GB2385030A

GB2385030A - Tyre pressure adjusting system

Info

Publication number: GB2385030A
Application number: GB0202698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Verney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-06
Filing date: 2002-02-06
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Also published as: GB0202698D0

Abstract

A bicycle tyre pressure adjusting system includes a pump, cam 4, connecting hoses 7, hollow wheel axles and pressure release valves. The pedals drive the cam which acts on piston 5 within the pump cylinder 6 housed within the bicycles tubular frame. Hoses leave the pump and travel into hollow axles, within the wheel hubs, where they connect with the tyre inner tubes. A pressure release valve ensures that the tyre does not accept excess pressure.

Description

BICYCLE PUMP This invention relates to a bicycle pump that utilises the action of pedaling to provide air to the tyres.

Bicycle pumps are quite common and come in a varying range of shapes and sizesbut all suffer from the disadvantage of being an after-fit accessory, often fitted externally to the bike or carried by the rider until required. Certain issues and problems face cyclists everyday when using these devices; They may forget to bring them along for the journey They may be stolen from the bike altogether. Moreover, regardless of the type, all hand action pumps are relatively difficult to operate in order to push sufficient air under pressure into the tyres-especially for the young and very old. Additionally, all types of bicycle tyre require pumping from time to time. More often than not this is only when a visible deflation of the tyre can be seen, and like any pneumatic tyre-constant over or under pressure affects tire wear and, more importantly, safety.

An object of this inventioojs to provide a bicycle pump that cannot be lost or stolen, that is easy to use, and that can keep tyres in'peak'condition by delivering and maintaining a constant, regulated tyre pressure.

Accordingly, the invention uses a cam and piston system integrated into the crank of the bicycle to feed air into a cylinder pump contained within the tubing of the bikes frame. This, in turn, drives air into two connecting hoses, also fed through the tubing of the bikes frame to two external connections; one on the front forks, the other on the frames chain stay.

Each inner tube is to be fitted with an external regulator safety valve that in turn are connected with a separate hose fed down through each hub and into a hollow axle, where they are connected to the external connections on the bikes frame-thus allowing a continual and regulated flow of air to each tyre.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a close up cutaway schematic of the bottom bracket with the cam, piston and pump in situ.

FIGURE 2 shows a typical hub arrangement in cross section with the connections between frame and tyre.

As shown in figure 1, the pump comprises of a cam 4 of known design with a hinged connection to a piston rod 5 built integral to the working of the crank inside the bottom bracket 1.

The piston 5 is sealed within a pump cylinder 6 of known design which is positioned within the tubing of the bikes frame 2.

Two connecting air hoses 7 are fed through the frame 2 to the front and rear dropouts respectively Figure 2 shows a cross section of a hub and axle arrangement where the hose 7 from the pump meets a screw type connection of a known design 8 mounted externally on the forks or rear chain stays 9.

A separate screw type hose connection of known design 10 joins the hose 11 through a hollow axle 12 to join with a sealed cup connection of known design 13 at a 90o angle through a bore hole on the hub 14.

Another screw type connection 10 joins the hose 11 to a regulator safety valve of known design 15 integrated into the inner tube 16 of known design.

As shown in figure 1, when the bicycle is pedaled, the cam 4 rotates. This in turn actuates the piston 5 within the pump cylinder 6. Air is forced into the connecting hoses 7 which a fed through the tubing of the frame 2 to connect with two outlets 8; one on the front forks, the other on the rear chain stay.

A screw type connection 10 that allows for removal of the wheels continues the air flow into a separate hose 11 that is fed through a hollow axle 12 on each wheel.

The hose 11 is fed via a sealed cup connection that allows free rotation of the hub 14 and hose 11 to make a final screw type connection 10 with a regulator safety valve 15 on each inner tube to allow for a constant and regulated air flow to each tyre simply by pedaling the bicycle in the normal way.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bicycle pump that is powered by the action of pedaling and provides and maintains a constant, regulated pressure within the tyres.
2. A bicycle pump as claimed in claim 1 where the pump is built integral to the internal workings of the bike crank.
3. A bicycle pump as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 where the pump cylinder and method or air distribution are built internally into the bicycle frame, axle and hub.
4. A bicycle pump as claimed in any preceding claim whereby the pump provides and maintains a constant regulated air pressure within the tyres by means of safety regulator valves.
5. A bicycle pump system substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.