Method of assembling spokes into a non-pneumatic tire

A method of assembling spokes into a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:

• providing a hub, wherein the hub has a central axis;
• providing a shear band, wherein the shear band is located outward from the hub in a radial direction;
• providing an undamaged segment that has a plurality of undamaged spokes that engage both an undamaged segment outer radial bonding end and an undamaged segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the undamaged segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in a circumferential direction, wherein the undamaged segment is located between the hub and the shear band;
• providing a damaged segment that has a plurality of spokes one of which is damaged through use of the non-pneumatic tire, wherein the damaged segment has a damaged segment outer radial bonding end and damaged segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the plurality of spokes of the damaged segment engage both the damaged segment outer radial bonding end and the damaged segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the damaged segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in the circumferential direction, wherein the damaged segment is located immediately adjacent to the undamaged segment in the circumferential direction, wherein the damaged segment inner radial bonding end is attached to the hub by adhesive, and wherein the damaged segment outer radial bonding end is attached to the shear band by adhesive;
• providing a replacement segment that has a plurality of spokes, wherein the replacement segment has a replacement segment outer radial bonding end and a replacement segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the plurality of spokes of the replacement segment engage both the replacement segment outer radial bonding end and the replacement segment inner radial bonding end;
• removing the damaged segment from the shear band and the hub while the shear band extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• inserting the replacement segment between the hub and the shear band where the damaged segment was removed while the shear band is present and extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• attaching the outer radial bonding end of the replacement segment to the shear band, and the inner radial bonding end of the replacement segment to the hub, wherein the attaching uses adhesive, and wherein the replacement segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• wherein the adhesive that is used to attach the damaged segment outer radial bonding end to the shear band is releasable adhesive that can be activated to allow the damaged segment outer radial bonding end to release from the shear band;
• and
• wherein the adhesive that is used to attach the damaged segment inner radial bonding end to the hub is releasable adhesive that can be activated to allow the damaged segment inner radial bonding end to release from the hub;
• wherein the releasable adhesive that is activated to allow the damaged segment outer radial bonding end to release from the shear band has ferromagnetic nanoparticles and is activated by electromagnetic energy;
• wherein the releasable adhesive that is activated to allow the damaged segment inner radial bonding end to release from the hub has ferromagnetic nanoparticles and is activated by electromagnetic energy;
• wherein a tread is located on and attached to an outer exterior surface of the shear band, wherein the tread is present and extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction during the inserting, the removing, and the attaching.

A method of assembling spokes into a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:

• providing a hub, wherein the hub has a central axis;
• providing a shear band, wherein the shear band is located outward from the hub in a radial direction;
• providing a segment that has a plurality of spokes, wherein the segment has an outer radial bonding end and an inner radial bonding end, wherein the plurality of spokes engage both the outer radial bonding end and the inner radial bonding end;
• wherein the segment is a first segment, wherein the outer radial bonding end is a first outer radial bonding end, wherein the inner radial bonding end is a first inner radial bonding end, and wherein the plurality of spokes is a first plurality of spokes;
• wherein a second segment that has a second plurality of spokes is provided and has a second outer radial bonding end and a second inner radial bonding end, wherein the second plurality of spokes engage both the second outer radial bonding end and the second inner radial bonding end;
• wherein a third segment that has a third plurality of spokes is provided and has a third outer radial bonding end and a third inner radial bonding end, wherein the third plurality of spokes engage both the third outer radial bonding end and the third radial inner bonding end;
• wherein the second segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in the circumferential direction, wherein the third segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• wherein the second outer radial bonding end and the third outer radial bonding end are attached to the shear band, wherein the second inner radial bonding end and the third inner radial bonding end are attached to the hub, wherein the first segment is damaged through use of the non-pneumatic tire and is between the second segment and the third segment in the circumferential direction such that first segment directly faces the second segment, and such that the first segment directly faces the third segment;
• and
• wherein the first segment is not attached with adhesive to the second segment, and wherein the first segment is not attached with adhesive to the third segment;
• removing the damaged first segment from the shear band and the hub while the shear band extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction, and while the second and third segments are attached to the hub and the shear band;
• inserting a replacement segment between the hub and the shear band where the damaged first segment was removed while the shear band is present and extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• wherein the replacement segment has a plurality of spokes, wherein the replacement segment has a replacement segment outer radial bonding end and a replacement segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the plurality of spokes of the replacement segment engage both the replacement segment outer radial bonding end and the replacement segment inner radial bonding end, wherein the replacement segment extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis in the circumferential direction;
• and
• attaching the replacement segment outer radial bonding end to the shear band, and the replacement segment inner radial bonding end to the hub, wherein the attaching uses adhesive;
• wherein a tread is located on and attached to an outer exterior surface of the shear band, wherein the tread is present and extends 360 degrees continuously about the central axis in the circumferential direction during the inserting, the removing and the attaching.