Improvements in or relating to Valves for Pneumatic Tyres and other Inflatable Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Valves for Pneumatic Tyres and
other Inflatable Articles.
I, JOHN LITHERLAND of No. 1 Osborne Place, Altrincham, Cheshire, Pneumatic Tyre
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to valves for pneumatic tyres and other inflatable articles and
consists of the improved constructions hereinafter described.
In constructing a valve for a pneumatic tyre according to my invention I make a
body preferably of cylindrical form with a flanged head at one end. The exterior of
the body is preferably screw threaded and may be otherwise adapted to receive the
nuts and washers whereby the valve may be attached to the tyre and wheel rim.
The body is hollow throughout its length; the hole at the outer end of the body is
of comparatively large diameter and is screw-threaded, the hole then contracts with a
hollow hemispherical or other suitable formation and terminates in a comparatively
small hole of square or other non-circular transverse section for a part, or the whole,
of the remainder of its length. Into the tapped end of the body is screwed a first
hollow externally- and internally- threaded plug; and into the first plug is screwed
a second plug which is threaded on the exterior only and has a cylindrical axial hole
through its length. In the said hole in the second plug lies the stem of the valve.
The stem is free to rotate in the said second plug but is prevented from moving
materially in a lengthwise direction with respect thereto. One end of the stem is
screw threaded or otherwise adapted to receive the inflator or inflator connection; the
part of the stem lying within the second plug may be of reduced diameter; beyond
the plug the stem is again enlarged, part or the whole of the enlargement being of
spherical or other suitable formation. The enlargement may be secured to the body
of the stem by any suitable means after the first and second plugs are threaded
thereonto. The remainder of the stem is of oblong or other suitable non-circular
transverse section and is adapted to lie in the non-circular part of the hole in the
body of the valve; the formation of the two parts is such as to prevent material
relative revolution, but allows for free passage of air through the hole. The stem is
bored through lengthwise from the outer end as far as the enlargement where the
hole takes a lateral turn out to the surface of the sphere. The sphere is covered
with a sleeve of india-rubber or the like which may have an aperture or tongue cut
therein; or two washers may be secured on the stem one above and the other below
the sphere.
When the parts are assembled the first plug is screwed tight into the body; a
washer of leather or the like may be interposed between the end of the body and the
flanged head of the plug to secure an air-tight joint. To open the valve, as for
inflation, the second plug is screwed out, until the sphere is pressed against the inner
end of the first plug and the sleeve or washer makes an air-tight joint, space is left
for air to pass out of the sphere and beyond it through the hemi-spherical and non-
circular parts of the hole into the tyre. To close the valve, as after inflation, the
second plug is screwed in, carrying the stem with it and forcing the sphere into the

page_text: hemi-spherical part of the hole through the body and thus, the sleeve or washer
intervening, closing the air passage. To allow the air to escape from the valve, the
second plug may be partly or wholly unscrewed." As the stem cannot rotate there is
no friction on the sleeve or washers."
As a modification, the second plug is screw threaded internally instead of externally;
it is free to rotate in an extension of the first plug and is prevented from moving
lengthwise by an inward projection or projections from the extension of the first plug
engaging in a groove around the second plug. In this case the stem is screwed into
the second plug, rotation of which causes the stem to move in the direction of its
length with the same results as before.
I do not confine myself to the precise details above described and in applying my
invention to other inflatable articles I may make such variations and modifications as
circumstances may require.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1896.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, Patent Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Valves for Pneumatic Tyres and
other Inflatable Articles.
I, JOHN LITHERLAND of Osborne Place, Altrincham, Cheshire, Pneumatic Tyre 2
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to valves for pneumatic tyres and other inflatable articles and
consists of the improved constructions hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the 2
accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of a pneumatic tyre valve constructed according
to my invention, and
Figures II. & III. are similar views of modifications thereof.
The same numerals refers to corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figure I. I make the body 2 preferably of cylindrical form with a
flanged head 3 at one end. The exterior of the body is preferably screw threaded
and may be otherwise adapted to receive the usual nuts and washers (not shown)
whereby the valve may be attached to the tyre and' wheel rim. The body is hollow
throughout its length; the hole at the outer end (4) of the body is of comparatively a
large diameter and is screw-threaded; the hole then contracts with a hollow
hemispherical or other suitable formation 5, to a comparatively small hole 6 of square
or other suitable non-circular transverse section for a part, or the whole, of the
remainder of its length. Into the tapped end 4 of the body is screwed a hollow
externally and internally-threaded plug 7 and into this plug is screwed another plug 8 4
which is threaded on the exterior only and has a cylindrical axial hole 9 through its
length. In the said hole 9 lies the stem 10 of the valve. The said stem is free to
rotate in the plug 8 but is prevented from moving materially in a lengthwise direction
with respect thereto by the parts 11 and 13. The end 11 of the stem is screw-
threaded or otherwise adapted to receive the inflator or inflator connection; the 4
part 12 of the stem lying within the plug 8 may be of reduced diameter; beyond the
plug 8 the stem is again enlarged, part or the whole of the enlargement 13 being of
spherical or other suitable formation. The end 11 or enlargement 13 may be secured

page_text: to the body of the stem 10 by screwing or other suitable means after the plugs 7 and 8
are threaded thereonto. The remainder 14 of the stem is of oblong or other suitable
non-circular transverse section and is adapted to lie in the non-circular part 6 of the
hole in the body 2 of the valve; the formation of the two parts 14 and 6 is such as
to prevent material relative revolution, but allows for free passage of air through the
hole. The stem 10 is bored through lengthwise from the outer end as far as the
enlargement 13, where the hole shown by dotted lines takes a lateral turn out to
the surface of the sphere. The sphere is covered with a sleeve 15 of india-rubber
or the like which may have an aperture or tongue cut therein; or two washers
may be secured on the stem 10, one above and the other below the sphere.
When the parts are assembled the plug 7 is screwed tight into the body 2; a
washer 16 of leather or the like may be interposed between the end of the body 2
and the flanged head 17 of the plug 7 to secure an air tight joint. To open the
valve as for inflation the plug 8 is screwed out until the sphere 13 is pressed
against the inner end of the plug 7 and the sleeve 15 (or the washer) makes an
air-tight joint; space is left for air to pass out of the sphere and beyond it through
the hemispherical (5) and non-circular (6) parts of the hole into the tyre. To
close the valve, as after inflation, the plug 8 is screwed in, carrying the stem 10
with it and forcing the sphere 13 into the hemispherical part 5 of the hole and
thus, the sleeve 15 (or the washer) intervening, closing the air passage. To allow
the air to escape from the valve, one of the plugs may be partly or wholly
unscrewed. As the stem 10 cannot rotate there is no friction on the sleeve or
washers.
To reduce the diameter of the valve body I may adopt the modification shown
in Figure II. In this case the plug 7 is screwed on to the body 2 instead of into
it, the non-circular part 14 of the stem is arranged nearer the middle thereof and the
hole or space 6 of non-circular section is formed in the plug 7 instead of in the
body 2. The stem 10 is free to rotate in the plug 8 as before and it is prevented
from moving materially in a lengthwise direction with respect thereto by the
parts 11 and 14. The part 13 is formed by a collar preferably provided with a suitable
washer 15 on its upper surface adapted on occasion to bear against the contracted
portion of the interior of the plug 7 and form a close joint; with the same object
of reducing the diameter of the body 2, the part 13 of the stem where the air
hole turns laterally out to the surface is contracted rather than enlarged and the
orifice may be covered either by a rubber sleeve, or a spring metal clasp 151
preferably provided with a thin lining of leather or the like. The end of the
stem adjacent to the contracted portion of the hole in the body 2 is necked and
pointed to carry the sleeve or washer 15b. To open the valve as for inflation,
the plug 8 is rotated causing the end 11 of the stem 10 to project until the collar 13
is pressed against the contracted part of the interior of the plug 7, and the washer 15
makes an air-tight joint; the air is then forced through the stem 10 and body 2 into
the tyre, as before. To close the valve, the plug 8 is rotated in the opposite direction
until the sleeve or washer 15 bears against the contracted part of the interior of the
body 2, as shown. To deflate the tyre the stem is screwed into an intermediate
position or one of the plugs may be partly or wholly unscrewed.
In the further modification shown in Figure III, the plug 8 is screw-threaded
internally instead of externally; it is free to rotate in the plug 7 and is prevented
from moving lengthwise by an inward projection or projections 23 from the extension
of the plug 7 engaging in a groove 24 around the plug 8. In this case the stem 10
is screwed into the plug 8, rotation of which (8) causes the stem to move in the
direction of its length with the same results as before. Otherwise this valve is
similar to that described with reference to Figure I.
I do not confine myself to the precise details above described and in applying my
invention to other inflatable articles I make such variations and modifications as
circumstances may require.

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A valve for pneumatic tyres or other inflatable articles, consisting of a body, two
plugs and a stem, constructed and arranged so that rotation of one of the plugs in one
direction causes the stem to travel outwards in the direction of its length (without
rotating) and open a passage for the air through the body of the valve into the article
to be inflated, and so that rotation of the said plug in the other direction causes the
stem to travel inwards (without rotating) and close the air passage through the body
of the valve, substantially as herein described.
2. A valve of the kind referred to in claiming Clause 1, constructed substantially
as herein described with reference to Figure I of the accompanying drawings.
3. A valve of the kind referred to in claiming Clause 1, constructed substantially
as herein described with reference to Figure II of the accompanying drawings.
4. A valve of the kind referred to in claiming Clause 1, constructed substantially
as herein described with reference to Figure III of the accompanying drawings.
Toted this lot dare of Tune 1007
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.