IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE-CORE REMOVING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in apparatus and methods for use in the sealing/resealing of damaged inflatable articles, as for example a tyre for a vehicle of any given type, wherein a sealing composition is injected into this inflatable article. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an improved apparatus or tool for use in effecting such a procedure or task, and in particular to allow for removal of a valve core from a valve body of said inflatable article an apparatus or tool which will be equally usable regardless of the physical size or nature of the valving mechanism associated with the inflatable article and employed for purposes of sealing and/or re-inflating of such inflatable articles. The invention in particular relates to an apparatus which allows for ready (and temporary) remove of a valve core from a valve or valve body, whereby to allow for repair and/or re-inflation of a valved inflatable article, such as for example a vehicle tyre.

Background of the Invention

With any wheeled vehicle there always exists the possibility of damage, as for example a puncture or leak, being sustained by any one of more of the pneumatic or inflatable tyres or the like associated therewith. Once such a puncture or leak occurs, within a finite period of time the relevant inflatable or pneumatic tyre or the like article will be not suited for further use. It then becomes necessary for the tyre or the like article to be either repaired in situ for subsequent re-inflation and re-use or, in the alternative, removed and replaced to allow for subsequent off-site repair.

Whilst the apparatus in accordance with the present invention is more particularly intended for use in the process of repairing and re-inflating, in situ, a damaged inflatable article, it should be understood that the apparatus (and associated method) may equally be employed for off-site repair of a thus damaged inflatable article, as for example once the damaged inflatable article has been removed from the relevant vehicle.

There have been employed, and are being employed, a number of methods and means for sealing/repairing a leak and/or a puncture in a damaged inflatable article, as for example a vehicle tyre. These generally involve the injection of a sealant compound, of any known type, into the damaged inflatable article, via a valve means associated therewith. Generally speaking, and with the majority of the known sealant compositions and methods, the valve core of such a valve means needs to be removed completely from the valve stem or body itself in order to avoid the possibility of particles and/or fibres included within the sealant composition clogging or blocking the valve means itself, which would inhibit injection of sealant composition into the tyre and furthermore hamper subsequent re-inflation of the tyre.

With the prior art apparatus and procedures, part or all of the air resident within the tyre or the like either escapes, or is purposely released to atmosphere, during the process of injection of a suitable sealant composition, hi effect the tyre or the like may be partially, or perhaps even fully, deflated during the procedure of injection of a suitable sealant composition. After sealant composition injection it then becomes necessary to re-locate the valve core within the valve stem and then re- inflate the now re-sealed/repaired tyre to its prescribed, desired or safe operating pressure. This means that the overall repair/repressurizing process requires a source of air to be available.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which is sufficiently flexible/adaptable to be able to accommodate valves and valve cores of somewhat different sizes and shapes, as resulting for example from variations in manufacturing tolerances.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which allows for quicker, easier, cleaner repair of a damaged inflatable article, as for example a vehicle tyre.

In essence the present invention relates to an apparatus or tool which allows for injection of a sealant composition into a damaged inflatable article and for

subsequent re-inflation of such article, the tool including a means which allows for ready extraction of the valve core from the valve stem or valve body of the inflatable article and, after or on injection of the sealant composition, further allows for subsequent re-insertion of such valve core into the valve stem or body to allow for re-inflation of the tyre or the like inflatable article as and if necessary.

Generally speaking, therefore, the present invention relates to a tool or piece of apparatus which includes both a tyre valve core remover (and re-placer), as well as a means which allows for injection of a suitable sealant composition into a tyre. The invention seeks to provide an apparatus/tool and method whereby the valve core may be completely removed from its valve stem or valve body, to a location which does not in any way whilst flow of sealant comparative into the tyre through the valve stem or valve body, whilst at the same time substantially preventing, or at least minimizing further loss of tyre pressure. The sealant composition is in fact supplied under sufficient pressure to be able to overcome pressure within the tyre, or more correctly the tube air chamber thereof. Once the sealant composition has been injected, the apparatus/tool is used to re-insert the valve core.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an apparatus for use in injection of a sealant composition into an inflatable article, as for example a vehicle tyre having a valve associated therewith, said valve including a removable core, said apparatus including: a main body having an elongate chamber therein; means for releasably connecting said apparatus to said tyre valve; a movable member adapted, in use, to be selectively movable along said elongate chamber, said movable member having a valve core grappling or grasping means associated with one end thereof; and a control means located outside of said chamber, said grappling means being rotatably and axially shiftable within said chamber in response to said actuation of said control means to frictionally retain said valve core to effect unthreading of said valve core and withdrawal of said valve core from said valve and for passage of said valve core to a position within said chamber remote or removed from said valve, in response to axial motion of said control means, such that said valve core does not restrict the flow passage into said valve whereby to allow for

unimpeded passage of said sealant composition via said valve into said tyre, said grappling means being also shiftable within said chamber in response to said control means to relocate said valve core within said valve after completion of the injection operation.

Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of an apparatus and associated method in accordance with the present invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG.l shows respective perspective views of two types of valve core for valves in accordance with the known art;

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of an apparatus in accordance with the known art;

FIG. 2B is a further view of the apparatus of FIG 2 A;

FIG. 3 illustrates views of a means used with the prior art apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B for grasping or grappling of a valve core to allow for temporary removal thereof from a valve body; FIG. 4 shows views similar to FIG.3, but of a first embodiment of a grasping or grappling means in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS 5 A, 5B and 5C are exploded views of the grasping or grappling means of a tool in accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a tool in accordance with the present invention, connected to a tyre valve and source of sealant composition, with the valve core removed from the valve; and

FIG.7 shows different views, namely a top perspective view, cut-away view, side view and end view of an alternative embodiment of a grasping or grappling means in accordance with the invention.

Description of the preferred Embodiments

Throughout the ensuing description reference will be made to the usage of an apparatus or tool in accordance with the present invention for removal of a core from a conventional Schrader-type valve. It should be understood, however, that the tool will be equally suited for use with other types of valves.

In FIG. 1 there are shown two embodiments of valve cores 1 from conventional Schrader-type valves, as commonly employed in vehicle tyres. In these embodiments the valve cores 1 include a main body 2 having an actuator mechanism, generally designated 3, associated therewith, the actuator mechanism 3 being capable of being depressed to create a flow path for air and other fluid through the main body 2 of the valve and from there into a tyre or the like. The actuator mechanism 3 preferably includes a pin 4 associated with a threaded substantially rectangular section 5 of the main body 2, with the pin 4 having a knob or the like 6 located at the free end thereof. The threaded rectangular section 5 allows the valve core 1 itself to be threadedly/releasably received within a valve body or stem 10 (see FIGS. 2 A and 2B). As shown in FIG. 1, the two cores 1 are of a similar size and shape, but the dimension "w" of the rectangular sections 5 differs from one to the other. This difference in dimension "w" means that the one tool/means cannot be employed for removal of each of the valves 1, in accordance with known practices and using known apparatus.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 A, 2B and 3, such illustrate the various components in one known apparatus for use in the transfer of a compound, such as a tyre sealant composition, from a container therefor into, for example, a pneumatic inflatable tyre. In accordance with this known apparatus and associated method a tyre sealant composition 20 (of any known type) may be supplied in a container 21 (again of any known type) which is adapted, in use, to be attachable to a pressurising means (not shown) for purposes of transferring sealant composition 20 from the container 21 through tubing 22 which is adapted to be fastened, by means of a connector 23 (of any known type) to a tool, generally designated 100, which in itself is adapted to be releasably connected to the valve body or stem 10 of a pneumatic tyre 7. In order to ensure correct operation the core 1 of the valve should be removed

completely from the valve stem or body 10 in order to ensure that particles and fibres contained -within the sealant composition 20 do not give rise to unwanted clogging or blockage of the overall valve, as could be expected to be the situation if, rather than being removed physically or displaced from the valve stem or body 10, the situation was that, with the valve core 1, still located within the valve stem or body 10, the knob 6 was to be activated so that the valve core 1 was merely depressed to its normal open position. By removing the valve core 1 from the valve stem or body 10, a clear passageway is provided for unimpeded injection or passage of sealant composition 20 into the chamber 8 of the tyre 7 itself. In accordance with the prior art, and as is best shown in Fig. 2B for example, the tool 100 includes a means which allows for physical extraction of a valve core 1 from the valve stem or body 10 to be temporarily housed within a chamber 101 of that tool to allow for passage of sealant composition 20 from the container 21 through the tubing 22 into the valve body or stem 10 and thence into the tyre 7. Once the prescribed amount of sealant composition 20 has been injected into the tyre 7, then the valve core 1 may be replaced within the valve stem or body 10, whereby to allow for re-pressurisation of the tyre 7 for future use.

A tool 100 in accordance with the known art, as best shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B, includes as principal components a connector means 102 which is adapted for releasable attachment to a valve stem or body 10, a hollow cylindrical body 103 which creates a chamber 101 for receiving a valve core 1 when removed from the valve body or stem 10, a grappling or grasping means 104 housed within said body

103 and selectively and progressively movable along the length thereof, such being adapted in use to physically remove this valve core 1 from the valve body 101 and a handle or actuating means 105 which is preferably releasably attachable to the grappling or grasping means 104. The tool 100 further includes means 106 allowing for hose or tubing 22 associated with a sealant container 21 to be releasably attachable thereto, whereby to provide a flow path for sealant composition 20 from the container 21 into the tyre 7 as and when desired.

The prior art arrangements suffer from a significant practical drawback or disadvantage in that they are not multi-purpose or multi-use, not being adjustable to be capable of receiving valve cores of different shapes and sizes from different valves or types of valves. In that regard, in the embodiments illustrated Schrader- type valves are employed. It should be realised, however, that in practice different types of valves may be employed in different tyres, the different valves exhibiting different sizes, shapes and dimensions. In accordance with the prior art there has not previously been available a single tool which was readily adaptable to suit different shapes and sizes of valves and associated valve cores. The present invention seeks to address that problem.

With particular reference firstly to FIGS. 2A and 2B ₅ the grappling means 104 shown therein includes a stem 110, a handle 105 which is releasably secured thereto, preferably by means of a set-screw or the like, and a head, as best shown in FIG. 3. The head includes juxtaposed elongate sections 114, 115 of different diameters, with section 114 including a blind-bore 116 or the like disposed substantially centrally thereof and extending longitudinally therealong. That bore 116 is adapted, in use, to receive and releasably retain the pin or knob 6 of a valve core 1.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a tool in accordance with the present invention includes a grappling or clamping means 204 which differs from that of the prior art - as shown for example at 104 in FIG. 3 - in a manner which is responsible for a marked improvement in the overall operation of the tool. Whilst, in the known arrangements of FIG. 3, the tip of the section 114 of the grappling means 104 includes an opening/blind bore 116 of a size which is substantially the same as that of the valve body 10, with a tool 200 in accordance with the present invention the tip 211 of the section 214 of the grappling means 204 includes, extending thereinto and depending from a bore 216 formed in section 214 thereof into section 215 as shown, a slit 220 which acts to allow for expansion of the tip 211 itself so as to allow it to receive, and accommodate, valve cores of different sizes and/or shapes. In that regard it should be understood that Schrader-type valves, for example, are

nowadays manufactured by different makers. Due to variations in manufacturing tolerances from maker to maker, such valves can exhibit substantial variations in relevant dimensions, as for example the dimension "w" in the valves shown in FIG.l . With the prior art arrangements the grappling or grasping means has been found to be insufficiently flexible to allow it to accommodate such valves having somewhat different dimensions. The present apparatus addresses that problem, by being adaptable readily to allow for such variations in manufacturing tolerances. Indeed the existence of the slit 220 not only assists in clamping of the pin or knob 6 of a valve core 1, but it means that the one tool will be equally suitable for use with different types (sizes and shapes) of valve cores.

The grappling means 204 as shown in FIG. 5A in use extends inwardly to engage the valve core 1. The grappling means 204 of this embodiment includes a head or tip which is integral with a stem 210, and a handle 240 retained on the aft end of the stem 210 by any suitable means, as for example a setscrew 241. The construction of the grappling head 211 is best shown in Fig. 4. The grappling head or tip 211 of the stem 210 is bifurcated to present a set of opposed gripping members, which act to firmly grip the threaded rectangular section of the valve core 1.

The valve shown is conventional. The valve core 1 is externally threaded as at 5 to allow for it to be threadedly received within a valve body 10. The grappling means 204 is adapted to be rotatably and axially shiftable within the chamber or hollow cylindrical body 203 in response to manipulation of the handle 240. During any sealant composition transfer operation, the valve core 1 is physically removed from the valve body 10 of the valve to allow for unrestricted communication between the tyre air chamber 8 and the sealant composition 20 in the pressure line 22.

To install and operate the overall tool 200, the grappling means 204 of the tool is fully withdrawn. The hose 22 is connected to the tool 200 by a suitable connector, as for example shown at 23. The tool 200 is then connected to the tyre body or stem valve 10, using any suitable means. After the tool 200 is attached to the tyre valve body or stem 10, the grappling means 204 is actuated, by manual

operation of the handle 240, to engage and grip the threaded section 5 of the valve core 1. This is accomplished by slowly rotating the handle 240 and exerting slight inward pressure until such time as the grappling means 204 seats on the rectangular extending portion of the core 1 and surrounds the knob 6 of the valve core 1.

At this position, the handle 240 is firmly pressed inwardly against the core I ₅ spreading and engaging the opposed jaws 214, 215 of the grappling means 204 tightly to the rectangular extending portion 5 of the core 1 and the knob 6 itself of that core 1. The core 1 may now be unthreaded and removed from the valve body 10 by further rotating the handle 240 and the stem 210 and its associated grappling means 204 counter-clockwise.

Rotation is continued until such time as further rotation no longer results in further unthreading of the handle 240 away from the tool body. The stem 210 may then be fully retracted to the position shown in Fig. 6, positioning the valve core 1 out of the flow path of the sealant composition so that the valve core 1 cannot interfere with movement of the sealant composition from the container 20 into the tyre air chamber 8. The system is now ready for the transfer of sealant composition from its container 20 into the tyre air chamber 8.

The tool 200 in accordance with the present invention is designed to grip or grasp the substantially rectangular extension 5 of the valve core 1, and grip or grasp the knob 6 at the free end of the actuator pin 4. By turning the handle 240 and directing the stem 210 of the tool 200 from the position shown in FIG. 5 A to that shown in FIG. 5B, for example, such a gripping or grasping step is facilitated. The force required to engage the tip of the head 219 of the tool 200 with the knob 6 of the valve core 1 acts to spread the jaws 214, 215 in the tip provided/formed by the slot or slit 220 existing therein, in turn resulting in the knob 6 protruding into that area. Through the action that follows, namely unscrewing of the valve core 1 from the valve body 10, the knob 6 is retained within the slot 220, see for example FIG. 5C. When the process of unscrewing of the valve core 1 is completed, tension on the jaws 214, 215 is, to all intents and purposes, eliminated. This results hi the jaws 214,

215 having a tendency to snap back or return to their original configuration, securely clamping the knob 6 of the actuator pin 4 and ensuring positive withdrawal of the core 1.

Turning now to FIG.7, the alternative embodiment of gripping or grasping means shown therein, generally designated 300, in like manner to the embodiment of FIG.4 includes sections 301 and 302 of slightly different diameter, interconnected by a tapered section 303. The section 302 includes, as shown, a circumferential groove 304 adapted to receive, and releasably retain, an O-ring seal or the like 305.

The section 301 has a diametral slot 306 extending from the free end thereof and terminating at the juncture 303 with section 302. At the free end of that section 301 the slot 306 includes a section of enhanced depth 307, such serving as a lead-in to assist in gripping of a valve core 1. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG.4, the slot 306 is of substantially the same dimension along the majority of the length thereof, rather than in the form of a taper as in FIG.4.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention exhibits a number of practical advantages over the known art. In a practical sense the apparatus, and associated method of use, is responsible for:

(i) making it unnecessary to remove wheels from vehicles for injection/installation of tyre sealants (and balancers), although it is still equally usable or a punctured or leaking tyre which has been removed from a vehicle;

(ii) making it not necessary to jack up the vehicle and remove vehicle weight from tyres, since tyres need not be deflated;

(iii) making it quicker, easier and definitely cleaner - for the user - to inject a tyre sealant composition; and

(iv) notwithstanding the fact that, in practice, there can exist variations in dimensions of the one make of valve, allowing the same apparatus to be used regardless of any such manufacturing variations.

Finally, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.