Tire with tensioned spokes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10639935-B2
Application number	US-201715844679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A nonpneumatic tire includes an upper ring and a plurality of spokes extending from the upper ring. At least one reinforcement embedded in each spoke, wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38° C. to 260° C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nonpneumatic tire comprising:
a plurality of rubber layers having a substantially circular shape,
wherein each rubber layer includes an upper ring defining a tread portion, and
wherein each rubber layer further includes a plurality of spoke portions extending from the upper ring; and

a plurality of elongated reinforcements extending in a substantially radial direction, each reinforcement being disposed between the spoke portions of adjacent rubber layers,
wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38° C. to 260° C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa, and
wherein each spoke portion is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface.

2. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount configured to engage a corresponding hub mount.

3. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the plurality of spoke portions are under tension when the tread portion is in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.

4. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein each spoke extends between the upper ring and a lower ring.

5. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein each reinforcement is constructed of polyester.

6. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device embedded in the tire and a conductive filament connected to the electronic device and disposed in at least one spoke portion.

7. A nonpneumatic tire and hub assembly comprising:
a hub; and
a tire including:
an upper ring,
a tread disposed about the upper ring;
a plurality of spokes extending between the upper ring and the hub, and

at least one reinforcement embedded in each spoke, wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38° C. to 260° C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa, and wherein each spoke is under tension when the tread is not in contact with a ground surface.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the hub includes a plurality of hub mounts and each spoke includes a spoke mount that is mounted to one of the hub mounts.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tire is constructed of a plurality of rubber layers.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein each reinforcement is disposed between two of the rubber layers.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein each rubber layer is constructed of the same material.

12. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcements are polyester cords.

13. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spokes has an opening disposed therein.

14. A nonpneumatic tire comprising:
an upper ring;
a tread disposed about the upper ring;
a plurality of spokes extending from the upper ring; and
at least one reinforcement embedded in each spoke, wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38° C. to 260° C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa, and wherein each spoke is under tension when the tread is not in contact with a ground surface.

15. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 14 , wherein the at least one reinforcement is a radially extending polyester cord.

16. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 14 , wherein each of the spokes extends in a substantially radial direction.

17. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 14 , further comprising a lower ring.

18. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 17 , wherein the spokes extend from the upper ring to the lower ring.

19. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of spokes has a mounting portion.

20. The nonpneumatic tire of claim 14 , further comprising at least one sidewall connected to the upper ring.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Costlow Douglas B
• Haidet Andrew V
• Nesbitt Adam K
• Reinhardt Sharon E

Classifications

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title

• B29D30/02

  Solid tyres {; Moulds therefor} · CPC title

• B60B1/042

  Attaching spokes to hub · CPC title

• B60C7/08

  built-up from a plurality of arcuate parts · CPC title

• B60C7/18

  disposed radially relative to wheel axis · CPC title