Non-pneumatic tire
First Claim
1. A structurally supported tire comprising an outer annular band, wherein the annular band further comprises a shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to a radially inward extent of the shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to a radially outward extent of the shear layer, wherein each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus greater than a shear modulus of the shear layer, a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the outer annular band, said spokes having a maximum width and a radial height, means for interconnecting the plurality of web spokes with a wheel and;
- a plurality of said web spokes has a cutaway section transverse to said band and said cutaway section comprising a profile having;
a height, a maximum depth greater than five percent of said radial height and less than thirty percent of said maximum width and;
said profile having a tangent angle at the radially outermost and radially innermost extent of said profile formed by a tangent to said profile and the horizontal wherein said angle alpha is at least equal to ten degrees and;
a minimum radius of curvature of said profile at least equal to twenty percent of said radial height.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A structurally supported tire includes an outer annular band, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The annular band may further comprise a shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the shear layer, and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the shear layer. A preferred web spoke has a cutaway section transverse to the annular band. The cutaway section has a profile formed by straight line segments joined by a blending radius. The profile of the cutaway comprises a height and a maximum depth greater than five percent of the height and less than thirty percent of the maximum width. The profile has an angle alpha formed by a line tangent to the profile relative to the horizontal at least equal to ten degrees at the radially outermost and radially innermost extent of said profile. The minimum radius of curvature of the profile is at least equal to twenty percent of the height of the cutaway section.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A structurally supported tire comprising an outer annular band, wherein the annular band further comprises a shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to a radially inward extent of the shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to a radially outward extent of the shear layer, wherein each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus greater than a shear modulus of the shear layer, a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the outer annular band, said spokes having a maximum width and a radial height, means for interconnecting the plurality of web spokes with a wheel and;
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a plurality of said web spokes has a cutaway section transverse to said band and said cutaway section comprising a profile having; a height, a maximum depth greater than five percent of said radial height and less than thirty percent of said maximum width and; said profile having a tangent angle at the radially outermost and radially innermost extent of said profile formed by a tangent to said profile and the horizontal wherein said angle alpha is at least equal to ten degrees and; a minimum radius of curvature of said profile at least equal to twenty percent of said radial height. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining the transverse profile of a web spoke comprising the steps of;
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(a) specifying a width and a height of said web spoke, a radial offset, and a transverse depth of said profile, wherein said depth is greater than five percent of said radial height and less than thirty percent of said width; (b) determining a computed value of a tangent angle as defined by a tangent to said profile and the horizontal; (c) comparing said computed value of the tangent angle to a predetermined minimum value and setting the tangent angle equal to the greater of said computed value or said minimum value; (d) determining a computed value of a minimum radius of curvature of said transverse profile; (e) comparing said computed value of said radius to a predetermined minimum value; and (f) setting said radius to the greater of said computed value if said computed value is greater than said minimum value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification