NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE

• US 20150283851A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Abe, Akihiko, Nishida, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,550,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/02 using springs resiliently mounted bicycle rimswheels comprising resilient spokes B60B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/04 in leaf form
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/08 in flat coiled form
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/26 comprising resilient spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/14 using springs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body

Abstract

A connecting member (15) includes connecting plates (21, 22) configured to connect an attachment body and a ring-shaped body (13), a plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) curved in a tire circumferential direction are formed at the connecting plates (21, 22) in a direction in which the connecting plates (21, 22) extend in a side view of a tire when seen from a tire width direction, and in the plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) of one of the connecting plates (21, 22), the thickness of a maximum curved section having largest central angles (θd to θj) about a center of curvature of the curved section (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) is maximized, and the thickness of a minimum curved section having the smallest central angles (θd to θj) is minimized.

Claims

1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:

an attachment body attached to an axle;

a ring-shaped body configured to surround the attachment body from the outside in a tire radial direction; and

a plurality of connecting members disposed between the attachment body and the ring-shaped body in a tire circumferential direction and configured to displaceably connect the attachment body and the ring-shaped body,

wherein the connecting member comprises a connecting plate configured to connect the attachment body and the ring-shaped body,

a plurality of curved sections curved in the tire circumferential direction are formed at the connecting plate in a direction in which the connecting plate extends in a side view of the tire when the tire is seen from the tire width direction, and

in the plurality of curved sections of the one connecting plate, a thickness of a maximum curved section in which a central angle about a center of curvature of each of the curved sections is largest is maximized, and a thickness of a minimum curved section in which the central angle is smallest is minimized.

2. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the maximum curved section is joined to first end section connected to the ring-shaped body in the connecting plate, and

the minimum curved section is disposed at an intermediate portion disposed between the second end section connected to the attachment body and the first end section of the connecting plate.

3. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate configured to connect the attachment body and the ring-shaped body,

first end section of the first connecting plate connected to the ring-shaped body is disposed closer to first side in the tire circumferential direction than the second end section connected to the attachment body,

first end section of the second connecting plate connected to the ring-shaped body is disposed closer to the second side in the tire circumferential direction than the second end section connected to the attachment body,

in an intermediate portion disposed between the first end section and the second end section of the first connecting plate, curved sections separately joined to the first end section and the second end section are formed to protrude toward the second side in the tire circumferential direction, and

in an intermediate portion disposed between the first end section and the second end section of the second connecting plate, curved sections separately joined to the first end section and the second end section are formed to protrude toward first side in the tire circumferential direction.

4. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1, comprising a cylindrical exterior body fitted onto the attachment body,

wherein the exterior body is integrally formed with the ring-shaped body and the plurality of connecting members.

5. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member comprises a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate configured to connect the attachment body and the ring-shaped body,

first end section of the first connecting plate connected to the ring-shaped body is disposed closer to first side in the tire circumferential direction than the second end section connected to the attachment body,

first end section of the second connecting plate connected to the ring-shaped body is disposed closer to the second side in the tire circumferential direction than the second end section connected to the attachment body,

in an intermediate portion disposed between the first end section and the second end section of the first connecting plate, curved sections separately joined to the first end section and the second end section are formed to protrude toward the second side in the tire circumferential direction, and

in an intermediate portion disposed between the first end section and the second end section of the second connecting plate, curved sections separately joined to the first end section and the second end section are formed to protrude toward first side in the tire circumferential direction.

6. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 2, comprising a cylindrical exterior body fitted onto the attachment body,

wherein the exterior body is integrally formed with the ring-shaped body and the plurality of connecting members.

7. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 3, comprising a cylindrical exterior body fitted onto the attachment body,

wherein the exterior body is integrally formed with the ring-shaped body and the plurality of connecting members.

8. The non-pneumatic tire according to claim 5, comprising a cylindrical exterior body fitted onto the attachment body,

wherein the exterior body is integrally formed with the ring-shaped body and the plurality of connecting members.