GB2359629A

GB2359629A - Pressure gauge valve

Info

Publication number: GB2359629A
Application number: GB0004342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Kelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-25
Filing date: 2000-02-25
Publication date: 2001-08-29
Also published as: GB0004342D0

Abstract

A gauge for determining the pressure of an inner tube or tyre is either built-in or temporarily attached to a valve. A rotatable bezel 4 is used to indicate an area of normal operating pressure 5 and an area of abnormal operating pressure 6. The areas 5 and 6 may be colour coded to provide a visual indication of the pressure reading eg green for an acceptable range and red for an unacceptable range. The bezel is mounted on a gauge section of a valve stem 1. The actual pressure reading may be taken from a dial 3 in the middle of the gauge. The gauge may be mounted at an end portion of a removable unit (figure 4). A sensor may be incorporated in the gauge to provide a vehicle user with feedback of a tyre pressure and to provide a warning of changes in pressure.

Description

2359629 0 1 PRESSURE GAUGE VALVE This invention relates to a pressure

gauge which is fitted to the valve of pneumatic tyres, inner-tubes or wheels and can be fitted to all types of vehicles, including motor cars, vans lorries, agricultural vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, military vehicles, aft types of heavy industrial or commercial vehicles and aeroplanes. It could also be fitted to the valve of any other type of inflated tube.

The -aau-ae can be manufactured in two versions; one is in the form of a unit built into the tyre valve itself, the other version is in the form of a separate gauge which can be attached to the end of the valve, replacing the dust cap. The gauge will give a constant read-out of the pressure inside the tyre or, in the case of the dust cap type unit, the valve of the gauge can be designed to be pushed down onto the tyre valve to obtain a read-out.

The valves of tyres are usually fitted with a dust cap. In order to check the pressure it is usual to remove the dust cap and apply a pressure gauge. Alternatively, a compressed air tool, which has a built-in read-ou is pushed onto the valve to obtain a reading.

Tyres, which are under or over pressure, are dangerous. It is difficult to visually spot tyres, which are over or under inflated. A slow puncture can take many days to deflate a tyre and if not checked can lead to accidents.

The pressure gauge valve will give a visual read-out of the pressure inside the tyre or tube and will help to prevent accidents involving blown tyres or tubes or the associated dangers of under or over inflated tyres or tubes.

Preferably the pressure gauge is made of rubber, metal, plastic materials or a combination of these materials.

The gauge will give a read out of the air inside the tyre or tube which can be seen from the side of the valve and also from the top in the dust cap version.

The gauge will have a turning, clear bezel which will have an area marked to show the normal operating pressure range. This area can be coloured green. The bezel will have an area to mark the remaining area of the dial which includes dangerous operating pressures. This area can be marked red to highlight the potential danger.

A sensor could be fitted into the gauge to send a signal to a remote gauge mounted on the instrument panel of the vehicle or aircraft. This would enable the driver or pilot of the vehicle or aircraft to monitor the pressures in the tyres or tubes and to be immediately notified of any dangerous changes in pressure.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying two drawings marked 1 / 2 and 2 / 2 FIGURE 1 shows a side view of the pressure gauge valve with the bezel removed FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the fully assembled pressure valve FIGURE 3 shows the bezel of the first version of the gauge, the built-in version FIGURE 4 shows version two of the pressure gauge valve, the dust cap or separate unit version FIGURE 5 shows the dial or read out of the dust cap or separate unit version FIGURE 6 shows the bezel of the dust cap or separate unit version As shown in FIGURE 1, the pressure gauge valve comprises a valve stem 1 fitted with a dust cap 7. The gauge section is shown as 2. The whole valve assembly attaches to the inner tube or rim of a vehicle wheel. The pressure inside the tyre or tube is displayed on the dial or read-out marked 3.

FIGURE 2 shows the completed tyre valve built-in version with sight glass or bezel 4. This bezel can be turned in a circle and be set to show the area of normal operating pressure range 5 and the remaining area of potential danger 6.

In the built-in version shown in FIGURES 1 to FIGURE 3 the pressure gauge valve can be fitted to the tyre/rim of a vehicle. The bezel is adjusted to cover the normal working pressure of the tyre. The Vre is filled with air to the correct pressure. If the pressure inside the tyre drops as the result of a slow puncture,, the dial of the gauge will drop into the danger area of the read-out 6. The tyre can then be checked and repaired or replaced with a new tyre as necessary.

In a version with a sensor fitted, should a tyre on an aircraft blow-out on take-off or should more than one tyre blow-out on take-off, a control panel gauge or light would be activated to warn the pilot of the damaged tyre or tyres. He would then plan his landing to take into account the damaged tvres.

1

Claims

IM[PORTANT NOTE - IN THE TITLE AND DESCRIPTION THE WORD GUAGE HAS BEEN SPELT IN THE AMERICAN METHOD AS GAUGE. AS THIS APPLICATION IS FOR A UK PATENT IT OUGHT TO BE IN CORRECT ENGLISH. THE CORRECT ENGLISH SPEI-UNG IS GUAGE. IT IS PERECMY OBVIOUS THAT THE DESCRIPTION REFERS TO A GUAGE OR INSTRUMENT. HENCEFORWARD THE CORRECT ENGLISH SPELLING OF GUAGE WILL BE USED HOWEVER, AS I HAVE ALREADY USED THE WORD GAUGE IN THE TITLE, 1 SHALL TITLE THE INVENTION AS THE PRESSURE GAUGE VALVE BUT USE THE UK SPELLING OF GUAGE IN THE CLAM. TO NIAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR I WILL CLAIM THAT GUAGE AND GAUGE ARE THE SAME THING 1. A pressure guage or pressure gauge are one and the sam thing.
2. A pressure guage: as claimed in Claim 1 is a guage or instrument to measure air pressure which is fitted or is combined to the valve of a tyre or inner-tube pressure valve to give a reading of the pressure within the tube or tyre by means of a needle on a scale of pressure within an area of a rotating bezel.
3. A pressure guage as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 is fitted or is combined to the valve of a tyre or inner-tube pressure valve which can give a warning of any over or under pressures within the tube or tyre.

A pressure guage as claimed in any preceding claim can be in two versions one version of which is built into and combined to the valve of a tyre or inner-tube pressure valve as demonstrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings and the other version being a separate unit which can be attached to the valve of the tube or tyre as demonstrated in Fig.
4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A pressure guage as claimed in any preceding claim may send a signal to a monitor mounted in the instr-ument panel of an aircraft or vehicle that will notify and warn the pilot or driver of any changes in the operating pressures in any of the aircraft or vehicle tyres.
6. A pressure guage as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from rubber, metal, plastic materials or a combination of the materials.
7. A pressure guage valve substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.