US3801787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve for radiation detection of low pressure in pneumatic tires
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-01-21
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1990-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A pressurized attachment for the valve of a pneumatic tire, the attachment housing, in a shielded manner, a small amount of radioactive material. The attachment has a pressure chamber on one end thereof, the other end communicating directly with the pneumatic tire. If the pressure in the tire falls below a predetermined limit, the radioactive material escapes from its shielded housing and flows into the tire. Radioactive emissions then pass through the housing of the tire and are detected by a sensing device. The sensing device is coupled to the instrument panel of the associated vehicle and serves to indicate a leak in the tire.
Inventors
- 👤 E Johnsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/22; G01M3/226; G01M3/227; B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/02; B60C23/04; B60C23/0408; B60C23/0422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A valve assembly adapted to be secured to a standard pneumatic tire and to serve as a leak detecting device, the valve assembly comprising: means for securing the valve assembly to the stem of a conventional pneumatic tire; means for opening the valve in the conventional pneumatic tire so that the air pressure within the tire communicates freely with said valve assembly; a charge of radioactive material insulatingly housed within said valve assembly; means for maintaining said radioactive material within said valve assembly when tire pressure is safe; means for injecting said radioactive material into said pneumatic tire when the air pressure in said pneumatic tire falls below a predetermined level to disperse said radioactive material throughout the tire; and a radiation detection device to detect the disposal of said radioactive material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A valve assembly adapted to be secured to a standard pneumatic tire and to serve as a leak detecting device, the valve assembly comprising: means for securing the valve assembly to the stem of a conventional pneumatic tire; means for opening the valve in the conventional pneumatic tire so that the air pressure within the tire communicates freely with said valve assembly; a charge of radioactive material insulatingly housed within said valve assembly; means for maintaining said radioactive material within said valve assembly when tire pressure is safe; means for injecting said radioactive material into said pneumatic tire when the air pressure in said pneumatic tire falls below a predetermined level to disperse said radioactive material throughout the tire; and a radiation detection device to detect the disposal of said radioactive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining said radioactive material within said valve assembly and said means for injecting said radioactive material into said pneumatic tire comprise: a piston slidable within the housing of said valve assembly, said piston serving to house said radioactive material; pressure means for forcing said piston toward said valve of the standard pneumatic tire, said pressure means exerting a pressure less than the safe pressure required in said pneumatic tire; and a passageway for allowing the pressure within said pneumatic tire to force said piston away from the valve of said tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
The valve assembly of claim 1 and further comprising: first piston means; a piston rod integral with said first piston means, said piston rod serving to engage the valve stem in a standard valve of a conventional pneumatic tire; spring means biasiNg said first piston means and said piston rod toward said valve stem; second piston means slidable with respect to said first piston means, said second piston means housing a radioactive material; means for exerting a pressure on said second piston means to force said second piston means toward the valve of said pneumatic tire; and a passageway to allow the pressure within said pneumatic tire to communicate with said second piston means to urge said second piston means in a direction away from the valve of said pneumatic tire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, in combination with means to visually or audibly display dangerous conditions when the pressure in a pneumatic tire becomes low.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 4, including at least another conventional pneumatic tire with another said valve assembly attached thereto and another said detection device in combination therewith, said display means including a rotating contact selectively and consecutively actuating said radiation detection devices and indicating which of said pneumatic tires is low in pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The value assembly of claim 1, wherein the radioactive material remains in its housing or is expelled into the pneumatic tire, depending upon a balancing of forces between the valve assembly itself and the pressure within the pneumatic tire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve opening means has a bore therein in fluid communication with and for providing pressure to said means for injecting said radioactive material into said pneumatic tire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3235726A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |