Non-pneumatic tire having reinforced support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11958322-B2
Application number	US-201917297529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 28, 2018
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The support structure is constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
an inner ring having an axis of rotation;
an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring;
a plurality of lugs disposed on the outer ring, the plurality of lugs being constructed of a polymeric material, wherein the plurality of lugs lack reinforcement cords;
support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring, the support structure being constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein,
wherein the support structure includes a plurality of non-linear components connected to each other with an adhesive, and
wherein a first end of a first non-linear component is connected to a first lug and a second end of the first non-linear component is connected to a second lug adjacent to the first lug; and
a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.

2. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a web having a plurality of geometric openings, wherein at least one of the plurality of geometric openings has a plurality of corners.

3. A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
providing an inner ring having a first diameter;
providing an outer ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
forming a plurality of lugs on the outer ring;
providing at least one thermoplastic sheet having reinforcement cords disposed therein;
forming a plurality of non-linear components from the at least one thermoplastic sheet;
connecting the plurality of non-linear components to the outer ring and to the plurality of lugs to form a support structure; and
connecting the support structure to the inner ring.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming of the plurality of non-linear components from the at least one thermoplastic sheet includes applying heat and pressure to the at least one thermoplastic sheet to shape the at least one thermoplastic sheet.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming of the plurality of non-linear components from the at least one thermoplastic sheet includes cutting the at least one thermoplastic sheet.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming of the plurality of non-linear components from the at least one thermoplastic sheet includes bending the at least one thermoplastic sheet in at least two locations.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the providing of the at least one thermoplastic sheet having reinforcement cords disposed therein includes a step of providing reinforcement cords and a step of coating the reinforcement cords with a thermoplastic material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the coating of the reinforcement cords with the thermoplastic material includes pultruding the reinforcement cords with the thermoplastic material.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the connecting of the plurality of non-linear components together to form the support structure includes connecting the plurality of non-linear components together to form a web.

10. A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of reinforcement cords;
coating the plurality of reinforcement cords with a thermoplastic material, thereby forming a reinforced thermoplastic sheet;
cutting the reinforced thermoplastic sheet;
forming a plurality of non-linear components from the cut reinforced thermoplastic sheet;
arranging the plurality of non-linear components into an annular shape;
providing an inner ring having a first diameter;
providing an outer ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
forming a plurality of lugs on the outer ring;
attaching the plurality of non-linear components to the inner ring; and
attaching the plurality of non-linear components to the outer ring and to the plurality of lugs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the arranging of the plurality of non-linear components into an annular shape includes placing the plurality of non-linear components in a mold.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising injecting polymeric material into the mold.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising attaching the plurality of non-linear components to each other.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the arranging of the plurality of non-linear components into an annular shape includes arranging the plurality of non-linear components into spokes extending from the inner ring to the outer ring.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Nesbitt Adam K

Classifications

• B60C7/146 Primary

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

• B29D30/02

  Solid tyres {; Moulds therefor} · CPC title

• B60C7/20

  disposed circumferentially relative to wheel axis · CPC title

• B60C7/22

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

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title