US 6,615,888 B2 · Variable-diameter wheel-and-tire apparatus for motor vehicles

Abstract

A wheel-and-tire apparatus has a pneumatic tire with two or more circumferential tread sections, the relative diameters of which may be adjusted to select the tread sections in contact with the road. The tire may have one or more air chambers. The apparatus facilitates selective use of tire tread designs and compositions having different performance characteristics to suit particular road conditions and vehicle operating parameters. Adjustment of tread section diameters is accomplished using tread diameter adjustment means having a source of compressed air. Sensors monitor selected operational parameters of the vehicle and transmit corresponding signals to a computer, which selects an optimal configuration of tread section diameters to suit the data from the sensors. The computer sends a corresponding signal instructing the tread diameter adjustment means to adjust the diameter of one or more tread sections as required to achieve the selected configuration of tread section diameters.

A variable-diameter tire apparatus for use in association with a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a pneumatic tire having:
a.1 an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall, each having a circular outer edge and a circular opening defining an inner edge;
a.2 a circumferential tread band disposed between and sealingly interconnecting the outer edges of the sidewalls, said tread band having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said exterior surface having two circumferential tread channels dividing the tread band into an inboard tread section, a central tread section, and an outboard tread section;
and
a.3 two spaced internal walls, each internal wall being generally aligned with one of the tread channels, and each having a circular outer edge sealingly connected to the interior surface of the tread section, and a circular opening defining an inner edge;
and
(b) a wheel rim defining four annular shoulders corresponding to the inner edges of the sidewalls and internal walls, said wheel rim being mountable on a wheel hub of the vehicle;
said pneumatic tire being coaxially mounted on the wheel rim such that the sidewalls, internal walls, and tread sections defined an inboard air chamber, a central air chamber, and an outboard air chamber, and such that each said inner edge will be urged into sealing contact with a corresponding shoulder upon inflation of the air chamber;
and said wheel-and-tire apparatus further comprising:
(c) tread diameter adjustment means, adapted to selectively introduce compressed air into, or to exhaust air out of, a designated air chamber selected from said inboard, central, and outboard air chambers, while the tire is rotating;
(d) an actuator associated with the tread diameter adjustment means;
(e) a computer having a memory;
(f) one or more sensors, each sensor being adapted to measure a selected operational parameter of the vehicle, and each sensor having a sensor communication link for conveying sensor signals, corresponding to measurements made by the sensor, from the sensor to the computer;
and
(g) an actuator communication link for conveying actuation signals from the computer to the actuator;
wherein:
(h) a tread configuration protocol is stored in the computer memory, said protocol comprising selected tread configurations corresponding to selected sensor signals or combinations of sensor signals;
(i) the computer is adapted and programmed;
i.1 to receive a sensor signal or signals via the sensor communication link or links;
i.2 having reference to the tread configuration protocol, to select a tread configuration corresponding to the received sensor signal or combination of sensor signals;
and
i.3 to transmit a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator, via the actuator communication link;
and
(j) the actuator is adapted to actuate the tread diameter adjustment means, in response to and in accordance with an actuation signal from the computer, so as to inflate or deflate the designated air chamber as necessary to deploy a selected one of the tread sections, or a selected plurality of the tread sections, in operatively-effective contact with the road surface, in accordance with the selected tread configuration.

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Variable-diameter wheel-and-tire apparatus for motor vehicles

Life of this patent

Variable-diameter wheel-and-tire apparatus for motor vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29