Non-pneumatic, ground-engaging cushioning means with raised treads for tires or endless tracks
AssigneeAirBoss Limited
InventorGraeme A. Chandler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire comprising a body constructed to deform resiliently under load and a tread provided on the body. The tread comprising a plurality of raised portions (29) disposed in circumferential relationship and defining grooves (49) therebetween. Each raised portion (25) comprising a first central section (27) and a pair of lateral sections (29) each extending outwardly from the central section towards one side of the body. The lateral sections (29) define a V formation and the first central section (27) extends from the V formation in a direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections (29) and towards the V formation if the next adjacent raised portion. The body may be defined by a plurality of segments (11) individually mountable onto a base.
Claims21
A hollow, resilient, integral, ground-engaging, cushioning segment for a wheel or endless track for a vehicle, said wheel or endless track having a band-shaped base cyclically movable around at least one axis, multiple said cushioning segments being mountable in a side-by-side, closely interfitting disposition around said base to provide a continuous ground-engaging support cushion for said vehicle, individual said cushioning segments being elongated, tubular and open-ended to define at least one longitudinally extending aperture providing interior access to said hollow segment, said cushioning segments extending across said band-shaped base between segment ends at opposed sides of said band, when mounted on said base, and each comprising:
- a) a longitudinal inner portion for engagement with said base;
- b) a longitudinal outer segment portion carrying a ground-engaging surface;
- c) longitudinal side faces extending between said inner and outer faces and providing resilient support for said outer segment portion;
- d) a longitudinally extending raised tread carrying said ground-engaging surface, said raised tread being located on said outer segment portion between and spaced from said side faces and defining a tread-bearing portion of said hollow segment;
- and
- e) said at least one longitudinally extending ventilation aperture, said aperture being defined between said inner, outer and side portions and opening to atmosphere at each said segment end to cool said ground-engaging segment;
- wherein said ventilation aperture has a cross-sectional shape including a raised portion extending beneath said raised tread along said tread whereby, under ground-engaging loads, said tread-bearing portion is movable inwardly toward said inner portion and said ground-engaging loads are directed laterally of said side walls toward neighboring segments and wherein said cushioning segments are configured to be interfittable around said at least one axis, with said segment, said tread and said ventilation aperture being shaped to extend laterally toward a neighboring segment, when mounted, said shaping being symmetrical about a midpoint of each segment's length.
A hollow, resilient, integral, ground-engaging, cushioning segment for a wheel or endless track for a vehicle, said wheel or endless track having a band-shaped base cyclically movable around at least one axis, multiple said cushioning segments being mountable in a side-by-side, closely interfitting disposition around said base to provide a continuous ground-engaging support cushion for said vehicle, individual said cushioning segments being elongated, tubular and open-ended to define at least one longitudinally extending aperture providing interior access to said hollow segment, extending across said band-shaped base between segment ends at opposed sides of said band, when mounted on said base, and comprising:
- a) a longitudinal inner portion for engagement with said base;
- b) a longitudinal outer segment portion carrying a ground-engaging surface;
- c) longitudinal flat side faces extending between said inner and outer faces and providing resilient support for said outer segment portion, said side faces meeting said inner and outer faces at inner and outer corners respectively, said inner portion having an inner surface between said corners, said inner surface being shaped to conform to said base;
- d) a longitudinally extending raised tread carrying said ground-engaging surface, said raised tread being located on said outer segment portion between and spaced from said side faces and defining a tread-bearing portion of said hollow segment;
- and
- e) said at least one longitudinally extending ventilation aperture, said aperture being defined between said inner, outer and side portions and opening to atmosphere at each said segment end to cool said ground-engaging segment said ventilation aperture or apertures having, when viewed endwise of said cushioning segment, a cross-sectional aperture shape extending along said inner portion, along said side faces to define side walls and between said side walls to define a raised aperture portion extending beneath said raised tread along said tread;
- wherein said segment, said tread and said ventilation aperture are symmetrically V-shaped with a peak centrally disposed with regard to a midpoint of each segment's length when viewed in a direction transverse to said at least one axis, said V shaping extending laterally toward a neighboring segment, when said segments are mounted;
- and wherein said cushioning segments are configured to be interfittable around said at least one axis;
- whereby, under ground-engaging loads, said tread-bearing portion is movable inwardly toward said inner portion and said ground-engaging loads are directed laterally of said side walls toward neighboring segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.