Lightweight, safe and damage resistant tire having honeycomb core

• US 5,685,926 A
• Filed: 01/05/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electrion Incorporated
• Inventors: Kejha, Joseph B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knable, Geoffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US08/583,467
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 152/310, 152/311, 152/312, 152/315, 152/318-329, 152/384, 152/155, 152/157, 152/159, 152/161, 152/165, 152/166
• US Class Current: 152/157
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/121 enclosed chambers defined by a distinct core
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10054 Enclosed cushion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10063 Superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10117 Integral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10378 Casing enclosed core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10423 Superimposed rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10459 Recessed

Abstract

A lightweight, filler core tire construction for automotive and other vehicles, having a flexible composite outer layer structure and an inner flexible honeycomb core with a radial relief and said honeycomb is bonded to said outer layer, eliminating thus fully or partially pressurized air from the tire and increasing the safety of driving, damage resistance, and minimizing servicing of the tire. The structures are preferably made of a polyurethane polymer and various fibers and do not require a split rim for mounting and dismounting said tire.

Claims

1. A tire construction for automotive and other vehicles which is mounted to a wheel and which comprises:

an outer elastic layer structure, an inner elastic filler core material, bonded to said outer elastic layer structure, and which has an elastic honeycomb cells construction,

said filler core material has conically shaped honeycomb cells with two parallel sides, which cells are oriented substantially lengthwise in the direction from the center of the tire to the outside circumferential surface of the tire,

said honeycomb cells are formed from corrugated washer layers which are bonded together,

said inner elastic filler core material has a radial relief at the inner center of the circumferential surface of said tire facing the rim of said wheel,

and in which said relief provides for mounting or dismounting said tire by stretching said tire over the wheel rim.

2. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said wheel has a one piece rim for mounting or dismounting said tire.

3. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which an additional elastic layer is provided to which said elastic core radial relief is bonded.

4. A tire construction as described in claim 3, in which said additional elastic layer also contains axial leaf springs.

5. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said elastic filler core material is reinforced by two elastic radial discs which are bonded to said core.

6. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said central radial relief extends to the outer layer at the outside circumference of said tire.

7. A tire construction as described in claim 6, in which an additional elastic layer is provided to which said radial relief surface is bonded.

8. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which a radial wheel rim insert is provided to secure said radial relief in position.

9. A tire construction described in claim 8, in which said rim insert is an axially split assembly and is removable.

10. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said elastic filler core has an additional radial relief space under said outer elastic layer structure at the outer circumferential surface of said tire.

11. A tire construction as described in claim 1, which is filled by pressurized air.

12. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb material has curved shape cells substantially lengthwise oriented in direction from the center of the wheel to the outside circumferential surface of said tire.

13. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb material has curved shape cells substantially lengthwise oriented in a tangential relationship to the wheel rim.

14. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said cells have flanges at, at least one end and said cells and said flanges are bonded to said outer layer structure.

15. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer structure is made from a composite of polyurethane polymer and fibers.

16. A tire construction as described in claim 15, in which said fibers are ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.

17. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core is made of a polyurethane polymer.

18. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core is made of a composite of polyurethane polymer and fibers.

19. A tire construction as described in claim 18, in which said fibers are ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.

20. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer structure is made from a composite of rubber and fibers.

21. A tire construction as described in claim 20, in which said fibers are ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.

22. A tire construction as described in claim 15, in which said fibers are steel fibers.

23. A tire construction as described in claim 20, in which said fibers are steel fibers.

24. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core is made of rubber.

25. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core is made from a composite of rubber and fibers.

26. A tire construction as described in claim 25, in which said fibers are ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.

27. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core is made from an elastic material reinforced with fibers.

28. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said elastic outer layer structure contains a filler material.

29. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core material contains a filler material.

30. A tire construction as described in claim 28, in which said filler material is carbon.

32. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which at least one of said bondings is by welding.

33. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which at least one of said bondings is by an adhesive.

34. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core has cells of a hexagonal cone shape.

35. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core has cells of a square cone shape.

36. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core has cells of a rectangular cone shape.

37. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core has cells of a rounded cone shape.

38. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core has various shapes of cells combined.

39. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer has a tread on the largest circumferential surface of said tire.

40. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer structure has a radial reinforcing belt embedded in the outer circumferential layer of said tire.

41. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer structure has a plurality of substantially axial grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the tire, facing the wheel rim.

42. A tire construction as described in claim 32, in which said welding is ultrasound welding.

43. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said honeycomb core consists of a plurality of annular layers of cells.

44. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said outer elastic layer structure is bonded to a wheel rim.

45. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which at least one of said bondings is fusion bonding.

46. A tire construction as described in claim 1, in which said vehicles are utility vehicles, military vehicles, electric vehicles, and high mileage range vehicles.

47. A tire construction as described in claim 6, which is filled by pressurized air.

48. A tire construction as described in claim 10, which is filled by pressurized air.

31. A tire construction as described in 29, in which said filler material is carbon.