Warren E Schuessler

US Patent:

58031081, Sep 8, 1998

Filed:

Dec 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/762502

Inventors:

Warren E. Schuessler - Florissant MO
Ray G. Buckles - St. Louis MO
Efim V. Sulpovar - St. Louis MO
Steven J. Nagel - Creve Coeur MO

Assignee:

International Marketing, Inc. - Chambersburg PA

International Classification:

F16K 4300
F16K 5100
B60C 2904

US Classification:

137 15

Abstract:

This invention is directed to a method for inhibiting particulate material in a pneumatic tire from adversely affecting operation of a tire valve assembly The method involves inserting a filter element into a valve stem passage of the valve assembly while the valve assembly is connected to the wheel assembly, and then installing a sealing valve in the valve stem passage. The invention also relates to a tool for inserting the filter element into the valve assembly to inhibit particulate material from passing into the valve assembly while allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The tool comprises a body selectively attachable to the valve assembly. The body has a plurality of passages therein, including a plunger passage, a filter passage and a fluid passage, and a selector valve having two bores therein for selective registry with the plurality of passages. The selector valve is movable between a first position in which the fluid passage is in fluid communication with the valve stem passage and a filter element is loaded into one of the bores in the selector valve through the filter passage, and a second position in which the fluid passage is blocked against fluid communication with the valve stem passage and a plunger is adapted to move through the plunger passage and the bore loaded with the filter element to push the filter element into the valve stem passage.

US Patent:

59312041, Aug 3, 1999

Filed:

Jul 23, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/685056

Inventors:

Robert D. Fogal - Chamberburg PA
Ray G. Buckles - St. Louis MO
Warren E. Schuessler - Florissant MO

International Classification:

B60C 1900

US Classification:

141 38

Abstract:

An apparatus for introducing a pulverulent material into a tire of a wheel assembly, through the valve stem thereof, without a large amount of operator time, effort, or intervention. The apparatus includes two main types of components--the mainframe component and one or more workstation components. Each workstation component serves as a location from which an operator of the apparatus introduces the pulverulent material into a tire and the mainframe component includes the a container for confining a predetermined amount of the pulverulent material and includes the other components required to dispense the pulverulent material into the container from a hopper or the like, and to evacuate the pulverulent material from the container and distribute the same out to a workstation through a suitable conduit where the pulverulent material is introduced into a tire. A method of introducing pulverulent material into a tire is also described.

US Patent:

54720230, Dec 5, 1995

Filed:

Apr 19, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/229536

Inventors:

Robert D. Fogal - Chambersburg PA
Raymond Buckles - St. Louis MO
Warren Schuessler - Florissant MO

Assignee:

International Marketing, Inc. - Chambersburg PA

International Classification:

B60C 1900

US Classification:

141 9

Abstract:

Method of and apparatus for introducing pulverulent material into a tire for the purpose of balancing a tire and an associated wheel assembly. A quantity of polymeric pulverulent material sufficient to balance a tire and an associated wheel assembly is charged to a cylindrical chamber and confined therein. Pressurized air is passed through the chamber in such manner as to form cyclonic air currents in the chamber. The cyclonic air currents can be obtained by configuring the air inlet and the air outlet for the chamber so that their respective axes are not aligned. A mixture of air and pulverulent material is withdrawn from the chamber and passed to a tire which is being balanced. An apparatus for practicing this method comprises a container having a transparent cylindrical side wall and a pair of end caps which together enclose a chamber for pulverulent material; an in-line filter, a pressure regulator and a first on-off valve which together form an air supply flow path for supplying air under pressure to the chamber, and a second on-off valve and a flexible hose having a quick disconnect coupling at its discharge end for conveying a mixture of pressurized air and pulverulent material from the chamber to a tire.