Tire Valve Radial Stop and Conical Seal for Rim Bore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire valve systems face challenges in achieving a reliable seal and simple assembly while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion, which can lead to mismatched volumes between the sealing ring and the annular groove, resulting in inefficiencies and potential damage from high tightening torques.
Innovation Solution
The tire valve system features a metal stop radially inward from the annular groove, allowing a gap for the sealing ring to expand, and a conical stop surface that centers the valve in the rim bore, enabling a larger contact surface for improved sealing and easier assembly, even with manufacturing tolerances or thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing ring volume is precisely matched to the annular groove volume, then the seal reliability is improved, but the assembly complexity increases and manufacturing tolerances become harder to accommodate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the excess sealing ring material from the constrained annular groove space by providing an expansion space formed by the radially outer boundary wall. This allows the sealing ring to expand radially outward into the gap between the boundary wall and rim, eliminating the need for precise volume matching while maintaining seal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension by positioning the metal stop radially inward from the annular groove, creating a three-dimensional expansion space. The sealing ring can expand not only axially but also radially into the gap between the radially outer boundary wall and the rim, adding another dimension for volume accommodation.
2Reliability
If the sealing ring volume is precisely matched to the annular groove volume, then the seal reliability is improved, but manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the sealing ring to expand into the expansion space under various conditions. The radially outer boundary wall positioned inward from the groove creates a flexible volume that can accommodate thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances, transforming a static volume match into a dynamic adaptation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the volume parameter of the sealing system by creating an expansion space that increases the available volume for the sealing ring. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate variations in sealing ring volume due to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion without compromising seal reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a flat stop surface is used, then the assembly is simpler, but the contact surface area between tire valve and rim is reduced, making sealing more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a conical shape to the stop surface instead of a flat surface. This curved geometry increases the contact surface area between the tire valve and rim, improving seal quality by distributing the sealing force over a larger area while maintaining assembly simplicity through the self-centering effect of the conical geometry.
4Strength
If the metal stop is positioned radially outward at the annular groove, then the tightening torque is better absorbed, but the sealing ring cannot expand to accommodate excess volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stop function from the sealing ring containment function by positioning the metal stop radially inward from the annular groove. This segmentation allows the stop to handle tightening torques independently while the radially outer boundary wall provides containment with an integrated expansion space, enabling the sealing ring to expand without compromising torque absorption.
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
This configuration enhances the seal quality by allowing the sealing ring to absorb excess volume and simplifies assembly, providing a more reliable and cost-effective solution for tire valve systems.
Implementation Method 1
The conical stop surface of a tire valve according to the invention enables a metal stop on a matching conical inner surface of a hole in the rim. The conical stop surface of a tire valve according to the invention enables an enlarged metallic contact surface between the tire valve and the rim
Implementation Method 2
The excess volume of the sealing ring can be based, for example, on manufacturing tolerances or as a result of thermal expansion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system is described comprising a rim (1) having a rim bore, a tire valve (10) fitting into the rim bore, which has an air channel (11) leading from an air inlet (12) to an air outlet (13), and an annular groove (14) open towards the air inlet (12), and a sealing ring (21) for sealing between the tire valve (10) and the rim (1). The tire valve (10) has a metallic stop surface (15) that rests against the rim (1) when mounted. According to the invention, the metallic stop surface (15) is arranged radially inwards from the annular groove (14). A corresponding tire valve is also described.