Method of manufacturing a non-pneumatic support structure

• US 10,384,409 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Celik, Ceyhan, Stoila, George Michael, Edwards, Steven Amos, Benzing, II, James Alfred, Haydu, Jr., William Andrew, Bachochin, Todd Andrew, Hogan, Michael James, Miller, Timothy Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dye, Robert C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paquette, Sedef E
• Application Number:
  US15/351,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20180133992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 156112, 1523793
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0005 Pretreatment of tyres or parts thereof, e.g. preheating, irradiation, precuring
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/005 General arrangement or lay-out of plants for the processing of tyres or parts thereof round cores or cylindrical drums arranged for a single sequence of tire building operations B29D30/10, B29D30/20; vulcanization presses B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/02 Solid tyres ; Moulds therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/26 comprising resilient spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/18 disposed radially relative to wheel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body

Abstract

A system manufactures a tire assembly. The system includes a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub, a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the tire assembly about the core, the internal arcuate members being disposed in spaces between the extensions of the core, a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members in place relative to the core, and a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members to each other.

Claims

1. A system for manufacturing a tire assembly, the system comprising:

a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub;

a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the tire assembly about the core, the internal arcuate members of the system being disposed in spaces circumferentially between the extensions of the core;

a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members of the system in place relative to the core; and

a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members of the system to each other, the internal arcuate members of the system having axial projections extending through corresponding axial shafts in each of the first and second side plates.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of external arcuate members encasing the assembly, as well as the core, the internal arcuate members, the first side plate, and the second side plate, to form an apparatus for curing the assembly.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer comprises calendered fabric and rubber compound treatments.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer comprises calendered fabric and rubber compound treatments applied to an outer surface of the core across a full 360 degree circumference of the core.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein projections of the internal arcuate members of the system are inserted through shafts in the first and second side plates.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including extruded rubber wedges disposed on the reinforcing layer in depressions between the extensions of the core and the internal arcuate members of the system.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein projections of the internal arcuate members of the system are axially inserted through shafts in the first and second side plates with the projections engaging lock rings.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein projections of the internal arcuate members of the system are axially inserted through axial shafts within the first and second side plates with the projections of the internal arcuate members of the system engaging the first and second side plates to secure the core and the internal arcuate members of the system in radial alignment.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer comprises calendered fabric and rubber compound treatments applied to an outer surface of the core across a full 360 degree circumference of the core with a shear band structure applied over the reinforcement layer.