US1306495A - Valve-cap for atttomobile-tibes - Google Patents

Description

T. D. MILLEA. VALVE CAP FOR AUTOMOBILE, TIRE'S.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1918- Patented June 10, 1919.

WM n

rrioivms ID. MILLEA, or srnmermw, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE-CAP FOR AUTOMOBILE-TIRES.

Application filed May 7, 1918. Serial No. 232,995.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. MILLEA, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-.

siding at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Caps for AutomobileTires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for deflating pneumatic tires and for closing the end of a valve'stem of theusual Schrader valve construction. At the present time the usual method employed for releasing the air from'\ the inner tube of a pneumatic tire is to press downward on the protruding end of the valve stem proper by means of the tapered projection or extension on the upper end of the valve stem capand holding it there until the air is released. This operation is not only slow, but is difficult to carry out, especially at night, unless the valve can be readily observed by the operator. Other means for deflating a tire is to force the valve stem downward by means of a small implement, as a screw driver, or even a match is sometimes used.

An object of the invention is to so construct-the closing cap of the valve stem, whereby the projection or extension thereof may be pushed into the upper end of the valve stem and be automatically retained in this position by means of friction alone.

The invention broadly consists in securingan abutment or stop element directly within the opening or recess of the projection of the valve stem cap, whereby when the projection of the cap is forced into the valve stem, the abutment in the recess will engage the upper end of the valve stem and force the valve open as the cap is pushed inward. One method of accomplishing this object is to slit the projection of the valve cap on opposite sides thereof, then force the two halves of the slitted stem outward so that the extreme outside diameter of the two halves of the projection is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the stem, the two halves of the projection being sufiiciently resilient-to cause the projection to remain in place in the end of the hollow valve stem after being forced into the same. Another method of accomplishing the above object is to place a plurality of elastic fingers around the projection of the valve cap or on the outside of it; these elastic fingers will engage the threads on the upper end and outside of the valve stem. An abutment is also pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

vided in the opening of the prpjection of the cap to engage the upper end of the valve stem already referred to.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevat1onal view of the usual valve stem cap with the projection or extension on its upper end slitted, and, showing in dotted lines, the abutment located therein, and the two halves of the slitted projection sprung outward.

Fig. 2 is a detail viewof one form of the abutment, which is placed within the opening of the valve stem cap.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on a plane passing through the axis of the hollow valve stem and showing the usual Schrader valve construction, also the projection of the cap inserted'within the stem and the abut-' ment engaging the valve stem and holding the valve open.

Fig. 4 is a modification of the cap having a plurality of elastic fingers located around the projection of the cap.

Fig. 5 is a modification of the abutment construction. r I

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of fur-- ther modifications of the cap,

Referring to the drawin in detail: The usual Schrader hollow vafi e stem is indicated at 1, having the interiorly threaded portion 2 at its upper end. 3 indicates the vusual externally threaded block of thevalve construction that is threaded into portion '2,- for holding the usual Schrader valve in place,'the stem of the valve proper is indicated at 4. 5 indicates the valve cap for closing the upper end of the hollow valve stem 1, which is formed with the usual projection or extension 6. This cap is threaded on the inside as indicated at 7 which threads engage the threads 8 in the usual manner.

Coming now to one form of my specific improvement, the projection 6 of the valve cap 5. is slitted on its opposite sides as indicated at 9, thus' forming the two flexible fingers 6 and 6 the termination of the slits being at 9. This projection, after being slitted to form the two flexible fingers, is then bent outward as indicated by the dotted lines lOshown in Fig. 1, and in full lines as shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of forcing these two halves .of the slitted proje'ction' 6 outward is to make the diameter of the outer surface of the projection slightly greater than the internal diameter of the internally to retain the cap in place as shown in Fig. 3.

F or the purpose of holding the stem 4: of

above the disk shaped member 12 is a rubber packing 14. It will be noticed that the cap 5 is formed with an opening 15 through which the stem or projection 11 extends.

Referring to the operation of the device, it will be noticed that the elastic fingers 6 and 6 of the slitted projection 6, are forced downward into the threaded opening of the hollow valve stem 1. The abutment or proj ection 11 engages the upper end of the valve stem 4 of the valve 5, as indicated at 13. The valve 5 is forced downward into its open position, allowing the air in the inner tube to escape. tional engagement between the fingers 6 and 6 and the interiorly threaded portion 2 the cap is retained in place in the body of the stem 1. The air can now escape past the valve seat 16 through the passageway 17 and out through the slitted opening 9 of the cap 5. If it is desired to remove the valve 5 from the hollow valve stem 1, the projection 18 on the block 3 is engaged by the notched or cut out part 9 in the projection 6 of the valve cap, by rotating the cap 5 toward the left in the usual manner.

Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 4, instead of providing devices to engage the inner or threaded part 2 of the stem 1, the cap 5 is provided with a plurality of'elastic fingers 26, which, as shown in this figure, are three in number. The distance between the fingers is such that they will pass over and engage the outer I threaded part 8 of the valve stem 1.- The fingers 20 may be made integral with the part 21 as shown, which part is formed with an opening to receive the projection 6, that is turned downward to a suitable diameter or neck portion at its base, in order to receive the opening in the part 21, whereby the cap 5 and the projection 6 may be rotated independently of the fingers 20. In this construction the. projection, or abutment 11, already referred to in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3, is employed to force the valve stem 4 of the valve 5' downward when the elastic fingers 20 are pushed on to the outer threaded part 8. These fingers will frictionally engage these threads and hold the cap in place and the valve 5 open until all of the air has escaped.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the abut- By reason of the fric ment construction in which the abutment 11 instead of being secured to the disk 12 is'secured directly to the usual cup-shaped packing retaining member 22. This member and the abutment part 11 is then inserted in the cap with the part 11 extending into the usual opening in the projection 6 of the cap.

From this description it will be seen that I have constructed a device for automatically retaining the valve open Without further assistance fromthe operator by simply forcing the projection of the cap downward onto the threaded part of the hollow valve stem 1. The device, therefore, embodies in itself a unitary structure which combines not only a cap for closing the end of the stem 1, but a tire deflating device as well.

Referring to the modification of the cap shown in Figs. .6 and 7 the projection 6 of the cap 5, instead of having a separate piece or abutment inserted within the hollow projection 6 between the parts 6 and 6 is drilled from. the under side forming the recessed opening 25, producing the shoulder 26 at its bottom or outer end portion. The outer end of the projection 6 is formed with the usual cut-out part 27 for receiving the projection on the upper end of the plug 3. Between the ends of the bored out part 25 and the cut-out part 27 is formed a bridge of solid metal indicated at 28. After the recess 25 is bored in the projection 6, it is then slitted,'or "a kerf 29 is formed by means of a saw. This kerf or slit, it will be noticed,

and 6 is inserted in the threaded end of the valve stem or casing 1, the'end 1 of the valve stem 4: proper will engage the bridge piece 28. It should be stated that after the projection 6 is slitted, the two fingers 6 and 6 may be slightly bent outward as shown in dotted lines,'in the same manner as indicated in Fig. 3 in order to cause the fingers to engage the internal threads of the stem 1 with sufficient pressure to frictionally hold the cap 5 in position and the valve 5' open, and also to prevent the cap 5 from being blown outward by means of the air pressure in the tire. Instead of bending the fingers 6 and 6 outward, lugs 31 may be formed on the outer surface of the projection, or extension 6, as shown in Fig. 6. These lugs will engage the threads 2 on the inner surface of the stem 1, it being understood that they exert sufficient pressure to retain the cap 5 in place, the valve 5' open, and so that the cap will not be blown outward. These projections will serve to force the fingers 6' and 6 toward each'other to partially close the opening in the bridge piece 28 to prei of a hollow valve stem and an integral projection on the upper side thereof and having a recess therein, of a slitted abutment located within the recessed projection of the cap for engaging the uppermost end of the stem of the valve proper for retaining the valve open when the stem is engaged and pushed downward by the abutment ofthe cap and means comprising spring fingers integral with the cap for engaging the internally threaded valve stem for automatically retaining the cap in its position after the valve has been opened.

2. A cap for valve stems of pneumatic tires, said cap having ahollow projection at one end and an interiorly threaded portion at its opposite end, an abutment located within the hollow projection, said projection having slitted elastic fingers for frictionally engaging the threads of the valve stem whereby when the fingers are inserted within the upper threaded end of the hollow valve inclosing stem, the abutment will engage the stem of the valve proper to maintain the valve open, whereby the compressed air within the tube may escape, as described.

3. A cap for the purpose described, comprising in combination, a hollow valve-stem closing end portion, means in the usual integral hollow projecting end of a Schrader valve cap comprising a slitted abutment (or projection) for engaging the end of the stem of the valve proper for opening the valve when the hollow projecting end is inserted in the internally threaded end of the hollow valve stem, and means for producing frictional resistance between the projecting end and the inner surface of the valve inclosing stem for retaining the projection in place in said stem for the purpose of holding the abutment against the stem of the valve to maintain the valve open. 7

4. A device for the purpose described, comprising a member forming part of the usual projection of a valve cap and being slitted to form elastic fingers, an abutment or part in said projection, said fingers serving as means for frictionally retaining the device in place in the outer interiorly threaded end of the usual hollow valve inclosing stem, whereby the abutment or part will engage the upper end of the stem of the valve proper to retain the valve open.

5. A device for the purpose described,

comprising a member having a recessed extension portion, a stop or abutment at the bottom of said portion, the outer end of said portion having an opening constituting notches to receive the projection on the upper end of the block member of an ordinary Schrader valve, said extension being slitted, the width of the slit being less than the diameter of the stem of the valve proper, means to cause the slitted recessed extension to frictionally engage the internally threaded end of the valve casing for retaining the device in place, said abutment which engages the end of the valve stem consisting of a bridge-piece. for retaining the valve open, as described.

6. A cap for closing the end of a valve inclosing casing of the Schrader type, said cap having a hollow extension portion, the sides of the extension being slitted, a bridge piece in the extension and spaced inward from the end of the extension, the slitted part extending from the bridge piece to the body of the cap and the width of the slit being less than the diameter of the stem of the valve proper, said extension having oppositely disposed parts for the purpose of frictionally retaining the extension within the internally threaded end of the casing, whereby the valve may be held open as described.

7. As an article of manufacture, a device for closing the end of the valve inclosing casing for retaining the valve proper open when placed in an inverted position within the casing, and for serving as a wrench to remove the valve from the casing, said article having an extension with a recessed portion therein for removing the plug of the valve, the sides of the extension being slitted to form elastic finger-like members, and-having a recessed portion with an abutment in the extension to engage the end of. the valve stem proper for opening the valve when in the inverted position, said elastic fingers frictionally engaging the internal threads in the valve inclosing casing, for retaining .the projection in place on the end of the stem of the valve proper for holding the valve open in order to allow the confined air of the inner tube to escape.

THOMAS D. MILLEA.

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