Static discharge element for non-pneumatic tire
AssigneeCompagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsBrian Douglas Wilson, Ryan Gaylo, Clayton Bohn, Jr., Paul Winston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-pneumatic tire is provided that has a hub with a central axis. A supporting structure is located outward from the hub in a radial direction, and a shear band is located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction. Tread is located outward from the shear band in the radial direction. A static discharge element extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure. The first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction. The static discharge element is electrically conductive to conduct electricity through the supporting structure.
Claims12
A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a hub that has a central axis;
- a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction, wherein the supporting structure has a spoke that is one of a plurality of spokes;
- a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction;
- tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction;
- and
- a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction, wherein the static discharge element is electrically conductive, wherein the static discharge element is carried by the spoke of the supporting structure such that the static discharge element is inside the spoke and opposite sides of the static discharge element in a circumferential direction of the tire both engage the spoke, wherein the static discharge element is free from engagement with successive ones of the plurality of spokes,
- wherein a portion of the spoke has less electrical conductivity than the static discharge element and forms a side face of the spoke that is a forward terminal side of the spoke in the circumferential direction, and wherein the forward terminal side of the spoke is free from engagement with the static discharge element.
A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a hub that has a central axis;
- a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction, wherein the supporting structure has a spoke that is one of a plurality of spokes;
- a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction;
- tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction;
- and
- a static discharge element that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure, wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction, wherein the static discharge element is electrically conductive, wherein the static discharge element is carried by the spoke of the supporting structure;
- wherein the spoke has an axial face located at an axial end of the spoke in an axial direction, wherein the static discharge element engages the axial face of the spoke and is located at a terminal end of the tire in the axial direction, wherein the static discharge element is free from engagement with successive ones of the plurality of spokes,
- wherein a portion of the spoke has less electrical conductivity than the static discharge element and forms a side face of the spoke that is a forward terminal side of the spoke in the circumferential direction, and wherein the forward terminal side of the spoke is free from engagement with the static discharge element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.