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US 8,215,351 B2Granted
Shear band
AssigneeMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
InventorRonald Hobart Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved shear band for use in non-pneumatic tires, pneumatic tires, and other technologies is provided. The shear band is constructed as a composite of layers that are combined in a specific manner. Each layer is constructed from one or more materials having certain selected physical properties. The layers are combined a specific manner to create a composite having physical properties and performance characteristics desirably outperforming that of the individual materials forming the layers. When used in tire construction, improvements in rolling resistance can also be obtained.
Claims30
A shear band defining a radial direction, the shear band comprising:
- a composite shear layer having an overall dynamic shear modulus, said composite shear layer comprising at least (i) one or more layers having a first dynamic shear modulus and a first total volume fraction, (ii) one or more layers having a second dynamic shear modulus and a second total volume fraction, wherein the ratio of the second dynamic shear modulus to the first dynamic shear modulus is at least about 3, and wherein said one or more layers having a first or second dynamic shear modulus are arranged in an alternating manner between layers having the first dynamic shear modulus and layers having the second dynamic shear modulus;
- at least a first membrane adhered to a radially inward extent of said composite shear layer;
- and
- at least a second membrane adhered to a radially outward extent of said composite shear layer;
- wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the overall dynamic shear modulus of said composite shear layer is at least about 100:1.
2 more elements
A tire having a ground contacting portion and a tread portion, the tire comprising a shear band defining a radial direction, the shear band comprising:
- a composite shear layer having an overall dynamic shear modulus, said composite shear layer comprising at least (i) one or more layers having a first dynamic shear modulus and a first total volume fraction, (ii) one or more layers having a second dynamic shear modulus and a second total volume fraction, wherein the ratio of the second dynamic shear modulus to the first dynamic shear modulus is at least about 3, and wherein said one or more layers having a first or second dynamic shear modulus are arranged in an alternating manner between layers having the first dynamic shear modulus and layers having the second dynamic shear modulus;
- at least a first membrane adhered to a radially inward extent of said composite shear layer;
- and
- at least a second membrane adhered to a radially outward extent of said composite shear layer;
- wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the overall dynamic shear modulus of said composite shear layer is at least about 100:1,
- wherein said one or more layers having a first dynamic shear modulus comprises at least one material having a hysteresis of less than about 0.1 at strains between about 15 percent and about 30 percent, and
- wherein said one or more layers having a second dynamic shear modulus comprises at least one material having a hysteresis of less than about 0.04 at strains between about 0.1 percent and about 2 percent.
4 more elements
A tire for placement on a wheel, the tire defining a radial direction, comprising:
- a ground contacting tread portion;
- a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, wherein said reinforced annular band comprises a composite shear layer having an overall dynamic shear modulus, said composite shear layer comprising:
- (i) one or more layers constructed from materials having a first dynamic shear modulus and a first total volume fraction;
- and
- (ii) one or more layers constructed from materials having a second dynamic shear modulus and a second total volume fraction;
- wherein the ratio of the second dynamic shear modulus to the first dynamic shear modulus is at least about 3, and wherein said one or more layers of materials having either the first or second dynamic shear modulus are arranged in an alternating manner between the first dynamic shear modulus and the second dynamic shear modulus along the radial direction of the tire;
- a support structure for mounting said band and said tread portion to the wheel, said support structure being located radially inward of said reinforced annular band;
- at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said composite shear layer;
- and
- at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said composite shear layer;
- wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the overall dynamic shear modulus of said composite shear layer is at least about 100:1.
8 more elements
A tire for placing on a wheel, comprising
- a ground contacting tread portion;
- a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, wherein said band comprises a composite shear layer having an overall dynamic shear modulus, said composite shear layer comprising i) a first shear layer having a first dynamic shear modulus, ii) a second shear layer disposed radially outward of said first shear layer, said second shear layer having a second dynamic shear modulus, wherein the ratio of the second dynamic shear modulus to the first dynamic shear modulus is at least about 3;
- a support structure for mounting said reinforced annular band and said tread portion to the wheel, said support structure being located radially inward of said reinforced annular band;
- at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said composite shear layer;
- and
- at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said composite shear layer;
- wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the overall dynamic shear modulus of said composite shear layer is at least about 100:1.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.