Non-pneumatic survivable tire, cover and fabrication processes

• US 8,555,941 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Perron, Daniel J., Rogers, Eldon C., Storvick, Darrell M., Williams, Timothy L., Yee, Dennis, Chadwick, D'Arcy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US12/855,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 152/1, 152/5, 152/11, 152/246, 152/300, 152/301, 152/323, 152/324, 152/325, 152/326, 152/327, 152/328, 152/329, 301/37.101, 301/37.22, 301/37.23, 301/64.703
• US Class Current: 152/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/02 Solid tyres ; Moulds therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/107 comprising lateral openings
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/18 disposed radially relative to wheel axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10 Tires, resilient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49494 Assembling tire to wheel body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49538 Tire making

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element molded for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes. A bonded multilayer cover may be employed which is received within a recess in an outer surface of the tire body element from the tire tread. A mounting plate is engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

Claims

1. A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising:

a tire tread;

a metal vehicle wheel having a recessed external rim profile;

an elastomer tire body element molded in place on the wheel providing an inner circumferential engagement protrusion extending into the recessed wheel external rim profile for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel and having a plurality of concentric layers with alternating spokes, wherein the molded elastomer tire body element has an outboard outer surface recessed from the tire tread;

a cover received within the recess; and

,

a mounting plate engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

2. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover is a bonded multilayer cover incorporating concentrically reduced radius layers for a concave shape with respect to the tire body element outer surface.

3. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the concentrically reduced radius layers are urethane.

4. The non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal wheel is fabricated from forged or pressed or cast steel or aluminum, or a combination thereof.

5. A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising:

a tire tread;

a metal vehicle wheel having a recessed external rim profile;

an elastomer tire body element molded in place on the wheel providing an inner circumferential engagement protrusion extending into the recessed wheel external rim profile for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel and having a plurality of concentric layers with alternating spokes, the elastomer tire body element having an outboard outer surface recessed from the tire tread;

a cover received within the recess; and

,

a mounting plate engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel, wherein the wheel incorporates a rim with an outer bead having a relief, said mounting plate is secured with spacers received within the relief.

6. A vehicle non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising:

a vulcanized rubber tire tread having an outer sidewall;

a steel wheel having an outer rim with a recessed external profile and an outer bead having a relief;

a urethane tire body element molded intermediate the tread and wheel having an inner circumferential engagement protrusion extending into the recessed wheel external rim profile and an outer circumferential engagement dome engaging a mating depression in an inner wall of the tread, and further having three concentric layers with spokes having varying web thickness for predetermined resiliency and alternating for symmetrical adjacent support of spokes in adjacent layers, the layers having an outboard outer surface recessed from the outer sidewall of the tread;

a bonded multilayer cover having concentrically reduced radius urethane layers for a concave shape with respect to the tire body element outer surface received within the recess from the outer sidewall of the tread; and

,

a mounting plate bonded to the cover and attached to spacers received within the relief of the outer bead, said plate attached to the wheel with releasable fasteners.

7. The vehicle non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the releasable fasteners are frangible.