Patent ID: 6024139
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
Apparatus for injecting tire sealant and balancing fluid into two inflated tires mounted side by side on a dual wheel that has a removable threaded valve core in a valve stem port in a valve stem for each tire, in which the first valve stem port is for the outboard tire and is inwardly directed adjacent a first access aperture in the wheel and the second valve stem port is for the inboard tire and is outwardly directed and accessible through the first access aperture and a second access aperture in series, the apparatus comprising:I) a first manifold for use with the first valve stem, the first manifold comprising:an anterior portion connected to a posterior portion, the anterior portion dimensioned for passing through the first access aperture and having:a first body member with an elongate straight axial bore open at a first end that is provided with a connector means for sealed communication with the first valve port and closed at a second end by a wall with an axial hole therethrough;an elongate control shaft extending through the axial hole and having a first shaft end outside the wall and a second shaft end within the bore that is provided with a valve engaging element;control means connected to the first shaft end for rotating the shaft and valve core and for axial translation of the shaft and a valve core to move the valve core to a storage position in the bore adjacent the wall;the control means further comprising a secondary shaft rotatably mounted parallel to the control shaft and coupled to the first shaft end by gear means for rotating the control shaft in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the secondary shaft, the secondary shaft being longer than the control shaft and terminating in the posterior portion in a control element for operator rotation and translation away from the access apertures;a lateral bore in the body member communicating at a first end with the axial bore between the storage position and the open end and communicating at a second end with a tubular passage extending to the posterior portion where the tubular passage communicates with a valve and connector for connection to a supply of tire sealant and balancing fluid and a valve, gauge and connector for connection to a source of compressed gas;II) a second manifold for use with the second valve stem, the second manifold comprising:an anterior portion connected to a posterior portion, the anterior portion dimensioned for passing through the first and second access apertures and having:an elongate body member with a through axial bore open at a first end that is provided with a connector means for sealed communication with the second valve port, the connector means being provided with a remote control for operation outside the first and second apertures;the posterior portion connected to the body member and having an axial passage coaxial with the axial bore in the body member, the passage terminating in a wall with an axial hole therethrough;an elongate control shaft passing through the axial hole and having a first shaft end outside the wall and a second shaft end within the passage that is provided with a valve core engaging element;shaft control means connected to the first shaft end for rotating the shaft and for axial translation of the shaft and a valve core engaged by the valve core engaging element to move the valve core from the valve stem through the bore and the passage to a storage position in the passage adjacent the wall;a lateral bore in the posterior portion communicating at a first end with the axial passage between the storage position and the elongate body member connection, and communicating at a second end with a valve and connector for connecting to a supply of tire sealant and balancing fluid and a valve, gauge and connector for connection to a source of compressed gas; andIII) a tire stem bender means for bending the tire stem on a mounted, inflated tire to position the stem for access by the first or second manifold.