US2265077A - Air pressure gauge for automobile wheels - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1941.

R. E. MANNING ET AL 2,265,077

AIR PRESSURE GAUGE FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Filed Nov. 14, 1938 I -sa= 17 Z 36 33 l 37 27 28 s as 1 l J 1 l---- -l: 1 5* I ll 1 L g a;

I 23 33 .3 o w 22 &L

In veniors EAL PH 1? MANN/N6 GUY 1C STANDEN.

Attorneys Patented Dec. 2, 1941 AIR PRESSURE GAUGE FOE AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Y Ralph E. Manning and Guy K. Standen, Miami, Fla., am'gnors oi one-fourth to Lewis G. Eaker, one-fourth to W. F. Gillette, and one-fourth to F. S. Cassidy, and one-fourth to said Manning,

all of Miami, Fla.

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,394

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for indicating to automobile drivers the air pressure condition of the wheels of the vehicle.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide indicating means for installation on the usual instrument board of the vehicle adapted to indicate to the driver the exact pressure of the air in the vehicle supporting wheels of the automobile, to the end that the vehicle will not be operated on under-inflated tires.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following speciflcation.

In the drawing:

The figure shows a fragmentary detailed sectional view through the wheel switch means.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that a fitting l4 protrudes through an opening l5 from the annulus l6, and extends into the inflated pneumatic tube ll, interposed between the said annulus I6 and the annulus It, the annulus l8 having a flange portion l9 which interlaps with the stationary annulus l6. These two annular members It and it are concaved at their opposed sides to conform with the normal curvature of the inflatable tube I'l. Numeral 20 represents a case which is flanged as at 2| and bolted as at 22 to the inner side of the brake housing 23. The case 20 is provided with skirt portion 23a through which projects the rods 24, these rods projecting rigidly from the annulus I8 and being bolted or otherwise secured as at 25 to the ring 26 against which the transversely curved roller 26a is operative. rotatably mounted within the yoke 21 at the lower portion or the arm 28 which is rockably supported as at 29 and has its upper portion operating through the upper portion 30 in the stationary wall 3| 0! the brake housing and in the box 32 of the rheostat unit generally referred to by numeral 33. In this unit 33 is the resistance unit 34 against which the contact head 35 at the upper end of the arm 28 rides. A sprin 38 between the upper portion of the arm 28 and the box 32 serves to constant pull the lower end of the arm toward the ring 28.

Adjusting screws 31 are provided on the case 20 and between the outer eye ends of these screws and the eyes 38 on the ring 26 are the springs 39.

A binding post 40 is provided on the box 32 and his is connected as at II to the resistance This roller is unit 34, and is connected to an indicating instrument (not shown).

It can now be seen that in the event the air pressure in the wheel tube 1 drops, the inflation of the small inflatable tube I! will drop, allowing the springs 39 to pull the ring 26 in an outward direction with the result that the roller 26a following the ring 26 will allow the arm 28 to swing upwardly and move its contact 35 along the resistance element 34 thus effecting a visible change on the indicating instrument (not shown).

As can be seen in the drawing a vent 20a is provided in the case 20 for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of air pressure between the case 20 and the annulus I8 from interfering with the free movement of said annulus i8.

Obviously, the apparatus aforedescribed can be used not only on and in conjunction with the pneumatic wheels of land vehicles but also in connection with the pneumatic wheels of aircraft, and furthermore this indicating apparatus can also be used in conjunction with dual wheels.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A tire condition indicator control for pneumatic wheels comprising a wheel, an annular skirted casing carried thereby and rotatable therewith. a fixed annular channeled member in said casing, a second annular channeled member adjustably mounted in said casing for overlapping relation with respect to said first mentioned channeled member, a pneumatic tube disposed between said channeled members having an air connection with the customary tire casing inner tube, a plurality of pins extending through the skirted casing in contact with the adlustably mounted channeled member, a ring secured to and supported by the inner ends of said pins. resilient tensioning means exteriorly disposed about the skirt portion of said casing connecting the same to said ring, a rheostat carried by the wheel in fixed position. and a rockable rheostat contact arm having a roller at its inner end in riding engagement with said ring to eflect variations in the rheostat setting due to variations in tube pressure.

RALPH E. MANNING. GUY K. STANDEN.

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