Secure wheel valve.

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety valve (1) comprising a valve body (2) having an air passage conduit (3) for inflating or deflating a tire mounted on a wheel equipped with the valve (1), the valve (1) comprising a piston (4) movable between a closed position, in which the piston (4) closes the conduit (3), and an inflation position, in which the piston (4) allows air to pass through the conduit (3), the valve (1) further comprising locking means (12) inaccessible from outside the wheel equipped with the valve (1) and having a first configuration, in which they prevent the movement of the piston (4) from the closed position to the inflation position, and a second configuration, in which they allow the movement of the piston (4) from the closed position to the inflation position. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Secure wheel valve.

[0001] The technical field relates to wheel valves, wheels equipped with valves and vehicles comprising at least one such wheel.

[0002] Automobile manufacturers are obviously very committed to the safety of their vehicle users and strive to offer ever safer vehicles. Vehicle safety primarily concerns the vehicle's behavior in the event of an accident. More recently, vehicle safety has also involved combating acts of vandalism, particularly intentional tire deflation. The act of vandalism, consisting of intentionally deflating the tires of a parked vehicle, is an increasingly common but also very dangerous practice. Indeed, intentional deflation can cause safety problems for drivers, passengers, and other road users. In particular, intentional deflation can cause accidents by making the vehicle difficult to control, especially at high speeds or in adverse weather conditions.Furthermore, intentional tire deflation can damage the tires through overheating, as well as the rims. Currently, the only measures to prevent the consequences of intentional tire deflation are to use tire pressure monitoring devices to quickly detect air pressure problems and inform the driver. However, current solutions do not prevent intentional deflation. Once a vehicle's tires have been deflated, the vehicle is often immobilized, and current solutions only warn the driver of the problem but do not prevent such an act of vandalism.

[0003] Thus, there is a need for a solution to prevent intentional deflations.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a safety valve to prevent the deflation of a wheel equipped with such a safety valve.

[0005] To this end, the present invention relates to a safety valve for a secured wheel intended to prevent intentional deflation, the valve comprising a valve body having an air passage channel to allow inflation or deflation of a tire mounted on the wheel on which the valve is installed, the valve comprising a piston movable between a closed position, in which the piston closes the channel blocking the passage of air, and an inflation position, in which the piston allows the passage of air into the channel, the valve further comprising locking means designed to be inaccessible from outside the wheel equipped with the valve and having, on the one hand, a first configuration in which they prevent the movement of the piston from the closed position to the inflation position and, on the other hand, a second configuration in which they allow the movement of the piston from the closed position to the inflation position.

[0006] The invention also relates to a secure wheel comprising a rim equipped with a valve according to the invention, the valve allowing control of the pressure of a tire mounted on the rim.

[0007] The invention further relates to a system comprising at least one wheel secured according to the invention and control means designed to control the tilting of the locking means of each wheel from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a system according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the locking means of the secure valve prevent the piston from moving, making deflation impossible, since the locking means are not accessible from outside a wheel according to the invention. "Accessible" here means that a person not authorized to use the vehicle cannot manipulate the locking means from outside the wheel when a tire is mounted on the rim. Therefore, a malicious person attempting to operate the piston to deflate the tire would not be able to move the piston, which would remain in the closed position. Thus, a wheel according to the invention, equipped with a secure valve according to the invention, prevents intentional deflation and all its consequences. Furthermore, on a conventional valve, the piston may not position itself correctly due to a defect in the return spring, which can cause slow deflation of the tire.The safety valve according to the invention also prevents such a situation, since the piston is locked in the closed position. A safety valve according to the invention therefore represents a significant advance in securing vehicle wheels.

[0010] The inside of a wheel should be understood as the volume enclosed by the tire and the rim of a wheel. The outside is defined in contrast to the inside.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprise a bolt cooperating, in the first configuration, with a peripheral edge of the piston to block the movement of the piston.

[0012] According to one possibility, the locking means switch from the first configuration to the second configuration by a displacement of the bolt to a position distant from the piston.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the piston has a notch designed to accommodate at least part of the bolt when the locking means are in the first configuration.

[0014] According to one possibility, the movement of the bolt is controlled by a solenoid actuating a bolt rod attached to the bolt.

[0015] Advantageously, the blocking means are powered by a battery.

[0016] According to one possibility, the control means include an accessible control From the driver's seat of the vehicle equipped with the system, the actuation of the control causes the locking means to switch.

[0017] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a partial perspective view of a valve according the invention, the blocking means being in the first configuration;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a view of the locking means, the valve body and the valve piston of [Fig.1], the locking means being in the second configuration.

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A safety valve 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is intended to be fitted to a wheel rim to form a safety wheel according to the invention, not shown. The safety valve 1 is intended to prevent intentional deflation of a tire mounted on the safety wheel according to the invention.

[0022] The valve 1 comprises a valve body 2 having an air passage 3 for inflating or deflating the tire mounted on the secured wheel on which the valve 1 is installed. The valve body 2 has a cylindrical shape and is designed to be located at least partially outside the secured wheel when the valve 1 is mounted on the wheel. The passage 3 forms a cylindrical orifice through the valve body 2. When the valve 1 is mounted on the rim of the secured wheel, the passage 3 allows air to pass between the outside and inside of the secured wheel to inflate or deflate the tire fitted to the secured wheel. To ensure a tight seal of the valve 1 on the rim, the valve body 2 generally has a valve seal, not shown.

[0023] The valve 1 also includes a piston 4 movable between a closed position and an inflated position. In the example illustrated in the figures, the piston 4 has a cylindrical shape delimited by a peripheral edge 5. The piston is advantageously disposed in a tubular body 6, illustrated in [Fig. 1] and omitted in [Fig. 2], designed to guide the movement of the piston 4. A piston rod 7 is fixed to the piston 4 and extends into the conduit 3 to allow the movement of the piston 4 by manipulating it from outside the wheel. For this purpose, a distal end 8 of the rod 7 is located near an outer end of the conduit 3 so as to be accessible from outside the wheel.

[0024] In the closed position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], the piston closes the conduit 3, blocking the passage of air. In the example shown in the figures, in the closed position, the piston 4 bears against an internal end 9 of the conduit 3 located inside the wheel, when the valve 1 is mounted on the wheel. To ensure a tight seal of the conduit 3, the piston 4 advantageously has a pressure seal 10, illustrated in [Fig. 2], arranged so as to be compressed against the internal end 9 of the conduit 3 when the piston 4 is in its closed position.

[0025] In the inflation position, illustrated in [Fig.2], the piston 4 is at a distance from the inner end 9 and therefore allows air to pass through the conduit 3.

[0026] A return spring 11, illustrated in the figures, allows the piston 4 to be kept in the closed position in the absence of stress on the rod 7.

[0027] The valve 1 further includes locking means 12 inaccessible from outside the wheel equipped with the valve 1 and having a first and a second configuration. For example, to be inaccessible, the locking means 12 are installed in a housing designed to be located inside the wheel when the valve 1 is mounted on the rim. In the first configuration, the locking means 12 are shaped to prevent the piston 4 from moving from the closed position to the inflation position. In the second configuration, the locking means 12 are shaped to allow the piston 4 to move from the closed position to the inflation position.

[0028] In the example illustrated in the figures, the locking means 12 comprise a bolt 13 which, in the first configuration, cooperates with the peripheral edge 5 of the piston 4 to block its movement. In particular, the peripheral edge 5 has a notch 14 into which at least a portion of the bolt 13 is inserted when the locking means 12 are in the first configuration, the notch 14 forming a stop for the bolt 13 which then blocks the piston 4. In an embodiment not shown, the notch 14 is replaced by a stop, a groove, or a ridge capable of blocking the piston 4 from moving away from the inner end 9 of the conduit 3.

[0029] The locking means 12 switch from the first configuration, illustrated in [Fig.1], to the second configuration, illustrated in [Fig.2], by a movement of the bolt 13 towards a position distant from the piston 4, releasing the piston 4. For example, the movement of the bolt 13 is carried out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the piston 4. In order to allow the movement of the bolt 13, the tubular body 6 has, for example, a light through which the latter passes.

[0030] For example, and as illustrated in the figures, the bolt 13 is extended by a bolt rod 15 surrounded by a bolt spring 16 which tends to force the movement of the bolt 13 towards the piston 4. A solenoid 17, shown schematically in [Fig. 1], is configured so that, when powered by an electric current, it counteracts the bolt spring 16 and draws the bolt 13 towards a position corresponding to the second configuration. Thus, in the absence of power, the action of the solenoid 17 on the bolt rod 15 ceases and the bolt spring 16 pushes the bolt 13 back towards its position corresponding to the first configuration of the locking means 12. The locking means 12 are, for example, powered by a battery, for example a button cell.

[0031] A system according to the invention, not illustrated, comprises, in addition to at least one safety wheel according to the invention, control means, not illustrated, designed to control the switching of the locking means 12 of each safety wheel from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa. Thus, they comprise, for example, an electronic circuit capable of supplying or depriving the solenoid 17 of power on command.

[0032] The system control means advantageously include a control accessible from the vehicle's driver's seat according to the invention, allowing the tilting of the locking means 12 to be actuated. Advantageously, the system allows the selection of the secured wheel(s) for which the tilting is to be performed. The command is advantageously transmitted remotely via suitable wireless technology.

[0033] Finally, the system according to the invention is coupled to a device for measuring the tire pressure of the secured wheels, allowing the locking means 12 to automatically switch when the vehicle is stationary and the tire pressure of at least one secured wheel is insufficient. Alternatively, a prompt to switch the locking means 12 to the second configuration is displayed on a screen in the driver's cab for the driver's attention.

[0034] Thus, the secure valve 1 blocks the movement of the piston 4, making deflation impossible, thanks to the locking means 12, which are inaccessible from outside a wheel according to the invention. Therefore, a malicious person attempting to actuate the piston rod 7 to deflate the tire will not be able to move the piston 4, which will remain in the closed position. Thus, a wheel according to the invention, equipped with the secure valve 1, prevents intentional deflation and all its consequences.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the safety valve described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Safety valve (1) for a secured wheel and intended to prevent intentional deflation, the valve (1) comprising a valve body (2) having an air passage duct (3) to allow inflation or deflation of a tire mounted on the wheel on which the valve (1) is installed, the valve (1) comprising a piston (4) mounted movably between a closed position, in which the piston (4) closes the duct (3) blocking the passage of air, and an inflation position, in which the piston (4) allows the passage of air in the duct (3), the valve (1) further comprising blocking means (12) designed to be inaccessible from outside the wheel equipped with the valve (1) and having, on the one hand, a first configuration in which they prevent the movement of the piston (4) from the closed position to the inflation position and, on the other hand,a second configuration in which they allow the piston (4) to move from the closed position to the inflation position.,

2. Valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (12) comprise a bolt (13) cooperating, in the first configuration, with a peripheral edge (5) of the piston (4) to block the movement of the piston (4).

3. Valve (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (12) switch from the first configuration to the second configuration by a movement of the bolt (13) towards a position distant from the piston (4).

4. Valve (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the piston (4) comprises a notch (14) designed to accommodate at least part of the bolt (13) when the locking means (12) are in the first configuration.

5. Valve (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the movement of the bolt (13) is controlled by a solenoid (17) actuating a bolt rod (15) integral with the bolt (13).

6. Valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the blocking means (12) are powered by a battery.

7. A secure wheel comprising a rim equipped with a valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, the valve (1) making it possible to control the pressure of a tire mounted on the rim.

8. System comprising at least one secure wheel according to claim 7 and control means designed to control the tilting of the locking means (12) of each wheel from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa.

9. System according to claim 8 characterized in that the control means comprise a control accessible from the driver's seat of the vehicle equipped with the system, actuation of the control causing the locking means (12) to tilt.

10. Motor vehicle having a system according to claim 8 or 9.

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