Pneumatic tire leak detector
US4693118A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 1986 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/226
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting the location of a leak in a pneumatic tire. A leaking tire is filled with a suspension which is capable of flowing through a leak of the tire and staining the perimeter of the leak at the outside surface of the tire. The suspension is a powdered fluorescent pigment of small particle size suspended in a propellant and the air inside of the tire. A portable container is provided for storing the powdered pigment and propellant. The container has an outlet valve for controlling the release of the pigment and propellant from the container. One end of a flexible tube is connected to the outlet valve of the container and a fitting at the other end of the tube is connected to an inlet valve of the tire. The fitting has a means for sealing the attachment of the tube to the tire inlet valve and a means for opening the tire inlet valve. When the outlet valve of the container is opened, the pigment and propellant flow into the tire and combine with the air in the tire to form the suspension. The escape of the suspension through the leak deposits some of the powdered pigment on the perimeter of the leak which is easily seen for detecting the location of the leak.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.