US 11,179,969 B2 · Wheel comprising a non-pneumatic tire

Abstract

A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel includes a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as by being more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear during use). The non-pneumatic tire includes an annular beam configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire and an annular support extending radially inwardly from the annular beam and configured to support loading by tension. An elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support may have selected properties, including greater crack propagation resistance when subject to tensile stress.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A non-pneumatic tire comprising:

an annular beam that is elastomeric and configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire as the non-pneumatic tire rolls on a ground surface;
and
an annular support that is elastomeric, extends radially inwardly from the annular beam and is configured to deform such that, when the non-pneumatic tire is loaded, an upper portion of the annular support above an axis of rotation of the non-pneumatic tire is in tension;
wherein a crack propagation rate of a thermoset elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support is no more than 1e-4 mm/cycle at a strain energy release rate of 3 N-mm/mm2.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wheel comprising a non-pneumatic tire

Life of this patent

Wheel comprising a non-pneumatic tire

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26