An Improved Valve for Inflatable Hollow Objects
Year: 1896

page_text: We JULIUS RICHTER and HEINRICH KOHN Manufacturers, both of Komotau,
Bohemia (Empire of Austria) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The valve forming the object of the present invention consists of a rubber tube
closed at one end and having an opening or openings in its side; this valve may
be used for rubber-balls, pneumatic tyres for cycles etc.
The valve consists as already stated of a rubber tube which is provided with one
or more slits these slits being made by cutting or slitting the tube in places where
slits have to be made the edges of the slit touching each other. In order to better
effect the inflation of a balloon or other hollow object, the open end of the tube is
provided with a nut by means of which and of a screw the hollow object can be
closed airtight.
If air or gas is forced through the nut the slit opens and allows the air to
enter the hollow object. When the inflation is finished the enclosed gas presses.
against the surface of the tube and presses the edges of the slit tightly against
each other.
If it is desired to let out the compressed air from the hollow object, the tube is
so compressed that the edges of the slit move away from each other.
The modified construction of the valve consists of the rubber tube provided with
two slits and a stem. The latter is secured into a hollow tube which is fixed in
the tyre by means of discs drawn together by a nut.
The air inlet can be closed by screwed caps.
Deted the 30th der of June 1806
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Valve for Inflatable Hollow Objects.
We, JULIUS RICHTER and HEINRICH KOHN, Manufacturers, both of Komotau,
Bohemia (Empire of Austria) 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 refers to improvements in closing devices for hollow articles
which have to be expanded by air or gas and said improvements consist mainly of
an air tube to he partially inserted into the body and fixed therein and provided at
both ends with closing devices, which allow the admission of air or gas into the
body, but which prevent the exit of such air or gas.

page_text: The hollow articles may be india rubber balls tyres for bicycles, or other
expandable objects to be filled with air. They may be transported in a collapse l
state, in which they require little space and they may be blown up or expanded at
their place of destination, so as to permanently maintain their expanded form.
The small tube to be inserted and to be fixed in and to the hollow article is
preferably made of indiarubber but it may be of any other suitable material, and
it is provided at the end which is inserted into the body, with a peculiar opening,
which allows the free entrance or admission of the air, but which automatically
prevents its escape.
The opening consists of a slit or slits or opening at the side or at the end of the
tube. The slit or opening is kept closed by the elasticity of the part surroun ling
said slit or opening; if air or gas is blown or forced from the outside through the
tube, the slit will open for the passage of this air, which will fill the body and
thereby expand it and cause a pressure within the body. When the forcing or
blowing in of air ceases, the parts surrounding the slit or opening will automatically
close the latter and prevent the escape of air.
As an additional security the tube at its other end may be provided with a screw
plug closing device, which after the expanding of the body is completed, forms a
complete closing at this end so that both devices, at either end of the tube, afford
a secure protection against escape of air.
For better explanation of my invention, I refer to the annexed drawings in
which Figs. 1, 14, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of the air tube and Fig. 7
a section.
The tube a, Fig. 1, is closed by a bottom at its end a¹ and at a certain distance
from the bottom a slit a2 is provided which is normally in a closed state, and it may
have any desired angular position to the axis of the tube.
.
If air is blown into the upper end of the tube a the slit will open and will allow
the air to pass; if the blowing in ceases the lower part of the tube which part has
been bent away by the air current, will automatically return into its initial position
and will close the slit thereby preventing the escape of air. This closing will be
more tight, the greater the air pressure is within the expanded body into which the
tube has been inserted; the air pressure within the body will aid materially in
keeping the slit closed.
The hollow article, such as an india rubber ball, in being handled in its
expanded state, may fall down or receive heavy blows or knocks and thereby move
the lower part of the tube and open the slit and allow air to escape. To prevent
this the slit may be in the lower portion of the tube as seen in Figure 1A, or the
end of the tube may be shaped so that the bending of the tube within the hollow
article will not cause the slit to open and cause an escape of air. The forms of
the said tube end may be varied as well as the form or the position of the slit or
slits.
In Figure 14 the rubber tube a is split for a short distance at its lowest closed
end in the line of its axis whereby the parts be at the sides of said slit have the
form and function of two lips, which by the elasticity of the india rubber, keep the
slit closed. These lips will open under the action of air introduced into the tube
from outside, but will immediately close if the forcing in of air ceases and will be
kept closed under the air pressure in the expanded body. These lips, if any fall
of the body takes place or if the body (like a ball) is knocked about, will not be
separated or shifted in such a manner that they cease to form a tight closing
within said body to prevent escape of air.
In Figures 2 and 3 the lower end of the tube is flattened, so that the lips b c
form borders of a slit which is arranged either cross ways or longitudinally. In
Figure 4 the tube is also shown with a flattened lower end, which end is closed at
its extreme part, the two sides b and c each having a slit, so that two slits are
present, through which the air may pass into the hollow article to be expanded.
In Fig. 5 the tube end is also flattened and formed into two projections ban
which are closed all round and have only a slit or slit-like opening at the point'd,

page_text: where they meet the slit or slit-like opening being always closed by the pro-
jection b and c, even if by fall of or knock against the body the two projections.
are moved in the same or in opposite directions.
Fig. 6 is a variation. The flattened end of the tube is shaped into a point, and
where this pointed part joins the cylindrical part of the tube, a small slit e is made
at one or on both sides of the tube. The movement of the pointed part by a knock
or fall will not open the slits. All variations shown have this characteristic feature
and effect, that the slit or slits between the lips are not opened by an accidental
knock, or fall of the expanded body. Besides this, however all the forms described
offer this advantage, that by a proper pressure by hand against the outer surface
of the body, into which the tube is inserted the lips may be opened, to allow the
escape of the air from the hollow article. The articles with the tube inserted.
should of course be tested before transport or shipment as to their airtightness and
the air pressure must be relieved, for flattening down the bodies for transportation..
For this reason there must be a way of opening the lips for the escape of air and
this is done by the above mentioned hand manipulation.
These tubes, provided at the end which is inserted into the body, with a slit or
slits may be provided at the other or outer end with an auxiliary closing device, as
represented in Fig. 7. This device consists of a small screw nut q, which by means.
of a wire or any other device is firmly secured into the outer end of the tube..
Into the screw thread of this nut q, a screw plug r with a projecting rim is inserted,.
below which rim a small indiarubber washer s is placed. If the expansion of the
body by forcing in air or gas through the tube bas been completed, the lips of
the slit will automatically prevent any escape of air by the spring tendency of
such lips assisted by the internal air pressure within the body. If now the outer
closing by the screw plug is effected, there is a complete security against any
escape of air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A tube of elastic material adapted to be passed into a hollow expansible-
article and firmly secured therein such tube having a slit or slits at or near its inner
end which allows air to be forced through each slit and closes automatically owing
to the elasticity of the material so as to confine the air substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. A tube of elastic material adapted to be passed into a hollow expansible.
article and firmly secured therein such tube having a slit or slits at or near its
inner end which allows air to be forced through such slit and closes automatically
owing to the elasticity of the material so as to confine the air in combination with.
a screw plug on the outer end of such tube, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of January 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.