Inflation Device

Abstract

An inflation device includes a cylinder, a piston assembly, a cap, a base assembly, a flow channel assembly, and an inflation assembly. The cylinder includes two compartments. The piston assembly includes two pistons capable of synchronous sliding movement in relation to the two compartments. The cap is mounted on the cylinder. The base assembly is mounted at the bottom of the cylinder. The flow channel assembly includes a flow channel unidirectionally connected with a space formed between the base assembly, one compartment, and one piston. The inflation assembly includes a nozzle connected with the flow channel and attachable to an inflatable object.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inflation device and, particularly, to an inflation device adapted to provide a larger air output.

Conventional pumps can only provide smaller air output, so that they cannot inflate a tubeless tire to install onto a wheel. Air will leak from a gap between the tubeless tire and the wheel.

The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An inflation device includes a cylinder, a piston assembly, a cap, a base assembly, a flow channel assembly, and an inflation assembly.

The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The cylinder includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a passageway connected between the first and second compartments. The piston assembly includes a first piston slidably mounted in the first compartment, and a second piston slidably mounted in the second compartment. The first and second pistons are able to simultaneously slide in relation to the first and second compartments. The cap is mounted on the first end of the cylinder. A first space is formed between the cap, the first compartment, and the first piston. A second space is formed between the cap, the second compartment, and the second piston. The base assembly is mounted at the second end of the cylinder. A third space is formed between the base assembly, the first compartment, and the first piston. A fourth space is formed between the base assembly, the second compartment, and the second piston. The flow channel assembly includes a flow channel unidirectionally connected with the fourth space, and a one-way valve received in the flow channel. The inflation assembly includes a nozzle connected with the flow channel and attachable to an inflatable object.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded, perspective view of the inflation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inflation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a continued view of FIG. 3 and illustrates first and second pistons sliding towards a cap.

FIG. 5 is a continued view of FIG. 4 and illustrates the first and second pistons located at an end of a cylinder adjacent to the cap.

FIG. 6 is a continued view of FIG. 5 and illustrates the first and second pistons sliding towards a base assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6 show an inflation device according to the present invention. The inflation device includes a cylinder 10, a piston assembly 20, a cap 30, a base assembly 40, a flow channel assembly 50, an inflation assembly 60, and a pressure gauge 70.

Cylinder 10 has a first end 101 and a second end 102 opposite to first end 101. Cylinder 10 includes a first compartment 11, a second compartment 12, a passageway 13 located and connected between first and second compartments 11 and 12, and a transmission passage 14 connected with pressure gauge 70. First and second compartments 11 and 12 respectively penetrate through first and second ends 101 and 102 of cylinder 10. Passageway 13 is located at first end 101 of cylinder 10. Thus, a distance between first and second compartments 11 and 12 can be shortened to achieve a compact appearance of cylinder 10. Transmission passage 14 is adjacent to a side of first compartment 11 opposite to second compartment 12 and penetrates through first and second ends 101 and 102 of cylinder 10.

Piston assembly 20 includes a first piston 21 slidably mounted in first compartment 11, a second piston 22 slidably mounted in second compartment 12, a first rod 23 connected with first piston 21 and slidably penetrating through cap 30, and a second rod 24 connected with second piston 22 and slidably penetrating through cap 30. First and second pistons 21 and 22 are able to simultaneously slide in relation to the first and second compartments 11 and 12. First and second pistons 21 and 22 are unable to block passageway 13. First piston 21 includes a first annular slot 211 formed around an outer periphery thereof opposite to first rod 23. Second piston 22 includes a second annular slot 221 formed around an outer periphery thereof opposite to second rod 24.

Piston assembly 20 further includes a first piston ring 25 mounted in first annular slot 211, a second piston ring 26 mounted in second annular slot 221, a first abutting ring 27 mounted around first rod 23 and abutting against first piston 21, a second abutting ring 28 mounted around second rod 24 and abutting against second piston 22, and a handle 29 mounted on first and second rods 23 and 24 and corresponding to first and second pistons 21 and 22 moved in relation to cylinder 10 to abut against cap 30. First piston ring 25 slidably abuts against an inner wall of first compartment 11. Second piston ring 26 slidably abuts against an inner wall of second compartment 12. First and second piston rings 25 and 26 are able to reciprocally slide between passageway 13 and base assembly (40). First and second abutting rings 27 and 28 are able to abut against cap 30.

Cap 30 is mounted on first end 101 of cylinder 10. Cap 30 includes a first extended portion 31 received in first compartment 11, and a second extended portion 32 received in second compartment 12. First abutting ring 27 is able to abut against first extended portion 31. Second abutting ring 28 is able to abut against second extended portion 32. A first space A1 is formed between first extended portion 31, first compartment 11, and first piston 21. A second space A2 is formed between second extended portion 32, second compartment 12, and second piston 22.

Base assembly 40 is mounted at second end 102 of cylinder 10. Base assembly 40 includes a main body 41 connected with cylinder 10, and a plate 42 abutting against a side of cylinder 10 adjacent to first compartment 11. Plate 42 is located between cylinder 10 and main body 41. A third space A3 is formed between plate 42, first compartment 11, and first piston 21. Main body 41 includes a connection portion 411, a first protruded portion 412 received in second compartment 12, a second protruded portion 413, and a third protruded portion 414 received in transmission passage 14. First and second protruded portions 412 and 413 are respectively located at two opposite ends of connection portion 411. Third protruded portion 414 is connected with connection portion 411 and is located between first and second protruded portions 412 and 413. First protruded portion 412 includes a shoulder 4121 formed around an inner edge thereof adjacent to flow channel assembly 50. A fourth space A4 is formed between first protruded portions 412, second compartment 12, and second piston 22. Plate 42 includes a through-hole 421 penetrating therethrough and connected with third space A3 to cause outside air can flow into third space A3.

Flow channel assembly 50 includes a flow channel 51 penetrating through main body 41 and unidirectionally connected with second compartment 12, and a one-way valve 52 received in flow channel 51. Flow channel 51 includes a first section 511, a second section 512, a third section 513, and a fourth section 514. Second section 512 is located and connected between first and third sections 511 and 513. First section 511 penetrates through first protruded portion 412, which has the inner edge adjacent to first section 511 to form shoulder 4121. First section511 receives one-way valve 52 and is unidirectionally connected with second compartment 12. Second section 512 is extended through connection portion 411. Third section 513 penetrates through second protruded portion 413 and is connected with inflation assembly 60. Fourth section 514 penetrates through third protruded portion 414. Fourth section 514 is located between first and second sections 511 and 512 and is connected with transmission passage 14 and second section 512. One-way valve 52 includes a valve body 521, and an elastic member 522. Valve body 521 and elastic member 522 are received in the first section 511. Two opposite ends of elastic member 522 are respectively elastically abutted against valve body 521 and an inner edge of main body 41 adjacent to flow channel 51 to cause valve body 521 elastically abutting against shoulder 4121. First section 511 is unidirectionally connected with fourth space A4.

Inflation assembly 60 includes a nozzle 61, a hose 62, and a nut 63. Two opposite ends of hose 62 are respectively connected with second protruded portion 413 and nozzle 61. Third section 513 penetrates through hose 62 and second protruded portion 413. Nozzle 61 is connected with third section 513 and is attachable to an inflatable object. Nut 63 is threadedly mounted on second protruded portion 413 and is located at an end of hose 62 opposite to nozzle 61.

Pressure gauge 70 is connected with cap 30.

When first and second pistons 21 and 22 are moved towards first end 101 of cylinder 10, the air flowing from first space A1 into second space A2 via passageway 13 and the original air in second space A2 together unidirectionally flows into fourth space A4. At this point, outside air flows into third space A3. First and second pistons 21 and 22 are continually moved towards first end 101 of cylinder 10 until first abutting ring 27 abuts against first extended portion 31, and second abutting ring 28 abuts against second extended portion 32. At this point, first and second pistons 21 and 22 are unable to block passageway 13.

When first and second pistons 21 and 22 are moved towards second end 102 of cylinder 10, the air in fourth space A4 pushes valve body 521 to unidirectionally pass through one-way valve 52, and then flows into flow channel 51 to dividedly flow into third section 513, or into fourth section 514. The air in third section 513 flows through nozzle 61 and enters the inflatable object. The air in fourth section 514 flows into pressure gauge 70 via transmission passage 14. Outside air flowing into the third space A3 via through-hole 421 and the original air in third space A3 together unidirectionally flows into first and second spaces A1 and A2.

Thus, the inflation device can provide a larger air output including volumes of first and second compartments 11 and 12 in a short time to hold a tubeless tire to install onto a wheel.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An inflation device comprising:

a cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, with the cylinder including a first compartment, a second compartment, and a passageway connected between the first and second compartments;

a piston assembly including a first piston slidably mounted in the first compartment, and a second piston slidably mounted in the second compartment, with the first and second pistons able to simultaneously slide in relation to the first and second compartments;

a cap mounted on the first end of the cylinder, with a first space formed between the cap, the first compartment, and the first piston, with a second space formed between the cap, the second compartment, and the second piston;

a base assembly mounted at the second end of the cylinder, with a third space formed between the base assembly, the first compartment, and the first piston, with a fourth space formed between the base assembly, the second compartment, and the second piston;

a flow channel assembly including a flow channel unidirectionally connected with the fourth space, and a one-way valve received in the flow channel; and

an inflation assembly including a nozzle connected with the flow channel and attachable to an inflatable object;

wherein when the first and second pistons are moved towards the first end of the cylinder, the air flowing from the first space into the second space via the passageway and the original air in the second space together unidirectionally flows into the fourth space, outside air flows into the third space;

wherein when the first and second pistons are moved towards the second end of the cylinder, the air in the fourth space unidirectionally passes through the one-way valve and flows into the nozzle via the flow channel, and finally enters the inflatable object, outside air flowing into the third space and the original air in the third space together unidirectionally flows into the first and second spaces.

2. The inflation device as claimed in claim 1, with the first compartment and the second compartment respectively penetrating through the first and second ends of the cylinder, with the passageway located at the first end of the cylinder, and with the piston assembly including a first rod connected with the first piston and slidably penetrating through the cap, and a second rod connected with the second piston and slidably penetrating through the cap.

3. The inflation device as claimed in claim 2, with the cap including a first extended portion received in the first compartment, and a second extended portion received in the second compartment, and with the piston assembly including a first abutting ring mounted around the first rod and abutting against the first piston, and a second abutting ring mounted around the second rod and abutting against the second piston;

wherein when the first and second pistons are moved towards the first end of the cylinder, and the first abutting ring abuts against the first extended portion, and the second abutting ring abuts against the second extended portion, the first and second pistons are unable to block the passageway.

4. The inflation device as claimed in claim 3, with the first piston including a first annular slot formed around an outer periphery thereof, with the second piston including a second annular slot formed around an outer periphery thereof, with the piston assembly including a first piston ring mounted in the first annular slot, and a second piston ring mounted in the second annular slot, with the first piston ring slidably abutting against an inner wall of the first compartment, with the second piston ring slidably abutting against an inner wall of the second compartment, and with the first and second piston rings able to reciprocally slide between the passageway and the base assembly.

5. The inflation device as claimed in claim 1, with the base assembly including a plate abutting against the cylinder, with the plate including a through-hole penetrating therethrough and connected with the third space.

6. The inflation device as claimed in claim 2, with the piston assembly including a handle mounted on the first and second rods and corresponding to the first and second pistons moved in relation to the cylinder to abut against the cap.

7. The inflation device as claimed in claim 1, with the base assembly including a main body, with the flow channel penetrating through the main body and including a first section, a second section, and a third section, with the second section located and connected between the first and third sections, with the first section receiving the one-way valve and unidirectionally connected with the fourth space, and with the third section connected with the nozzle.

8. The inflation device as claimed in claim 7, with the main body including a connection portion, a first protruded portion, and a second protruded portion, with the first and second protruded portions respectively located at two opposite ends of the connection portion, with the first protruded portion received in the second compartment, with the first section penetrating through the first protruded portion, with the second section extended through the connection portion, with the inflation assembly including a hose, and a nut, with two opposite ends of the hose respectively connected with the second protruded portion and the nozzle, with the third section of the flow channel penetrating through the hose and the second protruded portion, and with the nut threadedly mounted on the second protruded portion and located at an end of the hose opposite to the nozzle.

9. The inflation device as claimed in claim 8, with an inner edge of the first protruded portion adjacent to the first section forming a shoulder, and with the one-way valve including a valve body, and an elastic member elastically abutted against the valve body to cause the valve body elastically abutting against the shoulder.

10. The inflation device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:

a pressure gauge connected with the cap, with the cylinder including a transmission passage connected with the pressure gauge, with the flow channel including a fourth section, with the main body including a third protruded portion connected with the connection portion and located between the first and second protruded portions, with the third protruded portion received in the transmission passage, with the fourth section penetrating through the third protruded portion and connected with the transmission passage and the second section.