Abstract:
An apparatus for hand held inflating or deflating gas shocks or air bags is disclosed that is substantially hand held. A body comprises a high pressure valve, a lower pressure vent valve, and a pressurized plenum between the two valves. A high pressure gas source is connected tot the high pressure valve on one side. An object to be pressurized is connected to the other side to the lower pressure pressurized plenum. A gage is optionally available to monitor the pressure of the object to be pressurized. This device, which may fit into traditionally glove compartments and tool boxes, allows for quick and accurate pressurization of gas filled devices with pressure tunable characteristics. Although described here with a standalone highly pressurized gas source, a standard pressure disconnect can allow the device to be used with conventional tire inflation and deflation with an external pump supplying the high pressure source.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application 60/982,424, filed Oct. 25, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention pertains generally to gas shocks or air bags, more particularly to conveniently pressurized gas shocks or air bags, and still more particularly to devices for readily changing the pressure in pressurized devices. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    Gas filled shock absorbers, and air bags, are used to vary the riding conditions of a vehicle under large changes in loading conditions. Typically, changing the pressures in these devices is not easy, as one must find nitrogen or another gas source, and apply this pressurized source to the device in a controlled manner so as to not rupture the device. In high performance off-road conditions, this need is exacerbated, since gas filling facilities are scarce or nonexistent. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, in bicycling, flat tires are frequently encountered when using pneumatic tubes. Such frequent flats give rise to bulky pumps for reinflating patched flat tires. These pumps are another source of weight that would most desirably be reduced. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An aspect of the invention is a hand held apparatus for pressurizing gas shocks or air bags, comprising: an object to be pressurized; and a means for pressurizing the object. The object to be pressurized may comprise a gas shock, an air bag, or other component requiring accurate fill pressures, such as tires or other pneumatic leveling devices. Additionally, brake lines may be pressurized to assist in brake bleeding procedures. 
         [0010]    Without limitation, the object may be substantially pressurized with a gas selected from a group of gasses consisting essentially of: helium, argon, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, dry air, a refrigerant, and one or more of the preceding. Nothing in this application precludes pressurization by other, more expensive gasses such as Xenon or Helium, or flammable gasses, such as hydrogen or methane. 
         [0011]    Typically, the attachment to the object to be pressurized is hose terminated with a Schrader or Presta valve, although it is not limited to these types of valves. 
         [0012]    The means for pressurizing the object may comprise a hand held unit comprising: an attachment to the object to be pressurized at a pressure outlet; and an attachment to a highly pressurized gas source. 
         [0013]    The hand held unit may comprise: a. a vent valve that fluidly and displaceably connects a pressurized plenum to an ambient atmosphere, the pressurized plenum fluidly connected to the pressure outlet; b. a vent actuator that displaces the vent valve, thereby causing actuation of the vent valve with a consequent flow of gas from the pressurized plenum to the atmosphere; c. a high pressure inlet section, comprising: i. a high pressure valve fluidly and displaceably connected between the highly pressurized gas source and the pressurized plenum, whereby a flow of high pressure gas from the highly pressurized gas source to the pressurized plenum is allowed during actuation of the high pressure valve; ii. a high pressure valve actuator that displaces the high pressure valve, thereby causing displacement and actuation of the high pressure valve. 
         [0014]    The hand held apparatus above may further comprise a pressure gage capable of indicating the pressure of the object to be pressurized in fluid connection with the pressurized plenum. In this manner, the means for pressurizing the object may comprise a pressure gage capable of indicating the pressure of the object to be pressurized. 
         [0015]    The hand held apparatus for pressurizing the object above may have as the means for pressurizing the object comprising: a. means for inflating the object to be pressurized; and b. means for deflating the object to be pressurized. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the invention, a method for hand held pressurizing of gas shocks or air bags may comprise: a. providing a hand held unit; b. attaching a high pressure gas source to the hand held unit; c. attaching the hand held unit to an object to be pressurize; d. activating a high pressure valve allowing a flow of a high pressure flow of gas from the high pressure gas source to a pressurized plenum in fluid connection with the object to be pressurized; and e. activating a vent valve allowing a flow of gas from the pressurized plenum to ambient atmosphere, thereby allowing the object to be deflated. 
         [0017]    The method for hand held pressurizing of gas shocks or air bags above may further comprise monitoring the pressure of the object to be pressurized. 
         [0018]    The monitoring the fill pressure step above may comprise using a pressure gage fluidly connected to the object to be pressurized. 
         [0019]    A device may be capable of performing the steps of the method for hand held pressurizing of gas shocks or air bags above. 
         [0020]    In yet another aspect of this invention, a hand held apparatus for pressurizing gas shocks or air bags may comprise: a. a high pressure inlet section, comprising: i. a high pressure valve that connects a highly pressurized gas source to a pressurized plenum, whereby a flow of high pressure gas from the highly pressurized gas source to the pressurized plenum is allowed; ii a high pressure valve actuator that can activate the high pressure valve; b. the pressurized plenum, comprising: i. a vent valve that connects the pressurized plenum to an ambient atmosphere, whereby a flow of gas from the pressurized plenum to the atmosphere is allowed; ii. a vent valve actuator that can activate the vent valve, thereby causing actuation of the vent valve. 
         [0021]    In still another aspect of the invention, a hand held apparatus for inflating or deflating an object may be constructed, the hand held apparatus comprising: a. a high pressure port that fluidly connects a highly pressurized gas source to a pressurized plenum with a high pressure valve; b. a vent port that fluidly connects a vent valve to the pressurized plenum, the vent valve venting gas from the pressurized plenum to an external atmosphere; c. a gage port that fluidly connects to the pressurized plenum, wherein a gage attached to the gage port indicates the pressure of the pressurized plenum; d. a pressure output port fluidly connects to the pressurized plenum, wherein a change in pressure of the pressurized plenum reflects a change in pressure of an object to be inflated or deflated. 
         [0022]    The ports of the hand held apparatus above may comprise a manifold. 
         [0023]    The manifold may be comprised of a composition selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of: aluminum; fiberglass; a thermoplastic; and a thermoset plastic. The thermoplastic and thermoset plastics may both be foamed plastics when a foaming agent is added. Although aluminum is a likely choice of metals to use, other metals, such as copper, tin, steels, or titanium may be used, the only limitation being difficulties in fabrication and material cost. For ease of machining, low cost, and low weight, it is difficult to prefer any of the other alternative metals over aluminum. 
         [0024]    The foamed plastics above may comprise a fiber filling with a weight percentage (Wt %) of fiber selected from the group of weight percentages consisting of: ≧1 Wt %, ≧2 Wt %, ≧5 Wt %, ≧10 Wt %, ≧15 Wt %, ≧20 Wt %, ≧30 Wt %, ≧40 Wt %, and ≧50 Wt %. 
         [0025]    The fiber filling may be glass, carbon, or other relatively inexpensive fiber compatible with the plastic chemistries above. 
         [0026]    Further aspects of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0027]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a hand held apparatus for pressurizing gas shocks or other pneumatic devices. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a blown up section of the high pressure valve section of the hand held unit previously discussed in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the hand held unit body. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom left perspective view of a machine hand held unit body without the pressure source or gage attached. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4B  is a top right perspective view of a machine hand held unit body without the pressure source or gage attached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus generally shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4B . It will be appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as to details of the parts, and that the method may vary as to the specific steps and sequence, without departing from the basic concepts as disclosed herein. 
         [0034]    Pneumatic devices that provide lift and shock absorbing capacity are widely used world-wide. Frequently, these devices are filled with nitrogen gas, as this is substantially non-reactive relative to the materials (usually some sort of rubber) exposed to the gas. Dry air may be used, but it suffers from increase reactivity, hence oxidation. Simple compressed air suffers from the moisture that is ubiquitous in the atmosphere. Where non-dry air is used, reactivity may be increased over that of dry air, and the moisture may change state from gas to liquid or even solid, greatly changing the pressure of a confined sample of the air. For these reasons, and relatively low cost, nitrogen is a preferred filler for pressurized pneumatic devices such as gas shock absorbers (otherwise known as gas shocks) and “air bags” used for load levelling. 
         [0035]    Refer now to  FIG. 1 , which is a cross-sectional view of a hand held gaged gas filling apparatus  100 . Here, we find a hand held unit  102 , which is attached to a monitoring gage  104  on one end, and a highly pressurized gas source  106  at the other end. A cartridge puncture device  108  is mounted within the hand held unit  102 , which pierces the highly pressurized gas source  106 . 
         [0036]    Highly pressurized gas source  106  is shown as a bottle, and in reality it is a thin walled pressure vessel confining a pressurized gas. The gas may be CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , Ar, Xe, dry air, other dry gas, or any mixture of the preceding. Most likely, and most economically for filing pressurized components, the gas is N 2  or CO 2  gas. 
         [0037]    A high pressure valve  110 , which is actuated by a high pressure actuator  112 , controls the release of the highly pressurized gas source  106  into a slanted portion  114  of a pressurized plenum. The pressurized plenum provides a source of pressurized gas controlled by vent actuator  118  by way of low-pressure vent valve  116 . The vent actuator  118  in turn controls the release of gas from the pressurized plenum into ambient atmosphere. 
         [0038]    A longitudinal portion  120  of the pressurized plenum is in fluid connection with the slanted portion  114  of the pressurized plenum. The pressurized plenum (comprised of slanted portion  114  and longitudinal portion  120 ) fluidly communicates with pressure gage  104  and to pressure outlet  122 . Pressure outlet  122  is in turn connected to an object to be pressurized (not shown) through a pressure hose or other pressure containing tube. Thus, the pressure gage  104  indicates the pressure in the object to be pressurized. Ideally, the pressure gage  104  is fluid filled, and has a rather small orifice for pressure reading, so as to minimize fluctuations of the pressure gage  104  needle indicator, and thereby protect the needle from damage. 
         [0039]    In operation, high pressure actuator  112  is depressed, allowing a flow of gas from the highly pressurized gas source  106  into the slanted portion  114  of the pressurized plenum. Gas released into the pressurized plenum equalizes with the pressure inside an object connected with the pressure outlet  122 . Then the high pressure actuator  112  is released when the vicinity of a correct inflation pressure is indicated by the pressure gage  104 . 
         [0040]    Due to the relative complexity of the high pressure actuator  112 , a blowup  200  of the actuator is further described in  FIG. 2  below. 
         [0041]    Should the pressure indicated by the pressure gage  104  be too high, then the vent actuator  118  is depressed, allowing a flow of gas through a small diameter vent  126  from the slanted portion  114  of the pressurized plenum and from the object to be pressurized by the pressure outlet  122 . By controlling the flow exiting the vent  126  to ambient atmosphere, the pressure in the object may be carefully and precisely achieved. 
         [0042]    In fabrication, high pressure valve  110  has a preferred rating of 2000 psi, and vent valve  116  has a preferred pressure rating of 500 psi. A relief valve  124  is threaded into the hand held unit  102  to provide pressure relief of plenum  114  for conditions exceeding 400 psi. The relief valve serves to also protect the pressure gage  104  from over pressure conditions that might otherwise be achieved through incorrect operation of the device, or blocking of the pressure outlet  122  to the object to be inflated. The highly pressurized bottle  106  is recessed  132  into the hand held unit  102  to minimize inadvertent disconnection. Further, the pressure gage  104  is attached to the hand held unit  102  through a threaded engagement. 
         [0043]    Seal  128  may be used to separate the high pressure region behind the cartridge puncture device  108  from the slanted  114  and longitudinal  120  portions of the pressurized plenum. This seal  128  may be used when the hand held unit  102  is machined from a solid to minimize machining operations and consequent fabrication costs. 
         [0044]    Highly pressurized gas source  106  may be nitrogen supplied from a replaceable 95 cm 3  cartridge style bottle that is approved for shipment via common carrier through the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT). A standard cartridge seal  130  is used to seal the high pressure gas source  106  to the hand held body  102 . 
         [0045]    Refer now to  FIG. 2 , which is a blown up section  200  of the high pressure valve  110  region of the hand held unit  102  previously discussed in  FIG. 1 . Here, the high pressure actuator  112  translates an actuator shaft  202  where the high pressure actuator  112  is retained by detent  204  and has conical spring return  206  acting to return it from depression. 
         [0046]    Interior circular clip  208  retains a pressure seal  210  which seals pressure in the slanted portion  114  of the pressurized plenum via large O-ring  212  to the hand held unit  102 , and to the actuator shaft  202  via small O-ring  214 . Both of these O-rings  212  and  214  are greased with silicone grease to minimize gas leakage from the slanted portion  114  of the pressurized plenum to ambient atmosphere outside the hand held unit  102 . Although not shown here, the vent actuator  118  actuates the low-pressure valve  116  in a similar fashion, but without an analog to the pressure seal  210  to the pressurized plenum being necessary. 
         [0047]    Actuator shaft  202  is a ground and polished pin, with a highly smooth surface finish, allowing a low leak and reliable high pressure seal with small O-ring  214 . 
         [0048]    Refer now to  FIG. 3 , which is a cross-sectional view of the hand held unit  102 . Here, the Top, Bottom, Left and Right sides are indicated for ease of comparison in subsequent  FIGS. 4A and 4B . For clarity&#39;s sake, all hardware contained within and attached to hand held unit  102  has been removed. This cross-section is useful for understanding the unitary design of the hand held unit  102 . Here, a block of metal, or high strength plastic, may be formed into the hand held unit  102 . By high strength plastic, glass filled polycarbonate would be a likely candidate. If machined from a metal, aluminum would be a likely hand held unit  102  material. 
         [0049]    In operation, the palm of the hand presses against the Right side, and the fingers operated the high pressure and vent actuators previously described on the left side. To make the hand held unit  102  more ergonomically comfortable, the Right side is larger to better conform to the palm of the hand. 
         [0050]    Refer now to  FIG. 4A , which is a bottom left perspective view of a hand held unit  102  with just the actuators and no other hardware attached. 
         [0051]    For rapid filling of an object to be pressurized, the high pressure actuator  112  is continuously depressed, so long as the monitoring pressure gage  104  (previously shown in  FIG. 1 ) does not indicate an over-pressure condition on the object to be pressurized. Should the hose attached to the object to be pressurized be constricted, then the relief valve  124  operates to vent the pressurized plenum (previously shown in  FIG. 3 ). In this manner, the relief valve  124  protects the pressure gage  104  (previously shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0052]    In this view, the recess  132  for the highly pressurized bottle  106  (previously shown in  FIG. 1 ) is visible on the bottom side of the hand held unit  102 . Also visible are the high pressure actuator  112  and the vent actuator  118  on the left side. 
         [0053]    Refer now to  FIG. 4B , which is a top right perspective view of the hand held unit  102 . In this view, we see the threaded region  134  where the pressure gage  104  (previously shown in  FIG. 1 ) is installed. Also, vent  126  is seen. Since vent  126  is on the top of the hand held unit  102 , it is easily heard when in the process of venting pressure. Pressure outlet  122  is shown here as a traditional high pressure disconnect, but it may be any other pressure fitting. 
         [0054]    Refer now to  FIGS. 1-4B , it may be seen that the hand held gaged gas filling apparatus  100  may easily fit in the palm of a person&#39;s hand, and may be readily used for pressurizing and depressurizing objects connect to it through the pressure outlet  122 . Although here a highly pressurized gas source  106  is principally described, a more traditional pressure quick connect may be used as the filling gas source, allowing fill gas up to very high pressures to be used. 
         [0055]    A common issue in the inflation and deflation of tires, shocks, and other pneumatic objects is that upon filling, the pressure is overshot, and must be reduced. However, in the process of reducing the pressure, the pressure is not easily measured without further pressure loss through reconnection of a pressure gage. Here, if pressure is overshot, the vent actuator is depressed, allowing a very controlled deflation of the object, with constant monitoring of the object inflation pressure. 
         [0056]    Although the hand held gaged gas filling apparatus  100  is small enough to be easily hand held, it may be permanently or semi-permanently attached to allow for quick inflation and deflation of items such as pneumatic shock absorbers. 
         [0057]    Although the description above contains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”