Polyurethane filled tire and method of making same

• US 20040154718A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Textile Rubber & Chemical Company Inc.
• Original Assignee: Textile Rubber & Chemical Company Inc.
• Inventors: Doesburg, Van I.
• Application Number:
  US10/360,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/310
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/04 Resilient fillings for rubber tyres; Filling tyres therewith
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/065 made-up of foam inserts tyres filled with foam B60C5/002
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2007/005 made by casting, e.g. of polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/002 filled at least partially with foam material
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/1015 using foam material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10054 Enclosed cushion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10378 Casing enclosed core

Abstract

There is disclosed a polyurethane filled vehicle tire. The tire at least partially defines a hollow cavity, which is at least partially filled with cured frothed polyurethane foam. A method of producing a polyurethane filled tire is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tire for a vehicle, said tire at least partially defining a hollow cavity, said hollow cavity being at least partially filled with cured frothed polyurethane foam.

2. The tire of claim 1, wherein said cavity is substantially filled with said frothed polyurethane foam.

3. The tire of claim 1, wherein said cavity is filled with said frothed polyurethane foam.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said frothed polyurethane foam has a density after curing of approximately 10 lbs to 30 lbs per cubic foot.

5. A tire for a vehicle comprising:

a tire carcass;

a wheel rim on which said tire is mounted, said tire carcass and wheel rim defining a hollow cavity; and

said hollow cavity being at least partially filled with uncured frothed polyurethane foam at a desired pressure.

6. A method comprising the steps of:

inflating with air to a desired pressure a tire casing mounted on a wheel rim;

displacing said air in said tire casing with uncured frothed polyurethane foam by injecting said uncured frothed polyurethane foam into said tire casing; and

curing said frothed polyurethane foam in said tire casing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said frothed polyurethane foam is injected into said tire casing under pressure while venting said air from said casing and while maintaining said desired pressure in said tire casing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said desired pressure is approximately 10 psi and 50 psi.

9. The composition of claim 6, wherein said frothed polyurethane foam has a density after curing of approximately 10 lbs to 30 lbs per cubic foot.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

forming a mixture of at least one polyol, an isocyanate, a catalyst or catalyst system for forming polyurethane, and a surfactant;

forming said mixture into a frothed foam,

displacing air under pressure in a tire casing with said frothed foam by injecting said uncured frothed foam into said tire casing; and

curing said frothed foam to form a polyurethane foam composition.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said frothed foam is injected into said tire casing under pressure while venting said air from said casing and while maintaining a desired pressure in said tire casing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said desired pressure is approximately 10 psi to approximately 50 psi.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said frothed polyurethane foam has a density after curing of approximately 10 lbs per cubic foot to 30 lbs per cubic foot.

18. A tire made by the method of claim 10.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

forming a mixture of at least one polyol, an isocyanate, a catalyst or catalyst system for forming polyurethane, and a surfactant into a frothed foam,

displacing air under pressure in a tire casing with said frothed foam by injecting said frothed foam into said tire casing; and

curing said frothed foam to form a polyurethane foam composition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said frothed foam is injected into said tire casing under pressure while venting said air from said casing and while maintaining a desired pressure in said tire casing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said desired pressure is approximately 10 psi to approximately 50 psi.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said frothed polyurethane foam has a density after curing of approximately 10 lbs per cubic foot to 30 lbs per cubic foot.

19. A tire made by the method of claim 14.

20. A flat-free tire comprising a tire casing and cured frothed polyurethane foam confined, at least in part, by said tire casing.

21. A tire and wheel rim assembly comprising:

a tire having a reinforced carcass;

a wheel rim on which the tire is mounted to define a chamber; and

said chamber having a filling of cured frothed polyurethane foam.

22. A method comprising the steps of:

inflating with air to a desired pressure a tire casing mounted on a wheel rim;

displacing said air in said tire casing with uncured frothed polyurethane foam by introducing said uncured frothed polyurethane foam into said tire casing, while maintaining said desired pressure in said tire casing; and

curing said frothed polyurethane foam in said tire casing.