Non-pneumatic tire with vibration reducing features

A non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, comprising an annular body of resilient material and having the following:

• (a) a generally cylindrical outer member at the outer periphery thereof;
• (b) a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inwardly from and coaxial with said outer member:
• (c) a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members;
• (d) a central web member having its inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members and having its side faces connected to said rib members;
• and
• (e) a tread provided on said cylindrical outer member on its outer surface, said tread being provided with:
• (i) a central circumferential groove positioned radially outwardly of said central web member, and
• (ii) generally lateral grooves each having an axially inner and outer end, each of said axially inner ends intersecting said central circumferential groove and being positioned closer to a corresponding rib member than each of said axially outer ends.

A non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, comprising an annular body of resilient material and having the following:

• (a) a generally cylindrical member at the outer periphery thereof;
• (b) a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inwardly from and coaxial with said outer member;
• (c) a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members;
• and
• (d) said rib members being positioned in a non-uniform pattern for the purpose of reducing vibration during operation of said non-pneumatic tire.

A non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, comprising an annular body of resilient material and having the following:

• (a) a generally cylindrical outer member at the outer periphery thereof;
• (b) a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inwardly from and coaxial with said outer member;
• (c) a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members so as to support and cushion said outer member;
• (d) a central web member having its inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members and having its side faces connected to said rib members;
• and,
• (e) a tread surface circumferentially surrounding said cylindrical outer member, said tread surface having a crown radius.

A method of reducing noise and vibration in a non-pneumatic tire rotatable about an axis, said tire comprising an annular body of resilient material and having the following:

• (a) a generally cylindrical outer member at the outer periphery thereof;
• (b) a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inwardly from and coaxial with said outer member;
• (c) a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members so as to support and cushion said outer member;
• said method comprising the steps of
• providing a crown radius on the outer surface of said outer member,
• forming a tread pattern which interacts with high and low contact pressure areas to reduce vibration,
• spacing said rib members in a non-uniform pattern around the circumference of said tire, and,
• stabilizing said tire with a rigid hoop to obtain maximum rigidity of said tire.