Concentric bell assembly
View Patent ↗A bell assembly for inflating a tubeless tire on a wheel includes a first bell and a second bell slidably disposed within the first bell. The second bell includes a smaller diameter than the first bell. A shaft extends upwardly from the second bell in one of a relative to the first bell. A locking member is engagable with the shaft and is movable between a first locking position and a second locking position. The locking member secures the second bell in the first bell position when the locking member is disposed in the first locking position. The locking member secures the second bell in the second bell position when the locking member is disposed in the second locking position.
1. A bell assembly for inflating a tubeless tire on a wheel, comprising:
a first bell and a second bell slidably disposed within said first bell, wherein said second bell includes a lesser diameter than said first bell;
a shaft slidably supporting said second bell in one of a first and a second bell position relative to said first bell;
a locking member engagable with said shaft and movable between a first locking position and a second locking position, wherein said locking member secures said second bell in said first bell position when said locking member is disposed in said first locking position and said locking member secures said second bell in said second bell position when said locking member is disposed in said second locking position.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said locking member is movable in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to said bell shaft.
3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said bell shaft includes a catch and said locking member includes a protuberance receivable by said catch thereby securing said second bell in said first bell position.
4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said bell shaft includes a distal end space from said second bell, said distal end being abuttable with said locking member thereby securing said second bell in said second bell position.
5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , comprising an extender drivably engaging said second bell thereby moving said second bell between said first and said second bell positions.
6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , comprising two locking members slidably disposed in an opposing relationship, wherein said locking members move radially inwardly of said bell shaft thereby securing said second bell in one of said first and said second positions.
7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said two locking members are movable radially inwardly of said bell shaft to a generally abuttable relationship thereby providing an abutment surface for a distal end of said bell shaft.
8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said two locking members are movable radially inwardly toward said bell shaft to an interlocking relationship with said bell shaft thereby securing said shaft in said second bell position.
9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an air coupling providing pressurized air to said second bell and being slidable relative to said first bell.
10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 , including a driving mechanism operably connected to said locking member for moving said locking member between first and second locking position.
11. A method of securing a tire inflating assembly having first bell concentrically aligned with a second bell, wherein said second bell is fixedly attached to a bell shaft axially aligned with said first and second bell and being slidable relative to said first bell, comprising the steps of:
providing a locking member movable between a first locking position and a second locking position; and
moving said locking member to one of said first locking position and said second locking position;
securing said bell shaft with said locking member in one of a first bell position and a second bell position thereby positioning said second bell in one of said first bell position and said second bell position.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of moving said locking member to one of said first position and said second position comprises moving said locking member in a generally perpendicular relationship to said bell shaft.
13. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of moving said locking member to said first position is further defined by interlocking said bell shaft when said locking member is moved to said first position.
14. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of moving said locking member to said second position is further defined by positioning said locking member in an abutting relationship with said bell shaft.
15. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of securing said first said bell shaft in said first position comprises securing said second bell in a retracted position relative to said first bell.
16. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of securing said first bell shaft in said second position comprises securing said second bell in an extended position relative to said first bell.
17. The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said step of moving said locking member to one of said first locking position and said second locking position comprises moving two locking members to one of said first locking position and said second locking position.
18. The method as set forth in claim 17 , further including the step of moving said locking members into an abutting relationship thereby providing an abutment surface for said bell shaft.