Fixture for spoke to shear band attachment for a non-pneumatic tire with spoke pre-compression

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870314-B2
Application number	US-201716463888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for assembling a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes a plurality of spokes attached to a hub, a frame, and a plurality of mechanical elements disposed between and engaging successive spokes. The spokes extend to locations radially inward and radially outward of the locations of engagement with the mechanical elements. A radial movement member moves the mechanical elements in a radial direction. The spokes are compressed by the mechanical elements, and retaining elements engage the mechanical elements to hold them and the spokes in this position. Release by the retaining elements and outward radial movement of the mechanical elements urge the spokes toward a shear band that is outward in the radial direction. Adhesive located between the spokes and the shear band is pressed there between through this urging to result in the spokes being attached to the shear band in a state of pre-compression.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for assembling a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub;
a plurality of spokes that are attached to the hub;
a frame;
a plurality of mechanical elements carried by the frame that are disposed about a central axis in a circumferential direction, wherein the central axis extends in a longitudinal direction, wherein the mechanical elements are disposed between successive spokes in the circumferential direction and wherein the mechanical elements engage the spokes at locations of engagement, wherein the spokes extend to locations radially inward and radially outward of the locations of engagement with the mechanical elements;
a radial movement member that moves the mechanical elements in a radial direction relative to the frame, wherein the radial movement member moves the mechanical elements toward the central axis in the radial direction to an inward configuration to in turn move the spokes towards the central axis in the radial direction to result in the spokes being compressed;
retaining elements that engage the mechanical elements when the mechanical elements are in the inward configuration to hold the mechanical elements in the inward configuration relative to the frame;
a shear band located radially outward from the spokes when the spokes are compressed, wherein release of the mechanical elements by the retaining elements and outward radial movement of the mechanical elements by the radial movement member urges the spokes toward the shear band in the radial direction; and
adhesive located between the spokes and the shear band that is pressed between the spokes and the shear band by the urging of the spokes toward the shear band in the radial direction by the mechanical elements acted on by the radial movement member, wherein the spokes are attached to the shear band in a state of pre-compression.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spokes have a first spoke and a second spoke that are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction, wherein the mechanical elements have a first mechanical element, wherein the first mechanical element has a first notch into which a first projection of the first spoke is received when the first mechanical element moves inward in the radial direction, wherein the first mechanical element has a second notch into which a second projection of the second spoke is received when the first mechanical element moves outward in the radial direction.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each one of the mechanical elements simultaneously engages two of the spokes during both inward and outward movement of the mechanical elements in the radial direction relative to the frame.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each one of the spokes has an outer flange, wherein the mechanical elements engage the outer flanges of the spokes when the mechanical elements urge the spokes towards the shear band in the radial direction and press the adhesive between the spokes and the shear band.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spokes have an uncompressed state before the compression of the spokes by the mechanical elements, wherein outer radial ends of the spokes in the uncompressed state have a larger radius relative to the central axis than a radius of an inner surface of the shear band relative to the central axis.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radial movement member has a first outer bladder that upon expansion moves the mechanical elements inward in the radial direction, wherein the radial movement member has a first inner bladder that upon expansion moves the mechanical elements outward in the radial direction, wherein both the first outer bladder and the first inner bladder extend 360 degrees around the central axis in the circumferential direction.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the radial movement member has a second outer bladder that upon expansion moves the mechanical elements inward in the radial direction, and wherein the radial movement member has a second inner bladder that upon expansion moves the mechanical elements outward in the radial direction, wherein both the second outer bladder and the second inner bladder extend 360 degrees around the central axis in the circumferential direction;
wherein the spokes are at a location in the longitudinal direction that is intermediate the first outer bladder and the second outer bladder, and wherein the spokes are at a location in the longitudinal direction that is intermediate the first inner bladder and the second inner bladder.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 , further comprising a compression end plate that carries the second outer bladder, wherein the compression end plate is attached to the frame when the first and second outer bladders are actuated and the mechanical elements are moved inward in the radial direction, wherein the compression end plate and the second outer bladder are detached from the frame and removed from the frame when the shear band is located radially outward from the spokes and the first and second inner bladders are actuated and the mechanical elements are moved outward in the radial direction.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the retaining elements are offset from the spokes in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the retaining elements are located inward in the radial direction from the shear band.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical elements have pins, wherein the retaining elements move in the longitudinal direction relative to the mechanical elements, wherein the retaining elements have receiving grooves that receive the pins, wherein the retaining elements are moved in the longitudinal direction away from the spokes to engage the pins to hold the mechanical elements in the inward configuration relative to the base, wherein the retaining elements are moved in the longitudinal direction toward the spokes to disengage the pins to release the mechanical elements.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an expansion end plate that is mounted onto the frame when the shear band is located outward from the spokes in the radial direction, wherein the shear band is located outward from the expansion end plate in the radial direction.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied to outer radial ends of the spokes when the mechanical elements are in the inward configuration and when the spokes are compressed.

13. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is cured while the spokes are urged toward the shear band in the radial direction by the mechanical elements.

14. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radial movement member has a plurality of bladders that are actuated by air.

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Wilson Brian D
• Rivers Eric
• Goodenough David Alan
• Schimidke Glenn Andrew
• Gaut Robert

Classifications

• B60C7/146

  extending substantially radially, e.g. like spokes · CPC title

• B60B31/005 Primary

  especially for spoked wheels · CPC title

• B60B23/00

  Attaching rim to wheel body (attaching spokes to rim B60B1/04, B60B1/14; attaching rims resiliently to wheel body B60B9/00 {; devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together F16B}) · CPC title

• B60B9/26

  comprising resilient spokes · CPC title

• B60C7/24

  characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body · CPC title