Abstract:
A tire sealant delivery system comprising a container, a moveable piston disposed within the container, the moveable piston cooperatively engage able with the container such that the piston does not rotate during operation, a threaded shaft cooperatively engaged with the piston and the container, a tube for connecting the container to a receiver, a dispenser comprising, an electric actuator, the electric actuator connectable to the container for rotating the threaded shaft, an air compressor, and a valve connectable to the container and connected to the air compressor, the valve operable to selectively allow dispensing of a tire sealant from the container to a receiving tire, or dispensing of compressed air from the air compressor to a receiving tire.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a tire sealant delivery system, and more particularly, to a tire sealant delivery system for selectively dispensing sealant or compressed air to a receiving tire. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Representative of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,145 which discloses a housing of length and cross-sectional dimension to enclose a given amount of tire sealing fluid is selected, coupled with a flexible hose at its output port with a pneumatic tire valve, and charged at its input port from a source of compressed air to inject the tire sealing fluid within the housing by means of the hose through the pneumatic valve to protect a tire against later blowouts or puncturing in use. In a preferred embodiment, the housing is constructed of a polyvinylchloride tube, while the hose is constructed of a clear vinyl composition. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a tire sealant delivery system for selectively dispensing sealant or compressed air to a receiving tire. The present invention meets this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The primary aspect of the invention is a tire sealant delivery system for selectively dispensing sealant or compressed air to a receiving tire. 
         [0005]    Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0006]    The invention comprises a tire sealant delivery system comprising a container, a moveable piston disposed within the container, the moveable piston cooperatively engage able with the container such that the piston does not rotate during operation, a threaded shaft cooperatively engaged with the piston and the container, a tube for connecting the container to a receiver, a dispenser comprising, an electric actuator, the electric actuator connectable to the container for rotating the threaded shaft, an air compressor, and a valve connectable to the container and connected to the air compressor, the valve operable to selectively allow dispensing of a tire sealant from the container to a receiving tire, or dispensing of compressed air from the air compressor to a receiving tire. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the container. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of the container. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a detail of the valve core tool. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the valve core tool in use on a tire. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of the container in use on a tire. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tire filling system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a detail view of the piston actuator. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a detail of the air compressor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away view of the tire filling system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cut-away view of the tire filling system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cut-away view of the one-way valve. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the one-way valve in a first operating mode. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the one-way valve in a second operating mode. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the piston. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the bearing. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the threaded shaft. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the rotor. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a detail side view of an end of the threaded shaft. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container. Container  100  comprises a body  1 , cap  2  and rotor  3 . Cap  2  is disposed on an end that is opposite the rotor  3 . Body  1  is generally cylindrical. An end  10  is hemispherical in form in order to accommodate the piston as more fully described herein. A typical sealant capacity of the body is 16 oz. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the container. Bearing  7  is fastened to the end of the body. Bearing  7  seals the body in which the sealant is contained. Threaded shaft  6  extends through bearing  7 . A first end  61  connects to rotor  3 . A second end  62  connects to the piston  8 . Shaft cap  9  is disposed between threaded shaft  6  and piston  8 . 
         [0029]    A flexible tube  4  extends from cap  2 . Threaded to the end of tube  4  is a valve core tool  5 . Valve core tool  5  is known in the art and is placed at the end of the tube  4  for the convenience of a user. 
         [0030]    The container is also refillable and reusable, thereby extending the utility of the system. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of the container. Sealant 
         [0032]    (S) is shown within the body  1 . Threaded shaft  6  extends substantially the entire length of body  1 . The outer surface  63  of threaded shaft  6  is threaded. Outer surface thread ably engages an inner surface  81  of piston  8 . Bearing  7  is fixed to the end of body  1 . Threaded shaft  6  is engaged with bearing  7  such that as shaft  6  is rotated shaft  6  does not move axially with respect to bearing  7 . Threaded shaft  6  is connected to rotor  3 . A user grasps and rotates rotor  3  by hand. As the rotor  3  and threaded shaft  6  rotates piston  8  advances axially along the length of shaft  6  due to the threaded engagement with shaft  6  thereby compressing and expelling the sealant through tube  4 . Piston  8  is prevented from rotating relative to the body  1  due to the hexagonal planiform of the piston, see  FIG. 15 . The hexagonal form cooperatively engages the body which has a cooperating cross-sectional form. 
         [0033]    Exemplary operational parameters for the system are as follows. These parameters are offered as examples only and are not intended to limit the use or operation of the inventive device. In this table “bottle” refers to the container  1 , “fluid” refers to the sealant (S), and “pusher” refers to the piston  8 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Sealant filling capacity 
                 16.47 
                 Oz 
               
               
                   
                 Un used volume 
                 0.47 
                 Oz 
               
               
                   
                 Total volume come out 
                 16 
                 Oz 
               
               
                   
                 No of rev 
                 15 
                 turns 
               
               
                   
                 Displacement of piston per rev 
                 1 
                 cm cube 
               
               
                   
                 Volume displacement per rev 
                 1.0667 
                 ounce 
               
               
                   
                 Viscosity 
                 7900 
                 centipoise 
               
               
                   
                 Density of fluid 
                 1.1 
                 gm/cm cube 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter of nozzle 
                 0.4 
                 cm cube 
               
               
                   
                 Rotation speed (assumed) 
                 4 
                 rpm 
               
               
                   
                 Outside pressure p2 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 Flow rate will be 
                 4.2667 
                 oz/min 
               
               
                   
                 I ounce = 
                 29.574 
                 cm cube 
               
               
                   
                 Flow rate will be 
                 126.18 
                 cm cube/min 
               
               
                   
                 Liquid velocity will be at nozzle 
                 16.735 
                 cm/sec 
               
               
                   
                 Liquid velocity inside bottle 
                 0.0605 
               
               
                   
                 Cross section of bottle 
                 34.74 
                 cm sqre 
               
               
                   
                 Pressure inside the bottle 
                 154.03 
                 gm/cm sqre 
               
               
                   
                 Force on Pusher w 
                 5.3512 
                 kg 
               
               
                   
                 Helix angle α 
                 12 
                 deg 
               
               
                   
                 Helix angle α 
                 0.2094 
                 rad 
               
               
                   
                 Friction angle φ 
                 11.5 
                 deg 
               
               
                   
                 Friction angle φ 
                 0.2007 
                 rad 
               
               
                   
                 Torque on shaft = w tan (α + φ) 
                 2.3267 
                 kg cm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a detail of the valve core tool. Valve core tool  5  is removeable attached to the end of tube  4 . Tube  4  is flexible in order to allow it to be connected to a pneumatic tire valve. Valve core tool  5  is a well known core tool widely available in the art for removal and installation of Spreader® brand pneumatic valve cores. Of course, the valve core tool may be selected to engage any other valve core such as a Presto™ valve as well. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the valve core tool in use on a tire. Valve core tool  5  is shown with a valve core (VCO) symbolically removed from a tire valve (TV). Tire (T) is mounted to a wheel (W) in a manner known in the art. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of the container in use on a tire. Piston  8  is shown advanced to nearly the full length of the threaded shaft  6 . Sealant (S) is shown discharging through cap  2  and tube  4  through the tire valve (TV) into the tire (T). As the tire is rotated the sealant flows through the tire to the puncture, where it then seals the puncture. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tire filling system. The system comprises the container  100  and dispenser  200 . The dispenser is electric in order to facilitate discharge of the sealant into a receiving tire. Dispenser  200  comprises an LAD screen for displaying various system variables and parameters. LAD displays for system parameters are widely known and available to one skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    A pressure gage  211  displays a tire pressure when the dispenser is connected to a tire. Pressure gage  211  may be analogs or digital. 
         [0039]    Compartment  212  contains a power cord  212   a  which may be connected to a vehicle electrical system or other power source. Vehicle electrical systems are typically 12 volt, but this is not disclosed in order to limit the breadth of use of the device. 
         [0040]    Compartment  213  contains the hose  309  used to connect the dispenser to a tire. Dispenser body  214  may be made of plastic, metal or suitable durable material known in the art. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a detail view of the piston actuator. A volt electric motor  215 , and reduction gears  216 ,  217  are mounted within the body  214 . Gear  217  engages a cooperating end  61  of threaded shaft  6 . Gear  216  is attached to a motor shaft. As motor  215  operates the reduction gears to slow the rotational speed of gear  217  to approximately 4 RPM. This allows sealant (S) to be discharged into a tire in a controlled manner. The container will typically hold 16 Oz of sealant. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  is a detail of the air compressor. A 12 volt electric motor  240 , and reduction gears  244 ,  245  are mounted within the body  214 . Gear  244  engages a cooperating end of the compressor  243 . Gear  245  is attached to a motor shaft. The compressor comprises a cylinder  241  and a cylinder head  242 . Outlet nipple  247  allows connection of the compressor to an outlet pipe  246 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away view of the tire filling system. The piston actuator ( FIG. 8 ), compressor ( FIG. 9 ) and one-way valve  300  are contained within body  214 . Flexible tube  4  is connected to the one-way valve  300 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  is a cut-away view of the tire filling system. Tube  4  and outlet pipe  246  are each connected to the one-way valve  300 . Tube  4  conveys the sealant (S) and outlet pipe  246  conveys compressed air. 
         [0045]      FIG. 12  is a cut-away view of the one-way valve. One-way valve  300  comprises body  301 , a piston  302  and o-ring  303 . Piston  302  is slidingly contained within a cylindrical portion of body  301 . O-rings  303  act to seal the piston within body  301 . Spring  307  urges piston  302  into a first position which allows sealant to flow through the one-way valve to a common outlet  306  and thereby to a receiving tire. Compressor outlet pipe  246  attaches to nipple  305 . The pressure gage  211  attaches to nipple  304 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the one-way valve in a first operating mode. In the first operating mode a spring  307  force causes piston  302  to close the air input from the compressor and thereby allow sealant (S) to flow through the one-way valve to the outlet nipple  306 . Outlet nipple is connected to a hose  309  which is in turn connected to a receiving tire (T). 
         [0047]    Tube  4  is connected to the one-way valve through nipple  308 . In this first operating mode the air compressor is not in operation and only sealant is delivered to a tire. The actuator as described in  FIG. 8  is in operation in this first mode. 
         [0048]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the one-way valve in a second operating mode. In the second operating mode the air compressor is in operation which provides compressed air to the nipple  305 , thereby overcoming the spring force which moves the piston  302  into a position to close the sealant tube  4  and stop the sealant flow. Compressed air can then be delivered to a tire. The actuator as described in  FIG. 8  is not in operation in this second operating mode. 
         [0049]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the piston. Piston comprises six sides  82 ,  83 ,  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  thereby forming a hexagonal planiform. Piston  8  slidingly engages an inner surface of body  1  and also seals against the inner surface of the body in order to allow the sealant to be forced from the body  1  during operation. The hexagonal form of piston  8  prevents piston  8  form rotating during operating as it is advancing along the length of container  1 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the bearing. Bearing  7  comprises six sides  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 , thereby forming a hexagonal planiform. Threaded shaft  6  extends through and engages hole  77 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the threaded shaft. Shaft  6  comprises threads  63  on an outer surface. Rotor  7  and gear  217  are each separately engage able with end  61  of threaded shaft  6 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the rotor. Receiving portion  31  engages an end  61  of threaded shaft  6  whereby a torque can be applied to shaft  6  by rotation of rotor  3  or gear  217 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 19  is a detail side view of an end of the threaded shaft. Members  62  and  63  project into a mechanical engagement with receiving portion  31 . Members  62  and  63  may comprise a “click” or “snap” type engagement or any other suitable mechanical engagement means known in the art. 
         [0054]    Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.