Improvements in or in connection with the Inflation of Foot Balls, Pneumatic Tyres for Vehicles, Water and Air Beds or Cushions, Life Belts, Life Collars and other Articles adapted for Inflation with Air or Liquid, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with the Inflation of Foot Balls,
Pneumatic Tyres for Vehicles, Water and Air Beds or Cushions,
Life Belts, Life Collars and other Articles adapted for Inflation
with Air or Liquid, and Apparatus therefor.
1, RICHARD WALKER FRANCOMB of Wilderspool, Warrington, in the County
of Lancaster, Rubber Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the inflation of footballs, pneumatic tyres, water and
air beds or cushions, life belts, life collars, and other articles adapted for inflation
with air or liquid. It is designed mainly with the object of automatically closing
the passage into the article after the current for inflating the article has ceased,
so as to prevent a return of that current. The invention also comprises means for
inflating and deflating the article.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide an automatic back pressure valve
at or immediately beyond the point at which the stoppage is required to be effected.
This valve comprises two or more wings or surfaces exposed at their back to the
pressure of the fluid that has already passed the point, and so shaped that, as the
wings are pressed together by the pressure of the fluid, they shall hermetically
close the passage. In its simplest form, the valve consists of an indiarubber tube
or nozzle entering the cushion, bladder, bed, or other structure to contain the fluid
under pressure.
At or immediately beyond. the entrance into said chamber, the
tube is formed solid or provided with a solid filling, but it (or only its solid filling)
is split down the centre into two halves. The means for inflating the article may
consist of an inflating pump or tube preferably provided with a conical or tapering
nozzle. The nozzle applied to the pump may be made to unscrew, so that it can be
taken off for the purposes hereafter mentioned.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The tapered nozzle of the inflating pump or tube is forced into the solid filling,
and fluid being injected through the tube causes the two halves to split from each
other and allow the fluid to pass. The moment, however, the cessation of pressure
in the tube takes place and the inflating nozzle removed, the pressure of the fluid
in the cushion or other article being filled forces the two halves of the solid tube
or the solid filling together, thus closing the orifice and preventing the return of
the fluid. It is evident, however, that, instead of two solid half tubes, two three
or more thin flaps can be used, facing each other, and, in some instances, a single
hollow flap, and the side of the cushion or other article to be filled can be used
instead of two flaps, the hollow flap fitting against the side of the cushion and
thus closing the orifice.
When required to deflate the article, the taper pointed tube (or taper pointed
nozzle screwed off the pump) is inserted in the valve which spreads the two halves
apart and enables the fluid to escape.
This automatic valve can be easily applied to any kind of existing bladders and
obviates the necessity of stowing away long pieces of tube. The bladder having
no string, there is no danger of cutting.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: When required to deflate the article, the taper pointed tube (or taper pointed
nozzle screwed off the pump) is inserted in the valve, as shown in Figure 5, which
spreads the two halves apart and enables the fluid to escape.
This automatic valve can be easily applied to any kind of existing bladders and
obviates the necessity of stowing away long pieces of tube. The bladder having
no string, there is no danger of cutting.
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. The combination of a valve having a closed slit or lengthened aperture
between segmental rods having closely fitting faces or other parallel-sided or
prismatic parts held closely against each other by the elastic pressure of surrounding
indiarubber in combination with a tubular nozzle capable of being pressed in so as
to separate the parallel faces sufficiently far to deliver air through it beyond the
valve, substantially as described.
2. The means employed for deflating articles such as footballs, cushions and the
like, which consist in making the nozzle of the inflator to unscrew and inserting
the same in the slit of the valve such as described in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 5
of the accompanying drawings.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and London,
Patent Agents.