Wheel-mounted run-flat tire insert and associated methods
OwnerWilliam Perciballiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The run-flat tire insert is for use with a wheel having flanges, and a corresponding pneumatic tire having sidewall tire beads with a bead lock edge. The run-flat tire insert includes a deformable annular insert member having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a band portion between opposing leg portions extending radially inward towards the wheel. The deformable annular insert member is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. The deformable annular insert member is configured as a spring that deflects under load and transmits vertical load forces on the band portion to lateral forces at ends of the opposing leg portions adjacent the bead lock edges of the pneumatic tire against the wheel flanges.
Claims20
A run-flat tire insert for use with a wheel having flanges, and a corresponding pneumatic tire having sidewall tire beads with a bead lock edge, the run-flat tire insert comprising:
- a deformable annular insert member having a generally u-shaped cross-section with a band portion between opposing leg portions extending radially inward towards the wheel;
- the deformable annular insert member is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material;
- the deformable annular insert member is configured as a spring that deflects under load and transmits vertical load forces on the band portion to lateral forces at ends of the opposing leg portions adjacent the bead lock edges of the pneumatic tire against the wheel flanges.
A run-flat tire insert for use with a wheel having an inboard flange and an outboard flange, and a corresponding pneumatic tire having sidewall tire beads with a bead lock edge, the run-flat tire insert comprising:
- a deformable annular insert spring configured to be mounted to the wheel within the tubeless tire;
- the deformable annular insert spring comprises a fiber-reinforced composite material;
- the deformable annular insert spring comprises a self-supporting bead lock feature wherein the deformable annular insert spring is configured to deflect under load and transmit vertical load forces thereon to lateral forces adjacent the bead lock edges of the tubeless tire to support the sidewall tire beads against the inboard and outboard flanges during tire deflation and low tire inflation pressure operation.
A method of making a run-flat tire insert for use with a wheel having flanges, and a corresponding pneumatic tire having sidewall tire beads with a bead lock edge, the method comprising:
- forming a deformable annular insert member having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a band portion between opposing leg portions configured to extend radially inward towards the wheel;
- the deformable annular insert member is molded using a fiber-reinforced composite material;
- the deformable annular insert member is configured as a spring that deflects under load and transmits vertical load forces on the band portion to lateral forces at ends of the opposing leg portions adjacent the bead lock edges of the tubeless tire against the wheel flanges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.