INFLATING A TIRE AFTER MOUNTING.--
Inflating a support equipment tire involves the use of
two very specific pieces of equipment. These two
pieces of equipment are a tire inflator assembly and an
inflation safety cage.
Tire Inflator Assembly Kits.--A tire inflator
assembly kit, commonly called an inflator, is a tool for
inflating aircraft and support tires (fig. 2-96). The kit
comes with all of the fittings and gauges required to
service vehicle and aircraft wheel assemblies. Because
of the numerous types and sizes of support equipment
tires used, tire shops must have an assortment of the
kits to cover a variety of tire pressures. Note in figure
2-96 that the two gauging elements in this kit cover the
ranges of 10 to 150 psig and 50 to 600 psig.
Always use the proper kit for the job, which is the
one whose relief pressure valve is set closest to, but
greater than, the service pressure of the tire.
Ti re I n f l a t i o n S a f e t y C a g e . -- Ti r e s / r i m
assemblies sometimes explode violently during initial
inflation after being mounted. Normally, this is the
result of defects in the materials or improper assembly.
A tire inflation safety cage is a device for containing a
tire during inflation (fig. 2-97). Current regulations
ASf02097
require that after mounting, any tire must be placed in a
Figure 2-97.--Safety cage for inflation of tires.
safety cage before it is inflated to its service pressure.
The sole purpose of the safety cage is to protect you.
ACTUATING
BLOCK ASSY.
LEVER
GAUGING ELEMENT
(10 TO 150 PSI)
REMOTE
DETACHABLE
CONTROLLER
FITTINGS
GAUGING ELEMENT
RELIEF
(50 TO 600 PSI)
VALVE
CARRYING CASE
TIRE VALVE
ADAPTOR
SERVICING HOSE
BLEEDER
(10 FT.)
PETCOCK
HOSE ASSEMBLY
ASf02096
FITTING
Figure 2-96.--Tire inflator assembly kit.
2-83
