Inner tube and wheel formed by a tyre, a rim, and the inner tube

Abstract

An inflation and deflation device for an inner tube and an inner tube provided with this device are described. The inner tube is elastically expandable for the introduction of fluid into its internal volume and can be housed in the space between tire and rim, which can be isolated from the external environment at atmospheric pressure. The device does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of the inner tube and the environment outside the wheel.

1 . Device for inflating and deflating a flexible container which is elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume, housed inside a cavity which can be isolated from the surrounding environment, said device being inserted in a wall of said container, characterized in that it does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of said container and said surrounding environment.  
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one first valve inlet, for inflating said container with pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one second valve, adjusting, for maintaining the pressure existing in said container within a predetermined range of values.  
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one third valve, discharging, for rapid deflation of said container.  
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a rigid body incorporating an inflation valve, a adjustment valve and a discharge valve.  
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said inlet valve is a valve of the non-return type comprising an activation mechanism actuated by the difference in pressure existing between the ends of said valve.  
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said activation mechanism comprises an obturator element which is displaceable from an open position to a closed position of said valve, as a result of the difference in pressure existing between the inside and the outside of said container.  
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said inlet valve is a valve of the normally open type comprising an activation mechanism displaceable from the open position to the closed position of said valve as a result of interference with an opposition element.  
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said adjustment valve is a valve of the normally closed type comprising an activation mechanism which is displaceable from the closed position to the open position of said valve as a result of the thrust exerted by the pressurized fluid inside said container against a resilient opposition element exerting an opposite thrust having a predetermined value.  
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said discharge valve is a valve of the normally closed type comprising an activation mechanism displaceable from the closed position to the open position of said valve as a result of the thrust exerted by an action arising from said surrounding environment against a resilient opposition element exerting an opposite thrust having a value greater than that of the pressure of the fluid inside said container.  
     
     
         11 . Device for inflating and deflating an inner tube for tires which is elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume, said device being inserted in a wall of said inner tube, said tube being housed in the toroidal cavity defined by a tire mounted on its mounting rim, said cavity being able to be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, characterized in that it does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of said tube and said surrounding environment emerging outside said cavity, for the passage of said pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that it comprises at least one first valve, inlet, for inflating said tube with pressurized fluid, comprising an activation mechanism displaceable from an open position to a closed position of said valve as a result of the difference in pressure existing between the ends of said valve, which is not sensitive to the centrifugal forces occurring during use of said tire.  
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said activation mechanism comprises a lenticular obturator element which is convex towards the internal volume of said tube and which has a ratio between its own surface area and its weight greater than 40 mm 2 /g.  
     
     
         14 . Device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises at least one second valve, adjusting, for maintaining the pressure existing inside said tube within a predetermined range of values and at least one third valve, discharging, for rapid deflation of said inner tube.  
     
     
         15 . Device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that a single activation mechanism forms at least two of said valves.  
     
     
         16 . Flexible container which is elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume and can be housed in a cavity which can be isolated from the surrounding environment, provided with a device for inflation and deflation thereof, said device being inserted in a wall of said container, characterized in that said device does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of said container and said surrounding environment.  
     
     
         17 . Container according to  claim 16 , characterized in that it is an inner tube for tires.  
     
     
         18 . Container according to  claim 16 , characterized in that it is inserted into the toroidal cavity defined by a tire mounted on the corresponding mounting rim.  
     
     
         19 . Inner tube for vehicle wheel tires, elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume and comprising a device for introduction and extraction of said fluid respectively into and from said volume, said device being inserted in a wall of the inner tube, said inner tube being housed in the cavity defined by the tire mounted on the corresponding rim, said cavity being able to be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, characterized in that said device does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of the tube and said external environment.  
     
     
         20 . Inner tube according to  claim 19 , characterized in that it has been moulded and vulcanized with a toroidal shape having an internal volume not less than one third of the final working volume.  
     
     
         21 . Inner tube according to  claim 19 , characterized in that it comprises at least two compartments independent from one another and each provided with said inflation device.  
     
     
         22 . Tire wheel for vehicles comprising a tire mounted on the corresponding mounting rim, the assembly of said tire and said rim defining a toroidal cavity which can be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, and an inner tube inserted in said cavity and provided with an inflation device, characterized in that said device does not have any connection with said rim, designed to fix the circumferential position of said tube with respect to the rim.  
     
     
         23 . Tire wheel according to  claim 22 , characterized in that it comprises on the rim means for introducing and extracting pressurized fluid respectively into and from said toroidal cavity, said means not having any extension designed to fix the circumferential position of the tube with respect to the rim.  
     
     
         24 . Tire for vehicle wheels, delimiting a toroidal cavity defined between a top portion and a pair of axially facing sidewalls terminating in beads for assembly of the tire with a corresponding mounting rim, said toroidal cavity being able to be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, following the abovementioned assembly, characterized in that it comprises an inner tube in said cavity, elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume, being integral with the surface of said cavity and provided with an inflation and deflation device inserted in the circumferential portion of the wall of said inner tube axially extending between said beads, said device not having elements for connecting the internal volume of the inner tube and said surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         25 . Tire for vehicle wheels, delimiting a toroidal cavity defined between a top portion and a pair of axially facing sidewalls terminating in beads for assembly of the tire with a corresponding mounting rim, said toroidal cavity being able to be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, following the abovementioned assembly, characterized in that it comprises an elastically expandable circumferential baffle soldered to said sidewalls and axially extending between the same so as to delimit a closed space formed in said cavity between the baffle and the top portion of said tire, said baffle comprising an inflation and deflation device not having elements for connecting said closed space and said surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         26 . Method for inflating an inner tube inserted in the toroidal cavity defined by a tire for vehicle wheels, mounted on the corresponding rim, said cavity being isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, said inner tube being provided with an inflation and deflation device which does not have any elements for connection to said surrounding environment, passing through said rim, comprising the following steps: 
 a) introducing pressurized air into said toroidal cavity until a predetermined pressure value is reached such as to cause contraction of the volume of the tube and a consequent elastic reaction of the materials which form said tube, deformed by said contraction in volume;    b) waiting for the pressure inside the inner tube, as a result of said elastic reaction of the tube, to return to equilibrium with the pressure of the air outside said tube, in the space defined between tire and rim;    c) discharging the pressurized air remaining in said cavity between tire and rim;    
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional steps of: 
 d) waiting for the inner tube to have discharged the excess fluid until it reaches a predetermined inflation pressure value;    e) isolating said cavity between tire and rim from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure.    
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 26 , in which said step of introducing pressurized air into said cavity is performed with a valve of the non-return type mounted on said inflation device and comprises the step of causing closing of said valve as a result of the difference in pressure between inside and outside of the inner tube.  
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 26 , in which said step of introducing pressurized air into said cavity is performed with a valve of the normally open type mounted on said inflation device and comprises the step of causing closing of said valve by means of interference between the device and the wall of the rim.  
     
     
         30 . Method according to  claim 27 , in which said step of discharging the excess fluid until said predetermined inflation pressure value is reached is performed with an adjustment valve of the normally closed type mounted on said inflation device.  
     
     
         31 . Method for deflating an inner tube inflated with pressurized fluid and inserted in the toroidal cavity defined by a tire for vehicle tires, mounted on the corresponding rim, said inner tube being provided with an inflation and deflation device not having any elements for connection with the environment outside said cavity, passing through said rim, in which said deflation step is performed by extracting said fluid from said tube by means of a discharge valve of the normally closed type, mounted on said inflation device, displacing an activation mechanism from the closed position to the open position of said valve as a result of an action arising from said environment outside said cavity.  
     
     
         32 . Device for inflation and deflation of a flexible container which is elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume and housed inside a cavity which can be isolated from the surrounding environment, said device being inserted in a wall of said container, characterized in that it is arranged completely inside said cavity which can be isolated from the external environment.  
     
     
         33 . Device for inflation and deflation of a flexible container according to  claim 32 , characterized in that it is freely displaceable inside said cavity which can be isolated.  
     
     
         34 . Inner tube for vehicle tires, elastically expandable for the introduction of pressurized fluid into its internal volume and comprising a device for introducing and extracting said fluid respectively into and from said volume, said device being inserted in a wall of the inner tube, said inner tube being housed in the cavity defined by the tire mounted on the corresponding rim, said cavity being able to be isolated from the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure, characterized in that said device is completely arranged inside said cavity which can be isolated from the external environment.  
     
     
         35 . Inner tube for tires of vehicle wheels according to  claim 34 , characterized in that it is freely displaceable inside said cavity which can be isolated.