Grooved Valve Stems for Wheel-Side Installation
OwnerRaymond H. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are valve stems for wheels or other pressure vessels that may be installed from the exterior of a wheel or pressure vessel without access to the interior, pressure retaining areas. The valve stem may include a body with a barrel and taper. A neck may be between the body and a base that includes a flange, a flange landing, and an air aperture. An air channel runs vertically through the valve stem to allow air to pass from one side of the valve stem to another with a valve core or other flow control device. The base of the valve stem may include a groove that allows the valve stem to be installed into a hole by twisting such that the groove may ride along the rim of the hole and guide the valve stem into a fully seated and sealed position.
Claims20
A valve stem comprising:
- a body comprising a shoulder or bead;
- an air channel;
- a neck;
- and
- a base comprising a flange, a flange landing, and an air aperture;
- wherein the air channel is disposed within the body of the valve stem and is configured to enclose a valve core, and the base of the valve stem comprises at least one helical groove.
A method for installing a valve stem into a wheel comprising:
- cleaving an existing valve stem;
- separating the existing valve stem from the wheel;
- providing a second valve stem, wherein the second valve stem comprises at least one helical groove in a base of the second valve stem;
- lubricating the base of the second valve stem;
- inserting the base of the second valve stem into a hole in the wheel;
- angling the second valve stem such that the at least one helical groove may engage with a rim of the hole;
- rotating the second valve stem, wherein the at least one helical groove pulls the second valve stem into the hole to seat the second valve stem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.