Abstract: A housing having a socket surrounded by an annular flange is connected to a tube having a raised annular shoulder. The tube is inserted in the socket, and then the flange is deformed radially inwardly to capture the shoulder in the housing. The flange is also recurved alongside the sidewall of the tube on a side of the shoulder opposite the housing to support the tube against bending. The flange includes an inwardly directed wall having an array of raised features positioned to enhance frictional engagement between the wall and the tube when the raised features are forced against the tube as the flange is deformed. In this way rotation of the tube in the housing is inhibited.

Abstract: A combined charge/relief valve for an air conditioner system includes an outer housing that defines a first passageway and an inner housing that defines a second passageway. The inner housing includes an O-ring seal and is biased by an outer spring to a sealed position to seal the first passageway. The inner housing can be moved to a charging position by the direct application of mechanical force in order to facilitate high rate charging of the air conditioner system. The inner housing includes a valve member movable between an opened and a closed position to seal the inner passageway. The valve member is biased to the closed position by a precision relief spring. Excessive refrigerant pressure in the air conditioner system moves the valve member from the closed to the open position in order to vent refrigerant to the environment.

Abstract: A quick disconnect coupler includes a seal retaining member movably in a coupler housing. A sealing washer biases the retaining member toward first position, and an annular seal is mounted in the retaining member. This annular seal defines both axial and radial sealing surfaces, and it is configured to transmit sufficient force to the seal retaining member to move the seal retaining member to a rearward position in response to a first, larger diameter plug bearing on the axial sealing surface, and to form a radial seal around a second, smaller diameter plug.

Abstract: A check valve includes first and second valve body parts. The first valve body part defines a protruding neck and the second valve body part defines a receiving flange sized to received the protruding neck in a telescoping manner. A snap fit retaining mechanism includes a set of hooks on the second valve body part and a hook receiving groove on the first valve body part. The hooks are shaped to engage the groove to hold the first and second valve body parts together as an assembly, with the neck received in the flange. A central passageway extends through the first and second valve body parts, and a valve seat is defined around the central passageway. A valve pin is mounted in the central passageway to releasably seal against the valve seat.

Abstract: A quick disconnect coupler includes an annular seal which is mounted in a fixed axial position to the housing of the coupler and which defines three sealing surfaces axially separated along the length of the coupler. The three sealing surfaces are configured and positioned to seal against three types of commonly used coupler plugs. In this way, an axially fixed seal reliably seals against all three coupler plugs. In one embodiment the seal defines a tiltable portion which is surrounded by a retainer ring and is free to tilt in the housing to follow tilting movement of a plug in the coupler.

Abstract: A check valve of the type having a valve body and a valve pin mounted to slide in the valve body includes on its exterior surface a raised annular ridge. This ridge defines at least one pair of wrench flats and has first and second annular shoulders, each on a respective side of the ridge. The first shoulder is shaped to retain a quick disconnect coupler in position on the valve body. The overall length of the valve body can be reduced because the same annular ridge defines both the wrench flats and the shoulder that retains the quick disconnect coupler.

Abstract: The disclosed tire valve includes an elastic valve body having a through passageway formed therein, with a constriction formed at an intermediate portion of the through passageway. A valve pin is provided with a gasket and is mounted to slide within the through passageway. A spring is positioned between the pin and the valve body to bias the pin to a sealing position. Preferably, the pin is formed of an elastic material. The valve body defines a sharp edged step adjacent to the constriction and the valve pin defines a sharp edged flange positioned to abut the step in the valve body so as to increase the bursting pressure of the valve.

Abstract: A tubeless tire valve has a one piece, integral valve body having a central passageway formed therein, wherein the passageway is formed of upper, central and lower regions. A one piece, integral valve pin has a head sized to fit in the upper region, a first shank extending away from the head to an enlargement, and a second shank extending away from the enlargement. The pin enlargement has a maximum dimension larger than the central region to create an interference fit therewith, and the maximum dimension is selected such that the enlargement can be forced through the central region. A resilient internal gasket is mounted on the second shank to seal the central passageway.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant tire valve assembly includes a valve body which is bonded at one end to an elastomeric base member that defines an outer sealing surface. A valve core assembly is threadedly mounted in the valve body, and this valve core assembly carries a seal member which is shaped to engage and seal against the outer sealing surface of the base member. In addition, the seal member extends up into an inner passageway defined by the valve core assembly. The cooperation between the seal member and the base member protects both the valve body and the valve core assembly from corrosion, as for example corrosion resulting from exposure to salt solutions commonly used to weight tires in agricultural and heavy construction applications.

Abstract: A tubeless tire valve has a valve body and an external annular gasket having an internal through hole. The gasket, when not mounted, has a diameter partially lower than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the valve body, on which it will be inserted, and partially larger than the latter at the coupling area with the rim. Externally, the gasket has at one end an extended lip directed towards the rim, then an intermediate zone having a larger diameter than that of the hole in the rim, and close to the intermediate zone an annular groove of reduced diameter, while a hollowed impression is provided on the valve body at the zone where the rim will be positioned.

Abstract: A tire valve assembly which is adapted to be mounted on the rim for a tubeless tire, and wherein the tire valve assembly is constructed of a non-metallic material. The tubeless tire valve assembly includes a valve stem which is constituted of a plastic material, for example, such as nylon or fiber-reinforced nylon, or a plastic material possessing similar physical properties, which has a flange integrally formed therewith at one end of the valve stem, and which is encompassed by a rubber grommet towards that stem end, and which is adhesively bonded to the valve stem and adapted to be sealingly mounted within an aperture formed in a tire rim for a tubeless tire.