Tire with compression-bearing hoop structure
First Claim
1. A pneumatic radial ply tire having a tread, a carcass structure, a belt structure, two inextensible annular beads, at least one radial ply and sidewalls, a crown reinforcement structure located on the equatorial plane and disposed radially inward from the belt structure and radially outward from the carcass structure, said tire characterized by:
- the tire being a runflat tire with the carcass structure including sidewall inserts disposed in the sidewalls;
the crown reinforcement structure comprising a hoop structure constructed from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastics, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and epoxy resin composites filled with reinforcement fibers;
the hoop structure having a width that is between 10% and less than 20% of the width of the tread;
the hoop structure includes a continuous, thermoplastic hoop embedded in a coating layer of an elastomeric coating material comprising a rubber compound having a Shore A hardness between 45 and 80 that couples the hoop to the belt structure and the carcass structure; and
the coating layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 mm and being disposed between the hoop and adjacent material of the carcass structure and belt structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic radial ply tire incorporating a crown reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing hoop located approximately on the equatorial plane and disposed radially inward of the tread and radially outward of the carcass structure. The hoop is surrounded or encased by a layer of elastomeric transition material providing a flexible structural connection between the hoop and the adjacent carcass structure and belt structure. The hoop may have a substantially lenticular shape, or a complex shape with two thickened sections or lobes connected by a thin waist-like section, or a shape and a location that is asymmetric with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, and may be made by winding a thin strip of material such as UHMWPE in an elastomeric matrix. The hoop may replace the belt structure of the tire.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A pneumatic radial ply tire having a tread, a carcass structure, a belt structure, two inextensible annular beads, at least one radial ply and sidewalls, a crown reinforcement structure located on the equatorial plane and disposed radially inward from the belt structure and radially outward from the carcass structure, said tire characterized by:
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the tire being a runflat tire with the carcass structure including sidewall inserts disposed in the sidewalls; the crown reinforcement structure comprising a hoop structure constructed from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastics, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and epoxy resin composites filled with reinforcement fibers; the hoop structure having a width that is between 10% and less than 20% of the width of the tread; the hoop structure includes a continuous, thermoplastic hoop embedded in a coating layer of an elastomeric coating material comprising a rubber compound having a Shore A hardness between 45 and 80 that couples the hoop to the belt structure and the carcass structure; and the coating layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 mm and being disposed between the hoop and adjacent material of the carcass structure and belt structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification