Non-pneumatic support structure
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsCeyhan CELIK, Steven Amos Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wheel and tire assembly for a mobile vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes an inner central rim, a flexible ring mounted on the inner central rim, and a spoke structure extending between the inner central rim and the flexible ring. The spoke structure defines a plurality of cavities and alternating radially extending openings disposed concentrically about the inner central rim and allowing the flexible ring to deflect under load. The spoke structure further defines a plurality of triangular openings disposed at the flexible ring and between the cavities and the inlet openings.
Claims9
A method for non-pneumatically supporting a mobile vehicle comprising the steps of:
- rotating an inner central rim about a horizontal axis;
- mounting the inner central rim on to a flexible ring;
- extending a spoke structure axially and radially between the inner central rim and the flexible ring;
- defining a plurality of axially extending cavities and alternating radially extending openings concentrically about the inner central rim;
- defining a plurality of triangular openings disposed at the flexible ring and between the cavities and the inlet openings;
- and
- vertically loading the flexible ring such that the flexible ring and a part of the spoke structure adjacent to the flexible ring both deflect vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.