Unit for deflating and/or inflating tires

• US 6,336,481 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bertram Tigges
• Original Assignee: Bertram Tigges
• Inventors: Tigges, Bertram
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/791,643
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 141/38, 152/415, 152/416, 152/417, 137/223, 137/224, 137/227, 137/228
• US Class Current: 141/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams

Abstract

A unit (1) for deflating and/or inflating tires (42-49) has a regulating device (2) that has an air input (6) for connection to a compressed-air source (65) and at least one air output (8, 9) for connection to air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25). The regulating device (2) has a regulating member (67) with which a specific working pressure is implemented in the air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25) after connection to the tires. (42-49). The regulating member (67) is connected to a manually actuable adjusting device (57) with which different predetermined working pressures are established. The adjusting device (57) has at least two manually actuable switching members (59, 60, 61), each of which is associated with one of the different predetermined working pressures. Actuation of a switching member allows the regulating member (67) to be respectively adjusted to the respective predetermined working pressure associated with the switching member (59, 60, 61).

Claims

1. A unit (1) for deflating and/or inflating tires (42-49), said unit having a regulating device (2) that has an air input (6) for connection to a compressed-air source (65) and at least one air output (8, 9) for connection to air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25), the regulating device (2) having a regulating member (67) with which a specific working pressure is implemented in the air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25) after connection to the tires (42-49), the regulating member (67) being connected to a manually actuable adjusting device (57) with which different predetermined working pressures are established, wherein the adjusting device (57) has at least two manually actuable switching members (59, 60, 61) each of which is associated with one of the different predetermined working pressures, actuation of a switching member allows the regulating member (67) to be respectively adjusted to the respective predetermined working pressure associated with the switching member (59, 60, 61).

2. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching members (59, 60, 61) are configured as two-point switches.

6. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching members (59, 60, 61) or the stepped switching member (88) are or is arranged on an adjusting unit (57), separated from the regulating device (2), that is connected to the regulating device (2) via a control line (58).

7. The unit as defined in one of claim 1, wherein an adjusting element (62) is present with which a working pressure of zero can be established.

8. The unit as defined in claim 7, wherein the adjusting device is configured such that when the adjusting device is switched off by the adjusting element (62), the regulating member (67) is automatically set to a working pressure of zero.

9. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the regulating member (67) is pneumatically adjustable, the adjusting device has a pneumatic circuit in which each switching member (59, 60, 61) or each switch position has associated with it a pneumatic pressure regulating valve (72, 73, 74) for regulating a specific control pressure for the regulating member (67), and the pressure regulating valves (72, 73, 74) are connected to an air-pressure reservoir (4).

10. The unit as defined in claim 9, wherein the air-pressure reservoir (4) is protected with respect to the air-pressure source (65) by way of a nonreturn valve (66).

11. The unit as defined in claim 9, wherein switching valves (78, 79, 80) that are connected to the switching members (59, 60, 61) or to the stepped switching member (88) are associated with each pressure regulating valve (72, 73, 74).

12. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the regulating member is configured as a proportional valve (67).

13. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the regulating member (67) has its own pressure reservoir (3) associated with it.

14. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the working pressures associated with the switching members (59, 60, 61) or the switch positions are adjustable.

3. A unit (1) for deflating and/or inflating tires (42-49), said unit having a regulating device (2) that has an air input (6) for connection to a compressed-air source (65) and at least one air output (8, 9) for connection to air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25), the regulating device (2) having a regulating member (67) with which a specific working pressure is implemented in the air-pressure lines (10, 11, 16, 17, 18-25) after connection to the tires (42-49), the regulating member (67) being connected to a manually actuable adjusting device (88) with which different predetermined working pressures are established, wherein the adjusting device has a stepped switching member (88) having at least two switch positions, each position associated with one of the different predetermined working pressures, actuation of the stepped switching member into a switch position allows the regulating member (67) to be adjusted to the respective predetermined working pressure associated with the switch position.

4. The unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the stepped switching member (88) is configured as a rotary switch or slide switch.

5. The unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the stepped switching member is connected to a pneumatic multiple-way valve (88).

15. A unit for adjusting air pressure in tires, comprising:

a regulating device having an inlet for operable connection to a compressed air source, an outlet for connection to an air line to a tire, and an associated adjustable regulating member for establishing a plurality of predetermined pressures in the air line; and

a plurality of switches operatively connected to said regulating member, each of said switches associated with a respective one of said predetermined pressures, actuation of said switches adjusts said regulating member to the associated pressure and thereby causes the associated pressure to be established.

16. A unit for adjusting air pressure in tires, comprising:

a regulating device having an inlet for operable connection to a compressed air source, an outlet for connection to an air line to a tire, and an associated adjustable regulating member for establishing a plurality of predetermined pressures in the air line; and

a switch operatively connected to said regulating member, said switch having at least two switch positions, each position associated with a respective one of said predetermined pressures, actuation of said switch into a switch position adjusts said regulating member and thereby establishes the associated pressure.

17. A method for adjusting air pressure in tires, comprising:

providing a regulating device having an inlet for operable connection to a compressed air source, an outlet for connection to an air line to a tire, and an associated adjustable regulating member for establishing a plurality of predetermined pressures in the air line;

providing a switching assembly operatively connected to the regulating member, the switching assembly having a plurality of settings, each setting associated with a respective one of the predetermined pressures; and

actuating the switching assembly into a setting and thereby adjusting the regulating member to the pressure associated with the setting so that the associated pressure is established.