Honeycomb non-pneumatic tire with a single web on one side
First Claim
1. A non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, said tire comprising an annular body of a resilient elastomeric synthetic resinous material, said body consisting essentially of a generally cylindrical outer member at the outer periphery of said body, a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inward from and coaxial with said outer member, a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart first and second rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said rib members being oppositely directed at angles of from about 15°
- to 75°
to radial planes which intersect them at their inner ends, and a unitary circumferential side web member having opposite side faces at an angle θ
in the range from 0°
to 30°
on either side of the vertical to the rotational axis of the tire, said side web member having its radially inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members only at one edge of each, one connected edge above the other, said side web member being connected on only one side face to both said first and second rib members, said first rib members being directed oppositely to said second rib members with respect to said radial planes, to form with said inner and outer cylindrical members and said web member, a loadcarrying honeycomb structure which provides locally loaded members adapted to buckle.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side web non-pneumatic tire ("SWNPT") is integrally molded from a stiff, resilient elastomeric material with particular specifications, to form a unitary honeycomb structure bounded by integrally molded outer and inner cylindrical coaxial and coextensive members ("hoops"), and, a single side web member. The outer hoop is supported and cushioned by the honeycomb which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, angularly oppositely directed planar rib members (ribs) bounded by the side web on one side only. The side web, preferably on the outboard edge of the hoops, connects the hoops near their outboard edges. The opposite side surfaces of the side web lie at an angle θ in the range from 0° to 30° on either side of vertical to the rotational axis of the SWNPT. The ribs extend axially along the inner and outer hoops, connecting them, and the outboard edges of all the ribs lie upon the inboard face of the web. The ribs on each side are angled at opposite angles in the range from 15° to 75° to radial planes which intersect them at their radially inner ends. A rubber tread is secured to the outer surface of the structural elements of the SWNPT provide a load-supporting outer hoop. The coaction of the structure which, in operation, is subjected to continuous compression and tensile forces as it travels over the ground. Deformation and buckling characteristics of the SWNPT are derived from the honeycomb structure of an elastomer which provides the SWNPT with "ride" and "handling" comparable to those of a conventional pneumatic tire. The outer hoop has a vulcanized rubber tread secured to the hoop'"'"'s outer surface to withstand travel over a road surface. The unribbed face of the single side web may be faced with an elastomeric sidewall to resemble the sidewall of a conventional pneumatic tire.
111 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, said tire comprising an annular body of a resilient elastomeric synthetic resinous material, said body consisting essentially of a generally cylindrical outer member at the outer periphery of said body, a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inward from and coaxial with said outer member, a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart first and second rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said rib members being oppositely directed at angles of from about 15°
- to 75°
to radial planes which intersect them at their inner ends, and a unitary circumferential side web member having opposite side faces at an angle θ
in the range from 0°
to 30°
on either side of the vertical to the rotational axis of the tire, said side web member having its radially inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members only at one edge of each, one connected edge above the other, said side web member being connected on only one side face to both said first and second rib members, said first rib members being directed oppositely to said second rib members with respect to said radial planes, to form with said inner and outer cylindrical members and said web member, a loadcarrying honeycomb structure which provides locally loaded members adapted to buckle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- to 75°
Specification