Improvements in Valves for Pneumatic Tyres and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov.. 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1877
Improvements in Valves for Pneumatic Tyres and the like.
I, CHARLES CHALMERS FONTAINE, 9, Holland Road, Brixton, London, S. W.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in air valves for pneumatic tyres, and
the like, and has for its object to provide a simple means whereby the valve stem
inay be closed and so prevent any escape of air.
In carrying out my invention the stem of the valve is attached to the tyre in the
usual manner and projects through the rim of the wheel and secured in position by
means of a nut and washer. Through the stem is a small vent or bore with the
inside end opening out into the tyre. This vent is provided with a valve in
the usual manner which prevents the air escaping while the cap or nut is being
screwed on.
The cap screws over the end of the stem in the usual manner, and is provided
with a central tapering or conical projection forming a plug and fitting into a
similar recess or opening in the outer end of the vent, in the stem, and on screwing
the cap up tight forms an air tight joint and does not depend on the valve to prevent
any air escaping from the tyre when in use.
Instead of having the conical projection formned on the cap, the end of the stem
may be coned off and the cap have a corresponding recess formed in it leaving a
screwed portion for screwing it over the stem.
The end of the stem may be coned off as above described and also may have a
conical enlargement of the vent thus forming, in cross section, a V shape and
fitting into a similar shaped groove in the inside of the cap.
Instead of having a V shaped groove in the inside of the cap I may form
it without any groove or projection, allowing the knife-edge end of the
stem to cut or force its own way into the cap and to thereby make an air-tight
joint.
The cap or nut may be provided with wings or extensions, to allow it to be
operated by hand.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
1, CHARLES CHALMERS FONTAINE of 95, Holland Road, Brixton, London, S. W.
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 improvements in air valves for pneumatic tyres and the
like, and has for its object to provide a means whereby the valve stem may be

page_text: closed and any escape of air prevented which will be simpler than the arrangements
commonly employed.
In carrying out my invention the valve is attached to the tyre in the usual manner
according to the style of tyre employed and projects through the rim of the wheel,
being secured in position as in the ordinary arrangement by means of a nut. At
the inner end of the stem a non-return valve of any well known construction is
fitted to prevent the air escaping while the pump is applied.
My invention relates especially to the outer end of the valve stem the device I
propose to employ effectually preventing the air (when the valve is closed) from
escaping, without relying on the interior part of the valve.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a valve applied to a pneumatic tyre,
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cap, and
Figs. 3 and 4 show slightly modified arrangements.
According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the upper end a of the screwed stem A is made
of tapering form and is provided with the two or more ribs or projecting
surfaces a one at the extremity of the stem and the second at a short distance from
the first.
These ribs or projections form points of contact for the cap B which is placed
over the end of the stem. The cap is screwed on the end of the stem, being
provided with the milled part B₁ by which it can be screwed down or removed.
Owing to the form of the two collars which are both tapering, on the cap being
screwed down the end of the stem is caused to embed itself in the latter, the
tapering surfaces bearing tightly against the inner surface of the cap which is also
formed in a tapering or conical manner. The central passage C passing from end
to end of the stem and opening at the extremity of the latter is completely closel
by the air tight joint formed with the cap and extremity of the stem.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that already described in general
construction but the tapering end a of the stem A is being made plain instead of
formed with ribs or collars. The cap B is in this case provided with a metal
cup B2 fitting loosely into an interior hollow or recess in the cap and formed with
the internal collar or rib & which bears on the sides of the tapering part of the stem,
the extremity of the stem projecting into the socket at the top of the cup, which
fits it tightly. The cup is secured in the cap by means of a projecting ring b¹ at
the top of the latter. The cup being thin will give to any irregularity which may
be on the end of the stem thereby ensuring an air tight joint. In both cases two
contact surfaces are formed so that in case of a slight leak from the extremity of
the passage the air would pass into the cavity between the two surfaces where the
pressure would be less and the second rib or collar would effectually prevent it
escaping from the stem. The contacting surfaces in this arrangement are small
which is a great advantage when metal is employed allowing a tighter joint to be
obtained which is of course much less liable to leak, the space in this case being
utilised to form two independent joints.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the end of the valve stem is preferably
turned down very thin so that as the cap screws on and pinches, it can slightly
give should the cavity in the cup not be quite true. The cup itself being thin and
of softer material than the stem can also give to adapt itself to the stein.
The ribs or collars in the cup may be made in one piece with the cap as in
Fig. 1.
According to this arrangement instead of employing a large stem with the valve
parts enclosed therein I use a stem just large enough to permit an air passage
of sufficient size to pass through it with enough thickness to permit of a screw
thread on the outside. As shown in Fig. 1 the inner end of the valve stem is formed
with a cavity or box D furnished with the perforations d at the sides. This
enlarged portion serves as a head by which the valve can be fitted to the air
tube E. Within the case the ball d' is placed which serves to close the end of the

page_text: passage in the stem forming a non-return valve.
When the head of the valve stem
is at the top, the ball will drop over the end of the passage but when the stem is.
reversed the ball will drop, the air gradually getting between it and the surface
of the stem, thus allowing the tyre to deflate when the cap is removed the valve
closing again immediately the tyre is turned round.
Owing to the contact surface being very small there is little danger of dirt
which may get into the valve clogging or stopping it and thus it will always work
freely. The wire pin or other mechanical parts commonly employel for deflating
or other purposes is thus dispensed with, and the only part requiring to be unscrewed
is the cap.
The shape of the ball and the manner in which the air on escaping through
the stem passes from the tyre into the valve case, prevents any danger of the
ball being forced up by the escaping air into the end of the passage, as shown in
Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 3 instead of the ball d being employed the conical plug d
is used the plug entering partly into the end of the passage and being provided with
a large base. Owing to the pressure being on both sides this plug can drop so as
to open the passage as in the case of the ball valve, but will close again should the
air escape rapidly. No metallic non-return valve being perfectly air tight, the
pressure is practically the same in the stem as in the air tube thus ensuring
the valve opening.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the case or box D₁ is of smaller size, the ball being prevented
from falling entirely away from the passage so that as in the case of the plug
valve, immediately the air is allowed to escape rapidly, by entirely uncovering the
stem it will force the ball or plug up and close the aperture. To deflate this ball or
plug valve it is necessary to only partially uncover the stem permitting the air to
escape slowly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an air tight cap to fit on the end of the perforated stem of a tyre valve-
the recessing of the coned face either of the cap or the end of the stem so as to lessen
the bearing areas of the one part against the other, substantially as, and for the
purposes specified.
2. In a new or improved valve for pneumatic tyres having the combination with
a non-return valve at the lower end of the stem of a conical termination on the
other end of the stem, a screwed cap, and having a conical socket and collars on the
stem or cap forming bearing surfaces, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
3. In an improved valve for pneumatic tyres and the like, the combination with
the valve stem provided with a non-return valve and a conical termination and
tapering collars on the stem, of a screwed cap formed with a conical socket,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. In an improved valve for pneumatic tyres and the like, the combination
with a valve stem provided with a non-return valve and a conical termination,
of a screwed cap fitting on the said stem, having a conical socket and tapering
collars fitting on the end of the stem, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
5. In an improved valve for pneumatic tyres and the like, the combination
with a stem formed with a conical terminatien a screwed cap provided with a
conical socket and collars on the stem or cap, of a case on the lower end of
the stem provided with perforations and a ball in the said case closing the
end of the stem, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 1 and for the purposes
specified.
6. In an improved valve for pneumatic tyres and the like, the combination with
a stem formed with a conical termination a screwed cap having a conical socket and

page_text: collars on the stem or cap, of a non-return valve on the lower end of the stem
consisting of a perforated case and a cone entering the end of the stem substantially
as described and shown in Fig. 3 and for the purposes specified.
7. An improved valve for pneumatic tyres consisting of a perforated stem C,
in combination with the movable part d' contained in a chamber D with perforations d
and an air tight cap B fitted with a soft metal cup B' fitting upon the coned head
of the stem a substantially as illustrated and described in the accompanying
specification and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 27th of November 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.