Tire with arched spokes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569601-B2
Application number	US-201515536889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A tire includes an inner hoop, an outer hoop, and a plurality of spokes extending from the inner hoop to the outer hoop. Each of the spokes includes a y-shaped base, including a radially extending stem, a first concave branch, and a second concave branch. The spokes further include a convex member extending from the first concave branch to the second concave branch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
an inner annular band;
an outer annular band constructed of a polymeric material and having a reinforcement structure embedded therein; and
a plurality of spokes extending from the inner annular band to the outer annular band, wherein the spokes are configured to carry a load in compression and in tension, and wherein each spoke includes:
a first concave sidewall,
a second concave sidewall opposite the first concave sidewall, wherein a bottom portion of the first concave sidewall is connected to a bottom portion of the second concave sidewall, and
an upper convex arch having a first end connected to the first concave sidewall and a second end connected to the second concave sidewall, such that the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the upper convex arch form a closed geometric shape
wherein each spoke further includes:
a third concave sidewall having a bottom portion connected to a top portion of the upper convex arch;
a fourth concave sidewall having a bottom portion connected to the top portion of the upper convex arch and to the bottom portion of the third concave sidewalk; and
a second upper convex arch having a first end connected to the third concave sidewall and a second end connected to the fourth concave sidewall, such that the third concave sidewall, the fourth concave sidewall, and the second upper convex arch form a second closed geometric shape.

2. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spokes further includes a stem extending radially downward from the bottom portion of the first concave sidewall and the bottom portion of the second concave sidewall.

3. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spokes is a discrete spoke.

4. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes form a web.

5. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes further include a plurality of connecting members, wherein each connecting member has a first end connected to an upper convex arch of a first spoke and a second end connected to an upper convex arch of a second spoke adjacent to the first spoke.

6. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes further include a plurality of connecting members, wherein each connecting member has a first end connected to a second upper convex arch of a first spoke and a second end connected to a second upper convex arch of a second spoke adjacent to the first spoke.

7. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structure of the outer annular band is selected from the group consisting of a pair of angle steel belts, a single angled steel belt, and a steel band.

8. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structure of the outer annular band includes a first reinforcement layer and a second reinforcement layer radially above the first reinforcement layer.

9. A tire comprising:
a first hoop;
a second hoop outside the first hoop; and
a plurality of spokes extending from the first hoop to the second hoop, each spoke including:
a first sidewall having a concave shape when the tire is in an unloaded condition,
a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, wherein the second sidewall has a concave shape when the tire is in an unloaded condition, and wherein a bottom portion of the first sidewall is connected to a bottom portion of the second sidewall,
a stem extending downward from the bottom portion of the first sidewall and the bottom portion of the second sidewall, the stem directly contacting the first hoop, and
an upper member having a first end connected to the first sidewall and a second end connected to the second sidewall, such that the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the upper member form a closed geometric shape, wherein the upper member has a convex shape when the tire is in an unloaded condition, and wherein a curved portion of the upper member directly contacts the second hoop.

10. The tire of claim 9 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall of each spoke retain concave shapes when the spoke is placed in compression.

11. The tire of claim 9 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall of each spoke retain concave shapes when the spoke is placed in tension, and wherein the upper member of each spoke retains a convex shape when the spoke is placed in tension.

12. The tire of claim 9 , wherein each spoke is stiffer in tension than in compression.

13. The tire of claim 9 , wherein each spoke extends axially across the first hoop and axially across the second hoop.

14. The tire of claim 9 , wherein each spoke carries a load when in compression and when in tension.

15. The tire of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of spokes further includes:
a third sidewall having a concave shape, the third sidewall having a bottom portion connected to a top portion of the upper member;
a fourth sidewall having a concave shape, the fourth sidewall having a bottom portion connected to the top portion of the upper member and to the bottom portion of the third sidewall; and
a second upper member having a first end connected to the third sidewall and a second end connected to the fourth sidewall, such that the third sidewall, the fourth sidewall, and the second upper member form a second closed geometric shape.

16. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a first polymeric band;
a second polymeric band; and
a web extending from the first polymeric band to the second polymeric band, wherein the web is configured to carry a load in compression and in tension, and wherein the web includes:
a plurality of U-shaped spokes, each U-shaped spoke having a concave portion, and a pair of radial stems extending from the concave portion, wherein the pair of radial stems has a radial height greater than a radial height of the concave portion, wherein each stem directly contacts the first polymeric band, and wherein the concave portion does not directly contact the first polymeric band and does not directly contact the second polymeric band, and
a plurality of members, wherein each member directly contacts a concave portion of at least one of the U-shaped spokes, and wherein each member directly contacts the second polymeric band.

17. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 16 , wherein the first polymeric band is an inner annular band and wherein the second polymeric band is an outer annular band.

18. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped spokes is formed by a pair of discrete spokes.

19. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of members is a curved member, each curved member having:
a first end directly connected to a concave portion of a first U-shaped spoke,
a second end directly connected to a concave portion of a second U-shaped spoke connected to the first U-shaped spoke, and
a middle portion directly connected to the second polymeric band.

20. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 19 , wherein the first U-shaped spoke and the second U-shaped spoke are connected through a common radial stem.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Reinhardt Sharon E

Classifications

• B60C7/22

  having inlays other than for increasing resiliency, e.g. for armouring · CPC title

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title

• B60C2007/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60C7/102

  Tyres built-up with separate rubber parts · CPC title

• B60C7/18 Primary

  disposed radially relative to wheel axis · CPC title