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US 4,953,291 AGranted
Tire interior support system
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorEdward G. Markow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circular insert is located within a tire and is adapted to contact the interior surface of the tire side walls when the tire becomes deflated. The insert is positionally interposed within the folds of a bulging side wall during deflation and transmits load between the side wall and a tire rim to prevent complete collapse of the run-flat tire.
Claims4
An insert for use in a tire and allowing a tire to operate in a run-flat condition, the insert comprising:
- means for attaching the insert to a tire rim;
- a pair of flexible annular contoured discs connected to the attaching means and extending radially and axially outwardly therefrom in opposite axial directions such that each disc forms a frusto-conical geometric figure;
- and
- a circular elastomeric member attached to the outer periphery of each disc, the member being in normally non-contacting relation with the tire interior surface when installed within the tire, each member having a generally trapezoidal cross-section;
- the discs having sufficient flexibility for deflecting correspondingly attached elastomeric members into respective bulging folds of a deflected tire side wall thereby preventing collapse of the tire.
2 more elements
A method for enhancing a tire for run-flat operation and comprising the steps:
- positioning two continuous flexible discs within the interior of the tire;
- securing a circular elastomeric member to an outer peripheral edge of each disc;
- orienting the elastomeric members toward opposite sides of the crown of the tire in normally non-contacting relation when the tire is inflated;
- attaching a radially inward peripheral edge of each disc to a wheel rim thereby providing a structure for transferring load forces from the tire to the rim;
- wherein tire collapse is prevented by displacement of the elastomeric members into interposed relation with interior side wall areas constituting bulging folds which develop upon tire deflation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.