JP7244464B2 - tire valve - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a tire valve mounted in a valve mounting hole of a tire wheel.

Conventionally, tire valves of this type are provided with a valve cap at one end of a metal cylinder having a flow path inside, and an elastic member that engages with the opening rim of the valve mounting hole of the tire wheel at the other end. It is known that the valve is inserted into the valve mounting hole from the valve cap side and pulled by a tool to be mounted (see Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2013-241137 A (paragraphs [0012], [0015], FIG. 4, etc.)

In contrast to the above-mentioned conventional tire valve, when it is attached to the tire wheel, the engagement part for engaging the tool formed on the metal cylinder is exposed, which impairs the appearance. There is an opinion and an improvement in the appearance is requested.

The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, comprises a metal cylinder having a flow path inside, and is inserted into a valve mounting hole of a tire wheel from one end side of the metal cylinder, A tire in which an elastic member attached to the outer surface of the metal cylinder engages the opening edge of the valve mounting hole by being pulled by a tool that engages unevenly with an engaging portion formed on the outer surface of the metal cylinder. The valve includes a cover portion attached to the outer surface of the metal cylinder, wherein the cover portion has a first position that covers the engaging portion from the outside and a second position that exposes at least a portion of the engaging portion. and is biased to the first position.

Sectional drawing of the tire valve of 1st Embodiment Enlarged sectional view around the valve core front view of tire valve Perspective view of a tire valve Cross section of tire valve Illustration for explaining the installation of tire valves Illustration for explaining the installation of tire valves Sectional drawing of the tire valve of 2nd Embodiment Sectional view of the tire valve of the third embodiment Enlarged sectional view around the valve cap Enlarged sectional view around the valve cap

[First embodiment]
A tire valve 10 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a tire valve 10 includes a valve core 20 inside a metal (for example, brass) valve stem 11 (corresponding to a "metal cylinder" in the claims). It has a structure in which a portion of the outside of the stem 11 is covered with an elastomer cylindrical elastic member 30 (corresponding to an "elastic member" in the claims). Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the upper side of FIG. 1 is the distal side, and the lower side of FIG. 1 is the proximal side.

The valve stem 11 has a cylindrical shape, and a cap male screw portion 12 is formed on the outer surface of the tip portion. On the outer surface of the valve stem 11, on the base end side of the cap male screw portion 12, there is formed an engaging portion 13 in the shape of a square groove recessed inward in the radial direction. The engaging portion 13 includes a cylindrical surface 13A forming the bottom surface of the groove, a distal inner side surface 13B extending radially outward from the distal end of the cylindrical surface 13A, and a proximal end of the cylindrical surface 13A. and a radially outwardly extending proximal inner surface 13C.

A portion of the valve stem 11 slightly closer to the proximal end than the center in the axial direction forms a large-diameter portion 14 whose diameter is increased in a stepped manner via a stepped surface 14A from the distal end side of the valve stem 11 . On the proximal side of the diameter portion 14, there is a reduced diameter portion 15 which is tapered in two steps and has a reduced diameter, a first small diameter portion 16 extending from there to the proximal side, and a second portion extending further to the proximal side. and a small diameter portion 17 . The second small-diameter portion 17 has the same diameter as the first small-diameter portion 16, but has a double chamfered shape. Further, the second small diameter portion 17 is formed with a through hole 17A that communicates the flow path 11A inside the valve stem 11 with the outside thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the valve core 20 has a structure in which a direct-acting rod 22 passes through the central portion of a cylindrical core body 21 . The tubular core body 21 has a head portion 21A that is screwed into a female screw portion 11B formed inside the tip portion of the valve stem 11, and a body portion 21B that is fitted and sealed to the valve stem 11. are doing.

A valve body 23 is provided at a portion of the direct-acting rod 22 protruding from the cylindrical core body 21 toward the proximal end. A coil spring (not shown) is arranged between the distal end of the cylindrical core body 21 and the distal end of the direct-acting rod 22, and the elastic force of the coil spring normally opens the base end opening 21C of the cylindrical core body 21. The valve body 23 is pressed against. As a result, fluid cannot normally pass through the valve stem 11, and the direct-acting rod 22 is pushed from the distal end side, or the pressure on the distal end side of the valve core 20 in the valve stem 11 is the base pressure. When the pressure on the end side becomes higher than the pressure on the end side by a certain pressure or more, the valve body 23 is separated from the base end side opening 21C of the cylindrical core body 21, and the fluid passes through the inside of the valve stem 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, a valve cap 25 is screwed onto the cap male screw portion 12 of the valve stem 11 . The valve cap 25 is a molded resin product having a bottomed cylindrical shape at one end, and an elastomer packing 26 is attached to the inner deep surface of the valve cap 25 . By tightening the valve cap 25 onto the cap male screw portion 12 , the tip of the valve stem 11 is in close contact with the packing 26 . As shown in the figure, the proximal end surface of the valve cap 25 screwed onto the cap male screw portion 12 is substantially flush with the distal inner surface 13B of the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 . In addition, the proximal end portion of the inner surface of the valve cap 25 is tapered and expanded in diameter.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical elastic member 30 is vulcanization-bonded to the valve stem 11 while covering the range from the large-diameter portion 14 to the distal end portion of the second small-diameter portion 17 of the valve stem 11 from the side. there is A distal end portion 31 of the cylindrical elastic member 30 has a distal end surface 32 extending in the radial direction of the valve stem 11 and a tapered surface 33 whose diameter increases from the outer edge of the distal end surface 32 toward the proximal end. The cylindrical elastic member 30 has a press-fitting portion 34 and a bottom engaging portion 35 on the base end side of the distal end portion 31 . The press-fit portion 34 has a cylindrical shape with a slightly smaller diameter than the base end portion of the distal end portion 31 , and the bottom locking portion 35 has a cylindrical shape with a larger diameter than the press-fit portion 34 . A base end portion of the bottom engaging portion 35 is positioned slightly above the through hole 17A of the valve stem 11 .

A tip surface 32 of the cylindrical elastic member 30 is substantially flush with the stepped surface 14A of the valve stem 11 . The cylindrical elastic member 30 is provided with an annular protrusion 32T that protrudes from the tip surface 32 toward the tip side. The annular protrusion 32T protrudes from an intermediate portion in the width direction of the annular distal end surface 32 .

A tire pressure detection device 50 is attached to the proximal end portion of the valve stem 11 protruding from the cylindrical elastic member 30 toward the proximal end side. The tire pressure detection device 50 has a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a wireless circuit, detects the pressure and temperature in the tire, and wirelessly transmits the detection results to a tire monitoring device (not shown) provided in the vehicle body. The tire monitoring device monitors whether there is an abnormality in the pressure and temperature in the tire based on the received detection results.

Now, as shown in FIG. 1, in the tire valve 10 of this embodiment, a tubular resin sleeve 40 is provided between the tubular elastic member 30 of the valve stem 11 and the valve cap 25. (corresponding to the “cover part” of ) is mounted so as to be able to move directly. The resin sleeve 40 is centered by bringing its inner surface into contact with the outer surface of the valve stem 11 (the outer surface between the engaging portion 13 and the stepped surface 14A). The outer diameter of the resin sleeve 40 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the annular protrusion 32T.

A distal end portion 41 of the resin sleeve 40 is tapered toward the distal end side as it goes radially inward, and a proximal end portion 42 of the resin sleeve 40 It has a tapered shape that slopes toward the tip as it goes inward. The resin sleeve 40 is biased toward the distal end by the proximal end 42 coming into contact with the end surface of the annular projection 32T of the tubular elastic member 30 .

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the annular protrusion 32T of the cylindrical elastic member 30 is not substantially elastically deformed. In this state, the tip inner edge of the tip-side end portion 41 of the resin sleeve 40 is substantially adjacent to the outer edge of the tip-side inner surface 13B of the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11, and substantially the entire engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 is located. is covered with a resin sleeve 40 . Let the position of the resin sleeve 40 at this time be a 1st position. In addition, since the proximal end surface of the valve cap 25 is substantially flush with the distal inner surface 13B of the engaging portion 13, the valve cap 25 and the resin sleeve 40 are adjacent to each other, and the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 does not move. The neighborhood is not exposed when viewed from the outside (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As described above, the proximal end portion of the inner surface of the valve cap 25 is tapered, so that the resin sleeve 40 and the valve cap 25 are not in contact with each other in this state.

When the resin sleeve 40 rectilinearly moves toward the base end against the elastic force of the annular protrusion 32T, part of the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 is exposed (see FIG. 7). The position of the resin sleeve 40 in such a state that the engaging portion 13 is exposed is referred to as the second position.

The tire valve 10 is manufactured as follows. First, the tubular elastic member 30 is attached to the valve stem 11 by vulcanization. After that, the valve core 20 is screwed onto the female screw portion 11B. After the resin sleeve 40 is inserted into the valve stem 11, the valve cap 25 is screwed onto the cap male screw portion 12, and the tire valve 10 is completed.

The configuration of the tire valve 10 of the present embodiment is as described above. Next, the effects of the tire valve 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the tire valve 10 is used by being attached to a vehicle wheel 90 (corresponding to "tire wheel" in the claims). The tire rim 91 of the vehicle wheel 90 has a large-diameter portion 91A arranged outside in the vehicle width direction, a small-diameter portion 91B arranged inside in the vehicle width direction, and the large-diameter portion 91A and the small-diameter portion 91B connected to each other. A valve mounting hole 92 is formed through the standing portion 91C.

The tire valve 10 is press-fitted into the valve mounting hole 92 from the inside of the tire rim 91 . Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tip of the tire valve 10 is inserted into the valve mounting hole 92 in such a direction that the tire pressure detection device 50 is positioned radially inward of the vehicle wheel 90. When the tapered surface 33 of the distal end portion 31 of the cylindrical elastic member 30 abuts against the opening edge of the valve mounting hole 92 , the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 is gripped by the tool 100 outside the tire rim 91 . At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the resin sleeve 40 elastically deforms the annular protrusion 32T of the cylindrical elastic member 30 and slides toward the base end (second position). ) to expose the engaging portion 13 . Then, the tire valve 10 is pulled while the tool 100 is engaged with the engaging portion 13 to press-fit the press-fit portion 34 of the tire valve 10 into the valve mounting hole 92 (see FIG. 5). Thereby, the valve mounting hole 92 is sealed. The proximal end portion 42 of the resin sleeve 40 is tapered toward the distal end as it goes radially inward, so that the resin sleeve 40 elastically moves the annular protrusion 32T. When deformed, the tip of the annular protrusion 32T is likely to hit from the outer edge, and the annular protrusion 32T is likely to fall inward. As a result, the annular protrusion 32T spreads outward and prevents obstruction when passing through the valve mounting hole 92. As shown in FIG.

When the tire valve 10 is attached to the vehicle wheel 90, the tire pressure detection device 50 provided in the tire valve 10 detects the gas pressure and temperature in the tire 93 and the rotation of the tire 93, and the detection results are wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle body. This allows the tire 93 to be monitored on the vehicle body side.

As described above, according to the tire valve 10 of the present embodiment, the resin sleeve 40 may be slid to the second position to expose the engaging portion 13 only when the tire valve 10 is attached to the vehicle wheel 90. , the resin sleeve 40 is arranged at the first position, adjacent to the valve cap 25, and covers the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 from the outside, so that the metal valve stem 11 is not exposed, and the tire valve 10 is fixed. Improves appearance. Further, since the resin sleeve 40 covers substantially the entire portion of the valve stem 11 between the cylindrical elastic member 30 and the valve cap 25, the valve stem 11 is hardly exposed when viewed from the outside, and the appearance is improved. Further improve. Furthermore, since the valve stem 11 is covered with the resin sleeve 40, the metal valve stem 11 is prevented from rusting or patina, and even if rust or patina occurs, the rust or patina is exposed. You can prevent it from happening, further improving the appearance.

Since the distal end portion 41 of the resin sleeve 40 is tapered, the distal end of the tool 100 is brought into contact with the tapered surface and pushed inward in the radial direction, whereby the resin sleeve 40 is pushed along the taper. It can be slid to the end side, making the work easier. Alternatively, the resin sleeve 40 may be slid by hand to expose the engaging portion 13 and the tool 100 may be engaged therewith.

In addition, since the resin sleeve 40 is biased by the annular protrusion 32T provided on the cylindrical elastic member 30, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and to improve work efficiency.

[Second embodiment]
The tire valve 10W of the present embodiment differs from the tire valve 10 of the first embodiment in the configuration for biasing the resin sleeve 40 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in the tire valve 10W of the present embodiment, the cylindrical elastic member 30 is formed with an outer wall 32H that rises from the outer edge of the tip surface 32, and the outer wall 32H and the valve stem are formed. 11 is provided with a spring accommodating chamber 10S.

The inner surface of the outer wall 32H is positioned further outward than the outer surface of the resin sleeve 40, and the proximal end of the resin sleeve 40 can enter the spring accommodating chamber 10S. Further, in the resin sleeve 40 of the present embodiment, a concave portion 42U is formed in the proximal end portion 42 so that the inner side in the radial direction is recessed in a stepped manner. A coil spring 10T (corresponding to a "compression spring" in the claims) is disposed between the concave portion 42U of the resin sleeve 40 and the distal end surface 32 of the cylindrical elastic member 30 in the spring accommodating chamber 10S. The resin sleeve 40 is biased toward the distal end side by the coil spring 10T.

According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the resin sleeve 40 is normally arranged at the first position to cover the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 from the outside, and the elastic force of the coil spring 10T. When the resin sleeve 40 moves to the second position against the force, the engaging portion 13 is exposed. Note that when the resin sleeve 40 moves to the second position, the proximal end portion of the resin sleeve 40 is received in the spring housing chamber 10S.

[Third Embodiment]
The tire valve 10X of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. In the tire valves 10 and 10W of the above-described embodiments, the engagement portion 13 is covered with the resin sleeve 40 disposed between the valve cap 25 and the cylindrical elastic member 30. However, FIG. In the tire valve 10X of this embodiment, the engaging portion 13 is covered with the valve cap 25W.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the valve cap 25W of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical slide body 25S (corresponding to the "cover part, slide part" in the scope of claims) having a bottom at one end. , and a locking member 25K (corresponding to a “locking portion” in the claims) arranged on the inner back surface thereof. The locking member 25K is a molded resin product, and has a shape in which the tip end side half of the cylinder 25E is formed as a protruding portion 25H protruding outward. A male screw portion 25N that is screwed into the female screw portion 11B of the valve stem 11 is formed on the outer surface of the cylinder below the projecting portion 25H. An inner protruding portion 25L that protrudes inward is formed at the tip end of the cylinder 25E of the locking member 25K. The projecting portion 25H has a hexagonal planar shape.

A cylindrical protrusion 25T protruding from the bottom toward the base end is formed on the slide cylinder 25S. In addition, the bottom (tip end) of the inner space of the slide cylinder 25S is hexagonal, and the locking member 25K is fitted to the outside of the cylindrical protrusion 25T. A crimped portion 25U crimped so as to protrude outward is formed at the proximal end portion of the cylindrical projection 25T. 25K is retained with respect to slide cylinder 25S. A coil spring 25V is arranged between the crimped portion 25U and the inner protruding portion 25L, and the slide cylinder 25S is biased toward the base end side with respect to the locking member 25K.

A tapered surface 25R that is inclined toward the proximal end as it goes radially inward is formed at the proximal end of the slide cylinder 25S.

The valve cap 25W is attached to the valve stem 11 by screwing the male screw portion 25N of the locking member 25K and the female screw portion 11B of the valve stem 11 together. At this time, since the hexagonal locking member 25K is fitted in the hexagonal internal space of the slide cylinder 25S (both may be polygonal other than hexagonal), the locking member 25K and the slide The valve cap 25W is screwed together by grasping the outer side of the slide cylinder 25S and turning it. Mounting is completed when the tip of the valve stem 11 comes into contact with the proximal end face of the projecting portion 25H of the locking member 25K. The tip of the valve stem 11 abuts against the base end face of the projecting portion 25H of the locking member 25K, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering between the two.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the valve cap 25W is attached to the valve stem 11, the slide cylinder 25S is biased toward the base end side and covers the engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 (first position). ). When the tip of the tool 100 (see FIG. 6) is brought into contact with the tapered surface 25R of the valve cap 25W and further pushed inward in the radial direction, the slide cylinder 25S elastically deforms the coil spring 25V and slides to the tip side to engage. The joining portion 13 is exposed (at the second position, see FIG. 11). At this time, the tool 100 is engaged with the distal end side inner surface 13B of the engaging portion 13 and the base end side end surface of the slide cylinder 25S in a substantially flush state. As a result, the load applied to the slide cylinder 25S (valve cap 25W) is suppressed more than when only the slide cylinder 25S is engaged with the tool 100. FIG.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cylindrical elastic member 30 is formed up to a position flush with the inner side surface 13</b>C of the engaging portion 13 on the proximal side.

[Other embodiments]
(1) The resin sleeve 40 of the first and second embodiments may be supported by the valve stem 11 so as to be directly movable, like the valve cap 25W of the third embodiment.

(2) The engaging portion 13 of the valve stem 11 does not have to cover the entire circumference. For example, it may be formed at two positions on the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem 11 that are opposed to each other at 180 degrees.

(3) The annular protrusion 32T may be intermittent rather than continuous. Also, instead of the annular projection 32T, a configuration in which projections are formed at a plurality of locations may be used.

(4) In the first embodiment, the annular projection 32T is formed integrally with the tubular elastic member 30. However, the tubular elastic member 30 is insert-molded with a resin piece, a metal piece, or the like. good too. Even in this case, the elastic force of the cylindrical elastic member 30 urges the resin sleeve 40 .

(5) Centering of the resin sleeve 40 may be performed by a plurality of projecting pieces projecting from the outer surface of the valve stem 11 . In this case, the thickness of the valve stem 11 can be reduced and the weight can be reduced.

(6) In the third embodiment, the cylindrical elastic member 30 covers the portion of the valve stem 11 up to the step surface 14A, and a resin intermediate cover is provided between the cylindrical elastic member 30 and the valve cap 25W. It may also be in a mounted configuration.

10, 10W, 10X tire valve 10T coil spring (compression spring)
11 valve stem (metal cylinder)
11A flow path 11B female threaded portion 13 engaging portion 20 valve core 25, 25W valve cap 25K locking member (locking portion)
25N male screw portion 25S slide cylinder (cover portion, slide portion)
25V coil spring 30 cylindrical elastic member (elastic member)
40 Resin sleeve (cover part)
92 valve mounting hole 100 tool

Claims (8)

Equipped with a metal cylinder having a flow path inside,
The metal cylinder is inserted into a valve mounting hole of a tire wheel from one end side of the metal cylinder, and is pulled by a tool that engages unevenly with an engaging portion formed on the outer surface of the metal cylinder. In a tire valve in which an elastic member attached to the outer surface engages the opening edge of the valve mounting hole,
A cover portion attached to the outer surface of the metal cylinder,
The cover portion is linearly movable between a first position that covers the engaging portion from the outside and a second position that exposes at least a portion of the engaging portion, and is biased to the first position. tire valve. While the one end of the metal cylinder is provided with a valve cap, the other end or an intermediate portion is provided with the elastic member,
A resin sleeve as the cover portion is attached between the valve cap and the elastic member on the outer surface of the metal cylinder,
2. The tire valve according to claim 1, wherein the resin sleeve exposes at least a portion of the engaging portion between itself and the valve cap in the second position. 3. The tire valve according to claim 2, wherein the resin sleeve is biased by the elastic force of the elastic member. 4. The tire valve according to claim 3, wherein the end portion of the elastic member on the side of the resin sleeve is provided with a projection projecting toward the resin sleeve. 3. The tire valve according to claim 2, wherein a compression spring is arranged between said elastic member and said resin sleeve. 6. The tire valve according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a tapered surface is formed on the valve cap side end of the resin sleeve. 7. The metal cylinder according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a centering portion for centering the resin sleeve is provided in a portion of the metal cylinder covered with the resin sleeve. tire valve. A valve cap is provided at one end of the metal cylinder,
The valve cap is
a locking portion that locks to the metal cylinder;
between the elastic member or the resin intermediate cover attached between the elastic member and the valve cap in the metallic cylindrical body, which is assembled so as to be able to move linearly with respect to the engaging portion; a sliding portion as the cover portion that can move directly between the second position exposing at least part of the engaging portion and the first position covering the engaging portion from the outside; 2. The tire valve of claim 1, comprising a tire valve.

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