SEMI-HOLLOW PNEUMATIC TYRE AND ASSOCIATED WHEEL RIM, NOTABLY FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

• US 20100012247A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otico
• Original Assignee: Otico
• Inventors: Piou, Denis, PHELY, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/453
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/12 using enclosed chambers, e.g. gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube

Abstract

A pneumatic tyre (14) of the semi-hollow type comprises a casing having an uninflated inner volume and comprising an inner wall (42) provided with a retaining bead (52) and a convex outer wall (44) forming the tread of the tyre, the inner wall (42) and the outer wall (44) of the tyre being connected by two annular borders (46, 48). The inner wall (42) of the tyre (14) is concave so as to surmount a convex outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat (22) of a rim (12) of a wheel, this outer wall being provided with a peripheral slot (36) adapted to accommodate the retaining bead (52) of the tyre. Application particularly to depth control wheels and/or ground pressing wheels for agricultural machines.

Claims

1. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type, intended for a wheel rim formed by a hub surrounded by a peripheral seat (22) having an outer wall (34a, 34b) provided with a peripheral slot (26), the tyre (14) comprising a casing having an uninflated inner volume, said casing comprising an inner wall (42) which is adapted to surround the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat and which is provided with a retaining bead (52) adapted to be received in the peripheral slot (26) in the peripheral seat, as well as a convex outer wall (44) forming the tread of the tyre, characterised in that the inner wall (42) of the tyre is concave, so as to surmount the convex outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat, the inner wall (42) and outer wall (44) of the tyre being connected by two annular borders (46, 48) adapted to cover the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat (36) towards the hub (16).

2. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to claim 1, characterised in that the casing has a substantially crescent-shaped radial cross-section, the inner wall (42) having a radial depth (P) defined as the radial distance between the annular borders (46, 48) and the bottom of the inner wall, and the outer wall (44) has a radial height (H) defined as the radial distance between the annular borders (46, 48) and the top part (58) of the outer wall, the ratio (P/H) between the radial depth and the radial height being at least 0.25, preferably between 0.25 and 0.50.

3. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the inner wall (42) of the casing has a substantially semi-circular cross-section.

4. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the retaining bead (52) attached to the inner wall (42) of the casing has a mushroom-shaped or T-shaped profile with a narrow portion (54) attached to the inner wall and adapted to pass through the peripheral slot (36) and a widened head (56) adapted to be accommodated in an inner chamber (40) of the rim delimited by the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat.

5. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a reinforcing framework (64) is embedded in the inner wall (42) of the casing close to the retaining bead (52).

6. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the inner wall (42) and the outer wall (44) of the casing have complementary profiles (60, 62) arranged facing one another inside the casing and adapted to fit mutually with each other when the casing is compressed on the ground under the effect of a load.

7. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to claim 6, characterised in that the complementary profiles comprise a central projection (60) protruding from the inner wall (42) and two spaced-apart lateral projections (62) protruding from the outer wall (44) and adapted to house the central projection (60) between them when the casing is compressed on the ground.

8. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the outer wall (42) of the tyre forming the tread is generally smooth on the outside.

9. Pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the outer wall (42) of the tyre forming the tread is provided with external reliefs (66;

68), particularly at least one external annular rib.

10. Wheel rim formed by a hub (16) surrounded by a peripheral seat (22) provided with a peripheral slot (36), characterised in that the peripheral seat (22) of the rim comprises an outwardly domed outer wall (34a, 34b) having a top part in which the peripheral slot (36) is formed, the outer wall (34a, 34b) being adapted to receive the inner wall (42) of a tyre of the semi-hollow type according to one of claims 1 to 9, the retaining bead (52) being received in the peripheral slot in the peripheral seat.

11. Wheel rim according to claim 10, characterised in that the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat (22) has a cross-section substantially in the shape of an arc of a circle interrupted to form the peripheral slot (36).

12. Wheel rim according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the peripheral slot (36) is delimited by two folded edges (38a, 38b) facing one another, protruding from the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat (22) of the rim and turned towards the inside of a chamber (40) of the peripheral seat (32).

13. Wheel rim according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the outer wall (34a, 34b) of the peripheral seat (22) is extended by an inner wall (32a, 32b) which becomes narrower towards the hub (16).

14. Wheel rim according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the rim (12) is formed by the joining together of two cheeks (24a, 24b), preferably made of metal, which jointly delimit the peripheral slot (36).

15. Wheel comprising a pneumatic tyre of the semi-hollow type (14) according to one of claims 1 to 9, mounted about a rim (12) according to one of claims 10 to 14.