Tyre inflating device and method for controlling a tyre inflating process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12269302-B2
Application number	US-202217653586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2022
Priority date	Mar 12, 2021
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

A tyre inflating device ( 100 ) comprises an air feed line ( 200 ) and an inflating module ( 300 ), which includes: a primary valve ( 301 ) movable between a closed position and an open position for closing and opening the feed line ( 200 ); a first cylinder ( 302 a ) connected to the primary valve ( 301 ) and supplied with air by a first branch ( 201 a ) of the feed line ( 200 ); a second cylinder ( 302 b ) connected to the primary valve ( 301 ); a shutoff valve ( 303 ) located on the first branch ( 201 A); a control leg ( 202 ) from which there extends a relief duct ( 201 a ′), which is configured to gradually release air from the first cylinder ( 302 a ) to the outside environment and includes at least one between (i) a plurality of throttles ( 304 ) located in series and (ii) a shutter placed in a constriction element ( 305 ) located in the relief duct ( 201 a ′).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inflating device for inflating a tyre, comprising:
an air feed line, configured to allow air to flow from an air feed source to the tyre in an inflating direction;
an inflating module, interposed between the air feed source and the tyre and including:
a primary valve, located on the air feed line and movable between a closed position, where it prevents air from flowing into the tyre, and an open position, where it allows the air to flow;
a first cylinder operatively connected to the primary valve and configured to cause the primary valve to open;
a first branch having a first end positioned at a point of the air feed line located upstream of the primary valve in the inflating direction, and a second end connected to the first cylinder so that the first branch extends between the air feed line and the first cylinder;
a second cylinder which is operatively connected to the primary valve and which is fed by a second branch extending from the air feed line at a point upstream of the primary valve, the second cylinder being configured to cause the primary valve to close;
a shutoff valve, located on the first branch and movable between a closed position, where it occludes the first branch to prevent fluid communication between the feed line and the first cylinder, and an open position, where it allows fluid communication, wherein the shutoff valve is configured to divide the first branch into a first stretch extending between the air feed line and the shutoff valve, and a second stretch extending between the shutoff valve and the first cylinder;
a control leg, configured to allow feeding air to the shutoff valve from a point on the feed line downstream of the primary valve in the inflating direction, the feeding of air causing the shutoff valve to switch from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined pressure value being exceeded;
a relief duct configured to gradually release air from the first cylinder to an outside environment when the shutoff valve is closed, wherein the relief duct extends for a length from the second stretch of the first branch at a branching point distanced from the first cylinder, and includes a regulator within said length, wherein the regulator varies in a controlled manner a free flow cross section inside the relief duct;
wherein the inflating module includes a constricting arrangement which reduces a working air flow cross section of the relief duct.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the constricting arrangement includes a plurality of throttles placed in series along the relief duct and configured to create respective constrictions in the relief duct.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the constricting arrangement includes a constriction element placed in the relief duct and an occluding member inserted in the constriction element to further occlude the working air flow cross section of the relief duct.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the occluding member is embodied in the form of a wire.

5. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the occluding member defines a shutter which is movable to allow varying the working air flow cross section.

6. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the throttles of the plurality of throttles is regulatable through a regulator.

7. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of throttles define a corresponding plurality of constrictions in the relief duct aligned along the relief duct and spaced from each other.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first branch, extending from the air feed line, has no air buffer tanks or vessels configured to expand a volume of air contained in the first branch and in the first cylinder.

9. The device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a secondary valve, located on the air feed line, downstream of the inflating module and movable between a closed position, where it prevents air from flowing in the feed line between the inflating module and the tyre, and an open position, where it allows the air to flow;
a safety line extending from a point on the feed line downstream of the secondary valve.

10. The device according to claim 9 , comprising a timing module including:
a diverter, located on the safety line and configured to connect the secondary valve to the feed line or to the outside environment, respectively;
a buffer tank, located on the safety line and configured to receive a quantity of air from the feed line and to drive the diverter.

11. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a distribution valve located on the feed line downstream of the inflating module and operable to allow or prevent the air flow from the inflating module to the tyre.

12. A tyre changing apparatus for mounting and demounting a tyre to and from a vehicle wheel rim, the apparatus comprising an inflating device for inflating a tyre, the inflating device comprising:
an air feed line, configured to allow air to flow from an air feed source to the tyre in an inflating direction;
an inflating module, interposed between the air feed source and the tyre and including:
a primary valve, located on the air feed line and movable between a closed position, where it prevents air from flowing into the tyre, and an open position, where it allows the air to flow;
a first cylinder operatively connected to the primary valve and configured to cause the primary valve to open;
a first branch having a first end positioned at a point of the air feed line located upstream of the primary valve in the inflating direction, and a second end connected to the first cylinder so that the first branch extends between the air feed line and the first cylinder;
a second cylinder which is operatively connected to the primary valve and which is fed by a second branch extending from the air feed line at a point upstream of the primary valve, the second cylinder being configured to cause the primary valve to close;
a shutoff valve, located on the first branch and movable between a closed position, where it occludes the first branch to prevent fluid communication between the feed line and the first cylinder, and an open position, where it allows fluid communication, wherein the shutoff valve is configured to divide the first branch into a first stretch extending between the air feed line and the shutoff valve, and a second stretch extending between the shutoff valve and the first cylinder;
a control leg, configured to allow feeding air to the shutoff valve from a point on the feed line downstream of the primary valve in the inflating direction, the feeding of air causing the shutoff valve to switch from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined pressure value being exceeded;
a relief duct configured to gradually release air from the first cylinder to an outside environment when the shutoff valve is closed, wherein the relief duct, extends for a length from the second stretch of the first branch at a branching point distanced from the first cylinder, and
wherein the inflating module includes a constricting arrangement which reduces a working air flow cross section of the relief duct, the constricting arrangement including a constriction element, placed within the length of the relief duct for reducing a working air flow cross section of the relief duct, and a wire, inserted in the constriction element to further occlude the working air flow cross section of the relief duct at the constriction element.

13. A method for controlling a process for inflating a tyre, wherein the inflating process is implemented by an inflating device comprising:
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Assignees

• Nexion Spa

Inventors

• Corghi Giulio

Classifications

• B60C23/00354

  Details of valves · CPC title

• G05D16/101

  the controller being arranged as a multiple-way valve · CPC title

• B60C23/10

  Arrangement of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles · CPC title

• B60C23/00372 Primary

  characterised by fluid diagrams · CPC title

• B60S5/043 Primary

  characterised by the inflation control means or the drive of the air pressure system · CPC title