Valve arrangement and construction kit for a valve arrangement

• US 8,474,475 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wegmann automotive GmbH & Co. KG (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: Alligator Ventilfabrik GmbH (Familie Steiff mit CA. 50 Gesellschaftern)
• Inventors: Palaoro, Renato, Gerstenlauer, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/298,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 137/227, 731/462, 731/468
• US Class Current: 137/227
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3662 With gauge or indicator

Abstract

A valve arrangement (1) comprising a valve body (2) for inflating and deflating a vehicle tire and comprising a measuring device (8) for measuring the tire pressure, in which the measuring device (8) is secured on the valve body (2) against axial movement in a pulling direction (Z) away from the valve body (2) by a securing element. The securing element has a profiled element (15) with a fixing element (20) acting on the valve body (2). Furthermore, a construction kit for such a valve arrangement is provided. The profiled element can connect the valve body (2) in a signal-conducting manner to an electronic transmitting unit.

Claims

1. Valve assembly comprising a valve body for filling and emptying a vehicle tire and having a measuring device for measuring the vehicle tire pressure, locking means for preventing the measuring device from performing an axial movement in a pulling direction pointing away from the valve body on the valve body, the locking means comprising a profile element non-rotatably mounted to the measuring device and non-rotatable relative to the measuring device, the profile element having a fixing element engaging the valve body, wherein the valve body passes through a feed opening in the profile element, the fixing element comprises a claw element projecting radially relative to the valve body and contacts a surface of the valve body, wherein the claw element is sprung in an axial direction to enable assembly of the valve body and the profile element while the profile element is mounted to the measuring device, and further comprising means for non-rotatably mounting the profile element to the measuring device such that the profile element is non-rotatable relative to the measuring device, wherein the means for non-rotatably mounting comprises a holding collar extending outwardly from the profile element and having a polygon outer shape, and a recess in the measuring device having a shape corresponding to the polygon outer shape whereby the profile element, when mounted in the recess of the measuring device, is non-rotatable relative to the measuring device.

2. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profile element is substantially disc-shaped.

3. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profile element comprises a holding collar engaging the measuring device and angled in a radial direction relative to a wall section which extends substantially in an axial direction.

4. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element exerts a clamping force in a radial direction on the valve body.

5. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element comprises a strip element.

6. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is angled in the pulling direction (Z) relative to a plane running perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (L) of the valve body.

7. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element cooperates in locking relationship with the valve body.

8. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element cooperates in releasably locking relationship with an external thread of the valve body.

9. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profile element includes several fixing elements which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

10. Valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fixing elements are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction.

11. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profile element is made of a stamped and bent metal part.

12. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve body forms an aerial of the measuring device for transmitting signals to a receiving device arranged at a distance from the gas tire, wherein the profile element forms a contacting element for signal-conducting contacting of an electronic measuring device arranged on a board with the valve body.

13. Valve assembly according to claim 12, wherein the contacting element comprises at least one contact pin.

14. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly forms part of a kit.

15. Valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the profile element is supported in an axial direction on the measuring device on a housing.

16. Valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein the valve body is passed through the profile element in an axial direction opposite the pulling direction (Z), and the measuring device is held in its axial position by the fixing element of the profile element on application of a pulling force in the pulling direction.

17. Valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve body and the claw element are non-releasable after they are assembled to each other.

18. Valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein the profile element further comprises a contact surface in a plane angled relative to the holding collar, the wall section extending axially between the holding collar and the contact surface, and the claw element being defined on the contact surface.