# US 6,296,010 B1 · Automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires

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- Number: US 6,296,010 B1
- Document ID: US6296010B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/295,200
- Filed: 1999-04-20
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1999-04-20
- Inventors: Gerard Michael DeLauer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296010B1

## CPC

- F16K 15/207: {and combined with other valves, e.g. safety valves}
- Y10T 137/36: With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
- Y10T 137/3677: With deflating means
- Y10T 137/3709: Stem attached relief valve
- Y10T 137/374: With cap
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

This invention is an automatic shut-off valve and gauge for tires during inflation. Configured as a double stem valve joined either on the outside or inside the rim of the tire. One stem serves as an air valve for inflating tires with a metal or plastic line attached to it extending into the second stem, which is a valve that regulates the air pressure in the tire. Air supplied during inflation of the tire causes a linkage to move and open a vent to the atmosphere which was otherwise closed. A spring loaded valve is designed to open when the air pressure in the tire exceeds the correct operating pressure and to allow excess air to escape to the atmosphere. A retracting and extending indicia is provided on the top of a spring loaded valve to indicate when the tire is properly inflated to a preset pressure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires, said valve comprised of:
an inflation valve stem, wherein said inflation valve stem is mounted on an outer wall of a conventional tire rim and in fluid communication with an interior cavity of said tire through an orifice penetrating said tire rim for providing a conduit for receiving supply air from a compressed air source;
a discharge valve stem, said discharge valve stem located adjacent to said inflation valve stem, wherein said discharge valve stem comprises an interior chamber, said interior chamber defined by a lower plate and an inner wall of said discharge valve, an upper chamber, said upper chamber defined by an upper plate, said inner wall, and said lower plate, and in fluid communication with said interior chamber: and wherein said discharge valve vents air from within said interior chamber when said air is in excess of a pre-determined air pressure:
said disc shaped lower plate of said valve body assembly further comprises a spring, said spring biasing an upper surface of said lower plate against said lower surface of said disc shaped lower plate;
said spring having one end biased against said upper plate and the other end on said upper surface of said disc shaped lower platean
an interconnecting means for placing said tire inflation valve stem and said discharge valve stem in fluid communication, wherein said interconnecting means is an orifice defined b an outer wall of said inflation stem and said interior wall of said discharge valve stem; and
a discharge prevention means for preventing discharge of air from said discharge valve stem while said tire is in operation; and wherein fluid communication from said interior chamber to the atmosphere through said discharge valve vents is blocked by a valve body assembly when air within said interior chamber is below a pre-determined pressure, and wherein said valve body assembly is comprised of a head, said head having an upper and lower surface, a downwardly extending shaft having a first end opposite a second end, said first end connected to said lower surface, a disc shaped lower plate having an upper and lower surface, said upper surface connected to said second end; and wherein said valve body assembly is held in position within said discharge valve stem by an interior wall of said discharge valve stem and said upper plate and said disc shaped lower plate said lower surface of said head rests against said upper surface of said upper plate when fluid pressure in said discharge valve body is not in excess of said spring's rated bias strength.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires of claim 1, wherein said discharge prevention means consists of a downwardly sliding linkage, said downwardly sliding linkage comprised of:
a first member, said first member positioned in said inflation valve stem such as to receive inlet air flow from a conventional tire valve and core assembly and linearly and slidably translate in a downwardly direction;
a second member, said second member traversing said orifice and being affixed in direct physical communication with said first member; and
a third member, said third member in direct physical communication with said second member positioned against said interior wall of said discharge valve stem such as to act as a seal of an atmospheric vent formed in a wall of said discharge valve stem.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires of claim 2, wherein the downwardly movement of said sliding linkage caused by inlet air received from said conventional tire valve and core assembly prevents fluid communication of said interior chamber of said discharge valve stem with said atmospheric vent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires of claim 3, wherein an upper surface of said head is visible to a naked eye giving visible indication of the relative position of said valve body assembly and indicating whether said tire is at proper pressure; and
said head extending in an upwardly direction indicating said tire has reached operating pressure and excess air is being vented, and said head being reseated when said tire is at operating pressure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires of claim 1, wherein fluid is free to communicate to said lower surface of disc shaped lower plate through an orifice formed in the center of said lower plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The automatic shut-off air pressure valve for tires of claim 1, wherein fluid pressure within said interior chamber of said discharge valve stem in excess of said springs rated bias strength forces said valve body assembly in an upwardly direction, and when said valve body assembly has traveled in an upwardly direction such that said lower surface of said disc shaped lower plate has traveled past said atmospheric vent, fluid from said valve body assembly is free to communicate to the atmosphere through said atmospheric vent.