US2634089A - Air pump adapter for internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

P J SHEEHAN 2,634,089

AIR PUMP ADAPTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES mmvroa; PATRICK |EEHAN BY mm V M A-rrv Filed June 2, 1950 April 7', 1953 Patented Apr. 7, 1953 AIR PUMP ADAPTER FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES- Patrick J. Sheehan, Bellwood, Ill., assignor to Super Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 2, 1950,, Serial No. 165,737

3 Claims.

This. invention is directed to new and useful improvements in air pump adapter for internal combustion engine whereby an air pump is formed, which can be used for inflating pneumatic tires. More specifically this invention is directed to a device which is adapted to be substituted for a spark plug ofan internal combustion motor so that when the motor is operated, the piston of the cylinder in which the device has been substituted for the spark plug will draw outside air through the device on the downstroke and eject air under pressure on the upstroke through a conduit or hose. I

It is realized that many devices have heretofore been used for the same purpose but it is the pri-.

mary object of this invention to provide such a device which is superior to those because of its simplicity in design and function.

A further object of thisi-nvention is to provide a novel flap valve assembly in such a device adapted for easy construction and assembly.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in such a device a novel flap valve assembly of parts so simple in construction that an unskilled operator can readily fabricate duplicate parts should repair or replacement be necessary in the field.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section of a device embodying these inventions in operative position in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical cross sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve flap retainer.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve flap before assembly.

In detail I indicates a cylinder of an internal combustion engine with the adapter device 2 embodying these inventions positioned in the spark .plug opening 3. A flexible air hose 4 leads from the device 2 for delivering air pressure where desired.

The adapter 2 comprises a cylindrical chamber 5 extendin from the lower end to a point about midway between the two ends. An air passage 6 leads from the upper end of chamber 5 to the outlet I. Positioned in air passage 6 is a ball valve assembly of well known construction comprising a ball 8, a lower ball seat 9, an upper seat III and air slots H, normally closing air passage 6 but adapted to permit the escape of air under pressure.

For ease in assembly the chamber 5 is formed by a central casing l2 and a lower cap I 3 secured together in threaded relation. The lower end of cap I3 has external threads I4 of the same size as the internal threads of the cylinder I. Opposite sides of central casing I2 are provided with air intake slots I5 and opposed solid portions I6 lie between the areas of the slots I5.

The flap valve assembly for controlling the intake of air through slots I5 comprises a single rectangular piece of resilient material such as rubber forming the flap valve I I rolled into a tubular form and inserted in the upper part of chamber 5 in casing I2 adjacent the slots I5. The length of the flap valve is less than the circumference of the upper part of chamber 5 so that the ends of the flap valve II when positioned in chamber 5 are spaced from each other to form a vertical trough I8.

The other part of the flap valve assembly comprises a relatively thin rectangular retainer or wedge I9 of a length substantially that of the part of chamber 5 within casing I2. The width of retainer I9 is slightly less than the diameter of the upper part of chamber I2. The corner of the upper end of retainer I9 may be curved slightly for ease in assembly, as shown at 20.

The outlet 1 is in a removable threaded cap '2 I. It is apparent that ball 8 is placed in the device when cap 2| is removed and the ball valve assembly completed when can 2| is screwed into position.

The flap valve assembly is placed in position when lower cap I3 has been unscrewed from main' casing I2. Flap valve II is rolled into tubular shape and inserted into chamber 5 of casing I2 with the two spaced ends positioned between the opposed areas of the slots [5. Retainer I9 is then forced into the center of chamber 5 with one side edge bearing against the middle of flap valve IT, as shown at 22, the opposite edge positioned in the trough I8 between the two spaced ends of the flap valve I I, and bearing against the wall of chamber 5 to form a central web within the chamber 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This is a forced friction fit and the middle of flap valve I1 is pinched against the wall of chamber 5 and the spaced ends are free. The curved ends 20 of retainer I9 facilitate the positioning of the retainer I9.

In operation, the usual spark plug is removed from the cylinder I and the adapter 2 is substi- 3 tuted therefor. The engine is operated by the other cylinders and on the downstroke of the piston of cylinder i air is drawn through slots 45 into the cylinder. The free ends of flap valve I! move inwardly to permit this intake of external air. During the downstroke of the piston the ball 8 rests in seat 9 to close outlet 1. On the upstroke the air which has been drawn into the cylinder I is forced upwardly to unseat ball 8 and be forced from outlet 1. During the upstroke the slots I are closed by flap valve II, the pressure of the air moving upwardly from 'tlie 'cylinderl forcing the valve material against the slots P5 to close them. The air thus pumped is directed from hose 4 where desired and when finished the adapter 2 is removed and the spark plug replaced so that the engine will operate on all cyl in ders.

It is apparent from the above detailed specification that novelty and invention of this devic rests in the extreme simplicity of the parts for ing the flap valve assembly which permits ut most ease in assembly, maintenance and repair yet gives efiicient results. Inasmuch as devices of this kind are used mostly in remote countries and locations where service and rep-air facilities are meager or entirely lacking, the desirability of such a simple assembly comprising a minimum number-of uncompleted parts is easily appreciated.

I claim:

1. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having a central cylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an airoutlet, the invention that comprises an air flap assembly comprising a flap valve formed of one rectangular piece of flexible material having uninterrupted parallel edges of a length less than the circumference of the chamber said material being coiled to form a tubular lining for said chamber with spaced ends and a thin blade-like rectangular retainer having a width slightly less than the diameter of the chamber positioned centrally thereof in a forced fit one edge thereof pinchingthe central part of the flap valve against one side of the chamber along its full length and the other edge bearing along its full length against the opposite wall of the chamber between the spaced ends.

2. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having a central cylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an air outlet, the invention that comprises an air flap assembly comprising a flap valve formed of one rectangular piece of flexible material with uninterrupted parallel edges of a length less than the circumference of the chamber said material being coiled to form a tubular lining for said chamber with spaced ends and a thin fiat rectangular retainer having a width slightly less than the diameter of the chamber but greater than the inner diameter of the flap valve lining, said retainer positioned vertically and centrally within the chamber in a friction fit along the full lengths of its opposed edges between the flap valve material at one side of the chamber and the inner' wall of the opposite side of the chamber between the spaced ends.

3. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having-a-central cylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an air outlet, the invention that comprises'an air flap assembly comprising a flap valve formed of one substantially rectangular piece of flexible material of a length less than the circumference of the chamber, said material being coiled to form a tubular lining for said chamber with spaced ends, and a thin, fiat, substantially rectangular retainer having a width slightly less than the diameter of the chamber but greater than the inner diameter of the flap valve lining, said retainer positioned vertically and centrally within the chamber in a friction fit between the flap valve'material at one side of the chamber and the inner Wall of the opposite side of the chamber between the spaced ends, one edge of the retainer bearing against the flap valve material from the top to the bottom of said material the opposite edge bearing against the inner wall the entire length of said opposite edge.

PATRICK J. SHEEHAN.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,232 Sutton Dec. 10, 1946

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