Inflation valve for tubeless tire
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsRonald J. Gale, Edwin M. Rowbotham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflation valve for a tubeless tire according to the present disclosure includes a one-piece valve housing that is molded of a rigid plastic material. The housing has an internal passage threaded at one end to accommodate a valve core. The base of the housing has an annular groove defined in part, by a three part flange that permits the housing to be forced through a valve hole in the wheel rim. A rubber O-ring contained in the annular groove forms a seal between the valve housing and the wheel rim.
Claims5
An inflation valve assembly for a wheel and tubeless tire combination comprising a valve housing having an interior wall defining an air passage;
- said interior wall having a screw-threaded portion constructed to threadedly receive a valve core;
- said housing having a shoulder and a flange means spaced apart from said shoulder;
- said flange means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flange portions;
- said shoulder and said flange means defining a groove therebetween constructed to receive the periphery of a valve hole in a wheel rim;
- an elastomeric annular seal disposed in said groove sealingly engaging said shoulder and constructed to engage said wheel rim;
- said screw-threaded portion, said shoulder and said flange means being integral portions of said housing;
- said seal being a separate element from said shoulder and said shoulder having substantially greater rigidity than said seal.
An inflation valve assembly for a wheel and tubeless tire combination comprising a valve housing having an interior wall defining an air passage;
- said interior wall having a screw-threaded portion constructed to threadedly receive a valve core;
- said housing having a shoulder and a flange means spaced apart from said shoulder;
- said housing being a one-piece rigid plastic member;
- said flange means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flange portions;
- said shoulder and said flange means defining a groove therebetween constructed to receive the periphery of a valve hole in a wheel rim;
- an elastomeric annular seal disposed in said groove sealingly engaging said shoulder and constructed to engage said wheel rim;
- said screw-threaded portion, said shoulder and said flange means being integral portions of said housing;
- said seal being a separate element from said shoulder and said shoulder having substantially greater rigidity than said seal.
An inflation valve assembly supported by a wheel rim;
- said assembly including a valve housing having an interior wall defining an air passage;
- said interior wall having a screw-threaded portion;
- a valve core disposed in said passage having an externally threaded portion threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said interior wall;
- said housing having an externally threaded portion constructed to receive a dust cap;
- said housing having an enlarged lower portion with an annular shoulder;
- said housing having a flange means spaced apart from said shoulder;
- said flange means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flange portions;
- said flange means cooperating with said shoulder to define an annular groove therebetween;
- said rim having an interior edge defining a valve hole;
- said edge being disposed in said groove
- an elastomeric annular seal sealingly engaging said shoulder and said wheel rim;
- said annular seal being a separate element from said shoulder;
- said shoulder having substantially greater rigidity than said seal.
- said shoulder, said flange means and threaded portion of said interior wall comprising integral portions of said housing.
An inflation valve housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- said upper portion of said housing having an interior wall defining an air passage;
- said interior wall having a screw-threaded portion;
- a valve core disposed in said passage having an externally threaded portion threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said interior wall;
- said upper portion of said housing having an externally threaded portion constructed to receive a dust cap;
- said housing having an enlarged lower portion with an annular shoulder;
- said lower portion having flange means spaced apart from said shoulder;
- said flange means cooperating with said shoulder to define an annular groove therebetween;
- said flange means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flange portions;
- a wheel rim having a valve hole;
- said valve hole having a peripheral edge disposed in said groove;
- an elastomeric annular seal sealingly engaging said shoulder and said wheel rim;
- said housing, including all of the portions of said housing, being a one-piece rigid plastic member;
- said seal being a member separate from said housing;
- said seal being substantially more pliable than said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.