Tire sealant dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A tire-sealing apparatus for injecting a sealing composition into a vehicle tire either as a prophylactic or for sealing an existing leak is in the form of a pressurizeable container for a flowable sealant compound. An inlet is provided for introducing compressed gas into the container to pressurize its contents. An outlet line is also provided to deliver the sealant into a tire, the pressurized gas acting on contents of the container and providing the motive force for the delivery. A dip tube extends into the compound and is coupled to a one-way valve to provide a controlled flow of the compound from the container into the tire while preventing back pressure of the tire from either delivering air or compound back into the container. A passageway between the outlet tube and an interior of the container is provided to allow a flow of compressed gas within the container into the outlet tube along with the sealant.

1 . A tire sealing apparatus, comprising:
 a pressurizable container for accepting a quantity of flowable sealant;   inlet means for introducing compressed gas into the container;   outlet means for delivering the sealant compound into a tire, the outlet means including an outlet tube; and   an orifice between the outlet means and an interior of the container above a level of sealant in the container to direct a flow of compressed gas within the container into the outlet tube in association with a flow of the sealant from the container.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve associated with the outlet tube with a flow direction towards the tire and away from the sealant in the container. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one-way valve comprises a spring and a valve element biased by the spring. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the valve means is located in a removable cover for the container. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the valve means further includes a valve cover extending downwardly from the cover, the valve cover connecting with a dip tube for delivering the sealant to the outlet tube. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for providing the compressed gas to the inlet means. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the gas providing means is a compressor. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the outlet means includes a coupling for the outlet tube formed integrally with the cover. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the inlet means includes a tubing coupling formed integrally with the cover. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cover includes means for storing a quantity of tubing. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the quantity of tubing is at least a portion of the outlet tube. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the storing means comprise a pair of parallel surfaces spaced to accommodate tubing coiled therebetween. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein one of the parallel surfaces is a top surface of the cover. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further including raised surfaces portions on the parallel surfaces to engage the coiled tubing, the coiled tubing being the outlet tube, the outlet tube including a coupling at a distal end, the raised surface portions being adapted to engage the distal end coupling. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the coiled tubing is a portion of the outlet tube, the outlet tube including a coupling at a distal end, the raised surface portions being adapted to engage the distal end coupling. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising means for selectively sealing the quantity of tubing. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the means for storing a quantity of tubing comprise the selective sealing means. 
   
   
       18 . A method for introducing a flowable sealant into a tire from a pressurizable container, comprising the steps of:
 introducing compressed gas into the container to provide a motive force for a quantity of sealant in the container; and   delivering the sealant into the tire through an outlet tube and through a valve stem of the tire while directing a flow of the compressed gas from the container into the outlet tube in association with the flow of the sealant from the container.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the sealant is delivered into the tire through a tire valve stem having a core that is not removed from the valve stem during delivery of the sealant.