Method of forming non-pneumatic tire using support structure deformation

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire comprising the steps of:

• providing an outer shear band ring;
• providing an intermediate section that has a supporting structure, wherein the intermediate section is in an uncollapsed state;
• compressing the intermediate section from the uncollapsed state to a collapsed state;
• inserting the intermediate section when in the collapsed state inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire;
• and
• releasing compression of the intermediate section when the intermediate section is inside of the outer shear band ring such that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state;
• wherein the intermediate section has an outer surface that is located at an outer diameter of the intermediate section in the uncollapsed state, wherein in the collapsed state a portion of the outer surface but not all of the outer surface is located closer to a central axis of the intermediate section in the radial direction than the outer diameter of the intermediate section when in the uncollapsed state.

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire comprising the steps of:

• providing an outer shear band ring;
• providing an intermediate section that has a supporting structure, wherein the intermediate section is in an uncollapsed state;
• compressing the intermediate section from the uncollapsed state to a collapsed state;
• inserting the intermediate section when in the collapsed state inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire;
• releasing compression of the intermediate section when the intermediate section is inside of the outer shear band ring such that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state;
• providing a hub;
• and
• positioning the hub inside of the intermediate section such that the intermediate section is located outward from the hub in the radial direction, wherein the positioning of the hub step is performed after the step of releasing compression of the intermediate section.

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire comprising the steps of:

• providing an outer shear band ring;
• providing an intermediate section that has a supporting structure, wherein the intermediate section is in an uncollapsed state, wherein the intermediate section has an outer surface;
• compressing the intermediate section from the uncollapsed state to a collapsed state by grasping the intermediate section at a location inward in a radial direction from the outer surface of the intermediate section;
• wherein a compression device that has gripping members that move in the radial direction are inserted within the intermediate section and then moved radially inward to cause compression of the intermediate section from the uncollapsed state to the collapsed state;
• inserting the intermediate section when in the collapsed state inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire;
• and
• releasing compression of the intermediate section when the intermediate section is inside of the outer shear band ring such that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state, wherein the gripping members are removed from the intermediate section such that no portion of the compression member is left in the intermediate section after releasing of the compression of the intermediate section;
• wherein the intermediate section has an outer surface that is uninterrupted and has a constant outer diameter 360 degrees about a central axis of the intermediate section, wherein the outer diameter of the outer surface is the same both in the uncollapsed state outside of the intermediate section and when inside of the intermediate section after releasing compression.

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire comprising the steps of:

• providing an outer shear band ring;
• providing an intermediate section that has a supporting structure, wherein the intermediate section is in an uncollapsed state and has an inner end free from engagement with a hub;
• compressing the intermediate section from the uncollapsed state to a collapsed state;
• inserting the intermediate section when in the collapsed state inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire;
• releasing compression of the intermediate section when the intermediate section is inside of the outer shear band ring such that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state;
• and
• providing the hub and positioning the hub inside of the intermediate section such that the intermediate section is located outward from the hub in the radial direction, wherein the positioning of the hub is performed after the step of releasing compression of the intermediate section.