Flexible metallic web elements for non-pneumatic tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043070-B2
Application number	US-201917298711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Dec 28, 2018
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of bent metal spokes. The non-pneumatic tire further includes a first overmolded foot at a first end of each bent metal spoke. Each first overmolded foot is attached to the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a second overmolded foot at a second end of each bent metal spoke. Each first overmolded foot is attached to the outer ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of elongated sheets of metal material;
bending the plurality of elongated sheets of metal material to form a plurality of metal spokes;
bending a first end of each of the plurality of metal spokes to form a hook;
overmolding a first polymeric foot onto the hook of the first end of each of the plurality of metal spokes;
providing an inner ring of metal material;
affixing the inner ring of metal material to the first polymeric foot;
providing an outer ring of metal material;
affixing the outer ring of metal material to a second end of each of the plurality of metal spokes;
providing tread rubber; and
affixing the tread rubber to the outer ring of metal material.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dip coating the plurality of metal spokes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metal spokes are bent in differing directions to form a crisscross pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing of the inner ring of metal material to the first polymeric foot includes one of welding, brazing, using an adhesive, or soldering the first polymeric foot to the inner ring of metal material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing of the inner ring of metal material to the first polymeric foot includes casting the inner ring of metal material around the first polymeric foot.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising overmolding a second polymeric foot onto the second end of each of the plurality of spokes,
wherein the affixing of the outer ring of metal material to the second end of each of the plurality of spokes includes affixing the outer ring of metal material to the second polymeric foot.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the affixing of the outer ring of metal material to the second polymeric foot includes one of welding, brazing, using an adhesive or soldering the second polymeric foot to the outer ring of metal material.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the affixing of the second polymeric foot to the outer ring of metal material includes casting the outer ring of metal material around the second polymeric foot.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the affixing of the inner ring of metal material to the first polymeric foot includes sliding the first polymeric foot into a channel formed in the inner ring of metal material, and wherein the affixing of the outer ring of metal material to the second polymeric foot includes sliding the second polymeric foot into a channel formed in the outer ring of metal material.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bending of the plurality of the elongated sheets of metal material to form the plurality of metal spokes includes placing the plurality of spokes in an axially spaced formation across a width of the non-pneumatic tire.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cutting slices in the elongated sheets of metal material.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cutting openings in the plurality of elongated sheets of metal material.

13. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
an inner ring of metal material;
an outer ring of metal material;
a plurality of bent metal spokes, wherein each bent metal spoke has a hook formed at a first end;
a first overmolded polymeric foot formed over the hook of the first end of each bent metal spoke, each first overmolded polymeric foot being attached to the inner ring by one of brazing, welding, casting, or adhering with an adhesive; and
a second overmolded polymeric foot at a second end of each bent metal spoke, each second overmolded polymeric foot being attached to the outer ring by one of brazing, welding, casting, or adhering with an adhesive.

14. A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of metal support structures, wherein each of the plurality of metal support structures has a hook formed at a first end;
overmolding a first polymeric foot onto the hook of the first end of each of the plurality of metal support structures;
overmolding a second polymeric foot onto a second end of each of the plurality of metal support structures;
providing an inner ring of metal material;
affixing the inner ring of metal material to the first polymeric foot;
providing an outer ring of metal material;
affixing the outer ring of metal material to the second polymeric foot;
providing tread rubber; and
affixing the tread rubber to the outer ring.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of metal support structures are bent in differing directions and joined to form a crisscross pattern.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the affixing of the inner ring to the first polymeric foot includes one of welding the inner ring to the first polymeric foot, brazing the inner ring to the first polymeric foot, casting the inner ring around the first polymeric foot, adhering the inner ring to the first polymeric foot with an adhesive, or sliding the first polymeric foot into a channel formed in the inner ring.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the affixing of the outer ring to the second polymeric foot includes one of welding the outer ring to the second polymeric foot, brazing the outer ring to the second polymeric foot, casting the outer ring around the second polymeric foot, adhering the outer ring to the second polymeric foot with an adhesive, or sliding the second polymeric foot into a channel formed in the outer ring.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising dip coating the plurality of metal support structures.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Rimai Benjamin E
• Duncan Anthony B

Classifications

• B29D30/02

  Solid tyres {; Moulds therefor} · CPC title

• B60C7/18

  disposed radially relative to wheel axis · CPC title

• B60C7/06

  made of metal · CPC title

• B60C7/146 Primary

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

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title