Tire valve and pressure gauge

• US 5,103,670 A
• Filed: 07/13/1990
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Min-Yu Wu, Wu, Andrew H.
• Original Assignee: Min-Yu Wu, Wu, Andrew H.
• Inventors: Wu, Andrew H., Wu, Min-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/553,183
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.8, 73/146.3, 73/729, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

The combination tire valve and pressure gauge of the present invention is formed to be substantially the same size as current tire valve stems, such that it may be used as a replacement part therefore. The device includes a pressure sensitive bellows disposed within the stem, the movement of which is counteracted by a calibrated spring. Movements of the bellows, caused by changes in the tire pressure, are mechanically translated to a rotary motion of a pressure indicator. A window is formed in the tire stem to permit viewing of the pressure indicator, whereby different numerals corresponding to different tire pressures become visible in the window upon rotation of the indicator which is caused by movement of the bellows. An air channel is formed through the device to permit air to be pumped into the tire. A rotary indicator having an internal spiral groove rotates upon a driving rod formed with projecting driving pin members that project into the spiral groove to cause the rotation of the indicator.

Claims

1. A combination tire valve and pressure gauge formed for disposition within a tire valve stem, comprising:

a housing being fixedly engaged within said tire valve stem;

a bellows being engaged within said housing and functioning to produce movement of a portion thereof upon exposure to changing tire air pressure, said bellows being in pneumatic communication with the air pressure within said tire;

said bellows being substantially cylindrical in shape and formed for compressible movement along the central axis thereof, and wherein a calibrated spring is disposed within said bellows and operable to balance the movement of said bellows caused by said changing tire pressure;

a driving rod being formed with a first end and a second end, said first end of said driving rod being fixedly engaged to said bellows and said second end of said driving rod having a rotational engagement means formed thereon;

said driving rod being slidably engaged within said housing, such that movement of said bellows results in axial movement of said driving rod along the linear axis thereof;

wherein said rotational engagement means includes driving pin members which project outwardly from said driving rod;

said rotational engagement means also including a bore being axially disposed within a pressure indicator means, said bore having a spiral groove formed in the walls thereof, said driving pin members being slidably engaged within said spiral groove such that said axial movement of said driving rod will cause rotational movement of said pressure indicator means;

said pressure indicator means being rotatable within said housing and having numerals disposed thereon for indicating the air pressure within said tire; and

a pressure indicator viewing means being formed through said tire stem and said housing proximate said pressure indicator means and operating to permit the visual inspection of said pressure indicator means whereby information related to the tire air pressure may be visually obtained.

2. A pencil type tire pressure gauge for determining the air pressure within a pneumatic tire, comprising:

a tubular housing, being hollow and having a first end and a second end;

a pressure gauge having a valve housing that is fixedly engaged and pneumatically sealed to said tubular housing proximate said first end;

a tire core valve being fixedly engaged and pneumatically sealed to said tubular housing proximate said second end thereof;

an air pressure sensitive means being engaged within said valve housing and functioning to produce movement of a portion thereof upon exposure to changing air pressure;

said air pressure sensitive means being in pneumatic communication with the air pressure within said tubular housing;

a driving rod being engaged to said air pressure sensitive means and slidably engaged within said valve housing, such that movement of said air pressure sensitive means results in axial movement of said driving rod along the linear axis thereof;

a pressure indicator engagement means being engaged to said driving rod and operating to convert said axial movement of said driving rod into rotational movement of a pressure indicator means;

said pressure indicator means being engageably mounted on said driving rod and rotatable within said housing, said pressure indicator means having numerals disposed thereon for indicating the air pressure within said tubular housing; and

a pressure indicator viewing means being engaged to said tubular housing proximate said pressure indicator means and operating to permit the visual inspection of said pressure indicator means whereby information related to the air pressure may be visually obtained.

3. A device as described in claim 2 wherein said air pressure sensitive means includes a bellows being substantially cylindrical in shape and formed for collapsible movement along the central axis thereof, and wherein a calibrated spring is disposed within said bellows and operable to resist the movement of said bellows.

4. A device as described in claim 3 wherein said driving rod is formed with a first end and a second end, said first end of said driving rod being fixedly engaged to said bellows and said second end of said driving rod having a rotational engagement means formed thereon;

and

wherein said rotational engagement means includes driving pin members which project outwardly from said driving rod;

said rotational engagement means also including a bore being axially disposed within said pressure indicator means, said bore having a spiral groove formed in the walls thereof, said driving pin members being slidably engaged within said spiral groove such that axial movement of said driving rod will cause rotational movement of said pressure indicator means.

5. A device as described in claim 2 wherein an air pressure control means is engaged to said tubular housing to release greater than ambient air pressure within said tubular housing.

6. The device as described in claim 5 wherein said air pressure control means includes a push button valve member being slidably engaged within said tubular housing proximate said second end thereof;

said valve member having an air channel formed therethrough and being disposed proximate said air valve core, whereby slidable movement of said valve member will cause depression of said tire valve core, such that excess air pressure within said tubular housing will be released.