Method and device for filling a tubeless tire with a tire inflation bell having several concentrically arranged tire inflation rings

Abstract

Method for inflating a tubeless tire mounted on a wheel rim, comprising: - a tire inflation bell (1) having an innermost tire inflation ring (2) and at least two further outer tire inflation rings (3, 4, 5), wherein the tire inflation rings (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged concentrically to one another and have different diameters, and - a connecting line (7) connected to the tire inflation bell (1) for supplying compressed air, the method comprising the step of: a) selecting a tire inflation ring (2, 3, 4, 5) corresponding to a size of the wheel rim, characterized in that the method comprises the following further steps: b) in the event that the selected tire inflation ring (4) is one of the outer tire inflation rings (3, 4, 5),- Moving the selected tire inflation ring (4) from a starting position to a filling position in which the selected tire inflation ring (4) rests against a side surface of the tire and forms an annular space between the tire and the wheel rim for filling the tire with compressed air, - Moving the at least one tire inflation ring (2, 3) located within the selected tire inflation ring (4) into an intermediate position between the starting position and the filling position to form a targeted compressed air line (11) from the connecting line (7) into a space between the nearest inner tire inflation ring (3) and the selected tire inflation ring (4) and into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim, - Introducing compressed air into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim via the connecting line (7) and the formed compressed air line (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for filling a tubeless tire with a tire filling bell according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a tire filling system designed to carry out such a method.

[0002] It is known to fill tubeless tire assemblies with compressed air using tire inflation bells. The tire assembly consists of a wheel rim and a tire mounted on the wheel rim. The lower side of the tire assembly usually rests sealed on a support surface. Above the upper side of the tire assembly is a tire inflation bell. This bell is lowered for tire inflation and uses an annular edge to push the tire sidewall away from the rim, creating an annular space between the tire sidewall and the wheel rim through which the tire is filled with compressed air. The compressed air flows into the inflation bell and from there via the annular space into the interior of the tire, finally moving the tire sidewall into contact with the rim, closing the annular space. Once the required inflation pressure has been reached, the tire inflation bell is raised.The tire sidewall follows this movement until the tire springs into its final position on the rim.

[0003] Tire assemblies can have a wide variety of dimensions. Therefore, it is desirable for a tire inflation system to be usable regardless of tire size. It should therefore be able to serve tire assemblies with rims with a diameter between 15 inches and 58 inches.

[0004] To accommodate the different sizes, it is known to use tire inflation systems with concentrically arranged tire inflation rings of different diameters. Such tire inflation systems are described, for example, in EP 1 125 772 B1, DE 198 01 455 A1, and DE 100 07 019 A1.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for filling a tubeless tire with a tire filling bell having a plurality of tire filling rings, in which the filling of compressed air is carried out particularly efficiently and quickly.

[0006] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a tire inflation system designed to carry out such a method.

[0007] Accordingly, a method for filling a tubeless tire mounted on a wheel rim with - a tire inflation bell having an innermost tire inflation ring and at least two further outer tire inflation rings, wherein the tire inflation rings are arranged concentrically to one another and have different diameters, and - a connecting line connected to the tyre inflation bell for supplying compressed air, the method comprising the following steps: a) Selecting a tire inflation ring according to the size of the wheel rim, b) In case the selected tyre inflation ring is one of the outer tyre inflation rings, - Moving the selected tire inflation ring from a starting position to a filling position in which the tire inflation ring rests against a side surface of the tire and forms an annular space between the tire and the wheel rim for filling the tire with compressed air, - Moving the at least one tire inflation ring located within the selected tire inflation ring into an intermediate position between the starting position and the inflation position to form a targeted compressed air line from the connecting line into a space between the nearest inner tire inflation ring and the selected tire inflation ring and into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim, - Introducing compressed air into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim via the connecting line and the designed compressed air line.

[0008] By moving the tire inflation rings located within the selected tire inflation ring, the compressed air flows specifically into the space between the tire and the wheel rim. Of course, a single tire inflation ring can also be located within the selected tire inflation ring and moved into an intermediate position if the selected tire inflation ring is the second one from the inside. If multiple tire inflation rings are being moved, the intermediate position is preferably the same for all tire inflation rings. However, depending on the seal between the tire inflation rings, it is also possible for the intermediate positions to be different, for example, the tire inflation rings can be moved from the inside to the outside in a stepped arrangement to direct the compressed air in a targeted manner.

[0009] In order to achieve ideal flow conditions, the travel distance between the starting position and the intermediate position is preferably in a range between 10% and 50% of the travel distance between the starting position and the filling position, in particular between 20% and 40%.

[0010] Furthermore, a tire inflation system is provided with a support surface on which a tire assembly consisting of a wheel rim and a tire mounted on the wheel rim can be positioned. The tire inflation system has a tire inflation bell arranged above the support surface, said bell having an innermost tire inflation ring and at least two outer tire inflation rings, wherein the tire inflation rings are arranged concentrically to one another and have different diameters, and the tire inflation rings are movable longitudinally to a normal of the support surface by means of a lifting device. The tire inflation system also has a connecting line connected to the tire inflation bell for supplying compressed air. In addition, the tire inflation system has a control unit designed to carry out the method described above. This results in the advantages described above.

[0011] Preferably, the tire arrangement rests on the support surface with a bottom side in a sealing manner.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the tire inflation bell has a cover plate, against the underside of which, in the initial position, the tire inflation rings rest sealingly with their upper sides, which are particularly ring-shaped. In a top view, a circular deflection plate is arranged within the inner tire inflation ring below the cover plate. This deflection plate is designed to deflect compressed air flowing from the connecting line radially outward. The compressed air is thus directed outward in a targeted manner and cannot flow unhindered along the longitudinal axis toward the center of the rim.

[0013] Preferably, an annular gap is formed in the initial position between the innermost tire inflation ring and the deflector plate, allowing compressed air coming through the connecting line to flow into the space defined by the innermost tire inflation ring. In this case, too, the deflector plate prevents the compressed air from flowing into the center of the rim. Instead, the compressed air flows through the annular gap and along the inside of the innermost tire inflation ring to the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim. Thus, the compressed air flow is directed in a targeted manner.

[0014] It is preferred if the selected tire inflation ring rests sealingly with an upper region on a lower region of the nearest outer tire inflation ring, such that compressed air cannot escape between the selected tire inflation ring and the nearest outer tire inflation ring.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a tire filling bell 1 of a tire filling system.

[0016] The tire inflation bell 1 is arranged above a support surface (not shown) (for example, a support plate or conveyor belt) and has four concentrically arranged tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5, which can be moved between a starting position and an inflation position by means of a lifting device (not shown) along a normal perpendicular to the support surface. The tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5 are identical except for their size. The tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged evenly spaced in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tire inflation bell 100.

[0017] The tire inflation bell 1 defines a bell chamber 6 that is open at the bottom. The tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5 and their position delimit or define the bell chamber 6. The tire inflation bell 1 is connected at the top via a connecting line 7 and valves (not shown) to a compressed air generating means, e.g., a compressed air tank, which supplies the bell chamber 6 with compressed air.

[0018] In the starting position, the tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5 rest with their upper sides sealingly against the underside of a cover plate 8. In a top view, a circular deflection plate 9 is arranged within the inner tire inflation ring 2 below the cover plate 8. The deflection plate 9 has a central elevation 10 on the upper side that deflects compressed air flowing from the connecting line 7 in a radial direction outwards between the cover plate 8 and the deflection plate 9. In the starting position, an annular gap is provided between the innermost tire inflation ring 2 and the deflection plate 9, through which the compressed air can flow into the space delimited by the innermost tire inflation ring 2.

[0019] To inflate a pneumatic tire of a tire assembly, one of the tire inflation rings 2, 3, 4, 5 is selected, whose diameter matches the outer rim diameter of the tire assembly to be inflated, so that an annular gap exists between the tire inflation ring's inner diameter and the rim's outer diameter. The selected tire inflation ring 4, in the example shown, the second one from the outside, is moved into the inflation position.

[0020] In the inflation position shown, the upper edge of the rim is within the bell chamber, and the tire bead adjacent to the selected tire inflation ring is lifted from the rim by the selected tire inflation ring. The annular gap between the rim and the tire bead allows the compressed air supplied to the bell chamber via the connecting line to enter the annular space defined by the rim and the tire.

[0021] To improve the compressed air line and accelerate tire inflation, the tire inflation rings 2, 3 located within the selected tire inflation ring 4 are also moved from a starting position to an intermediate position using the lifting device. The travel distance a between the starting position and the intermediate position lies in a range between 10% and 50%, in particular between 20% and 40% of the travel distance between the starting position and the inflation position b. In the example shown, the intermediate position is the same for each of the tire inflation rings 2, 3 located within the selected tire inflation ring 4. However, it is also conceivable that the intermediate positions may be different depending on the design of the tire inflation rings.

[0022] As a result of the inner tire inflation rings 2, 3 being moved into the intermediate position, an essentially circular compressed air chamber 11 is formed above the tire inflation rings 2, 3 between the cover plate 8 and the deflection plate 9, which extends from the center of the arrangement and thus from the connecting line 7 in a radial direction outwards to the outer tire inflation ring 5 closest to the selected tire inflation ring. The compressed air is thus directed in a targeted manner from the connecting line 7 via the compressed air chamber 11 from the center to the outside. The air flow is then deflected downwards by approximately 90° on the inside of the nearest outer tire inflation ring 5 and reaches between the nearest inner tire inflation ring 3 and the nearest outer tire inflation ring 5 before flowing between the nearest inner tire inflation ring 3 and the inside of the selected tire inflation ring 4 and from there into the space between the rim and the tire bead.

[0023] The selected tire inflation ring 4 rests sealingly with an upper region 12 on a lower region 13 of the nearest outer tire inflation ring 5, so that the compressed air cannot escape to the outside between the selected tire inflation ring 4 and the nearest outer tire inflation ring 5.

[0024] Although the center of the rim is exposed beneath the tire inflation bell, the tire inflation ring arrangement described above prevents a large portion of the airflow from reaching the center of the rim, as it is specifically directed into the space between the rim and the tire. When the compressed air is injected (pressure surge), the lower sidewall of the tire presses against the wheel rim flange, thus sealing the tire against the contact surface. The tire is inflated more efficiently and quickly.

Claims

[1] Method for filling a tubeless tyre mounted on a wheel rim with - a tire inflation bell (1) having an innermost tire inflation ring (2) and at least two further outer tire inflation rings (3, 4, 5), wherein the tire inflation rings (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged concentrically to one another and have different diameters, and - a connecting line (7) which is connected to the tire inflation bell (1) for supplying compressed air, the method comprising the step: a) Selecting a tire inflation ring (2,3,4,5) according to a wheel rim size, characterized by that the procedure includes the following further steps: b) In case the selected tyre inflation ring (4) is one of the outer tyre inflation rings (3,4,5), - moving the selected tire inflation ring (4) from a starting position to a filling position in which the selected tire inflation ring (4) rests against a side surface of the tire and forms an annular space between the tire and the wheel rim for filling the tire with compressed air, - moving the at least one tire inflation ring (2, 3) located within the selected tire inflation ring (4) into an intermediate position between the starting position and the filling position to form a targeted compressed air line (11) from the connecting line (7) into a space between the nearest inner tire inflation ring (3) and the selected tire inflation ring (4) and into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim, - Introducing compressed air into the annular space between the tire and the wheel rim via the connecting line (7) and the formed compressed air line (11). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat the travel distance between the starting position and the intermediate position (a) lies in a range between 10% and 50% of the travel distance between the starting position and the filling position (b). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by that the travel distance between the starting position and the intermediate position (a) lies in a range between 20% and 40% of the travel distance between the starting position and the filling position (b). [4] Tire inflation system with a support surface on which a tire assembly consisting of a wheel rim and a tire mounted on the wheel rim can be positioned, with a tire inflation bell (1) arranged above the support surface with an innermost tire inflation ring (2) and at least two outer tire inflation rings (3, 4, 5), wherein the tire inflation rings (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged concentrically to one another and have different diameters, and the tire inflation rings (2, 3, 4, 5) are movable by means of a lifting device along a normal to the support surface, and with a connecting line (7) which is connected to the tire inflation bell (1) for supplying compressed air, characterized by that the tire inflation system has a control unit which is designed to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims. [5] Tire inflation system according to claim 4, characterized by that the tire arrangement rests on the support surface with a sealing underside. [6] Tire inflation system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the tire inflation bell (1) has a cover plate (8), on the underside of which, in the starting position, the tire inflation rings (2, 3, 4, 5) rest sealingly with their upper sides, and that in a plan view from above, within the inner tire inflation ring (2) below the cover plate (8), a circular deflection plate (9) is arranged, which is designed to deflect compressed air flowing from the connecting line (7) in a radial direction outwards. [7] Tire inflation system according to claim 6, characterized by that in the starting position an annular gap is formed between the innermost tire filling ring (2) and the deflection plate (9) such that compressed air coming through the connecting line (7) flows into the space delimited by the innermost tire filling ring (2). [8] Tire filling system according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 7, characterized bythat the selected tire inflation ring (4) rests sealingly with an upper region on a lower region of the nearest outer tire inflation ring (5) such that compressed air cannot escape between the selected tire inflation ring (4) and the nearest outer tire inflation ring (5).

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