International Marketing Corporation

Efim V Sulpovar

Warren E Schuessler, Jr

Ray G Buckles

Steven J Nagel

A sealing valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a passage defined by the interior surface of a tubular casing comprises a valve body having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal bore therethrough. The valve body is formed for releasable connection to the tubular casing when the valve body is inserted longitudinally into the passage of the tubular casing. A valve seat is disposed on the valve body. A sealing assembly comprises a sealing device adapted for sealing engagement with the valve seat. The sealing device is movable with respect to the valve seat from a closed sealing position in which the sealing device sealingly engages the valve seat to block fluid flow through the bore in the valve body to an open position in which the sealing device is spaced from the valve seat to permit fluid flow through the bore. A filter element is disposed adjacent the inner end of the sealing valve and is configured for substantially preventing passage of particulate matter of a size capable of interfering with movement of the sealing device to its closed sealing position. The valve body, sealing assembly and filter element are so constructed that they are held in assembly with one another independent of the valve stem so that they can be simultaneously installed in and removed from the tubular casing passage as a single unit.

Sealing valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage

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.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Efim V Sulpovar