ANNULAR RING AND NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE

• US 20140367007A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Camso Inc. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Ronald H. Thompson
• Inventors: THOMPSON, Ronald H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,751,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/17
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/02 Solid tyres ; Moulds therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/006 Solid tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2007/005 made by casting, e.g. of polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/18 disposed radially relative to wheel axis

Abstract

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

Claims

1. An annular beam of monolithic construction, comprising:

one homogeneous material having a modulus of at least 90 MPa;

at least a first circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially inward extent of a web structure;

at least a second continuous band lying on a radially outward extent of the web structure; and

wherein a ratio of a shear deflection to a bending deflection of the annular beam at a center of a design contact length is at least 1.2;

1, when a radially outward extent of the beam is deformed against a substantially flat surface over the design contact length.

2. The beam of claim 1, wherein the one homogeneous material is an elastomer having a modulus which is at least four times the value of a secant modulus at 100% elongation.

3. The beam of claim 2, wherein a flex fatigue of the material is at least 4 MPa.

4. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:

an annular beam of monolithic construction, comprising;

one homogeneous material having a modulus of at least 90 MPa;

at least a first circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially inward extent of a web structure;

at least a second circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially outward extent of the web structure; and

wherein a ratio of a shear deflection to a bending deflection of the annular beam at a center of a design contact length is at least 1.2;

1, when an outermost radial extent of the annular beam is loaded against a substantially flat surface over the design contact length;

a central hub; and

a plurality of web spokes extending axially across and radially inward from the annular beam, and connecting the annular beam to the central hub,

5. The tire of claim 4, wherein the annular beam, the central hub, and the plurality of web spokes are composed of the one homogeneous material.

6. The tire of claim 4, wherein the one homogeneous material of the annular beam is an elastomer having a modulus which is at least four times a value of a secant modulus of the annular beam at 100% elongation.

7. The tire of claim 4, further comprising a ground contacting tread portion affixed to an outward radial extent of the annular beam.

8. The tire of claim 7 wherein the ground contacting tread portion extends partially or completely around axial extents of the annular beam.

9. The tire of claim 7, wherein the annular beam, the central hub, the plurality of web spokes, and ground contacting tread portion are composed of the one homogeneous material.

10. A method of manufacturing an annular beam of monolithic construction, the method comprising:

forming the annular beam, wherein the annular beam comprises;

one homogeneous material having a modulus of at least about 90 MPa;

at least a first circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially inward extent of a web structure;

at least a second continuous band lying on a radially outward extent of the web structure; and

wherein a ratio of a shear deflection to a bending deflection of the annular beam at a center of a design contact length is at least 1.2;

1, when a radially outward extent of the beam is deformed against a substantially flat surface over the design contact length.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming of the annular beam is completed by any one of high-pressure thermoplastic injection, reaction injection, and cast molding.

12. A method of manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:

forming an annular beam of monolithic construction, wherein the annular beam comprises;

one homogeneous material having a modulus of at least 90 MPa;

at least a first circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially inward extent of a web structure;

at least a second circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially outward extent of the web structure; and

wherein a ratio of a shear deflection to a bending deflection of the annular beam at a center of a design contact length is at least 1.2;

1, when a radially outward extent of the beam is deformed against a substantially flat surface over the design contact length;

forming a central hub; and

forming a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the annular beam, and connecting the annular beam to the central hub.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the non-pneumatic tire is completed by any one of high-pressure thermoplastic injection, reaction injection, and cast molding.

14. The method of claim 13, further including forming a ground contacting tread portion affixed to the outward radial extent of the annular beam.