IRRIGATION TIRE

• US 20090084478A1
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Nobuo, Paker, Jeffrey D., Miklic, Andrew T., Regallis, John J., Wallet, Bill J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/209.130
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 1/00 Tyres characterised by the chemical composition or the physical arrangement or mixture of the composition
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0304 Asymmetric patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0311 Patterns comprising tread lugs arranged parallel or oblique to the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0316 further characterised by the groove cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/032 Patterns comprising isolated recesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/033 by the void or net-to-gross ratios of the patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0332 by the footprint-ground contacting area of the tyre tread
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1307 with special features of the groove walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/00 Tyre sidewalls; Protecting, decorating, marking, or the like, thereof B60C17/08 takes precedence; tyre shoulders B60C11/01; removable tyre sidewall trim rings B60B7/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2011/0388 provided at the equatorial plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/08 for agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 3/04 characterised by the relative dimensions of the section, e.g. low profile B60C3/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A non directional pneumatic tire is provided for an agricultural irrigation system. The tire includes first and second side walls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber. A non directional tread pattern is defined on the tire and includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions are arranged in first and second rows extending from the first and second side walls toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternate with each other and there is a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with or overlaps another.

Claims

1. A non-directional pneumatic tire for supporting an agricultural irrigation system, comprising:

first and second sidewalls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber;

a non-directional tread pattern defined on the tire and including a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire; and

the longitudinal protrusions being arranged in a first row extending from the first sidewall toward and across an equatorial plane of the tire and a second row extending from the second sidewall toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire, the longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternating with each other and there being a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with another.

2. The tire of claim 1, wherein the tread pattern has a relatively low rubber to void ratio over a tire width of less than about 20%.

3. The tire of claim 1, wherein the tread pattern has a rubber to void ratio over a tire width in the range of from about 16% to about 20%.

4. The tire of claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the tire defined as tire section height divided by tire section width is no greater than about 90%, thereby providing a relatively wide tire.

5. The tire of claim 1, having a tire section width of at least 10 inches.

6. The tire of claim 5, having an outside diameter of at least 40 inches.

7. The tire of claim 1, having a tread pitch in the range of 10 to 25, the tread pitch being defined as the number of longitudinal protrusions in one of said first and second rows.

8. The tire of claim 7, wherein the tread pitch is in the range of 15 to 21.

9. The tire of claim 7, wherein an outside diameter of the tire is at least about 40 inches.

10. The tire of claim 1, wherein:

the radially outer wall has an inner tread defined thereon between the longitudinal protrusions; and

each longitudinal protrusion includes a contact surface and a protrusion side, each protrusion side including a first taper surface extending from the contact surface and a second taper surface extending from the first taper surface to the inner tread.

11. The tire of claim 1, wherein the tire comprises rubber and an anti-weathering agent, the anti-weathering agent comprising at least 8 parts per hundred parts of the rubber.

12. The tire of claim 11, wherein the anti-weathering agent comprises 8-18 parts per hundred parts of the rubber.

13. The tire of claim 11, wherein the anti-weathering agent is selected from the group consisting of wax, an anti oxidant, resin, an anti ozonant and combinations thereof.

14. The tire of claim 1, wherein:

the tread pattern further includes a circumferential protrusion spanning the equatorial plane, each of the longitudinal protrusions having a terminal end overlying the circumferential protrusion.

15. The tire of claim 14, wherein:

the terminal end of each longitudinal protrusion is enlarged circumferentially.

16. A tire for use with a wheel to support agricultural irrigation equipment on a surface, the tire comprising:

an axis;

a tire outside diameter of at least 40 inches and a tire axial width of at least 10 inches;

first and second sidewalls positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis;

a top layer circumferentially positioned around the axis and connecting the first and second sidewalls, the top layer including a non-directional tread pattern, the tread pattern including;

a circumferential lug positioned between the first and second sidewalls;

a plurality of longitudinal lugs positioned substantially parallel with the axis, the longitudinal lugs being arranged in a first row extending from the first sidewall and a second row extending from the second sidewall, the longitudinal lugs including a lug contact surface, lug sides and a substantially spade-shaped terminal end terminating within the circumferential lug, each terminal end of each longitudinal lug of the first row extending past the terminal end of longitudinal lugs of the second row, each terminal end of each longitudinal lug of the first row being circumferentially spaced from adjacent terminal ends of longitudinal lugs of the second row, each longitudinal lug of the first row spaced from adjacent longitudinal lugs of the first row to define an inner tread, each longitudinal lug of the second row positioned opposite the location of an inner tread of the first row; and

the circumferential lug positioned to space the terminal end of each longitudinal lug radially away from the axis;

the top layer and sidewalls defining an internal chamber when positioned on the wheel, the internal chamber shaped to hold a gas; and

the tire being comprised of rubber and an anti-weathering agent wherein the anti-weathering agent includes a concentration of at least 8 parts per hundred parts of the rubber.

17. The tire of claim 16, having a tread pitch in the range of 15 to 21, the tread pitch being defined as the number of longitudinal lugs extending from each of said sidewalls.

18. The tire of claim 16, wherein the tread pattern has a rubber to void ratio over the tire axial width in the range of from about 16% to about 20%.

19. The tire of claim 16, wherein an aspect ratio of the tire defined as tire section height divided by tire section width is no greater than about 90%.