ICE ADAPTIVE TIRE SYSTEM

• US 20140090762A1
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ice Adaptive Tires LLC
• Original Assignee: Ice Adaptive Tires LLC
• Inventors: Fink, Norman S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/213.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1612 actuated by fluid, e.g. using fluid pressure difference
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1625 Arrangements thereof in the tread patterns, e.g. irregular
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1637 Attachment of the plugs into the tread, e.g. screwed
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1693 Attachment of the plug-tip within the plug-body
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00347 comprising two or more feedthrough
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00354 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00372 characterised by fluid diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/045 involving retractable devices fixing of spade lugs B60B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/068 the ground-engaging part being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/2006 consisting of steel cord plies only
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/46 with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; for sealing arrangements in vehicles B60J10/244; for sealing arrangements of openings in buildings E06B7/2318; for tube connections F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0804 the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49718 Repairing

Abstract

An adaptive tire system can include retractable and extendable bolts for enhancing traction, for example, on ice-covered roadways. The system can include pneumatically operated bolt assemblies mounted inside a tire having custom reinforced belts. The bolt assemblies can include locking devices configured to be biased towards a locked position so as to lock deployable bolts into extended and/or retracted positions without the need for persistently or continuously applied actuation force or energy. The system can include wheel-mounted, manually operated controls or remote and/or automated controls. The system can include rotary unions for transmitting actuation controls from a vehicle body into an associated wheel. The bolts can also be adjustable and can include removable and replaceable tips serviced from tire exterior while inflated, deflated, on wheel or off wheel.

Claims

1. A tire comprising:

a tire body having a tread surface and a sidewall;

at least a first bolt mounted to the tire body so as to be movable, along a radial direction relative to the tread surface between a refracted position and an extended position, the bolt being retracted within the tire when in the refracted position and extending through the tread surface when in the extended position;

at least a first lock mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the first lock mechanism being configured to lock the bolt in the retracted position and in the extended position, wherein the first lock mechanism is biased toward the locked position with a biasing device such that the first lock mechanism can remain in the locked position without the need for continuous application of another actuation force.

2. The tire according to claim 1 additionally comprising an extension actuator configured to apply an actuation force to the bolt so as to move the bolt from the retracted position to the extended position.

3. The tire according to claim 1 additionally comprising a retraction actuator configured to apply an actuation force to the bolt so as to move the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

4. The tire according to claim 1 additionally comprising at least first and second manifolds extending along an inner circumferential surface of the tire body, the first and second manifolds being isolated from interior volume of the tire.

5. The tire according to claim 4 additionally comprising an actuator configured to move the bolt from the refracted position to the extended position, wherein the first manifold is connected to the lock mechanism and the second manifold is connected to the actuator.

6. The tire according to claim 5 additionally comprising a third manifold connected to the actuator and configured to either provide actuation force for moving the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position or to provide a vent to atmosphere from actuator interior.

7. The tire according to claim 1 wherein the first and second manifolds are disposed on a first side of a centerline of the tire, third and fourth manifolds extending circumferentially around the inner surface of the tire and disposed on a second side of the centerline of the tire, opposite the first side.

8. The tire according to claim 7 additionally comprising a fifth manifold extending parallel to the first and second manifolds and disposed on the first side of the centerline and additionally comprising a sixth manifold extending parallel to the third and fourth manifolds and disposed on the second side of the centerline.

9. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises at least a bolt receiver portion and a bolt body, the bolt receiver portion being disposed proximally to the radial center of the tire and the bolt body being disposed distally from the radial center of the tire, the bolt body being stridently engaged with bolt receiver portion so as to provide for effective adjustment of the overall length of the bolt.

10. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises at least a bolt body portion and a bolt tip portion releasably engaged with bolt body portion.

11. An adaptive tire system for a wheeled vehicle comprising:

a tire body having a tread surface and a sidewall;

at least one bolt mounted for movement relative to the tire body along a radial direction and configured for enhancing traction of the tire body;

at least one actuator configured to move the bolt along the radial direction between extended and retracted positions;

at least one actuator energy supply system configured to be mounted to a vehicle body;

a rotary connection device configured to communicate energy from the actuator energy supply system to the at least one actuator.

12. The tire system according to claim 11 wherein the actuator energy supply system comprises a compressed air supply device and wherein the rotary connection device comprises a rotary union.

13. The tire system according to claim 11 additionally comprising at least first and second fluid manifolds disposed within the tire, wherein the at least one actuator energy supply system includes at least first and second fluid outputs, and wherein the rotary connection device provides a fluid connection between the first and second fluid outputs and the first and second fluid manifolds.

14. The tire system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one actuator includes a first input connected to the first manifold and is configured to unlock the bolt upon receiving pressurized fluid from the first manifold.

15. The tire system according to claim 14 wherein the at least one actuator includes a second input connected to the second manifolds and is configured to move the bolt from a retracted position to an extended position upon receiving pressurized fluid from the second manifold.

16. A method of operating an adaptive tire having at least one bolt mounted for movement along a radial direction between a refracted position and an extended position, at least one actuator configured to move the bolt between the extended and retracted positions, and at least one lock device configured to lock the bolt in the retracted and extended positions, the method comprising:

unlocking the lock device so as to allow the bolt to move between the retracted and extended positions;

applying an actuating force with the actuator to move the bolt from the retracted position to the extended position;

locking the lock device so as to lock the bolt in the extended position; and

terminating the actuating force such that the bolt is maintained in the extended position by the lock device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of unlocking the lock device comprises supplying pressurized air to the actuator and wherein the step of locking the lock device comprises venting pressurized air from the actuator.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of applying an actuating force comprises supplying pressurized air to the actuator and wherein the step of terminating the actuating force comprises venting the pressurized air from the actuator.

19. The method according to claim 16 additionally comprising detecting a user request for extension of the bolt and in response to detecting the user request, automatically and sequentially unlocking the lock device, then applying the actuating force to the actuator to move the bolt to the extended position, then locking the lock device, then terminating the actuating force.

20. The method according to claim 16 additionally comprising applying a second actuating force to the bolt so as to move the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

21-26. -26. (canceled)