Inflating Connector With Pressure and Flow Regulation for Bicycle Tires

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current inflating connectors for bicycle tires cannot adjust the intake gas quantity and intake gas pressure from a gas bottle, leading to potential tire bursts and requiring additional tools for pressure measurement.

Innovation Solution

The inflating connector includes a base with a pressure valve and a throttling valve, allowing adjustments to the intake gas quantity and pressure by controlling the communication space between passageways, thereby preventing over-inflation and enabling convenient pressure measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a gas bottle with high-pressure gas is used for inflating bicycle tires, then the inflating speed and efficiency are improved, but the risk of tire burst increases due to uncontrollable intake gas pressure and quantity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinflating speedVSAvoidtire safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating a pressure valve and throttling valve that can adjust and control the pressure and flow rate parameters of the gas being transferred from the gas bottle to the tire. This allows the system to maintain high inflating speed while preventing excessive pressure that could cause tire burst.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary device (the connector with pressure control valves) between the gas bottle and the tire. This intermediary component mediates the gas transfer process by regulating pressure and flow, enabling both rapid inflating and safe pressure control without direct connection between the high-pressure bottle and the tire.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If the intake gas pressure is increased to reduce inflating time, then the productivity is improved, but the harmful effect of potential tire burst increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinflating timeVSAvoidtire burst risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure valve in the patent implements a feedback mechanism where the valve responds to pressure conditions and automatically regulates gas flow to maintain pressure within safe limits. This feedback control allows rapid inflating while preventing pressure from exceeding the tire's承受能力, thus eliminating the trade-off between speed and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by using a throttling valve with adjustable opening that can dynamically adapt the gas flow rate. The valve can be adjusted during the inflating process to optimize both speed and safety, allowing the system to operate at maximum safe pressure rather than requiring a fixed conservative pressure setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If a pressure gauge is added to measure intake gas pressure, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure measurementVSAvoidconnector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure valve in the patent performs self-service by automatically sensing and regulating pressure without requiring external measurement devices. The valve's internal mechanism provides pressure control based on its own operation, eliminating the need for separate pressure gauges while maintaining precise pressure management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the pressure measurement and control functions into the pressure valve itself. Rather than having a separate pressure gauge and separate control mechanism, the pressure valve integrates both functions, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining precise pressure measurement and control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The connector effectively regulates gas flow to prevent tire bursts and allows users to preset and measure intake gas pressure without additional tools, enhancing convenience and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The elastic member acts on the piston to make the plug portion close up the entrance section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The operation unit is arranged for driving the throttling member to displace back and forth along an axis of the gas outlet passageway to change the size of a communication space between the gas outlet passageway and the first connecting passageway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control through variable cross-section: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 3

The piston is movably disposed in the accommodating section, and has a plug portion capable of closing up the entrance section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure control through movable plug: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4421376B1Inflating connector
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 TALLGUY & MARK PRECISION CO LTD
  • EP4421376B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4421376B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4421376B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inflating connector (1, 2, 3) of the present invention includes a base (10), a pressure valve (20), a gas bottle connecting seat (30), and a throttling valve (41). The base (10) has an assembling passageway (13), a first gas passageway (14) communicating with the assembling passageway (13), and a second gas passageway (15) communicating with the assembling passageway (13), for a gas nozzle to be connected with the second gas passageway (15). The pressure valve (20) has an elastic member (28) and a piston (24), which are accommodated in the first gas passageway (14). The elastic member (28) acts on the piston (24) to make it close up the first gas passageway (14). The gas bottle connecting seat (30) is disposed on a side of the assembling passageway (13), and has a gas inlet passageway (32) for being connected with a gas bottle (4) and a gas outlet passageway (37) communicating with the gas inlet passageway (32). The throttling valve (41) is disposed on another side of the assembling passageway (13), and has an operation unit (46) and a throttling member (42) capable of being driven by the operation unit (46) to displace along the gas outlet passageway (37). As a result, the inflating connector (1, 2, 3) of the present invention can change the intake gas quantity and intake gas pressure of the gas flowing thereinto from the gas bottle (4).