Passive tuned vibration absorber

• US 8,646,497 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), Societe De Technologie Michelin (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelln
• Inventors: Cron, Steven M
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US13/056,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 152/1, 152/5, 152/7, 152/11, 152/12, 152/69, 152/75, 152 80- 86, 152/246, 152/323, 152/324, 152/326, 152/270
• US Class Current: 152/80
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/146 extending substantially radially, e.g. like spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/18 disposed radially relative to wheel axis

Abstract

A passive tuned vibration absorber is used to attenuate unwanted vibrations in the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly. Each spoke has a cutaway central portion having a tuned vibration absorber n the form of a protruding member having an axial width and a radial height and the radial height of the protruding member is less than a radial height of the spoke. Additionally, a method of determining the vibrational characteristics of the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly is included.

Claims

1. A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising an outer annular band for contacting a road surface and for supporting the load on the assembly, a hub or wheel hub for attaching the assembly to a rotating device, and a plurality of web spokes extending from the hub to the annular band for transmitting the load forces between the annular band and a wheel or hub, and each spoke having a radially inner portion having a first axial width, a radially outer portion having a second axial width, and a cutaway center portion having third axial width less that either of the first or second axial widths, wherein the cutaway central portion further comprises a protruding member having an axial width and a radial height, and the radial height of the protruding member is less than a radial height of the spoke.

2. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member has an axially inner portion and an axially outer portion and a radial height of the axial outer portion is greater than a radial height of the axially inner portion.

3. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the height of the axially inner portion is one-half the height of the axially outer portion.

4. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member has an axially inner portion and an axially outer portion and an axially outer portion of constant radial height.

5. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member has an axially inner portion and an axially outer portion and a radial height of the outer portion is less than the radial height of the inner portion.

6. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the shape of the protruding member is bounded on the inner portion by a radial height, on the outer portion by an arcuate section, and the inner and outer portions are joined to form a tapered central section.

7. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the axially outer portion is bounded by an arcuate section of constant radius.

8. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the radius of the arcuate section is from about ten percent to about thirty percent of the radial height of the spoke.

9. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 wherein the axial width of the protruding member is from about twenty percent to about thirty percent of the radial height of the spoke.

10. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the tapered central section is a straight line taper.

11. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the radial height of the inner portion is from about forty percent to about sixty percent of the radial height of the spoke.