US3833041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire inflator
Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-11
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-10-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for sealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like including an uncured puncture sealant material disposed in the tire casing chamber and a gas generator also disposed in the chamber and adapted to generate sufficient heat to cure the sealant material, and sufficient gas to reinflate the tire. The valve of the tire is a pressure relief valve and an igniter is provided for igniting the generator at a predetermined pressure in the chamber. In this manner, if the tire is punctured, the loss of pressure in the chamber activates the igniter which ignites the generator. The heat from the gas being generated cures the sealant material which plugs up the puncture while the gas generated inflates the tire to a desired pressure. The pressure relief valve regulates the pressure within the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 T Glad
- 👤 W Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C73/00; B29C73/16; B29C73/18; B29C73/20; B29C73/22; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/10; B60C23/12; B60C23/126; B29L; B29L2030/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10495; Y10T152/10666; Y10T152/10729
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for sealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, and a valve stem in fluid communication with both the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere mounted in said rim, said apparatus comprising: uncured puncture sealant means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to being cured upon the application of heat; gas generating means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to generate a gas having a temperature sufficient to cure said sealant means; igniting means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to ignite said gas generating means to thereby generate said gas; and sensing means associated with the interior of said chamber operaTively connected to said igniting means and responsive to the pressure within said chamber to ignite said igniting means upon the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for sealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, and a valve stem in fluid communication with both the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere mounted in said rim, said apparatus comprising: uncured puncture sealant means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to being cured upon the application of heat; gas generating means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to generate a gas having a temperature sufficient to cure said sealant means; igniting means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to ignite said gas generating means to thereby generate said gas; and sensing means associated with the interior of said chamber operaTively connected to said igniting means and responsive to the pressure within said chamber to ignite said igniting means upon the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including pressure relief means associated with said valve for relieving pressure in the interior of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealant means is a strip of an elastomeric material extending about the rim of said tire within said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said gas generating means is bonded to the strip of elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said igniting means is a pyrotechnic material operatively connected to said gas generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealant means is a coating on substantially the entire interior wall of said casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said gas generating means is an annular strip extending about the rim of said tire within said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is a remotely actuated sensing device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wheel is symmetrically balanced about an axis extending centrally through the aperture of said hub portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for sealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, a valve stem in fluid communication with both the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere mounted in said rim, and an uncured sealant material disposed in said chamber, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the pressure of air within said chamber; generating a heated gas within said chamber after the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber; flowing said sealant material into any punctures or the like in said tire casing by the generation of said gas; curing said sealant material in situ within said chamber; and continuing the generation of said gas within said chamber until the pressure therein reaches a predetermined pressure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for sealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, a valve stem in fluid communication with both the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere mounted in said rim, and an uncured sealant material disposed in said chamber, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the pressure of air within said chamber; generating a heated gas within said chamber after the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber; flowing said sealant material into any punctures or the like in said tire casing by the generation of said gas; curing said sealant material in situ within said chamber; and continuing the generation of said gas within said chamber until the pressure therein reaches a predetermined pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 further including the step of valving to the atmosphere the gas within said chamber when said predetermined pressure is reached in said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for resealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, a valve stem in fluid communication with both the inerior of said chamber and the atomsphere mounted in said rim, said apparatus comprising: puncture sealant means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to seal any punctures in said casing upon entry therein; gas generating means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to generate sufficient gas within said chamber to force said sealant means into said punctures; igniting means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to ignite said gas generating means to thereby generate said gas at a predetermined pressure within said chamber; and sensing means associated with the interior of said chamber operatively connected to sAid igniting means and responsive to the pressure within said chamber to ignite said igniting means upon the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for resealing and reinflating a tubeless tire after puncture or the like wherein said tire is comprised of a generally toroid-shaped tire casing comprised of an annular tread portion having sidewalls integral therewith, said casing being generally U-shaped in cross-section and said tire further comprised of a wheel having an apertured hub portion and a web portion integral with the hub portion, and an annular rim integral with the web portion and fixedly secured to the sidewalls of said casing in a fluid-tight manner forming an inner chamber sealed from the atmosphere, a valve stem in fluid communication with both the inerior of said chamber and the atomsphere mounted in said rim, said apparatus comprising: puncture sealant means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to seal any punctures in said casing upon entry therein; gas generating means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to generate sufficient gas within said chamber to force said sealant means into said punctures; igniting means associated with the interior of said chamber adapted to ignite said gas generating means to thereby generate said gas at a predetermined pressure within said chamber; and sensing means associated with the interior of said chamber operatively connected to sAid igniting means and responsive to the pressure within said chamber to ignite said igniting means upon the sensing of a predetermined pressure within said chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including pressure relief means associated with said valve for relieving pressure in the interior of said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |