Improvements in Pneumatic Tire Valves for Bicycle and like Wheels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1342
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tire Valves for Bicycle and like
Wheels.
A communication by ASAHEL MILTON SHURTLEFF, of Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Surgical Instrument
Maker.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
As pneumatic tires are advancing in public appreciation especially for use in
connection with wheels for bicycles and the like it becomes a matter of importance
that the means employed to retain air in the hollow flexible tire, besides being
efficient for such purpose shall also be very durable and easily operated, and to
this end I have devised and combined with the tire a novel valve.
For security against leakage or escape of air the contact between the valve and
its seat must be very close, and to effect this close fit I have devised a tapering or
conical surfaced valve, it co-operating with a seat made as an edge or corner
arranged as a ring or annulus so that the contact between the seat edge and valve
is in a single line thus constituting a single line contact.
This kind of valve may be kept air-tight on its seat by the exertion of but a
minimum amount of pressure and consequently with but a minimum of wear, and
further dust cannot lodge on the contact surface of the seat and cannot therefore
interfere with closing the valve air-tight.
In accordance with my invention the annular corner or edge constituting the
valve seat preferably forms a part of a valve case or shell in communication with
the tire, and the valve co-operating with the seat is made tapering or conical in
form and hence is adapted to fit tightly the annular corner or edge constituting
the seat, the contact being a single line contact.
The valve preferably has a screw-threaded stem which fits screw threads at the
interior of the valve case, the valve stem being extended outwardly through a
suitable stuffing box suitably applied to the valve case, preferably screwed upon it,
the said stuffing box, of any usual or suitable form, having a packing against which
may bear a shoulder of the valve when the latter is moved outwardly to its
furthest extent away from the valve seat.
The valve case enters, preferably, a flexible tube-like portion in communication
with the tire; the valve case having at one side a hollow stem either integral with
or separate therefrom.
This stem will preferably contain some sort of a check valve, and externally
the stem will be threaded to receive upon it a dust-cap, a portion of which may be
shaped to constitute a valve wrench.
The stem is suitably shaped to have applied to it a nozzle in communication'
with a pipe, in turn in communication with some suitable source of compressed air,
such as an air pump, or equivalent, and the nozzle has a ring-nut which is adapted
to be secured upon the stem in such manner as to prevent the escape of air when'
the pump or other device is being used to fill the tire, the said conical valve being
then away from its seat.
For the greatest durability the valve case, or the annular corner or edge
constituting the single line "contact-scat," may be annealed and the valve may be
made of some hard non-oxidizable material, such for instance, as aluminum bronze
or silicon bronze, or it may be of steel so that the action of the conical valve.
against, the single line contact-seat burnishes or wears the seat instead of the seat

page_text: cutting or wearing into the valve, as would be the case were the seat harder than
the valve.
Dated the 22nd day of February 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tire Valves for Bicycle and like
Wheels.
A communication by ASAHEL MILTON SHURTLEFF, of Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Surgical Instrument
Maker.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
As pneumatic tires are advancing in public appreciation especially for use in
connection with wheels for bicycles and the like it becomes a matter of importance
that the means employed to retain air in the hollow flexible tire, besides being
efficient for such purpose shall also be very durable and easily operated, and to
this end I have devised and combined with the tire a novel valve.
For security against leakage or escape of air the contact between the valve and
its seat must be very close, and to effect this close fit I have devised a tapering or
conical surfaced valve, it co-operating with a seat made as an edge or corner
arranged as a ring or annulus so that the contact between the seat edge and the
valve is in a single line thus constituting a single line contact.
This kind of valve may be kept air-tight on its seat by the exertion of but a
minimum amount of pressure and consequently with but a minimum of wear, and
further dust cannot lodge on the contact surface of the seat and cannot therefore
interfere with closing the valve air-tight.
In accordance with my invention the annular corner or edge constituting the
valve seat is shown as forming a part of a valve case or shell in communication
with the tire, and the valve co-operating with the seat is made tapering or conical
in form and hence is adapted to fit tightly the annular corner or edge constituting
the seat, the contact being a single line contact.
The valve as shown has a screw-threaded stem which fits screw threads at the
interior of the valve case, the valve stem being extended outwardly through a
suitable stuffing box suitably applied to the valve case, preferably screwed upon it,
the said stuffing box, of any usual or suitable form, having a packing against which
may bear a shoulder of the valve when the latter is moved outwardly to its furthest
extent away from the valve seat.
The valve case enters, as herein shown, a flexible tube like portion in com-
munication with the tire; the valve case having at one side a hollow stem either
integral with or separate therefrom.
This stem will preferably contain some sort of a check valve, and externally the
stem will be threaded to receive upon it a dust cap, a portion of which may be
shaped to constitute a valve wrench.
The stem is suitably shaped to have applied to it a nozzle in communication with
a pipe, in turn in communication with some suitable source of compressed air, such
as an air pump, or equivalent, and the nozzle has a ring-nut which is adapted to be
secured upon the stem in such manner as to prevent the escape of air when the
pump or other device is being used to fill the tire, the said conical valve being then
away from its seat.
For the greatest durability the valve case, or the annular corner or edge

page_text: constituting the single line "contact seat," may be annealed, and the valve may be
made of some hard non-oxidisable material, such for instance, as aluminum bronze
or silicon bronze, or it may be of steel so that the action of the conical valve
against the single line contact seat burnishes or wears the seat instead of the seat
cutting or wearing into the valve, as would be the case were the seat harder than
the valve.
Fig. 1, in vertical section shows a portion of a wheel and pneumatic tire, together
with a valve embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a coupling to be described ;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the valve in its retracted position or away
from the seat ;
Fig. 4 represents in front and side views a modified form of dust cap;
Fig. 5 is a modification showing the valve seat as provided with a thumb
nut; and
Fig. 6, on an enlarged scale shows a modified form of valve and seat to be
referred to.
In the drawing A represents part of the felloe of a wheel; B part of the
pneumatic tire which may be of any usual or suitable kind; and B', a hollow pipe
extended through the felloe and in communication with the tire, the said pipe
being preferably of india rubber.
This pipe receives within it a tubular shank a, of the valve case, it having a
hollow passage 3 and an annular corner or edge 2, the latter constituting what 1
shall denominate a single line contact-seat.
This valve case is so shaped internally as to leave a space 4, and the outer end
of the case is herein represented as threaded both internally and externally the
external threads serving to keep in place a suitable stuffing box d provided with
suitable packing d' and having a hole out through which is extended the shank c
of the conical surfaced valve c.
A portion of the valve referred to is threaded as at c to engage the internal
screw-threads of the portion of the valve case.
The tapering or conical portion of the valve c, as best represented in Fig. 1,
enters the passage 3 and when sufficiently far therein meets the seat 2 forming a
single line contact.
By employing for the valve seat 2 an edge or corner disposed as an annulus, as
shown, and by using a valve provided with a tapering or conical face to form a
single line contact therewith, it is possible to form a secure and reliable air-tight
joint with the exertion of but slight pressure between the valve and its seat, and
owing to the shape of the valve and seat but slight movement of the valve is
required to open and close the air passage, and as the pressure or contact between
the valve and seat is slight, the wear consequent upon repeated closures of the
valve will be slight, and furthermore, owing to the small extent of the surfaces in
contact, the opportunity offered for dust and other substances to prevent the
proper seating of the valve is done away with.
To provide against wear of the parts, I anneal the valve seat, or that portion of
the valve-case containing the seat, and make the valve of a hard metal such as
stated, such hard valve serving to burnish and adapt the seat to it.
'
With a valve seat and co-operating valve of different degrees of hardness as
specified all the wear comes upon the seat so that the taper of the valve is not
affected, and the corner of the seat is always kept in operative condition or in
condition to fit the valve.
The valve-case described may be made by boring a metallic rod, for instance, a
brass rod, I having found that a valve casing so produced possesses especial
advantages, as for instance, the screw threads will wear better and they will be
more accurately and nicely formed than when the case is made from a brass
casting, and furthermore a case made from such a rod is practically air-tight or
non-porous, which is not always the case with the casting.
The dust-cap g may have made in it a suitable opening as g² to fit the squared
'

page_text: .
end 2 of the valve stem, the said opening being in any part of the cap, and the cap
in practice will have attached to it a suitable flexible connection, as g', of chain
or otherwise, one end of which is shown as attached to a suitable part of the
apparatus, as for instance the pipe B' by any suitable device as a wire 20.
In Fig. 4, I have shown a dust cap in which the wrench opening 2 is made only
at the outer end of the cap, the inner end of the cap marked g having an annular
groove to receive a loose ring as having an eye with which the chain or flexible
part referred to might be attached, or if desired the rider may have a thumb nut
as t in his pocket which he may apply to the valve stem c¹.
This dust-cap g is internally screw-threaded to fit the external screw threads on
the tubular stem e, as shown in Fig. 1, said stem being integral with or attached to
the valve case at one side.
The stem contains a suitable check-valve h.
The preferable form of coupling and one which has been found to be practically
air-tight is represented in Fig. 2.
This coupling consists of the tapering nozzle adapted to enter the stem e, the
nozzle having a shoulder 2 to abut against the outer end of the stem, and outside
this nozzle is a running nut threaded internally to be screwed upon the screw-
thread stem, and when the threaded nut f¹ is screwed upon the nozzle it meets the
flange f².
The opposite end of the coupling is suitably joined to a pipe as f* in communi-
cation with any source for compressed air, as for instance, an air pump, not
shown, but instead of an air pump I may use any suitable air forcing device.
To apply the coupling the dust cap must be removed.
When it is desired to force air through the valve case, the valve will be
withdrawn, and to make the said case air tight or practically so, the shoulder 5 will
be brought to bear against the packing d' as shown in Fig. 3, or if said packing is
omitted directly against the interior of the stuffing box, or cap d.
The pump-coupling or connection shown in Fig. 2 is then inserted in the tubular
stem e, the dust cap being removed for the purpose, and the air may then be forced
through the said tubular stem, and through the hole 3.
The valve c, may be returned to its normal position, or closed against its seat,
when desired, and thereafter the coupling will be withdrawn or disconnected
from the stem e, and the dust cap or guard 9 screwed onto the stem as shewn in
Fig. 1.
Referring to Fig. 6, a portion of the tubular body a is represented having on its
inner end or face an annular extension a', and the valve c, instead of having a conical
end as shewn in Fig. 1, has a conical or tapering socket formed in the end of the
stem which receives the said annular extension a¹.
The area of contact between the valve and its seat in this instance is exceedingly
small, like that shown in Fig. 1, and hence the result is substantially the same, but
the form shown in Fig. 1 is deemed preferably owing to cheapness in manufacture,
and also ease in keeping the parts clean.
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. The use with a pneumatic tire and a communicating valve case provided with
an annular corner-like valve seat, of a tapering surfaced valve adapted to make a
single line contact with the said seat, substantially as described.
2. Also in the use with a wheel tire, and a communicating valve-case having a
passageway and an annular corner like seat of a longitudinally movable tapering
valve the point of which enters said passageway to enable the valve to effect a single
line contact with the corner like seat, substantially as described.
3. Also in the use with an internally threaded valve case provided with a seat as
described, of a tapering faced valve threaded externally to engage the threads of the
valve case, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. Also in the use with a wheel tire of an internally threaded valve case provided
with a seat as described, of a tapering faced valve threaded externally to engage the
threads of the valve case, and a stuffing box to receive the shank of the said valve,
substantially as described.
5. Also in the use with a wheel tire, and communicating valve case having a
seat and a hollow lateral stem in communication with the valve-case passage, of
a longitudinally movable valve, and a dust-cap to cover the stem, substantially as
described.
6. Also in the use with a wheel tire, and communicating valve-case having a seat
aud a hollow lateral stem in communication with the valve-case passage, of a longi-
tudinally movable valve seat, and a dust-cap to cover the stem, said cap having an
opening to fit the valve stem and form a wrench to turn the said valve substantially
as described.
7. Also in the use with a valve, a valve case having a valve seat, and a hollow
laterally projecting stem in communication therewith, of a pump-coupling consisting
of a tapering nozzle adapted to enter said stem, and a threaded cap to engage the
end of said stem, substantially as described.
8. Also in a pneumatic tire, and a communicating valve-case having a valve seat,
of a valve composed of a non-oxidizable material harder than the seat, to operate,
substantially as described.
9. Also the use of a valve, a valve case, a valve stem within it, and a manually
operated valve adapted to co-operate with said seat, of a tubular stem projecting
from said valve case and communicating with the interior thereof, and a check valve
in said tubular stem, the valve-case having a passage, and a chamber, and being
threaded internally and provided with an annular corner-like seat, and a stuffing
box, and a dust cap, combined with a longitudinally movable tapering surfaced valve
threaded externally, and extended outwardly through the stuffing box, to operate,
substantially as described.
10. Also in the use with a pneumatic tire of a bicycle wheel, of a valve case having
a valve seat; and a tapering valve and passages leading into said valve case whereby
when the valve is away from its seat air may be forced into the case and tire
through a nozzle connected with an air pump or source of air supply, and when on
its seat the tapering valve prevents the escape of air from the tire and case,
substantially as described.
11. The combination and use with a common road pneumatic wheel tire of an
air valve arranged and applied substantially as and for the purpose herein before
set forth.
10th day of November 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.