US2053992A - Air valve - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES AIR VALVE Albert A. Haas, Macon, Ga.

Application April 6,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to air valves and is an improvement over the air valve construction embodied in my Patent No. 1,996,291, which issued April 2, 1935.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved type of air valve of the dust and dirt proof character which is so constructed that the pressure of air within the stem and within the inner tube will act to maintain the valve means in closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified end valve construction which is constructed in a manner to prevent dirt or dust from entering the interior of the valve so as to interfere with the operation thereof. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved air valve construction of the dust and dirt proof character which is so constructed as to eliminate the use of the usual cap provided on the valve stem and which may be mounted on the stems of inner tubes or other pressure devices without altering or interfering with any of the present parts of the device, it being understood that the usual valve insides is first removed from the interior of the valve stem.

vantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from the following'detail description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a valve stem having an improved valve construction constructed according to an embodiment of this invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line ,44 of Figure 2.

Referring tothe drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral Ill designates generally the stem of a valve construction which is adapted to be secured to an inner tube or other container, wherein air or the like is placed under pressure. Where the hereinafter described valve construction is mounted on the stem In which is provided with the usual valve insides, the usual valve insides are removed so that air may freely flow through the bore of the stem I0.

Air is retained in the valve stem l0 and the container to which the stem [0 is secured by The above and various other objects and ad- 1935, Serial No. 15,084

means of a housing, generally designated as H, which is threaded at its lower portion on to the exterior threads provided at the outer end of the stem ID. This housing H has a tapered upper portion l2 terminating in a substantially cylindrical nipple l3. The housing H has a cylinder l4 disposed on the inside thereof which at its upper portion is provided with a head [5, the lower end of the cylinder l4 being open. A plate or annulus I6 is interposed between the inner or lower end of the cylinder [4 and the top or outer end of the stem l0 and preferably a gasket I1 is disposed between the inner side of the annulus l6 and the top of the stem l0 so as to seal the cylinder l4 within the housing II.

The cylinder M has a piston I8 slidable therein and the piston l8 has a ring I9 sealing the piston within the cylindrical wall of the cylinder l4. Preferably, the lower portion of the cylinder I4 is provided with a plurality of air passages 20 so that when the piston I8 is in its lower most position, air may freely pass about the periphery of the piston I8. The downward movement of the piston I8 islimited by upstanding lugs 2| secured to the annulus or plate I 6.

The inner side of the head I5 is provided with an annular ring 22 and a sealing gasket 23 is disposed on the outer'side of the piston l8 and engages the annular ring 22 so that when the piston I8 is in its outermost position, as shown in Figure 2, the gasket 23 will be compressed against the ring 22 andthe passage of air out of the cylinder l4 prevented.

The gasket 23 is secured to the outer side of the piston 18 by means of a threaded bar 24 which extends through the piston l8 and is provided with an elongated extension 25 comprising a guide means which is slidable through a bore 26, disposed axially through the head I5. A nut 21 is threaded on to the inner end of the bar 24 and maintains the shaft comprising the guide member 28 and the bar 24 in tight engagement relative to the piston H3. The lower end'of the shaft or bar 24 is reduced and extended downwardly, as at 28, so as to provide a lower guide means which is slidable through an eye 29 formed by a diametrically extending bar 30 integral with the annulus IS.

A cup shaped member 3| is interposed between the gasket 23 and the top of the piston l8 and acts to prevent lateral displacement of the gasket 23 under pressure of the piston 18. Preferably, the extension 25 of the shaft 24 is provided with longitudinally extending flattened portions 32 so that air may freely pass through the bore or opening 26.

A plug or closure 33 having an upper tapered portion 34 and a lower cylindrical portion 35 is disposed in the nipple or reduced potion I3 and is provided with an axial stem 36 engaging at its lower end in an opening 31 provided in the upper end of the extension 25. Preferably, a. collar or rib 38 is formed on the stem 36 and acts as an abutment or stop to limit movement of the stem 36 in the bore 31. The underside of the plug or closure 33 is recessed, as at 39, and the upper end of a coil spring 40 engages about the stem 36 and within the recessed portion 39.

The lower end of the spring 40 engages the upper side of the head I5, and acts to constantly urge the plug or closure 33 into closed position. Preferably, the plug 33 is provided inwardly of its upper or outer end with air passages 4| so that when this plug 33 has been moved inwardly, a slight degree of air may freely pass about the periphery of the tapered portion 34 of the plug and then through the openings M and into the chamber formed between the inner end of the plug 33 and the top of the head I5. The housing II is also provided inwardly of the plug 33 with a vent opening 42 which is above the head I5 and extends through the cylindrical portion 35 of the upper end of the housing I I. This vent 42 is closed when the plug or closure 33 is forced inwardly by engagement with a pressure device so that no air from this pressure device will pass out through the vent or opening 42. The vent 42 provides a means whereby air in the neck of the housing II between the outer end I5 of the cylinder I4 and the plug 33 may be released so as to facilitate inward movement of the plug 33 when a pressure device is engaged with the outer end of the plug 33. In this manner inward movement of the plug 33 will not be retarded by compression of any air in the space between the plug 33 and the wall I5. This vent 42 also provides a means whereby air pressure between the wall I5 and the plug 33 may be released when the pressure device has been removed from the plug 33 so that where the spring 40 is relatively strong and moves the plug 33 to a closed position ahead of the closing of the valve 23 the closing of the plug 33 will not retard or prevent the movement of the valve 23 to a closed position under the pressure within the tire.

In the use and operation of this device, the usual valve insides are removed from the stem I0 so that air pressure may move the iston I8 to its outermost position wherein air is prevented from flowing outwardly through the housing II, as shown in Figure 1. The pressure of air against the under side of the piston I8 will cause the gasket 23 to be compressed against the annular rib 22 so that no air will flow out through the bore 26 in the head I5.

When it is desired to fill or test the pressure in the inner tube or container to which this air valve may be attached, the center post of the tester or the pressure device engages the plug or closure 33 and forces this said plug inwardly to a position opening all air passages with the exception of the vent 42 which is closed at this time. In this movement the rib 38 engages the stem 25 forcing the stem 25 and the piston I8 inward to a position causing a preliminary opening of the gasket 23 at its seat 22 and a preliminary opening of the air grooves 20 so that the pressure is free to fiow from the inner tube or the container into the air testing device through the said air grooves 20 between the stem 25 and the bore 26 and air passages 4|. In case of the air pressure device the incoming air forces the piston I8 further inward to its extreme inward movement fully moving the gasket 23 off of its seat 22 and moving the piston I8 to a position opening the air grooves 20.

It will, therefore, be understood that an exeedingly simple device has been constructed which may be mounted on any of the present valve stems and that the usual valve insides may be removed. This device, through the medium of the plug 33 will prevent any dust or dirt from entering into the cylinder I4 to thereby prevent seating of the valve gasket 23 on the seat 22.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:-

An air valve comprising an outer housing having a reduced neck at one end provided with a tapered bore for a portion of the length thereof and a straight bore for the remainder of the length thereof, a cylinder within the outer housing having a closed outer end and an open inner end and provided with longitudinally extending grooves for a portion of the length, said grooves terminating inwardly of the outer end of the cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, said closed cylinder end having an axial bore, a longitudinally grooved stem secured to the piston and extending outwardly through said axial bore, a valve seat carried by the inner side of said closed cylinder end, a valve member secured to the outer side of said piston end engageable with said seat, a plunger operating plug slidable in the neck and having a tapered surface for a portion of the length thereof engageable with the tapered bore of the neck and also provided with a cylindrical surface for the remainder of the length thereof engageable with the straight bore of the neck, an axial stem carried by said plug engageable with said piston stem, and a spring constantly urging said plug to closed position, said housing between the closed position of the plug and the outer end of the cylinder having a vent to the atmosphere.

ALBERT A. HAAS.

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