Patent US3677320A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3677320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire bead seating and inflation apparatus and method for using same
Assignee: B&J Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1970-10-12
•
Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1990-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for bead seating and inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel is provided. The system is particularly adapted for use in connection with large tires such as are used on farm tractors. The apparatus for seating the tire beads comprises an annular tube having orifice means for injection of air under pressure peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the tire bead. The inflation apparatus comprises means for connection to the conventional tire valve. Control means are provided for simultaneously injecting air into the tire from the bead seating apparatus and through the conventional tire valve. The control means include means for initially injecting high pressure air for rapid bead seating and inflation. Means are provided to discontinue the flow of high pressure air at a predetermined safe point and to continue to completely inflate the tire by means of low pressure air. The method of the invention relates to the manipulation of the tire and control apparatus during seating and inflation.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee M Coriess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:29
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C25/00; B60C25/14; B60C25/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel and which includes a conventional tire valve, comprising tire bead seating apparatus to surround a rim of a wheel, said apparatus having orifice means for injection of air under pressure peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a non-inflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, means to supply air under pressure to said bead seating apparatus, tire inflation means to supply air under pressure to the tire interior through the conventional tire valve, and control means to initiate and discontinue the supply of air under pressure to the bead seating apparatus when the tire beads have been substantially seated and to initiate and discontinue the supply of air under pressure to said tire inflation means when the desired inflated pressure has been attained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel and which includes a conventional tire valve, comprising tire bead seating apparatus to surround a rim of a wheel, said apparatus having orifice means for injection of air under pressure peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a non-inflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, means to supply air under pressure to said bead seating apparatus, tire inflation means to supply air under pressure to the tire interior through the conventional tire valve, and control means to initiate and discontinue the supply of air under pressure to the bead seating apparatus when the tire beads have been substantially seated and to initiate and discontinue the supply of air under pressure to said tire inflation means when the desired inflated pressure has been attained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the means to supply air under pressure to the bead seating apparatus and to the tire inflating means each includes a separate reservoir for air under pressure, the reservoir for aIr under pressure associated with the tire inflation means being of insufficient capacity to cause damage to the tire in the event of over-inflation thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a normally closed pilot operated main valve between said tire bead seating apparatus and the means to supply air under pressure thereto, a pair of pilot valves connected in series, one being upstream from the other, between the means to supply air under pressure and said pilot operated main valve, said pilot valves being effective, upon both being opened, to cause opening of said pilot operated main valve to permit passage of air under pressure into the bead seating apparatus, said pilot operated main valve including means to automatically close upon the closing of either of said pilot valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, further characterized in the provision of a second normally closed pilot operated main valve located between the conventional tire valve and the supply of air under pressure therefor, an air line connected at a point between said pilot valves and said second pilot operated main valve, opening of the upstream pilot valve being effective to cause opening of said second pilot operated main valve to connect the conventional tire valve to the supply of air under pressure, said second pilot operated main valve including structure for automatic closing thereof upon closing of said upstream pilot valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, further characterized in the provision of rigid structure between said pilot valves to fixedly space said valves apart, said valves being spaced apart a distance to prevent actuation of both valves by means of one hand.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, further characterized in that the rigid structure between said pilot valves is a rigid tube, said assembly being hand holdable and portable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of second tire inflation means including means to supply air under lower pressure than said previously mentioned tire inflation means to inject low pressure air to the tire interior through the conventional tire valve to fully inflate the tire after discontinuance of the supply of air under pressure from said previously mentioned tire inflation means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, further characterized in the provision of a third pilot operated main valve interposed between said means to supply air under pressure to the tire inflating means and said conventional valve, an air pressure regulator connected to the output of said third main valve to reduce line pressure to the desired lower pressure, said upstream pilot valve being connected to said third main valve to cause opening of said third main valve upon opening of said upstream pilot valve, a third pilot valve connected between the supply source of air under pressure and said third main valve, said third pilot valve being operative, upon opening thereof, to cause closure of said third main valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said tire bead seating apparatus comprises a tubular structure to surround a rim of the wheel, at least a portion of said tubular structure being of larger diameter than the diameter of the wheel, orifice means in said portion around the periphery of the tube for injecting air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a non-inflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, and at least two inlets on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of inflating a tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of injecting relatively high pressure air under pressure into the tire peripherally around the tire through the space between one wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead to partially inflate the tire and cause the tire bead to almost make sealing contact with the wheel rim, simultaneously inflating the tire by injecting Relatively high pressure air through the conventional tire valve, discontinuing the injection of air under pressure into the tire peripherally when the tire bead almost makes sealing contact but continuing inflation through the conventional tire valve until a predetermined safe limit of air pressure in the tire has been reached, then completely inflating the tire by injecting relatively low pressure air through the conventional tire valve.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of inflating a tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of injecting relatively high pressure air under pressure into the tire peripherally around the tire through the space between one wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead to partially inflate the tire and cause the tire bead to almost make sealing contact with the wheel rim, simultaneously inflating the tire by injecting Relatively high pressure air through the conventional tire valve, discontinuing the injection of air under pressure into the tire peripherally when the tire bead almost makes sealing contact but continuing inflation through the conventional tire valve until a predetermined safe limit of air pressure in the tire has been reached, then completely inflating the tire by injecting relatively low pressure air through the conventional tire valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as defined in claim 10, further characterized in that said tire and wheel are mounted in a substantially vertical position and forcing the other bead of the tire against the flange opposite said one wheel rim prior to inflation whereby said other bead forms with the tire flange a restriction to the flow of air thereby preventing escape of substantial amounts of air from the tire during the bead seating operation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2900015A
Cited
US3461938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |