Tire Pressure Gauge Tip Assembly Self-Aligning Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure gauges face issues with inaccurate readings due to misalignment, which causes pressure drop and potential damage to the valve stem core, and difficulty in visually confirming a proper seal.
Innovation Solution
A pressure gauge design featuring a tip assembly with a semi-spherical or frusto-conical outer tip that allows for axial alignment or angling up to 15 degrees, ensuring a consistent seal and reducing lateral force on the valve stem core, combined with a conduit and pressure indicator for accurate pressure measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cylindrical cup and valve stem tube are not perfectly aligned, then the pressure gauge can be used more easily without precise alignment, but air escapes causing pressure drop and inaccurate readings
Solution Approach 1:
The outer tip is formed with a spherical outer surface that allows the tip assembly to self-align with the valve stem tube. The spherical geometry enables the tip to accommodate angular misalignment while maintaining seal contact, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment and preventing air leakage that would cause pressure drops and inaccurate readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip assembly is designed to rotate about the valve stem core, changing its angular parameter to achieve proper alignment. This rotational capability allows the tip to adapt to different angular positions and maintain a sealed connection without requiring the user to achieve perfect initial alignment, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while improving ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If the center post imparts side force onto the valve stem core due to misalignment, then the pressure gauge structure remains simple, but the valve stem core may be damaged and the valve may not fully close
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical outer surface of the tip allows it to pivot and self-align with the valve stem tube, ensuring that the inner shaft engages the valve stem core in a substantially axial direction. This eliminates side forces that would otherwise damage the valve stem core or prevent proper valve closure, while maintaining a relatively simple tip assembly structure consisting of the inner shaft, outer tip, and annular seat.
3Device complexity
If the cylindrical cup overlaps the valve stem tube, then the seal structure is simple, but it is difficult to visually determine whether a proper seal has been formed
Solution Approach 1:
The outer tip is formed with a translucent or transparent material that allows visual observation of the seal formation between the outer tip and the valve stem tube. Users can see whether a proper seal has been established by observing the interface through the translucent material, eliminating the difficulty of detecting seal formation while maintaining a simple seal structure without additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure gauge broadly comprising a conduit, a pressure indicator, and a tip assembly. The tip assembly extends from the distal end of the conduit and includes an inner shaft, an annular seat, and an outer tip. The inner shaft engages a valve stem core of a valve. The annular seat cradles and provides support to the outer tip. The outer tip forms a seal against a valve stem tube of the valve and has an outer surface having a semi-spherical, dome, or frusto-conical shape for ensuring that the seal is formed regardless of the angle at which the tip engages the valve.