Variable friction tires
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTIMOTHY M. LYNAR, KENT C. STEER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable friction tire is provided. The variable friction tire includes a tire wall portion, a tread portion, a primary inflatable tube, and a secondary inflatable tube. The tread portion is for contacting the ground. The primary inflatable tube is at least partially encapsulated by the tire wall portion. The secondary inflatable tube is disposed between at least a portion of the tread portion and at least a portion of the primary inflatable tube. The secondary inflatable tube is selectively inflatable or deflatable in order to vary an amount of the tread portion in contact with the ground.
Claims25
A variable friction tire, comprising:
- a tire wall portion;
- a tread portion for contacting the ground;
- a primary inflatable tube at least partially encapsulated by the tire wall portion;
- and
- a secondary inflatable tube disposed between at least a portion of the tread portion and at least a portion of the primary inflatable tube,
- wherein the secondary inflatable tube is selectively inflatable or deflatable in order to vary an amount of the tread portion in contact with the ground.
A method, comprising:
- providing a variable friction tire having a tire wall portion, a tread portion for contacting the ground, a primary inflatable tube at least partially encapsulated by the tire wall portion, and a secondary inflatable tube disposed between at least a portion of the tread portion and at least a portion of the primary inflatable tube;
- and
- selectively inflating or deflating the secondary inflatable tube in order to vary an amount of the tread portion in contact with the ground.
A variable friction tire system, comprising:
- at least one variable friction tire, having a tire wall portion, a tread portion for contacting the ground, a primary inflatable tube at least partially encapsulated by the tire wall portion, and a secondary inflatable tube disposed between at least a portion of the tread portion and at least a portion of the primary inflatable tube, the secondary inflatable tube being selectively inflatable or deflatable in order to vary an amount of the tread portion in contact with the ground;
- a secondary inflatable tube pressure control valve for connecting to an air source;
- an air supply line having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the secondary inflatable tube and the second end connected to the secondary inflatable tube pressure control valve;
- and
- a control unit, connected to the secondary inflatable tube pressure control valve, for receiving current vehicle status information and controlling a pressure supplied to the secondary inflatable tube through the secondary inflatable tube pressure control valve based on the current vehicle status information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.