GB2214877A

GB2214877A - Preventing tyre deflation

Info

Publication number: GB2214877A
Application number: GB8802941A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sidney Inwood; Conrad Glen King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-09
Filing date: 1988-02-09
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Also published as: GB8802941D0

Abstract

Most of the space within a tyre is divided into small closed air pockets (2) which allow for puncturing of the tyre to take place without its going flat. <IMAGE>

Description

SAFER TtRE INFLATION This invention relates to safer tyre inflation.

Tyre inflation is by air inserted under pressure. However whether it be a tubeless tyre or tyre with inner tube, they lend themselves to be deflated very easily by puncturing.

This invention allows puncturing to be restricted to a minimal amount of space in the total area under pressure, thereby allowing the vehicle to procede with greater safety.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG 1 shows in perspective a cell or air pocket structure in the void of a tyre which is shown in section only.

Referring to the drawing Fig 1 it will be seen that the majority of the space in the void of the tyre (No 1) is now divided into thousands of small air pockets or cells (No. 2).

Whilst the remainder of the space (No. 3) constitues the air pressure chamber, the inlet of which is by the normal type of valve (No. 4).

(No. 5) represents the wheel with rim holding tyre in position.

The inner space of the average tyre may measure some 51,000 cubic centremetres presuming the air pressure chamber (No. 3) takes up 16,000 c.c. and the size of each cell is 100 cubic millimeters then the number of cells would be some 350,000 so should this tyre be punctured by a fist full of nails say 35 then air pressure in the tyre will be reduced by say 0.001%.

On inserting air into chamber (No. 3) to required pressure that same pressure is transferred through each cell (No. 2) that are formed with flexible walls, to the inner wall of the tyre.* Because the walls of the cells (No. 2) are formed with a flexible material then it follows that the tyre remains in the same flexible state that is neccessary to get maximum grip on the road (for cornering, braking, etc).

* each air pocket or cell is completely airtight and will contain air on being formed.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tyre or its' inner tube which, on being punctured by a foreign body under normal circumstances, will stay inflated to a satisfactory amount to enable the vehicle to proceed.

2. A pneumatic tyre or inner tube as claimed in Claim 1., where the number of air cells will be determined by the nature of the vehicle to which it will be fitted.

3. A pneumatic tyre or inner tube as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the size of the air pressure chamber will be determined by the nature of the vehicle to which it will be fitted, and the number of cells required, as in Claim 2.

4. A pneumatic tyre or inner tube as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein by means of a valve attached to the air pressure chamber, the air pressure in each cell and chamber can be reduced or increased as required.

5. A pneumatic tyre or inner tube as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein by means of a non-flexible tube running through the material of the wheel to the centre of the driving or idling shafts and from there to a control valve or valves and pump, providing air pressures in chambers and cells to be varied as required to suit terrain and driving conditions etc.

6. A pneumatic tyre or its' inner tube as claimed in Claim 4. or Claim 5., which would be manufactured in a controlled environment of air, gas, combinations of both, or other vaporized substances at a predetermined pressure to be above that of normal atmospheric pressure, so that upon removal to atmospheric pressure, the complete structure would expand to the required pressure and size.

It follows therefore that if a tube is being manufactured by this process, then it must be inserted into the tyre under these pressurized conditions prior to removal to normal atmospheric pressure.

7. A pneumatic tyre or its' inner tube as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 which allows for the whole amount of the void of the tube or tyre to be filled with cells or air pockets, each cell when being manufactured to be filled with a substance under pressure, so making the separate air chamber unnecessary.