NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE

• US 20130319591A1
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Artic Investments S.A.. (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Inventors: Van De Wiele, Hugo
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/246
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/102 Tyres built-up with separate rubber parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/107 comprising lateral openings

Abstract

A tire (1) has a rubber tread portion (2) extending in circumferential direction of the tire (1) and being provided for contacting a ground surface and a truss ring (3), contacting and extending along the tread portion (2) for supporting the vehicle on the tread portion (2), made of truss members (4) forming two circumferential chords (5, 6) concentrically positioned with respect to the tread portion (2) and a truss web (7) interconnecting the chords (5, 6), wherein the truss members (4) are made of a rubber material having an E modulus of between 4-18 MPa.

Claims

1. A tire (1) comprising a rubber tread portion (2) extending in circumferential direction of the tire (1) and being provided for contacting a ground surface and a truss ring (3), contacting and extending along the tread portion (2) for supporting the vehicle on the tread portion (2), made of truss members (4) forming two circumferential chords (5, 6) concentrically positioned with respect to the tread portion (2) and a truss web (7) interconnecting the chords (5, 6), wherein the truss members (4) are made of a truss member material comprising rubber and having an E modulus of between 4-18 MPa, characterized in that the truss ring (3) is provided such that pairs of truss web members (9) extend from opposing sides of the respective truss chord members (10) such that a layer of adjacent triangular openings (8) delimited by truss members (4) is formed at a first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3), the openings (8) extending towards a second outer surface (15) of the truss ring opposing the first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3) along the rotational axis of the tire (1).

2. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the truss member material is rubber.

3. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of the areas, at an outer surface of the truss ring (3), of the truss web members (9) with respect to the openings (8) between the truss web members (9) is comprised between 30/70 and 70/30 and preferably between 40/60 and 60/40 and most preferably is 60/40.

4. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the truss members (4) delimiting the triangular openings (8) are provided such that when deforming under load, the delimiting truss chord member (10) and one of the delimiting truss web member (9) bend towards each other.

5. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that during deforming under load, one of the delimiting truss web members (9) bends towards the truss chord member (10).

6. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that first opposing sides (11), being the opposing sides of the respective truss chord members (10) of the circumferential chord (5) positioned closest to the tread portion (2) with respect to the other circumferential chord (6), are positioned with respect to a tread pattern of the tread portion (2) such that the respective first opposing sides (11) are positioned under a respective lug (13) of the tread pattern.

7. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one of the truss web members (9) and the truss chord member (10) of a pair of truss web members and a truss chord member forming a triangular opening (8) at the first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3), delimit at least one angle (16) of the triangular opening (8) which is smaller than the other angles of the triangular opening (8).

8. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the angle (16) is between 30°

and 70°

.

9. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the triangular openings (8) of a row of triangular openings which are equidistant from the rotational axis of the tire (1) are congruent.

10. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the triangular openings (8) in between the truss members (4) narrow from the first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3) towards the second outer surface (15) of the truss ring (3).

11. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the triangular openings (8) in between the truss members (4) narrow stepwise.

12. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the triangular openings (8) at the first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3) gradually changes to a substantial circular cross section at the second outer surface (15) of the truss ring (3).

13. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the respective truss web members (9) have a substantially constant width at the first outer surface (14) of the truss ring (3).

14. A tire (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tire (1) comprises a first and a second of said truss rings (3, 17) respectively extending axially over a first and a second length.

15. (canceled)