wherein the hand tool (8) has a receiving device (11) for receiving the valve device, which is pivotally mounted on a first end (10) of an actuating lever (9), wherein a second end (14) of the actuating lever (9) opposite the first end (10) has an actuating handle (15), wherein a holding device (13) intended for engagement with the rim flange (5) is pivotally mounted on the Operating lever (9) is mounted,and wherein the holding device (13) has a holding hook (16) which, when used as intended, engages behind the rim flange (5), , characterized by that the holding device (13) has a support (19) which is arranged at a distance from an end (17) of the holding hook (16) projecting from the actuating lever (9) and which, when used as intended, can be supported on the rim base (3) or on the rim shoulder (4), so that when the hand tool (8) is used as intended, the actuating lever (9) is supported on the vehicle rim (1) exclusively via the holding device (13) during assembly of the valve device. [2] Hand tool (8) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding device (13) has a rigid holding element (21), one end of which is pivotally mounted on the actuating lever (9) and the opposite second end of which is designed as a holding hook (16). [3] Hand tool (8) according to claim 1, characterized by that the support (19) on the holding device (13) is displaceable relative to the holding hook (16). [4] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the holding device (13) has an F-shaped design in a side view. [5] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the holding device (13) is pivotally mounted in an elongated hole (24) formed in the actuating lever (9). [6] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving device (11) is pivotally mounted in an elongated hole formed in the actuating lever (9) or in a receiving fork (22) formed at a first end (10) of the actuating lever (9). [7] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the receiving device (11) is mounted on the actuating lever (9) in a detachable and replaceable manner. [8] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving device (11) has a nest (12) for receiving a tire pressure sensor (7). [9] Hand tool (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving device (11) has a pressing mandrel (35) for receiving a tire inflation valve.

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