Device for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire and portable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire.

[0002] The invention also relates to a portable / transportable system as well as corresponding methods and corresponding uses.

[0003] For some time now, repair kits or puncture repair kits have been known for the temporary repair of tires. These kits include a compressor, a distribution device, a sealant, the corresponding connecting hoses and the necessary cable connections for power supply as well as operating elements, thus representing a permanently usable and complete repair kit as a replacement for the spare wheel.

[0004] In conventional systems, the punctured tire is at least partially reinflated with air from a compressor to prevent air from escaping through the leak. During this reinflating process, the tire repair system operates in what is known as compressed air mode. Following this partial reinflation, sealant is then pumped from a reservoir into the damaged tire. During this process, the tire repair system operates in what is known as sealant mode. However, the sealant can only be injected once certain conditions are met, such as a specific minimum pressure in the partially reinflated tire.

[0005] Only after inflating the sealant-filled punctured tire to a stable minimum pressure and then slowly driving on with the inflated tire can the leak be completely sealed.

[0006] As explained above, the sealant cannot be automatically injected into the tire from the outset and often has to be manually initiated by the user in existing systems. This requires the usually inexperienced user to connect various parts in a complicated manner or exert considerable force to introduce the sealant into the tire. The latter carries the particular risk of insufficient force being applied, which can lead to an inadequate seal of the punctured tire.

[0007] Devices for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire are also referred to in the prior art as "dispensing element", "distribution device", "device for introducing air and / or sealant into a tire", "device for dispensing tire sealant from a container", "bottle cap", "receiving unit" and "extraction unit".

[0008] Various distribution devices are known in the prior art: DE 102015119917 A1 discloses a "method for dispensing a sealing agent for an inflatable object, [...] [whereby] in a first position of the valve (6) inlet (7) and outlet (8) are connected to each other and in a second position of the valve (6) a connection is established between inlet (7) and container (5) as well as between container (5) and outlet (8), characterized in that the container (5) is only fixed to the valve (6) when sealing agent is required in or on a receptacle (23) of the valve (6)" (see claim 1). The advantage is that "the sealing agent has a longer shelf life in the container. Because when it is not needed, it is not opened and thus no air and / or impurities enter the container" (see paragraph

[0013] ). EP 2338671 B1 discloses a "device (10) for introducing air and / or sealing agent into a tire [...]characterized in that the same hose (30) is provided for the connection between the pressure generating means (18) and the tire to be inflated on the one hand, and between the outlet of the container (14) and the tire to be inflated on the other hand, wherein the switching valve (40, 40') is configured to provide, depending on its switching position, either a direct flow connection between the pressure generating means (18) and the hose (30) or a flow connection between the pressure generating means (18) and the inlet of the container (14) on the one hand, and between the outlet of the container (14) and the hose (30) on the other hand" (see claim 1).

[0009] DE 10106468 B4 discloses a "device for dispensing tire sealant from a container (1) to which a dispensing element (2.1 to 2.3) for dispensing tire sealant is assigned, wherein the dispensing element (2.1 to 2.3) has a valve (12.1 to 12.3) and the valve has an inlet (3) and an outlet (4), to which an air pressure source (6) can be connected and to which a connecting line (8) for connecting to a tire (9) can be connected, and in a first setting of the valve (12.1 to 12.2) inlet (3) and outlet (4) can be connected to each other via at least one bypass, and in a second position of the valve a connection is established between inlet (3) and container (1) as well as between container (1) and outlet (4)" (see claim 1). The objective was to "manufacture the device cost-effectively, to be easy to use and to be able to be installed in any vehicle with minimal installation space" (see paragraph

[0007] ).

[0010] CN 106809187 A discloses an inflation and tire repair kit with a rotating unit which controls the gas pump and tire repair functions to prevent malfunction due to incorrect operation (see abstract).

[0011] WO 2017063105 A1 discloses a "bottle-cap" with a rotatable flow channel exchange element, wherein the exchange element has two flow channels and one of the two flow channels is arc-shaped (see claim 1). It is advantageous that the "bottle-cap" can be connected to a plurality of compressors (see

[0020] ).

[0012] WO 2013114751 A1 discloses a tire repair kit with an interchangeable cap which, when attached to the kit housing, enables fully manual switching from one flow passage to another within the kit (see claim 1). The kit thus improves operability and allows for even smaller versions of the kit (see

[0029] ). Furthermore, it prevents sealant from leaking out of the sealant container during storage (see

[0030] ).

[0013] WO 2013103055 A1 discloses a tire repair kit with interchangeable components which, when pressed down into a receiving mouth portion of the kit housing, cause a switch from one flow passage to another within the kit (see claim 1). The kit thus improves operability and allows for even smaller versions of the kit (see

[0017] ). Furthermore, it prevents sealant from leaking out of the sealant container during storage (see

[0018] ).

[0014] CN 203836455 U discloses a tire repair bottle with a fluid flow direction change unit and with multiple inlets and outlets, which is easy to use (see abstract).

[0015] WO 2013042448 A1 discloses a repair kit comprising an extraction cap and a compressor, wherein the cap and the compressor have a coupling nozzle and a nozzle receiver (see claim 1). The kit is better protected against leakage of the sealant during storage and against the inner cover not being removed when needed (see

[0022] ).

[0016] WO 2013042545 A1 discloses a repair kit with a "sheath pipe" arranged coaxially around a nozzle pipe, which can be moved longitudinally along the nozzle pipe and thus opens a second flow channel (see claim 1 and claim 2).

[0017] The kit is better protected against leakage of the sealant during storage and against the inner lid not being removed when needed (see

[0022] ).

[0018] WO 02 / 066236A1 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1, which serves for sealing and inflating an inflatable object, e.g., a tire, equipped with an inflation valve. The device is of such a type that it comprises a pressurized gas source and a container with a sealant. Furthermore, the device comprises a changeover valve, which in a first position is provided for opening a first connection between the pressurized gas source and the inflation valve of the object, and in a second position for opening a second connection between the pressurized gas source and the container, and further between the container and the inflation valve of the object. The device can be used in one mode of operation to inflate an object that has lost air to the required pressure, and in another mode of operation to seal and inflate a leaking object.This eliminates the need for the heavy and bulky spare wheel that car drivers traditionally carry.

[0019] EP 1621325A1 relates to a device for sealing tires with a container containing a sealant, which can be connected to a compressor via a first compressed air line and to the tire via one end of a second compressed air line, wherein the first compressed air line and the second compressed air line are connected to each other via the interior of the container and wherein the device includes a filter element through which the sealant flows before exiting the end of the second compressed air line.

[0020] Furthermore, DE 102007003667A1 discloses a device for sealing and inflating inflatable objects, which has a valve switchable in at least two positions, which is associated with a pressurized gas source and is connected to a valve and distributor unit with at least two channels such that in the first switching position the first channel carries pressurized gas and in the second switching position the second channel carries pressurized gas, wherein a pressure-actuated switching unit connected to the second channel switches a connection of the second channel to the sealant container when pressurized gas is applied.

[0021] One object of the invention is to provide a device for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire, in particular a portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires, which is easier for an inexperienced user to operate, and in particular is designed so that before using the device or system individual parts of the device or system only need to be connected once, or ideally not at all, and / or the user only needs to intervene once, or ideally not at all, during the operation of the device or system.

[0022] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a device for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire comprising: at least one gas connection for connection to at least one compressed air source, at least one sealant connection for connection to at least one sealant container, at least two channels, wherein a first channel is a sealant transport channel for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection into a vehicle tire and a second channel is a compressed air transport channel for transporting compressed air to the sealant connection or to the sealant transport channel, characterized by the fact that The device has a movable switching element, wherein the movable switching element is moved towards the sealing medium connection by means of a The gas connection can be moved by the coming compressed air flow and has a cutting section for cutting a seal.

[0023] It is a great achievement of the present invention to have discovered that, with a switching element described above in conjunction with a cutting section described above on the switching element of a device according to the invention, a breakdown assistance system can be provided in which a user The breakdown assistance system with a device according to the invention is no longer forced to connect different parts together in order to switch from compressed air mode to sealant mode, and at the same time no longer has to exert much force or even any force at all in order to switch from compressed air mode to sealant mode.

[0024] Therefore, the use of a breakdown assistance system is greatly simplified for the user if a device according to the invention, as described above or below, is used with the breakdown assistance system. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a one-piece breakdown assistance system with a device according to the invention, thus avoiding the complicated process of connecting several parts of a breakdown assistance system. This also simplifies the use of a breakdown assistance system for the user.

[0025] The above-described significant simplification due to a one-piece breakdown assistance system is particularly advantageous compared to the above-described multi-piece breakdown assistance systems according to documents EP 2746032 A1, EP 2746033 A1, EP 2792473 A1 and EP 2810767 A1, in which the switching from compressed air mode to sealant mode is achieved by means of a plug-in system different from the present invention.

[0026] Furthermore, a device according to the invention as described above enables the compressed air produced by the compressed air source to be switched back and forth between different transport channels, despite the presence of only three connections: the connection to the tire with the puncture, a gas connection, and a sealant connection. The simplified design of a device according to the invention as described above or below represents a particular advantage over the devices described in documents CN 203836455 U, EP 2746032 A1, EP 2746033 A1, and EP 2810767 A1, where the receiving unit has more than three connections.

[0027] A device according to the invention as described above or below is therefore preferred, wherein the device according to the invention has no further connection on the sealant transport channel in addition to the sealant connection and the gas connection and the connection to the tire, and / or is suitable for producing a one-piece system for sealing and inflating vehicle pneumatic tires.

[0028] The advantages described above are achieved by enabling the seal on the sealant container to be cut using the movable switching element of a device according to the invention. This is accomplished by using the compressed air from the compressed air source to trigger the sealant mode. Triggering the movement of the switching element of a device according to the invention can be accomplished in various ways. For example, the pressure in the compressor could be increased, thereby triggering the movement of the switching element. Other possibilities include the electronically or manually manipulable holding unit described below, which can be used to trigger the movement of the switching element by means of a release element for manual release or by means of an electronic control unit described below.A seal, which can be cut by means of the cutting section of the switching element of a device according to the invention, can be attached either to the sealant connection of a device according to the invention or to the closure of a sealant container, which can be connected to the sealant connection of a device according to the invention. The latter is advantageous because replacing the sealant container, which is usually provided with a minimum shelf life for the sealant it contains, is simplified compared to an embodiment in which the seal is located in the sealant connection of the device according to the invention.

[0029] In the context of the present invention, the movable switching element is preferably arranged in a device according to the invention and is designed to cut a seal at the sealant connection of a device according to the invention or at the sealant container. In the context of the present invention, the cutting section of the movable switching element of a device according to the invention preferably comprises at least one edge for cutting a seal and / or at least one corner for cutting a seal, which is arranged on the cutting section of the movable switching element such that, when the switching element is moved towards the sealant connection, it can cut a seal at the sealant connection of a device according to the invention or at the sealant container. Examples of an edge for cutting a seal or a corner for cutting a seal are those used on ordinary household knives.

[0030] The use of a seal for releasing the sealant and transferring it into a tire also has the advantage of simplifying the manufacture of the puncture repair system, since the device according to the invention does not need to be equipped with a sealant container from the outset. Furthermore, the sealant container can be easily replaced once the sealant has expired. In contrast, with some solutions known in the prior art, replacing the sealant container also requires removing the dispensing unit of the repair system, which results in a greater environmental impact.

[0031] Within the scope of the present invention, the term "tire" particularly describes a pneumatic tire and a vehicle pneumatic tire.

[0032] Within the scope of the present invention, the terms "leakage" and "breakdown" are used synonymously.

[0033] Within the scope of the present invention, the sealant transport channel is a device according to the invention, particularly suitable for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection into a vehicle tire, wherein the sealant dispersion comprises sealant particles and compressed air as the continuous phase and dispersion matrix. In principle, however, the sealant transport channel should also be suitable for transporting flowing liquid sealant, for example in the form of large drops or bulk volumes that fill the entire inner diameter of the sealant transport channel.

[0034] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the movable switching element is arranged in the compressed air transport channel and / or has one, two, three, four, five or more than five airflow breaking elements, wherein one or the airflow breaking elements are suitable to deflect, at least partially, the flow direction of compressed air in the compressed air transport channel which is essentially parallel to the direction of movement of the switching element, or to deflect it in such a way that the movable switching element in the compressed air transport channel is moved in the direction of the sealing medium connection by means of compressed air coming from a compressed air source.

[0035] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that the more airflow-breaking elements the switching element of a device according to the invention has, the more reliably a seal can be cut by the cutting section of the movable switching element. Three examples of the many possible embodiments for said airflow-breaking elements are projections extending from the surface of the movable switching element, such as hooks or branch-like structures, or even O-rings.

[0036] The movable switching element according to the invention is designed at least substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder and has an inner channel, wherein the switching element forms several sections along the height extension of the hollow cylinder in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, wherein the several sections comprise at least the following sections: a bypass section for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel directly into the sealant transport channel and an activation section, wherein the activation section is configured to use compressed air coming from the gas connection to move the switching element towards the sealant connection.

[0037] Preferably, the three sections described above, namely the cutting section, the bypass section and the activation section, are attached to the movable switching element of a device according to the invention in such a way that the part of the movable switching element which is closest to the sealing medium connection in a device according to the invention is the cutting section of the movable switching element, wherein, away from the sealing medium connection of the device according to the invention, the bypass section and subsequently the activation section follow on the movable switching element.

[0038] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, with the aforementioned form of a movable switching element in a particularly preferred device according to the invention, a seal can be cut even more reliably compared to other embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, due to the inner channel of the hollow cylinder, the aforementioned form of a movable switching element allows the largest possible volume of air to be conveyed into the sealant reservoir after the seal has been cut, in order to transport the sealant from the reservoir into the punctured tire at the highest possible pressure.The increased pressure described above, achieved by using an inner channel, causes at least part of the sealant to mix with part of the compressed air to form a dispersion as described above, thus better sealing leaks in the tire, especially leaks in the tire that are difficult for the sealant to reach.

[0039] In particular, compared to the fully manual switching of the breakdown assistance system, which is described in document EP 2746032 A1 in Figure 2and whose description of the figures is disclosed, the activation section of the movable switching element described above constitutes a device according to the invention, since in EP 2746032 A1 the compressed air flow is merely directed from one connection (see reference numeral 12) to the opposite connection (see reference numeral 12) and the compressed air is not used to move an element of the extraction unit. The utilization of the compressed air flow to switch from compressed air mode to the sealant mode of a breakdown assistance system is therefore a technical effect of the present invention.

[0040] Within the scope of the present invention, the expression "directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel directly into the sealant transport channel" means in particular that the compressed air is not directed into the sealant container before passing through the sealant transport channel and thus does not come into contact with the sealant.

[0041] In the context of the present invention, the sections described above are preferably separated by O-rings, the O-rings in particular functioning as airflow-breaking elements as described above. However, the activation section can advantageously include flow-breaking elements of other types as described above.

[0042] A device according to the invention as described above, or as described above as preferred, and in particular as described above as particularly preferred, is also particularly preferred, wherein the switching element forms at least one further section along the height extension of the hollow cylinder in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, wherein the further section is shaped in such a way that compressed air coming from the gas connection can be directed through the inner channel of the switching element in the form of a hollow cylinder and then towards the sealing agent connection or into a sealing agent container.

[0043] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that it ensures that, after the movement of the movable switching element and the breaking of a seal, the compressed air stream, even after passing through the inner channel, reaches the sealant in the sealant container. Subsequently, the sealant is forced by the continuous compressed air stream from the inner channel of the movable switching element of a device according to the invention into the sealant transport channels and further transported to the tire with the puncture. Advantageously, in the sealant transport channel and in the tire with the puncture, the sealant and compressed air can also be present as a sealant dispersion as described above, since sufficient pressure can be built up by guiding the air through the inner channel.The higher the pressure at which the compressed air flows into the sealant container, the smaller the sealant particles and the better the sealing effect of the sealant dispersion in the punctured tire.

[0044] In contrast to the previously described routing of the compressed air flow through the inner channel of the movable switching element, it would theoretically also be possible for the compressed air coming from the gas connection to flow around the movable switching element outside of it in order to reach the sealant reservoir. However, this would result in a less favorable flow of the compressed air and the sealant, unnecessarily increasing the time required to transfer the sealant into the punctured tire. This is also an advantage of using an inner channel in a device according to the invention as described above.

[0045] It is therefore particularly preferable that the inner channel of a movable switching element described above in a device according to the invention be free of other elements such as a support unit (cf. "support portion", reference numeral 19, in Figure 3 and whose figure description in EP2792473 A1) would not have the advantages described above when used in a device according to the invention.

[0046] A device according to the invention as described above, or as described above as preferred, and in particular as described above as particularly preferred, is also particularly preferred, wherein a first sealing element in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel is designed to prevent compressed air from the bypass section from entering the activation section of the switching element, and / or the first sealing element and / or a second sealing element in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel is designed to ensure that compressed air from the activation section and / or from the said further section is directed exclusively through the inner channel of the switching element to the sealing medium connection.

[0047] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that a reliable switch from compressed air mode to sealant mode takes place in a device according to the invention.

[0048] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the cutting section of the switching element is arranged on the switching element and is designed to cut a seal on the sealing element or a seal on a sealing container attached to the sealing element due to a movement of the movable switching element in the direction of the sealing element connection.

[0049] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that switching from compressed air mode to sealant mode can be carried out without redirecting the compressed air flow through different compressed air channels and is accomplished by the compressed air flow itself. In particular, the latter simplifies the user's understanding and the amount of force required. This is especially true compared to the "push-down" solution as described in document EP 2792473 A1 (see [reference]). Figure 4 (and their figure description) the user does not need to know how much or how long to apply a certain force when using a device according to the invention, since the force required to switch from compressed air mode to sealant mode is achieved by means of the compressed air flow.

[0050] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the sealing medium connection is sealed with a seal, wherein the seal of the sealing medium connection is designed to be cut when the movable switching element is moved in the direction of the sealing medium connection by means of compressed air coming from a compressed air source.

[0051] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein the device has an electronically or manually manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switching element, wherein preferably the holding unit is arranged so that it can be manipulated so that the movable switching element can be released from the holding unit and, after release, a movement of the movable switching element can be triggered by means of compressed air from a compressed air source, wherein the resulting movement is particularly preferably suitable for cutting a seal at the connection of a sealant container attached to the sealant connection or a seal at the sealant connection by means of the cutting section for cutting a seal.

[0052] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that the user only needs to release the holding unit with minimal effort. Once released, the force of the compressed air flow from the compressor cuts the seal, thus triggering the sealing agent mode. A manually manipulateable holding unit is described below in conjunction with a release element. An electronically manipulateable holding unit can be released, for example, by a corresponding command from a control unit or a regulation unit. The on-board computer of a vehicle to which the punctured tire is attached can be used, for example, as a control unit or regulation unit.Due to the low force required to release the holding unit of a device according to the invention as described above or as preferably described above, a voltage source typically found in a breakdown assistance system can easily provide this force.

[0053] This represents a particular advantage over the subject matter of document EP2792473 A1, see Figure 4 and their figure description, in which the entire sealing unit (“bottle unit 6”, see

[0044] as well as Figures 4 and 5 ) must be moved to switch from compressed air mode to sealant mode. This results in more reliable sealing behavior when using a device according to the invention compared to the subject matter of document EP2792473 A1.

[0054] Based on the foregoing, a device according to the invention as described above or a system according to the invention as described below is preferred, wherein the compressed air source is driven by a voltage source in the range of 5 to 50 volts. An example of such a voltage source is, for instance, the power connection for a cigarette lighter in a conventional vehicle. In another embodiment, the voltage source can be 10 to 15 volts.

[0055] It is particularly preferred if the holding unit in a device according to the invention, as described above, can be electronically manipulated, and if the electronic manipulation is carried out by a control and / or regulation unit that evaluates signals from a pressure sensor for measuring the internal pressure in a punctured tire in order to perform the electronic manipulation of the holding unit of a device according to the invention. Such a control and / or regulation unit can, for example, be the on-board computer of a vehicle, which is connected to the pressure sensors in the tire and thus automatically and user-friendly switches from compressed air mode to sealant mode.

[0056] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the device has an electronically or manually manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switching element in a predefined starting position and the holding unit is preferably designed such that the holding unit can hold the movable switching element in the predefined starting position while compressed air from a compressed air source flows around the switching element, wherein the predefined starting position of the movable switching element is particularly preferably within the compressed air transport channel and / or at the distributor-side end of the compressed air transport channel.

[0057] A particularly preferred device according to the invention is one as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein the device has a release element for manually releasing the holding unit and for causing a movement of the movable switching element from its initial position towards the sealant connection. The release element, the holding unit, and the movable switching element are preferably configured such that, after the release element is triggered, a movement of the movable switching element can be initiated by means of compressed air from a compressed air source, and the resulting movement is suitable for breaking a seal at the connection of a sealant container or a seal at the sealant connection. Before the release element is triggered, the switching element is in the predefined initial position as described above.

[0058] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, by using a triggering element as described above, less force is required than if, during such manipulation, the compressed air flows had to be interrupted or redirected when switching from compressed air mode to sealant mode. The latter switching mechanisms involving redirection or interruption of the compressed air flows are described, for example, in application EP2810767 A1, see therein. Figures 2 to 6 and their character descriptions, and EP2792473 A1, see there Figures 2 to 6and their figure descriptions are known. The aspect of the present invention described above thus has a technical advantage over the two documents described above, also because, in a device according to the invention, several parts do not need to be connected to each other in a complicated manner. This facilitates the use of a breakdown assistance system by the user, as switching is easier and less prone to errors.

[0059] Within the scope of the present invention, a triggering element described above could, for example, be a pull-out plug like that of a grenade. Due to its similarity to a grenade trigger, such a plug would also intuitively convey to the user how to operate it.

[0060] A device according to the invention as described above is particularly preferred, wherein the release element described above is preferably configured such that the release of the holding unit is triggered by rotating a sealant container in or into the sealant connection of a device according to the invention as described above or as preferably described above, or by rotating the sealant connection of a device according to the invention as described above or as preferably described above. During said rotation, the sealant bottle is preferably rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position, so that the sealant container is arranged upside down after the rotation.

[0061] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that by arranging the sealant container in the "upside-down" position, the transfer of the sealant from the sealant container through the sealant transport channel of a device according to the invention can be ensured even more reliably.

[0062] Within the scope of the present invention, the term "upside down" means, in particular, that the sealant container is arranged such that the connecting port encompassed by the sealant container points downwards for connection with the sealant port of a device according to the invention, and that the weight of the sealant in the sealant container preferably presses down on the connecting port or on a seal due to its weight, and thus, if the seal is broken, the sealant flows out of the sealant container due to its weight. The sealant port of a device according to the invention should always be arranged such that the port of the sealant container to be connected to the sealant port is always located below the rest of the sealant container after connection with the sealant port.

[0063] A device according to the invention is preferably one as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the device has a stop unit for stopping the movement of the switching element, wherein the stop unit is preferably arranged in the device such that the switching element is stopped only after at least one seal has been cut and after compressed air has been directed through the inner channel of the switching element to the sealing medium connection.

[0064] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that the stop unit prevents the movable switching element from partially or completely blocking the sealant connection of the device according to the invention and thus slowing down or preventing the transfer of the sealant from the sealant container into the tire.

[0065] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above, wherein the compressed air transport channel is cylindrical and has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and / or wherein the device has a spring element for accelerating the movable switching element in the direction of the sealing medium connection, wherein the spring element is designed such that, after releasing the triggering element or after suitable manipulation of the switching element, the spring element causes the movable switching element to accelerate in the direction of the sealing medium connection.

[0066] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that even with lower compressed air flows, which would otherwise provide insufficient force to cut the seal using the cutting section of the switching element, sufficient movement of the switching element to cut the seal can be ensured compared to a device according to the invention without a spring element. Such reduced compressed air flows occur particularly when the breakdown assistance system is operated incorrectly. Therefore, the spring element described above also has the advantage of simplifying operation for the user of the breakdown assistance system.

[0067] An example of such a spring element as described above is a spring with a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the compressed air transport channel. This allows the spring to be installed below the movable switching element in the compressed air transport channel. After the retaining unit is released, the spring assists the movement of the movable switching element towards the sealant connection. Alternatively, it is also possible for a spring element as described above to cause the movable switching element to move towards the sealant connection even without the aid of compressed air from the compressed air source. This movement, provided by the spring element, is sufficient to cut a seal using the cutting section of the switching element.

[0068] A device according to the invention as described above is particularly preferred, comprising at least one device for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire, connecting means for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a punctured tire, at least one compressed air source, wherein the compressed air source is a compressor and has at least one reciprocating compressor with a cylinder and a piston, and at least one motor for moving the piston in the cylinder of the reciprocating compressor, and at least one sealant container with sealant. where The device is ready for use with the compressed air source via the gas connection, with the sealant container via the sealant connection, and with the connecting means, and the device, the compressed air source, and the sealant container are arranged in a single housing, the housing being designed so that it can be positioned in operation with the sealant container upside down in the system. The device comprises: at least one gas connection for connecting to at least one compressed air source, at least one sealant connection for connecting to at least one sealant container, and at least two channels, wherein a first channel is a sealant transport channel for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection into a vehicle tire, and a second channel is a compressed air transport channel for transporting compressed air to the sealant connection or to the sealant transport channel.wherein the sealant dispersion comprises sealant particles and compressed air as the dispersion matrix, wherein the device has a movable switching element, wherein the movable switching element can be moved towards the sealant connection by means of a compressed air stream coming from the gas connection and has a cutting section for cutting a seal, the cutting section of the switching element being configured to cut a seal on the sealant connection or a seal on a sealant container attached to the sealant connection due to the movement of the movable switching element towards the sealant connection, the movable switching element being arranged in the compressed air transport channel and / or having one, two, three, four, five or more than five airflow-breaking elements, wherein one or each airflow-breaking element is suitable,at least partially deflecting the flow direction of compressed air in the compressed air transport channel, which runs essentially parallel to the direction of movement of the switching element, in such a way that the movable switching element in the compressed air transport channel can be moved towards the sealing medium connection by means of compressed air coming from a compressed air source; the device has a manually manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switching element in a predefined starting position, wherein the holding unit can be manipulated so that the movable switching element can be released from the holding unit and, after release, a movement of the movable switching element can be triggered by means of compressed air from a compressed air source, wherein the predefined starting position of the movable switching element is within the compressed air transport channel and / or at the distributor-side end of the compressed air transport channel.The device has a release element for manually releasing the holding unit from the initial position to the sealant connection, wherein, after release, the movement of the movable switching element can be triggered by means of compressed air from a compressed air source, wherein the movement is suitable for cutting a seal at the connection of a sealant container or a seal at the sealant connection, and the movable switching element is designed at least substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder and has an inner channel.wherein the switching element, along the vertical extent of the hollow cylinder in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, forms the following three sections separated by means of flow-breaking elements and / or sealing elements: a bypass section for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel directly into the sealant transport channel, and an activation section, wherein the activation section is configured to use compressed air coming from the gas connection to move the switching element towards the sealant connection, and a further section, which is configured such that compressed air coming from the gas connection is directed through the inner channel of the switching element in the form of a hollow cylinder and subsequently towards the sealant connection or into a sealant container, a first sealing element in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel is configured tothat no compressed air from the bypass section enters the activation section of the switching element, and the first sealing element, in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, is arranged so that, after the release of the retaining element, compressed air from the activation section or from said further section is directed exclusively through the inner channel of the switching element to the sealing medium connection, the device has a stop unit for stopping the movement of the switching element, the stop unit being arranged in the device in such a way that the switching element is stopped only after at least one seal has been cut and after compressed air has been directed through the inner channel of the switching element to the sealing medium connection,and the compressed air transport channel is cylindrical and has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the device has a spring element for accelerating the movable switching element towards the sealant connection, the spring element being designed such that, after the retaining element is released, the spring element causes the movable switching element to accelerate towards the sealant connection.

[0069] The advantageous aspects of a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire described above also apply to all aspects of a portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires described below, and the advantageous aspects of portable / transportable systems according to the invention discussed below apply accordingly to all aspects of a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire.

[0070] The invention also relates to a portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires, comprising at least one device according to one of the preceding claims, connecting means for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a tire with a puncture, at least one compressed air source, wherein the compressed air source is preferably a compressor and preferably has at least one reciprocating compressor with a cylinder and with a reciprocating piston as well as at least one motor for moving the reciprocating piston in the cylinder of the reciprocating compressor, and optionally at least one sealant container with sealant and / or at least one manometer for measuring the tire internal pressure of a tire connected with the connecting means.

[0071] Within the scope of the present invention, the terms "portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires" and "breakdown assistance system" are used synonymously.

[0072] A system as described above is preferred, wherein the sealant container has an aspect ratio of width to height in the range of 1:1 to 20:1, preferably in the range of 2:1 to 20:1, preferably in the range of 5:1 to 10:1, preferably in the range of 1.4:1 to 3:1, wherein the height extends along the central axis of the connecting port of the sealant container provided for connection with a sealant port of a device according to the invention up to the wall of the sealant container opposite the connecting port, and the width of the sealant container extends perpendicular to said height.

[0073] A system according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the device is connected to the compressed air source via the gas connection, to the connection of the sealant container via the sealant connection and to the connecting means in a ready-to-use configuration and / or the device, the compressed air source and optionally the sealant container are arranged in a single housing, wherein the housing is designed such that it can be positioned in operation such that the sealant container is arranged upside down in the system within the housing.

[0074] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that a substantially complete emptying of the sealant container is achieved. This can be accomplished, for example, by moving the container from a horizontal to a vertical position (see Figures 7 and 8) or by attaching the sealant connection to a device according to the invention in such a way that the connecting connection of the sealant container to be connected to the sealant connection is always arranged below the rest of the sealant container.

[0075] A system according to the invention as described above or as described above as preferred is preferred, wherein the cutting section of the switching element is provided to cut a seal on the sealant container attached to the sealant connection due to a movement of the movable switching element in the direction of the sealant connection, wherein the seal on the sealant container attached to the sealant connection is designed to be cut when the movable switching element is moved in the direction of the sealant connection by means of compressed air coming from a compressed air source.

[0076] The advantageous aspects of portable / transportable systems and a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire, as described above, also apply to all aspects of the methods described below, and the advantageous aspects of the methods discussed below apply accordingly to all aspects of a portable / transportable system and a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire.

[0077] The invention also relates to a method for sealing and / or inflating vehicle tires, comprising the following steps: A) Providing a system as described above or as preferably described above, comprising a sealant container with sealant and a vehicle tire with a puncture, wherein the puncture is preferably suitable for sealing by means of a system as described above or as preferably described above; B) Connecting the sealant transport channel of the system to the vehicle tire with the puncture by means of the connecting means of the system; C) Moving the movable switching element towards the sealant connection by means of compressed air from the compressed air source, wherein the movement is preferably triggered by releasing the holding unit.D) Use of a system described above or described above as preferred for pumping compressed air from the compressed air source into a device as described above or as described above as preferred or as described above as particularly preferred, E) Cutting a seal at the sealant connection and / or at the sealant container so that sealant can enter the sealant transport channel from the sealant container, F) Supplying sealant from the sealant container into the vehicle tire by means of compressed air from the compressed air source so that the puncture in the vehicle tire is at least partially sealed by means of the sealant supplied to the vehicle tire, G) Optionally increasing the internal pressure of the vehicle tire with the puncture to a minimum pressure, preferably at least 1 bar,wherein compressed air and sealant from the system described above, or preferably described above, are pumped into the vehicle's pneumatic tire.

[0078] A preferred method according to the invention is as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein the movable switching element is designed at least substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder and has an inner channel and a cutting section for cutting a seal, wherein the switching element forms at least one section along the height of the hollow cylinder in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, wherein the at least one section comprises at least one bypass section for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel into the sealant transport channel, wherein In step C) the increase in the tire pressure of the vehicle's pneumatic tire with the puncture is carried out in such a way that compressed air from the compressed air transport channel is directed through the bypass section, and the cutting in step E) is carried out by means of the cutting section of the movable switching element.

[0079] The advantages of the aspect of the present invention described above are explained above with reference to the device or system according to the invention.

[0080] A preferred method according to the invention is as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein the switching element forms at least one further section along the height extension of the hollow cylinder in conjunction with the inner wall of the compressed air transport channel, and in step F) compressed air coming from the gas connection is guided through the inner channel of the switching element in the form of a hollow cylinder and then into the sealant container and conveyed together with sealant from the sealant container into the vehicle tire.

[0081] The advantages of the aspect of the present invention described above are explained above with reference to the device or system according to the invention.

[0082] The invention also relates to a method for inflating vehicle tires, comprising the following steps: A) Providing a system described above or preferably above and a vehicle tire, B) Connecting the sealant transport channel of the system to the vehicle tire, C) Using a system described above or preferably above to increase the tire pressure of the vehicle tire to a minimum pressure, preferably to the tire pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, wherein compressed air from the compressed air source of the system described above or preferably above is pumped into the vehicle tire by a device as described above or preferably above or particularly preferably above.

[0083] The advantages of the aspect of the present invention described above are explained above with reference to the device or system according to the invention.

[0084] The advantageous aspects of portable / transportable systems and a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire and one of the methods according to the invention, as described above, also apply to all aspects of uses described below, and the advantageous aspects of uses discussed below apply accordingly to all aspects of portable / transportable systems and a device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire and one of the methods according to the invention.

[0085] The invention also relates to a use of a system described above or described above as preferred. for inflating vehicle tires and / or for sealing vehicle tires.

[0086] The invention also relates to a use a triggering element for use in a device as described above, or as described above as preferred, or as described above as particularly preferred for triggering a movement of a movable switching element of the device by means of compressed air coming from a compressed air source, wherein the cutting section of the movable switching element preferably cuts a seal at the sealant connection and / or a seal at a sealant container. Character description: It shows:

[0087] Figure 1: Cross-section of a schematically illustrated device according to the invention with a movable switching element for cutting a seal in the compressed air transport channel of the device according to the invention, wherein compressed air is directed through the bypass section of the movable switching element into the sealant transport channel; Figure 2: Cross-section of a schematically illustrated device according to the invention with a movable switching element for cutting a seal in the compressed air transport channel of the device according to the invention, wherein, after removal of the triggering element and after acceleration by the spring, compressed air is directed into the activation section of the movable switching element;Figure 3: Cross-section of a schematically represented device according to the invention with a movable switching element for cutting a seal in the compressed air transport channel of the device according to the invention, wherein compressed air is directed through the inner channel of the switching element into the sealant container containing sealant; Figure 4: A schematic representation of a cross-section of a device according to the invention with a movable switching element comprising a cutting section for cutting a seal attached to the connection port of a sealant container; Figure 5: A movable switching element of a device according to the invention as shown in Figure 5. Figure 4Figure 6: a perspective view of a system according to the invention for sealing and inflating vehicle tires, wherein part of the one-piece housing is only indicated by dotted lines in order to better identify the individual components of the system; Figures 7 & 8: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention in a single housing from a side view, wherein the sealant container is located outside the housing for easy replacement.

[0088] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of part of a cross-section of a system 38 according to the invention, comprising a device 1 according to the invention with a movable switching element 7 comprising a cutting section 8 for cutting a seal 11, wherein the movable switching element 7 is in a predefined starting position in the compressed air transport channel 5 of the device 1 according to the invention. Figure 1The device 1 shown comprises a gas connection 3 for connection to a compressed air source, a sealant connection 2 for connection to a sealant container 6, two channels 5, 4, wherein a first channel is a sealant transport channel 4 for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection 2 into a vehicle tire and a second channel is a compressed air transport channel 5 for transporting compressed air to the sealant connection 2 or to the sealant transport channel 4, wherein the device 1 has a movable switching element 7, wherein the movable switching element 7 can be moved by means of a compressed air flow from the gas connection 3 in the direction of flow 28 and has a cutting section 8 for cutting a seal 11.The movable switching element 7 has the form of a hollow cylinder and therefore also an inner channel 14, wherein the switching element 7 forms several sections along its height extension 15 in conjunction with the inner wall 16 of the compressed air transport channel 6, the several sections comprising the following sections: a bypass section 18 for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel 5 directly into the sealant transport channel 4, and an activation section 19, wherein the activation section 19 is configured to use compressed air coming from the gas connection 3 to move the switching element 7 towards the sealant connection 2, and a further section 20, wherein the further section 20 is shaped such that compressed air coming from the gas connection 3 can be directed through the inner channel 14 of the switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10 to the sealant connection 2 or into a sealant container 6.The various sections 8, 18, 19 are in the in . Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the airflow is separated from each other by means of airflow-breaking elements 9 comprising O-rings 34. Figure 1 Figure 7 shows that the switching element 7 is arranged at the distributor-side end 12 of the compressed air transport channel 5. The figure shown in Figure 1 The embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention shown is in the compressed air mode described above, since compressed air from the gas connection 3 is directed directly to the tire-side end 13 of the sealant transport channel 4 by routing the compressed air from the gas connection 3 through the space between the inner wall 16 and the outer wall 21 of the switching element 7 around the switching element 7 and at the distributor-side end of the sealant transport channel 4 into the sealant transport channel 4 in the flow direction 28 further to the tire-side end 13. As shown in Figure 1As shown, during compressed air mode the sealant 32 is still located behind the closed seal 11 in the sealant container 6, which is connected via the connection port 33. For the sake of clarity, in Figure 1 Neither the connecting means for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a tire with a puncture nor the compressed air source, but a part of the one-piece housing 31 is shown.

[0089] In Figure 1 It can be seen that the airflow-breaking elements 9 seal the bypass section 18 of the switching element 7 in such a way that the compressed air from the gas connection 3 is directed directly into the sealant transport channel 4. The movable switching element 7 is held in place by a manually manipulable holding unit 22, which is located in Figure 1This is exemplified by a so-called locking pin. The eyelet 23 of the locking pin serves as an example of a release element 23 for manually releasing the holding of the holding unit 22. By means that the pin 22 of the locking pin moves the movable switching element 7 into the predefined starting position as shown in Figure 1 If the spring 29 remains tensioned and cannot accelerate the movable switching element in the direction of movement 10, as shown, the spring 29 remains tensioned.

[0090] Furthermore, in Figure 1 Stop units 27 are shown on the movable switching element 7, which stop the movement of the switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10 when the movable triggering element 27 is in the predefined end position after the movement (see Figure 3 ) is located.

[0091] In Figure 2 is the same embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention in a system 38 according to the invention as from Figure 1to be seen. However, during the in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the locking pin is already released, whereby the inventive device 1 is as shown. Figure 2 shown is already in activation mode. In the Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, the movable switching element 7 has already been moved sufficiently in the direction of movement 10, since the compressed air flow from the gas connection 3 is no longer directed into the bypass section 18 but into the activation section 19, and thus, due to the lower airflow breaking element 9, the movable switching element 7 is now accelerated in the direction of movement 10 of the sealing medium connection 2 exclusively by means of the compressed air flow coming from the gas connection 3. After the seal 11 is cut, the stop units 27 will stop the movement of the movable switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10, whereupon the activation mode of a device 1 according to the invention ends and the device 1 according to the invention switches to the sealing medium mode (see Figure 3 ) by directing the sealant 32 together with compressed air from the sealant container 6 in the flow direction 28 of the tire-side end 13 of the sealant transport channel 4.

[0092] In Figure 3 is the same embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention in a system 38 according to the invention as from Figure 2 and from Figure 1 to be seen. However, during the in Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the seal 26 is already destroyed and the movement of the movable switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10 is stopped by means of the stop units 27, whereby the device 1 according to the invention is as shown. Figure 3The device is already in sealant mode. In sealant mode, compressed air from the gas connection 3 is directed in flow direction 28 around section 20 of the movable switching element 7 into the inner channel 14 and then into the sealant container 6. Once there, the compressed air mixes with sealant 32. The mixture of compressed air and sealant 32 is then forced in flow direction 28 through the cutting section 8 of the switching element 7 into the sealant transport channel 4 and can from there flow in flow direction 28 into the Figure 3 The tire not shown will be guided to the site of the puncture. Figure 3 It is also evident that the lower O-ring 34 is attached to the lower airflow breaking element 9 in such a way as to prevent the compressed air from the gas connection 3 from flowing directly into the sealant transport channel.

[0093] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a cross-section of a device 1 according to the invention, comprising a movable switching element 7 and a cutting section 8 for cutting a seal 11 attached to the connection port 33 of a sealing agent container 6, wherein the movable switching element is in a predefined starting position in the compressed air transport channel 5 of the device 1 according to the invention. Figure 4The device 1 shown comprises a gas connection 3 for connection to a compressed air source, a sealant connection 2 for connection to a sealant container 6, two channels 5, 4, wherein a first channel is a sealant transport channel 4 for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection 2 into a vehicle tire and a second channel is a compressed air transport channel 5 for transporting compressed air to the sealant connection 2 or to the sealant transport channel 4, wherein the device 1 has a movable switching element 7, wherein the movable switching element 7 can be moved by means of a compressed air flow from the gas connection 3 in the direction of flow 28 and has a cutting section 8 for cutting a seal 11.The movable switching element has the form of a hollow cylinder and therefore also an inner channel 14, wherein the switching element 7 forms several sections along the height extension 15 in conjunction with the inner wall 16 of the compressed air transport channel 6, the several sections comprising the following sections: a bypass section 18 for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel 5 directly into the sealant transport channel 4, and an activation section 19, wherein the activation section 19 is configured to use compressed air coming from the gas connection 3 to move the switching element 7 towards the sealant connection 2, and a further section 20, wherein the further section 20 is shaped such that compressed air coming from the gas connection 3 can be directed through the inner channel 14 of the switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10 to the sealant connection 2 or into a sealant container 6.The various sections 8, 18, 19 are in the in . Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the airflow is separated from each other by means of airflow-breaking elements 9 comprising O-rings 34. Figure 1 Figure 7 shows that the switching element 7 is arranged at the distributor-side end 12 of the compressed air transport channel 5. The figure shown in Figure 4 The embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention shown above is in the compressed air mode described above, since compressed air is directed from the gas connection 3 directly to the tire-side end 13 of the sealant transport channel 4. This is achieved by directing the compressed air from the gas connection 3 through the space between the inner wall 16 and the outer wall 21 of the switching element 7 around the switching element 7 and at the distributor-side end of the sealant transport channel 4 into the sealant transport channel 4 in the flow direction 28 further to the tire-side end 13. As shown in Figure 1As shown, during compressed air mode the sealant 32 is still located behind the closed seal 11 in the sealant container 6, which is connected via the connection port 33. For the sake of clarity, in Figure 4 Neither the connecting means for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a tire with a puncture, nor the compressed air source, nor a one-piece housing of a system according to the invention are shown.

[0094] In Figure 4 It can be seen that the airflow-breaking elements 9 seal the bypass section 18 of the switching element 7 in such a way that the compressed air from the gas connection 3 is directed directly into the sealant transport channel 4. The movable switching element 7 is held in place by means of an electronically manipulated holding unit 35, which is located in Figure 4The control unit 36 ​​can manipulate the movable switching element 7 by means of an electronically triggerable release element 41 so that the holding unit 35 no longer holds the movable switching element 7 in the predefined starting position, allowing the spring 29 to accelerate the movable switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10. The control unit 36 ​​can receive pressure measurement signals from a manometer 37, which, as in Figure 4 shown to be able to measure the pressure in the sealant transport channel. However, it is also conceivable that the manometer 37 measures the internal tire pressure in a tire with a puncture, attached to the tire-side end 13 of the sealant transport channel 4. Furthermore, in Figure 1 Stop units 27 are shown in the device 1 according to the invention, which stop the movement of the switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10 when the movable switching element 7 is in a predefined end position.

[0095] In Figure 5 is the same embodiment of a movable switching element 7 of a device 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 4 to be seen, however, the movable switching element 7 of a device 1 according to the invention is in Figure 5 The switching element 7 comprises a cutting section 8, a bypass section 18, an activation section 19, and a further section 20, as well as an inner channel 14. As in Figure 5 The section 8 shown comprises a point and / or sharp edges for cutting a seal (not shown) as described above. The individual sections 8, 18, 19, and 20 are separated from each other by means of protrusions that deviate from the ideal shape of a hollow cylinder, with an O-ring 34 on each of these protrusions as shown in Figure 5The raised sections are shown resting on the outer wall 21 and are designed such that a compressed air flow coming from the direction of flow 28 and striking the outer wall 21 would accelerate the movable switching element 7 in the direction of movement 10. These raised sections, and in particular their specially rounded shape, also constitute special airflow-breaking elements 9 within the scope of the present invention.

[0096] Figure 6Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a system 38 according to the invention for sealing and inflating vehicle tires, wherein a part of the one-piece housing 31 is indicated by dotted lines as transparent in order to better identify the individual components of the system 38. The system 38 comprises a device 1, connecting means 30 for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a punctured tire, a compressed air source 24, and a sealant container 6 containing sealant. The device is ready for use by connecting the compressed air source 24 via the gas connection 3, the sealing agent container 6 via the sealing agent connection 2 to the connection 33, and the aforementioned connecting means 30 via the sealing agent transport channel 4. Furthermore, part of the device 1 is also shown by dotted lines in Figure 6The movable switching element 7 is shown in a transparent manner so that it can be seen within the device 1. The system 38 enables the inflation of vehicle tires by supplying compressed air from the compressor 24 to the compressed air transport channel 5, and subsequently via the sealant transport channel 4 and the connecting elements 30 into a vehicle tire. Depending on the design, the switching element 7 can also, as described above, break a seal on the sealant container 6, thus activating the sealant mode by directing the compressed air not directly into the sealant transport channel 4, but first into the sealant container. In the sealant mode, the mixture of sealant and compressed air, which is often in the form of a dispersion with the compressed air as a continuous phase, can then be forced into a vehicle tire via the sealant transport channel 4 and the connecting elements 30.Once inside the vehicle tire, the mixture or dispersion of sealant and compressed air can then seal the leak in the tire. This is done in... Figure 6 The system 38 according to the invention was brought into an upright position by means of the mountable support feet 39, so that the sealing agent container 6 located inside the one-piece housing 31 is positioned upside down in the system 38 according to the invention. The mountable support feet 39 are an example of erecting means 39 such as can be used to bring the system 38 according to the invention into a desired position. The mountable support feet 39 are preferably not attached to the system 38 according to the invention from the outset, so that the system 38 according to the invention can be housed as compactly as possible in a vehicle. This is achieved with the Figure 6 The system 38 shown according to the invention is particularly well suited to this, as it demonstrates a particularly compact design of a tire repair kit.

[0097] Figures 7 and 8 show a further embodiment of a system 38 according to the invention in a single housing 31 from a side view, wherein the sealant container 6 is visible and the sealant container 6 partially obscures the rest of the housing 31 from the side view as in Figure 7 shown, but not obscured.

[0098] The inventive device 1 as shown in Figure 7 The diagram shows the connection between the sealant connection 33 and the sealant container 6, and the connection between the sealant and the sealant container 6. Figure 7 gas connection not shown, with the in Figure 7 connected to the compressor not shown. This is in Figure 7 The system 38 shown according to the invention lies flat on a subfloor, in this position being in compressed air mode and able to transport compressed air directly from the compressed air transport channel into the sealant transport channel and on to a vehicle pneumatic tire.

[0099] As in Figure 8As shown, the sealant container 6, together with the sealant connection 2 of the device 1 according to the invention, can be rotated in the direction of rotation 40, causing the sealant container 6 to come to rest upside down, i.e., the connecting port 33 is located below the rest of the sealant container 6. During or after this rotation, the sealant mode in the device 1 according to the invention is triggered by means of the mechanisms described above. Figure 8 The rotary movement shown can, for example, be achieved by solving the holding unit described above in different ways. Reference symbol list:

[0100] 1 Receiving unit; distributor device; device according to the invention for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a vehicle tire 2 Sealant connection for connection to at least one sealant container 3 Gas connection for connection to at least one compressed air source 4 Sealant transport channel for connection to at least one compressed air source 5 Compressed air transport channel for connection to at least one sealant container 6 Sealant container 7 Movable switching element, which can be moved by means of a compressed air flow coming from the gas connection 8 A cutting section of the movable switching element suitable for cutting a seal 9 Airflow breaking elements 10 Direction of movement of the switching element 11 Seal for cutting by means of the cutting section of the movable switching element 12 Distributor-side end of the compressed air transport channel 13 Tire-side end of the sealant transport channel 14 Inner channel of the movable15 Height extension of the movable switching element 16 Inner wall of the compressed air transport channel 17 Inner wall of the sealant transport channel 18 First section of the movable switching element; bypass section for directing compressed air from the compressed air transport channel directly into the sealant transport channel 19 Second section of the movable switching element; activation section configured to use compressed air coming from the gas connection to move the switching element towards the sealant connection 20 Third section of the movable switching element configured to direct compressed air coming from the gas connection through the inner channel of the switching element in the form of a hollow cylinder 21 Outer wall of the movable switching element 22 Pin of the locking pin; manually manipulated retaining unit for holding the movable switching element 23 Eyelet of the locking pin; Release element for manually releasing the holding unit to effect movement of the movable part24 Compressed air source; compressor 25 Connection port of the sealant container 26 Broken seal of the sealant container 27 Stop unit for stopping the movement of the switching element 28 Flow direction of the compressed air and / or sealant 29 Spring; spring element for accelerating the movable switching element towards the sealant connection 30 Connecting means for connecting the tire-side end of the sealant transport channel to a punctured tire 31 One-piece housing for the device according to the invention, the compressed air source and the sealant container 32 Sealant 33 Connection port on the sealant container provided for connection with a sealant connection of the device 34 O-ring 35 Electronically manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switching element 36 Control and regulation unit for electronic manipulation of the holding unit of the movable37 Switching element; Pressure measuring unit for measuring the air pressure in a tire or in the sealant transport channel; Manometer 38 Portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires; Puncture repair system; Tire repair kit 39 Mountable stand; Erection device for setting up the portable / transportable system so that the sealant container is upside down in the housing 40 Rotary movement for rotating the sealant container at the sealant connection 41 Electronically triggered release element for releasing the holding unit 35

Claims

1. Device (1) for transporting compressed air and / or sealant into a pneumatic vehicle tyre, comprising: - at least one gas connection (3) for connecting to at least one compressed-air source, - at least one sealant connection (2) for connecting to at least one sealant container, - at least two channels, wherein a first channel is a sealant transport channel for transporting a sealant dispersion from the sealant connection into a pneumatic vehicle tyre and a second channel is a compressed-air transport channel for transporting compressed air to the sealant connection or to the sealant transport channel, wherein the device (1) has a movable switchover element (7), wherein the movable switchover element (7) can be moved by means of a compressed-air flow coming from the gas connection (3) and has a severing portion (8) for severing a seal (11), characterized in that the movable switchover element (7) is at least substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder and has an internal channel, wherein the switchover element (7) forms, along the vertical extent of the hollow cylinder, in cooperation with the inner wall of the compressed-air transport channel, a plurality of portions, wherein the plurality of portions comprise at least the following portion: - an activation portion (19), wherein the activation portion (19) is designed to use compressed air coming from the gas connection to move the switchover element (7) in the direction of the sealant connection, characterized in that the plurality of portions moreover comprise at least the following portion: - a bypass portion (18) for conducting compressed air from the compressed-air transport channel directly into the sealant transport channel.

2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the movable switchover element (7) is arranged in the compressed-air transport channel (5) and / or has one, two, three, four, five or more than five air-flow baffle elements (9), wherein the one or more air-flow baffle elements (9) are suitable for at least partially deflecting the flow direction, extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the switchover element (7), of compressed air in the compressed-air transport channel (5) or to deflect it such that, in the compressed-air transport channel (5), the movable switchover element (7) is moved by means of compressed air coming from a compressed-air source (24) in the direction of the sealant connection (2).

3. Device (1) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the switchover element (7) forms, along the vertical extent of the hollow cylinder, in cooperation with the inner wall of the compressed-air transport channel (5), at least one further portion, wherein the one further portion is formed such that compressed air coming from the gas connection is conducted through the internal channel of the switchover element (7) in the form of a hollow cylinder and subsequently in the direction of the sealant connection (2) or into a sealant container (6).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the severing portion of the switchover element (7) is arranged on the switchover element (7) and intended, on account of a movement of the movable switchover element (7) in the direction of the sealant connection (2), to sever a seal (11) on the sealant connection or a seal (11) on a sealant container (6) fastened to the sealant connection (2), and / or - the sealant connection (2) is sealed with a seal (11), wherein the seal (11) of the sealant connection (2) is designed to be severed in the event of a movement of the movable switchover element (7), actuated by means of compressed air coming from a compressed-air source (24), in the direction of the sealant connection (2).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has an electronically or manually manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switchover element (7), wherein preferably the holding unit is designed such that it can be manipulated such that the movable switchover element (7) can be released from the holding unit and after it has been released, a movement of the movable switchover element (7), brought about by means of compressed air from a compressed-air source (24), can be actuated, wherein the movement brought about is particularly preferably suitable for severing a seal (11) on the connection of a sealant container (6) fastened to the sealant connection (2) or a seal (11) on the sealant connection (2) by means of the severing portion (8) for severing a seal (11).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has an electronically or manually manipulable holding unit for holding the movable switchover element (7) in a predefined starting position and the holding unit is preferably configured such that the holding unit can hold the movable switchover element (7) in the predefined starting position while the switchover element (7) is flowed around by compressed air from a compressed-air source (24), wherein particularly preferably the predefined starting position of the movable switchover element (7) is within the compressed-air transport channel (5) and / or at the distributor-side end of the compressed-air transport channel (5).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has an actuating element (23) for manually releasing the hold of the holding unit in order to bring about a movement of the movable switchover element from the starting position to the sealant connection (2), wherein the actuating element (23), the holding unit and the movable switchover element (7) are preferably designed such that, after the releasing of the actuating element (23), a movement of the movable switchover element (7), brought about by means of compressed air from a compressed-air source (24), can be actuated and the movement brought about is suitable for severing a seal (11) on the connection of a sealant container (6) or a seal (11) on the sealant connection (2).

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a stopping unit for stopping the movement of the switchover element (7), wherein the stopping unit is preferably fitted in the device (1) such that the switchover element (7) is only stopped after at least one seal (11) has been severed and after compressed air has been conducted through the internal channel of the switchover element (7) to the sealant connection (2).

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressed-air transport channel (5) is cylindrical and has an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and / or wherein the device has a spring element for accelerating the movable switchover element (7) in the direction of the sealant connection (2), wherein the spring element is configured such that, after the releasing of the actuating element (23) or after a suitable manipulation of the switchover element (7), the spring element brings about an acceleration of the movable switchover element (7) in the direction of the sealant connection (2).

10. Portable / transportable system (38) for sealing and inflating pneumatic vehicle tyres, comprising - at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, - connecting means for connecting the tyre-side end of the sealant transport channel (4) to a tyre with a puncture, - at least one compressed-air source (24), wherein the compressed-air source (24) is preferably a compressor and preferably has - at least one reciprocating-piston compressor having a cylinder and having a reciprocating piston, and - at least one motor for moving the reciprocating piston in the cylinder of the reciprocating-piston compressor, and optionally - at least one sealant container (6) with sealant (32).

11. Portable / transportable system (38) according to Claim 10, wherein a connection, provided for connecting to a sealant connection (2) of the device (1), on the sealant container (6) is sealed with a seal (11)and / or the device (1) is connected to the compressed-air source (24) via the gas connection, to the connection of the sealant container (6) via the sealant connection (2) and to said connecting means so as to be ready for use.

12. Portable / transportable system (38) according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the device (1), the compressed-air source (24) and optionally the sealant container (6) are arranged in a single housing, wherein the housing is preferably configured such that, in operation, it can be set up such that the sealant container (6) in the housing is arranged upside down in the system (38).

13. Method for sealing pneumatic vehicle tyres, comprising the following steps: A) providing a system (38) according to one of Claims 10 to 12 having a sealant container (6) with sealant (32) and a pneumatic vehicle tyre with a puncture, B) connecting the sealant transport channel (4) of the system (38) to the pneumatic vehicle tyre with the puncture by means of the connecting means of the system (38), C) moving the movable switchover element (7) in the direction of the sealant connection (2) by means of compressed air from the compressed-air source (24), wherein the movement is actuated preferably by releasing the hold of the holding unit, D) using a system (38) according to one of Claims 10 to 12 to pump compressed air coming from the compressed-air source (24) into a device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, E) severing a seal (11) on the sealant connection (2) and / or on the sealant container (6) such that sealant (32) can pass out of the sealant container (6) into the sealant transport channel (4), F) feeding sealant (32) from the sealant container (6) into the pneumatic vehicle tyre by means of the compressed air from the compressed-air source (24), such that the puncture in the pneumatic vehicle tyre is at least partially sealed by means of the sealant (32) delivered into the pneumatic vehicle tyre,14. Use of a system (38) according to one of Claims 10 to 12 - for inflating pneumatic vehicle tyres and / or - for sealing pneumatic vehicle tyres.

15. Use - of an actuating element (23) for use in a device (1) as defined in one of Claims 1 to 9 for actuating a movement of a movable switchover element (7) by means of compressed air coming from a compressed-air source (24), wherein the severing portion (8) of the movable switchover element (7) preferably severs a seal (11) on the sealant connection (2) and / or a seal (11) on a sealant container (6).