GB2357474A

GB2357474A - Vehicle inner tube having multiple air cells and breakers

Info

Publication number: GB2357474A
Application number: GB9930481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shut Chen Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-24
Filing date: 1999-12-24
Publication date: 2001-06-27
Also published as: GB9930481D0

Abstract

The inner tube comprises a base 20 having air chambers in two opposite side walls 201 thereof and zigzag insertion slots 201a around the periphery of each side wall, a multi-cell rubber tube 10 mounted on the base between its side walls and defining a plurality of zigzag insertion slots 102 arranged one over another around a center opening thereof and an annular insertion slot 101 surrounding the slots 102 for mounting patching glue, and a plurality of breaker assemblies respectively mounted in the respective sets of zigzag insertion slots 102, 201a.

Description

2357474 VEHICLE INNER TUBE HAVING MULTIPLE AIR CELLS AND BREAKERS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inner tube for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to such a vehicle inner tube, which has multiple air cells and breakers for protection against piercing of external objects.

Individuals as their daily transportable vehicles have used a variety of motor vehicles. For a safety driving, the condition of vehicle tires must be regularly checked. There are two kinds of vehicle tires used in existing motorcars, namely, the tire having an inner tube, and the tire without inner tube. A tire having an inner tube is not suitable for running on a freeway or uneven mountain road, because it explores when pierced with an external object. A tire without inner tube is a high-speed tire that leaks slowly when pierced with an external object. However, because a tire without inner tube leaks slowly when pierced with an external object, the user may be unable to discover the damage of the tire within a short period of time after the formation of the damage, and an accident may occur when the user drives the car onto a freeway. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present 1 invention, the inner tube comprises a base having air chambers in two opposite side walls thereof and zigzag insertion slots around the periphery of each of the side walls, a multi-cell rubber tube mounted on the base between its side walls and defining a plurality of zlgzag insertion slots arranged one over another around a center opening thereof and an annular insertion slot surrounding the zigzag insertion slots for mounting patching glue, and a plurality of breaker assembles respectively mounted in the zigzag insertion slots in the base and the multi-cell rubber tube.

According to another aspect of the present invention, each breaker assembly is comprised of a flexible, zigzag base pad formed of a plurality of air balls, and two sets of breakers alternatively arranged at top and bottom side walls of the zigzag base pad in a stagger. Because the base pad of each breaker assembly is flexible, the breaker assemblies can be flexibly deformed to fit the deformation of the vehicle tire when running on the road.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a multi-cell rubber tube for an inner tube for a vehicle tire according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base for an inner tube for a vehicle tire according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is perspective and exploded views of a breaker assembly for an inner tube for a vehicle tire according to the 2 present invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a breaker assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 but showing the breaker 5 assembly curved.

Figure 6 shows the installation of a breaker assembly in one zigzag insertion slot at the multi-cell rubber tube according to the present invention.

Figure 7 shows the installation of a breaker assembly in one zigzag insertion slot at one sidewall of the base according to the present invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the multicell rubber tube, the base, the outer tube, and the wheel.

Figure 9 is a schematic drawing showing the status of the inner tube before inflation and after inflation according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, the multi-cell rubber tube, referenced by 10, is an annular member formed of a big number of rubber air balls 103, defining a plurality of zigzag insertion slots 102 arranged one over another around the center opening thereof and an annular insertion slot 101 surrounding the zigzag insertion 3 slots 102 for mounting patching glue.

Referring to Figure 2, a base 20 is shown formed of a big number of rubber air balls 204, having a tubular shaft 202 and two parallel side walls 201 at two opposite ends of the shaft 202. The 5 sidewalls 201 each comprise a plurality of zigzag insertion slots 201a longitudinally arranged one above another around the periphery, and a master air chamber 203. The base 20 forms with the aforesaid multi-cell rubber tube 10 an inner tube for a vehicle wheel.

Referring to Figures from 3 through 5, a breaker assembly is shown comprised of a zigzag base pad 302 formed of a big number of air balls, and two sets of breakers 301 alternatively arranged at the top and bottom side walls of the zigzag base pad 302 in a stagger. Because the zigzag base pad 302 is flexible, the breaker assembly 30 can be deformed to fit the shape change of the inner tube of the running vehicle tire. Because the breakers 301 are alternatively arranged at the top and bottom sidewalls of the zigzag base pad 302 in a stagger, the inner tube of the vehicle tire is well protected.

Referring to Figures from 6 through 8, breaker assemblies are respectively mounted in the zlgzag insertion slots 102 at the multi-cell rubber tube 10 and the zlgzag insertion slots 201a at the base 20, then the multi-cell rubber tube 10 is mounted on the base 4 20, forming an inner tube. The inner tube thus obtained is then fastened to a wheel (rim) 500, and covered within an outer tire 400. After installation, the master air chamber 203 in each sidewall 201 is respectively inflated.

Figure 9(a) shows a status of the multi-cell rubber tube 10 before inflation of the base 20 (see also Figures 2 and 8). Figure 9(b) shows a status of the multi-cell rubber tube 10 after inflation of the base 20. After inflation of the base 20, the multi-cell rubber tube 10 is compressed, the wall thickness of the multi-cell rubber tube 10 becomes thinner, and the breakers 301 of the breaker assemblies 30 are forced against one another to protect the inner tube of the tire.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

What the invention claimed is:

1. An inner tube protector for use in a tyre with an inner tube, comprising a barrier layer having a plurality of pierce resistant inserts embedded in a resilient matrix.

2. An inner tube protector according to claim 1, in which the piece-resistant inserts are arranged in an overlapping relationship.

3. An inner tube protector according to claim 2, in which the pierce-resistant inserts provide a continuous zone of pierce resistance.

4. An inner tube protector according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a resilient filler between overlapping pierce resistant inserts, for preventing direct contacting therebetween.

5. An inner tube protector, according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each pierce-resistant insert comprises a member formed from sheet material.

6. An inner tube protector according to claim 5, in which the member is provided with a step to give a zig-zag profile.

7. An inner tube protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the barrier layer includes a first part which, in use, would underlie a region of the tyre which will be ground engaging, the first part of the barrier layer having pierce-resistant inserts aligned in rows extending parallel to the tyre axis.

6 8. An inner tube protector according to claim 7, when appendent to claim 2, in which overlapping pierce-resistant inserts are radially offset.

9. An inner tube protector according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the barrier layer includes a second part which, in use, would underlie a side wall of the tyre, the second part of the barrier layer having pierce-resistant inserts aligned in rows extending perpendicular to the tyre axis.

10. An inner tube protector according to claim 9, when appendent to claim 2, in which the overlapping pierce-resistant inserts are axially offset.

11. An inner tube protector according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the matrix comprises a resilient foam or rubber air balls.

12. An inner tube protector according to claim 11, in which the resilient foam is a closed-cell foam, perhaps of rubber.

13. An inner tube comprising an inner tube protector according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. A tyre having an inner tube according to claim 13 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. An inner tube protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying 7 drawings.

16. An inner tube substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A tyre substantially as hereinbefore described with 5 reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18.A vehicle inner tube comprising:

a base formed of a plurality of rubber air balls, said base comprising a tubular shaft and two parallel side walls at two opposite ends of said shaft, said side walls each comprising a plurality of zigzag insertion slots longitudinally arranged one above another around the periphery thereof, and a master air chamber; a multi-cell rubber tube formed of a plurality of rubber air balls and mounted on said base between the parallel side walls of said base, said multi-cell rubber tube defining a plurality of zigzag insertion slots arranged one over another around a center opening thereof and an annular insertion slot surrounding the zigzag insertion slots for mounting patching glue; and a plurality of breaker assembles respectively mounted in the zigzag insertion slots in said base and said multi-cell rubber tube, said breaker assemblies each comprised of a zigzag base pad formed of a plurality of air balls, and two sets of breakers alternatively arranged at top and bottom side walls of said zigzag 8 base pad in a stagger.

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