Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018361792-A1
Application number	US-201816119594-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2018
Priority date	Mar 27, 2007
Publication date	Dec 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation, a deformable outer ring, and a web extending between the inner ring and the deformable outer ring. The tire further includes a pair of sidewalls disposed at opposite ends of the non-pneumatic tire and covering the web.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of segments having opposing faces lying in opposing planes substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the non-pneumatic tire,
wherein the plurality of segments includes at least a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment,
wherein the first segment has a first geometry defining a first annular inner surface, a first annular outer surface, and a first set of openings,
wherein the second segment has a second geometry defining a second annular inner surface, a second annular outer surface, and a second set of openings,
wherein the third segment has a third geometry defining a third annular inner surface, a third annular outer surface, and a third set of openings,
wherein the second segment is disposed between the first segment and the third segment,
wherein the first geometry is substantially the same as the third geometry and the first set of openings are aligned with the third set of openings; and
a tread portion covering an outer surface of the plurality of segments.

2 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the second geometry is different from the first geometry and different from the third geometry.

3 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the second geometry is substantially the same as the first geometry and the third geometry.

4 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 3 , wherein the second set of openings are circumferentially offset from the first set of openings and circumferentially offset from the third set of openings.

5 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the first segment has a first width, the second segment has a second width, and the third segment has a third width, and wherein the first width is substantially equal to the third width.

6 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 5 , wherein the second width is different from the first width and different from the third width.

7 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 5 , wherein the second width is substantially equal to the first width and substantially equal to the third width.

8 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the first segment has a first width, the second segment has a second width, and the third segment has a third width, and wherein the first width is different from the third width.

9 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a hub configured to be coupled to a machine, the hub having a rotational axis about which the tire is configured to roll; a support structure including an inner circumferential portion associated with the hub and an outer circumferential portion radially spaced from the inner circumferential portion, the support structure including a plurality of segments of elastomeric material having opposing faces lying in opposing planes substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis, each of the segments extending radially from the inner circumferential portion of the support structure to the outer circumferential portion, and the plurality of segments together extending axially between opposed, axially-spaced side edges of the tire, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of cavities; and a tread portion associated with the outer circumferential portion, and wherein at least two adjacent segments each include respective cavity forming apertures corresponding to at least a portion of a cavity, wherein the segments are chemically bonded to one another.

10 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 9 , further comprising a tread carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of the support structure, the tread carrying layer being configured to support the support structure working in tension.

11 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 10 , wherein the tread carrying layer comprises reinforcing belts.

12 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 9 , wherein the cavities are defined by a plurality of general polygonal openings.

13 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises a first plurality of generally polygonal openings having a first shape and a second plurality of generally polygonal openings having a second shape different from said first shape.

14 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 9 , wherein the support structure is adhesively engaged with the hub.

15 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 9 , wherein the support structure is chemically bonded to the hub.

16 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a hub configured to be coupled to a machine, the hub having a rotational axis about which the tire is configured to roll; a support structure including an inner circumferential portion associated with the hub and an outer circumferential portion radially spaced from the inner circumferential portion, the support structure extending between opposed, axially-spaced side edges of the tire, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of cavities; and a tread portion associated with the outer circumferential portion, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of layers of elastomeric material each having opposing faces lying in opposing planes substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis, and wherein at least some of the layers include apertures corresponding to the cavities.

17 . The tire of claim 16 , wherein at least some of the layers are annular layers having a centrally located aperture through which the hub is received.

18 . The tire of claim 16 , wherein at least two adjacent layers each include respective cavity forming apertures, and wherein the cavity forming apertures correspond to at least a portion of a cavity.

19 . The tire of claim 16 , wherein an interface is present between adjacent layers of elastomeric material, and the interface includes a chemical bond between the adjacent layers.

20 . The tire of claim 16 , wherein the layers are adhesively bonded to one another.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Manesh Ali
• Tercha Mike
• Schlei Karen
• Meliska Brian
• Stark Louis
• Howland Glenn

Classifications

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title

• Y10T152/10378

  Casing enclosed core · CPC title

• B60C7/00

  Non-inflatable or solid tyres (B60C1/00 takes precedence) · CPC title