Nonpneumatic deformable wheel

• US 6,170,544 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
• Inventors: Hottebart, François
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US09/199,925
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 301/55, 301/104, 152/1, 152/5, 152/7, 152/11, 152/12, 152/17, 152/75, 152/80, 152/84
• US Class Current: 152/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/26 comprising resilient spokes

Abstract

A deformable structure for a vehicle, designed to roll on an axis of rotation, including an annular internal element centered on the axis, an annular external element, flexible and appreciably inextensible, forming a tread radially arranged externally relative to the internal element, a plurality of spokes arranged substantially radially between the internal element and the external annular element, each spoke being capable of opposing a radial compressive stress, beyond a given threshold, an appreciably constant force, the external element having a circumferential length such that the spokes are preloaded in radial compression, and in which provision is made for stabilizing the relative positions of the internal element and external element, characterized in that the spokes are formed and arranged between the internal and external elements, in such a way that their flexibility in a meridian plane is well below their flexibility in a circumferential plane, and in that the of stabilization limits the amplitude of a circumferential relative rotation between the internal element and the external element.

Claims

1. A deformable structure for a vehicle, designed to roll on an axis of rotation, comprising an annular internal element centered on the axis, an annular external element, flexible and appreciably inextensible, forming a tread radially arranged externally relative to said internal element, a plurality of substantially radial spokes between the internal element and the external annular element, each spoke being capable of opposing a substantially constant force under a radial compressive stress beyond a given threshold, said external element having a circumferential length such that said spokes are preloaded in radial compression, and means for stabilizing the relative positions of the internal element and external element, characterized in that said spokes are formed and arranged between the internal and external elements, in such a way that they have a flexibility in a meridian plane well below their flexibility in a circumferential plane oriented in the circumferential direction followed by the external element, and in that said means of stabilization limit the amplitude of a circumferential relative rotation between the internal element and the external element.

2. A deformable structure according to claim 1, in which the spokes are preloaded beyond their buckling load.

3. A deformable structure according to claims 1, in which the means of stabilization comprise nonradially elastic connecting elements joining the external element and the internal element.

4. A deformable structure according to claim 3, in which the elastic connecting elements are taut when said structure is at rest.

5. A deformable structure according to claim 3, in which the elastic connecting elements join points of the annular external element and the internal element separated at rest by an angle a ranging between 1 and 45 degrees.

6. A deformable structure according to claim 5, in which the elastic connecting elements join points of the annular external element and the internal element separated at rest by an angle α

ranging between 25 and 35 degrees.

7. A deformable structure according to claim 3, in which the elastic connecting elements are cables prestressed in extension to exert a return force upon a relative rotational displacement between the internal and external elements.

8. A deformable structure according to claim 1, in which the means of stabilization comprise a thin shell prestressed in radial extension, placed between the internal and external elements.

9. A deformable structure according to claim 1, in which the ends of the spokes are embedded in the external element.

10. A deformable structure according to claim 1, in which the ends of the spokes are fastened by joints to the internal element and/or external element.

11. A deformable structure according to claim 1, comprising means for limiting the amplitude of radial compression of the spokes.

12. A nonpneumatic wheel for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a disk and a deformable structure according to claim 1.

13. A safety insert for a vehicle, designed to be mounted in an assembly comprising a tire and a rim, characterized in that it is constituted by a deformable structure according to claim 1.

14. A deformable structure according to claim 1, in which the ends of the spokes are embedded in the external element.