Improvements in and relating to Valves for Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1899-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Valves for Pneumatic Tires.
I, CLIFFORD WATROUS BEMAN, residing at Port Dickinson, in the County of
Broome and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in valves designed
especially for use in connection with the pneumatic tires of bicycles.
One of the greatest disadvantages of the present bicycle resides in the valve
for inflating the pneumatic tires, it being well known that in a majority of cases
said valves are liable to leak and afford considerable annoyance and inconvenience,
if not to temporarily disable the machine and render it unfit for use. This is
primarily due to the fact that in the ordinary construction of valves, the valve
itself is unseated by the pressure of the air from the pump against the tension
of its spring, the spring being light enough to permit of this being done, but too
light to positively ensure the closing of the valve under all circumstances after
inflation, so that the valve frequently sticks while unseated or does not effect an
air tight closure against its seat.
It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a simple and reliable
valve which is not subject to disarrangement, and which comprises few parts so
combined and arranged as to ensure their proper operation. Also to provide a
valva device in which the valve is unseated and held unseated during the inflating
operation by the pump nipple or fitting, and closed after said pump fitting has been
removed by a stiff spring which securely holds the valve to its seat and prevents
the escape of air.
With the above object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features
and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more
fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the accompanying drawings:-
-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the pump nipple applied to unseat the valve
and force air therethrough.
Figure 4 is a cross-section on line - of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the valve detached.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the head.
Figure 7 an inverted sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified
construction of valve
Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tubular valve casing which is of
cylindrical form and provided at its base with an enlarged portion 2 which is
formed with aunular grooves to enable it to be firmly secured to the rubber stem
of a pneumatic tire in a manner well understood by those conversant with the art
D

page_text: to which this invention appertains. Upon the outer end of this casing is fitted
a screw cap 4, which may be exteriorly roughened or milled to facilitate its
removal when necessary. This end of the casing is interiorly screw-threaded as
at 5. Arranged within the casing is a coiled spring 6, one end of which bears
against an annular seat 7 at the junction of the parts 1 and 2 of the casing, the
outer end of said spring pressing against the head 8 of the valve proper 9 working
in an enlarged chamber 10 in the inner enlarged end 2 of the casing, as clearly
shown in Figure 2. The valve proper 9 and the head 8 are connected by a
centrally arranged stem 11 which extends longitudinally within the casing, and
through an opening 7" in the seat or diaphragm 7.
The valve 9 is substantially cylindrical in form and fits snugly within the
portion 2 of the casing, and in order to allow the passage of the air by the valve
after it has passed through the opening 7 at the junction of the parts 1 and 2,
said valve is provided on opposite sides with grooves or flattened surfaces, as
shown at 12. The valve is also provided in its inner face with an annular
cavity 13 in which is placed a packing washer or rubber disc 14 adapted to
press firmly against the diaphragm at the junction of the parts 1 and 2 of
the casing, so that when the valve is acted upon by the spring 6, an air tight
joint will be provided for preventing the escape of air from the tire.
For the purpose of readily removing the valve for repairing the same or applying
a new packing washer, the stem 11 may have a threaded connection with the valve or
head 8, or both, as shown, and the said head 8 may be provided with a screw-driver
receiving groove or nick 15. It is also provided with grooves or flattened faces 16
at opposite sides and slots or passages 17 which intersect said groove or nick,
for passage of air.
In operation, the nipple 18 of the pump tube 19 is inserted in the end of th
valve casing and screwed inward until it contacts with the head 8, when it
acts to press the stem inward and unseat the valve, the spring being at the same
time partially compressed. The same action upon the valve may be produced by a
special fitting of pump arranged to fit over and around the casing 1. Upon
the operation of the pump the air will be forced through the valve into the tire
and when the latter has become sufficiently inflated the pump is unscrewed, and
thereupon the stiff spiral spring 6 presses the valve firmly to its seat and
prevents any possibility of the air escaping around the valve."
The spring is stiff enough to resist compression under the pressure of air forced
from any ordinary bicycle pump, and to positively seat the valve under all
conditions. The valve is thereby prevented from sticking and is forced firmly
against its seat. It will thus be seen that leakage of air from the tire is thereby
effectually prevented.
In the modification shown in Figure 7, the construction is simplified by
dispensing with the independent valve chamber 10 and head 8, and the valve gu
is adapted to close against a conical seat 7b formed in the tubular casing 1 and
to be directly opened by the pump nipple or fitting. The valve stem also
projects rearwardly and is arranged to move in the passage of a screw-threaded
nipple 20 closing the inner end of the valve casing, while the spring bears against
said nipple and holds the valve to its seat. The operation with this construction is
the same as in the construction shown in the other figures, a somewhat longer and
more pointed pump nipple being, however, employed to force the valve open.
Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made
within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing
any of the advantages thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A valve for pneumatic tires, comprising a casing, a valve proper arranged
to seat itself therein and adanted to be noted

page_text: to unseat the valve, and a spring acting on the valve to normally hold it seated
and adapted to yield only to permit the valve to open when the pump nipple
is applied to force the stem inwardly, whereby the valve is unseated by the
application of the pump independently of the pressure of air therefrom,
substantially as described."
2. A valve for pneumatic tires, comprising a casing, a valve proper arranged
to seat itself therein, a stem connected therewith and adapted to be acted upon
directly by the pump nipple to unseat the valve, and a spring surrounding said
stem and acting on the valve to normally hold it seated and adapted to yield
only to permit the valve to open when the pump nipple is applied to force the
stem inwardly, whereby the valve is unseated by the application of the pump
independently of the pressure of air therefrom, substantially as described.
3. A valve for pneumatic tires, comprising a casing screw-threaded exteriorly
at its outer end and provided with a main chamber and a valve chamber separated
by a diaphragm, a valve in said valve chamber adapted to seat against the
diaphragm, a stem connected to the valve and extending into the main chamber
through an opening in said diaphragm, a head on the outer end of the stem
closely fitted in the main chamber and provided with feed passages, said head
adapted to be engaged by the pump nipple to unseat the valve, a spring bearing
against the head to normally hold the valve closed until the stem is positively
moved inwardly by the pump nipple, and a cap fitted upon the exteriorly threaded
outer end of the casing, substantially as described.
4. A valve for pneumatic tires, comprising a casing screw-threaded exteriorly
at its outer end and provided with a main chamber and a valve chamber separated
by a diaphragm, a valve in said valve chamber adapted to seat against the
diaphragin and provided on opposite sides thereof with feed passages or grooves
and with a packing ring arranged in a cavity therein, a stem connected to the valve
and extending through the diaphragm into the main chamber, a head on the
outer end of the stem closely fitting the main chamber and formed with feed
openings extending therethrough and with flattened feed faces or grooves on
opposite sides thereof, a spring bearing against the head to normally hold the valve
olosed until the stem is positively moved inwardly by the pump nipple, and a
cap fitted upon the exteriorly threaded outer end of the casing, substantially as
described.