Non-pneumatic tire including support members having tension member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731556-B2
Application number	US-201514839278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire may include a hub configured to be coupled to a machine, an outer circumferential barrier radially spaced from the hub and configured to be associated with a tread portion of the tire, and a plurality of support members extending between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier and being configured to support a load on the hub in tension. At least some of the plurality of support members may include at least one tension member coupled to one of the hub and the outer circumferential barrier, and an intermediate member coupled to the at least one tension member and one of the hub and the outer circumferential barrier. The at least one tension member may be configured not to transmit compressive load to the intermediate member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a hub configured to be coupled to a machine;
an outer circumferential barrier radially spaced from the hub and configured to be associated with a tread portion of the tire; and
a plurality of support members extending between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier and being configured to support a load on the hub in tension, wherein at least some of the plurality of support members include:
a first tension member coupled to the hub,
an intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and
a second tension member coupled to the intermediate member and the outer circumferential barrier,
wherein the first tension member and the second tension member are configured not to transmit compressive load to the intermediate member, and
wherein respective longitudinal axes of each of the first tension member, the intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and the second tension member coupled to the intermediate member are aligned and co-linear at least when the tire is not subjected to a load.

2. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , further including a first anchor coupled to the first tension member and the hub, and a second anchor coupled to the second tension member and the outer circumferential barrier.

3. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , further including a first coupler coupled to the first tension member and the intermediate member, and a second coupler coupled to the intermediate member and the second tension member.

4. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first and second couplers includes a chemical bond.

5. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first and second couplers includes a mechanical connection.

6. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second couplers includes a crimp-on connection.

7. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first tension member and second tension member includes at least one of a cable and a strap.

8. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 7 , wherein the at least one tension member is a strap, and wherein the intermediate member is over-molded onto the strap.

9. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of support members extend between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier in a direction oblique with respect to a radial direction extending through an axis of rotation of the tire and a point at which a respective support member is coupled to the hub.

10. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of support members cross one another as viewed in a direction perpendicular to an equatorial plane of the tire as the respective support members extend between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier.

11. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of support members extend in a direction oblique with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire extending perpendicular with respect to an axis of rotation of the tire.

12. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the intermediate member, the outer circumferential barrier, and the tread portion is at least partially formed from at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

13. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a hub configured to be coupled to a machine;
an outer circumferential barrier radially spaced from the hub and configured to be associated with a tread portion of the tire; and
a plurality of support members extending between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier and being configured to support a load on the hub in tension, wherein at least some of the plurality of support members include:
a first tension member coupled to the hub,
an intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and
a second tension member coupled to the intermediate member and the outer circumferential barrier,
wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member is formed from a first material, and the intermediate member is formed from a second material different than the first material, such that the first tension member and the second tension member are configured to not transmit compressive load to the intermediate member when a compressive load is applied to at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member, and
wherein respective longitudinal axes of each of the first tension member, the intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and the second tension member coupled to the intermediate member are aligned and co-linear at least when the tire is not subjected to a load.

14. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member includes at least one of a cable and a strap.

15. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member is a strap, and wherein the intermediate member is over-molded onto the strap.

16. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 15 , wherein the first material includes synthetic reinforcing fibers, and the second material includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

17. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member is a cable including one of wire rope and synthetic reinforcing fibers.

18. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a hub configured to be coupled to a machine;
an outer circumferential barrier radially spaced from the hub and configured to be associated with a tread portion of the tire; and
a plurality of support members extending between the hub and the outer circumferential barrier and being configured to support a load on the hub in tension, wherein at least some of the plurality of support members include:
a first tension member coupled to the hub,
an intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and
a second tension member coupled to the intermediate member and the outer circumferential barrier,
wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member is formed from a first material, and the intermediate member is formed from a second material different than the first material,
wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member is configured to at least one of bend and buckle when a compressive load is applied to the support member, so that the compressive load is not transmitted to the intermediate member, and
wherein respective longitudinal axes of each of the first tension member, the intermediate member coupled to the first tension member, and the second tension member coupled to the intermediate member are aligned and co-linear at least when the tire is not subjected to a load.

19. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member includes at least one of a cable and a strap, and the second material includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Martin Kevin L
• Colantoni David J

Classifications

• B60B2900/313

  Resiliency · CPC title

• B60B2900/111

  Weight · CPC title

• B60B2360/32

  Plastic compositions · CPC title

• B60C2007/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60C7/14 Primary

  using springs · CPC title