Tire with tensioned spokes
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsDouglas B. Costlow, Andrew V. Haidet, Adam K. Nesbitt, Sharon E. Reinhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nonpneumatic tire includes a tread portion, an upper ring, and a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring. Each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount configured to engage a corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under substantially no tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.
Claims16
A nonpneumatic tire and hub assembly comprising:
- a tire including:
- an upper ring,
- a tread disposed about the upper ring, and
- a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring, each spoke being configured to carry a load while in tension and while in compression,
- wherein each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount with a slot oriented in a radial direction;
- and
- a hub having a plurality of hub mounts, each hub mount corresponding to a spoke mount,
- wherein each spoke has a first length when the tread is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount, and
- wherein each spoke has a second length greater than the first length when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.
A nonpneumatic tire comprising:
- a tread portion;
- an upper ring;
- and
- a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring, each spoke being configured to carry a load while in tension and while in compression,
- wherein each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount with a slot oriented in a radial direction configured to engage a corresponding hub mount,
- wherein each spoke is under substantially no tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount, and
- wherein each spoke is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.
A nonpneumatic tire and hub assembly comprising:
- a tire including:
- an upper ring,
- a tread portion disposed about the upper ring, and
- a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring, each spoke being configured to carry a load while in tension and while in compression,
- wherein each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount with a slot oriented in a radial direction;
- and
- a hub having a plurality of hub mounts, each hub mount corresponding to a spoke mount,
- wherein each spoke is under substantially no tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount, and
- wherein each spoke is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.