Shock absorbing tire
OwnerJohn Lawrence Foneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shock absorbing tire and wheel assembly, particularly suitable for civil engineering plant comprises interconnected outer (15) and inner (14) chambers. The chambers are interconnected by passages which preferentially allow flow from the outer chamber (15) to the inner chamber (14). The passages preferably include at least one passage (21) which permits flow in either direction between the chambers and at least one passage (22) which permits flow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber, but prevents or restricts reverse flow. The passages (22) may be fitted with flap valves (23).
Claims8
A tire and wheel assembly having a plurality of chambers for containing pressurized fluid, at least two of the chambers being interconnected by means enabling flow of fluid between one chamber and the other, the connecting means allowing fluid to pass preferentially from the one chamber to the other thus providing a shock absorbing effect when the tire passes over an obstruction, wherein the connecting means comprises at least one first passage which has substantially equal resistance to flow in both directions between the chambers and at least one second passage which permits relatively free flow from the said one chamber to the said other chamber but restricts or prevents flow in the reverse direction, at least one of the second passages being provided with a valve which permits preferential flow in one direction and restricted flow in the opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.