Purging device for assembled unit and method of deflating an assembled unit
AssigneesMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorOlivier Ferlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A purging device is provided for an assembled unit for a vehicle, having both a wheel including a rim and a tire. The purging device has a body connected to the inflation tube of the assembled unit, the body being designed to be subjected to the inflation pressure of the assembled unit, and a piston able to move inside the body. The piston operates an open/close element, fixed to the piston, between a closed position and a purging position of the body, the open/close element being normally closed, the open/close element and the piston each having a face designed to be exposed to the inflation air inside the body in the closed position. The open/close element is opened by the action of an operating force on the piston. Also disclosed is a method for deflating an assembled unit.
Claims10
A purging device for an assembled unit for a vehicle, the assembled unit having both a wheel comprising a rim and a tire, said purging device comprising:
- a body connected to an inflation tube of the assembled unit, said body being adapted to be subjected to inflation pressure of the assembled unit applied by inflation air received inside the body from the inflation tube, and
- a piston configured to move inside the body,
- said piston operating an open/close element, fixed to the piston, between a closed position and a purging position of the body,
- said open/close element being normally closed,
- wherein the open/close element and the piston each have a face configured to be exposed to the inflation air inside the body in the closed position, and
- wherein the open/close element is opened by action of an operating force on the piston.
A method of deflating an assembled unit, having both a wheel comprising a rim and a tire for a vehicle, using a purging device, wherein said purging device comprises a body connected to an inflation tube of the assembled unit, a piston configured to move inside the body, and an open/close element, fixed to the piston, the method comprising:
- (a) subjecting said body to inflation pressure of the assembled unit applied by inflation air received inside the body from the inflation tube;
- and
- (b) in response to the inflation pressure, operating said piston so as to operate the open/close element between a closed position and a purging position of the body, said open/close element normally being in the closed position,
- wherein the open/close element and the piston each have a face exposed to the inflation air inside the body in the closed position, and wherein the open/close element is opened by action of an operating force on the piston during said operating step (b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.