Valve Cap and Core Tool with Elastomeric Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valve caps and cores in pneumatic tire valve stems are difficult to access, especially in dual-wheeled trucks and semi-trailers, and are prone to loss or contamination, leading to service challenges and potential malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A valve cap and core tool with an elongate shaft, a valve core head, and a valve cap head featuring elastomeric sleeves for secure engagement and retention, along with a bifurcated rigid tube for easy removal and alignment, ensuring safe handling and storage of the valve components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional valve caps and cores are used without a specialized tool, then the valve components are simple and inexpensive, but they are difficult to access and remove, especially in dual-wheeled trucks and semi-trailers
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into distinct functional segments: a shaft for access, a valve cap head for cap removal, and a valve core head for core removal. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the tool to handle both cap and core removal operations while maintaining simplicity in each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool combines multiple functions into a single device: it can remove both valve caps and valve cores, and can access valves in tight spaces through the elongate shaft. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate tools while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If valve caps and cores are left exposed without protective measures, then they are easily accessible, but they are prone to loss, contamination, and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tool merges the functions of cap retention and core retention into a single integrated device. The valve cap head retains the cap while the valve core head retains the core, both on the same tool, ensuring neither component is lost and both are protected from contamination during the removal and replacement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool acts as an intermediary between the valve components and the environment. By retaining both cap and core on the tool itself, it mediates against loss and contamination, allowing the components to be handled safely while maintaining accessibility through the elongate shaft design.
3Reliability
If the valve core head uses only a rigid tube for engagement, then the structure is simple, but it may not securely retain the valve core during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The valve core head uses a composite structure combining a rigid tube for structural support and positioning with an elastomeric tube for secure retention. The rigid portion provides stability while the elastomeric portion flexes to grip the valve core, ensuring secure retention without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the valve core head have different properties: the rigid tube provides structural integrity and positioning, while the elastomeric tube provides flexible retention. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both retention security and structural simplicity.
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
Facilitates intuitive and accessible removal of valve caps and cores, prevents loss and contamination, and provides a durable, low-cost solution for servicing pneumatic tire valves.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric tube coaxial with and interior of the rigid tube and adapted to operatively retain the valve core
Implementation Method 2
elastomeric sleeves for secure engagement and retention
Data Source
AI summary
A valve cap and core tool has an elongate shaft terminated by a valve core head at one end and a valve cap head at a second end. The valve cap head has an elastomeric sleeve that is sufficiently elastic to slightly stretch about and securely engage a valve cap. The valve core head has an elastomeric sleeve, and coaxial with and interior of the sleeve is a rigid tube that terminates distal to the shaft at a bifurcated end. The rigid tube bifurcated end is designed to drop around and engage with a valve core, and with continued rotation unthread the valve core. Within the core of the rigid tube, and preferably securely engaged therewith, is an elastomeric tube. The elastomeric tube is of appropriate diameter and sufficiently elastic to securely grab and retain the valve core.