Static discharge element for non-pneumatic tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018333984-A1
Application number	US-201615777710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire is provided that has a hub with a central axis. A supporting structure is located outward from the hub in a radial direction, and a shear band is located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction. Tread is located outward from the shear band in the radial direction. A static discharge element extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure. The first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction. The static discharge element is electrically conductive to conduct electricity through the supporting structure.

First claim

1 . A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub that has a central axis; a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction, wherein the supporting structure has a spoke; a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction; tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction; and a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction, wherein the static discharge element is electrically conductive, wherein the static discharge element is carried by the spoke of the supporting structure.

2 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the first radial end is a first terminal end of the supporting structure; wherein the second radial end is a second terminal end of the supporting structure; and wherein the spoke has a first radial terminal end that is located at the first radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the spoke has a second radial terminal end that is located at the second radial end of the supporting structure.

3 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the supporting structure has an inner interface ring, wherein the first radial end has a first terminal end of the inner interface ring that engages the hub; wherein the supporting structure has an outer interface ring, wherein the second radial end has a second terminal end of the outer interface ring that engages the shear band; and wherein the a spoke extends from the inner interface ring to the outer interface ring in the radial direction.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the static discharge element is a filament and is located inside of the spoke, wherein the static discharge element has a first end that engages the inner interface ring and the hub and extends in a circumferential direction, wherein the static discharge element has a second end that engages the outer interface ring and the shear band and extends in the circumferential direction.

8 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the static discharge element is an elastic electrically conductive tape.

9 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the static discharge element is an electrically conductive paint.

10 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the static discharge element is a strip of electrically conductive polymer.

11 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the supporting structure and the static discharge element are formed by a two shot injection molding process wherein a first shot or a second shot applies the strip of electrically conductive polymer to a mold surface between the hub and the shear band, and wherein the other one of the first shot or the second shot applies the supporting structure.

12 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the supporting structure has an axial face that is located at a terminal axial end of the supporting structure in an axial direction, wherein the static discharge element is located at the axial face.

13 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 12 , wherein:
the supporting structure has an inner interface ring and an outer interface ring; wherein the axial face is located at the inner interface ring, the outer interface ring, and the spoke; and wherein the static discharge element engages the hub and the shear band.

14 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure includes a polymeric material that is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, copolyester, polyether block amide and polyolefins;
wherein the static discharge element is a plurality of filament fibers that are filler of the polymeric material of the supporting structure, wherein the filament fibers are electrically conductive.

15 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the static discharge element has an elongation during operation of at least 2%.

16 . A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub that has a central axis; a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction; a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction; tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction; and a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction, wherein the static discharge element is electrically conductive, wherein the static discharge element is a filament that is made of a polymeric strand and conductive carbon.

17 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the polymeric strand is nylon monofilament, and wherein the polymeric strand is suffused with the conductive carbon.

18 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the filament has an elongation at break of 41%, and wherein the filament has an average electrical resistivity of 4×10̂5 ohms per centimeter.

19 . A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub that has a central axis; a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction; a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction; tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction; and a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction, wherein the static discharge element is electrically conductive; wherein the static discharge element is a strip of electrically conductive polymer.

20 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the supporting structure and the static discharge element are formed by a two shot injection molding process wherein a first shot or a second shot applies the strip of electrically conductive polymer to a mold surface between the hub and the shear band, and wherein the other one of the first shot or the second shot applies the supporting structure.

21 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the supporting structure has an axial face that is located at a terminal axial end of the supporting structure in an axial direction, wherein the static discharge element is located at the axial face.

22 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 21 , wherein:
the supporting structure has the inner interface ring, the outer interface ring, and the spoke; wherein the axial face is located at the inner interface ring, the outer interface ring, and the spoke; and wherein the static discharge element engages the hub and the shear band.

23 . A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub that has a central axis; a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction; a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction; tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction; and a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Wilson Brian Douglas
• Gaylo Ryan
• Bohn Jr Clayton
• Winston Paul

Classifications

• B60B9/16 Primary

  modified to ensure electric conductivity · CPC title

• B60B9/04

  in leaf form · CPC title

• B60C7/18

  disposed radially relative to wheel axis · CPC title

• B60C19/08 Primary

  Electric-charge-dissipating arrangements · CPC title

• B60C2007/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic