Run-flat support assembly for a pneumatic tired wheel and method for use of same

A run-flat support assembly for a pneumatic tired wheel, the run-flat support assembly comprising:

• a plurality of support segments positioned in a tire cavity of the pneumatic tired wheel, the plurality of support segments being abutted for end-to-end mating engagement to provide a tubular support structure having an interior circumference defined by respective radial surfaces of the plurality of support segments;
• a plurality of skeletal structures disposed within the plurality of support segments, each of the plurality of skeletal structures including a body adapted to turn concurrently with the axis of rotation, the plurality of skeletal structures having respective torque flanges that extend through the radial surface of the plurality of support segments to provide a substantially circular body;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced linkages displaceably secured to respective mounting races of the bodies of the skeletal structures, each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced linkages adapted to plastically fail at a pre-determined moment load in a run-flat condition, thereby pivoting relative to the respective mounting races, the linkages extending radially outwardly beyond an outer circumference of the skeletal structure;
• and
• a split wheel rim secured to the torque flanges.

A run-flat support assembly for a pneumatic tired wheel, the assembly comprising:

• a tubular support structure positionable in a tire cavity of the pneumatic tired wheel, the tubular support structure coupleable to the wheel so as to turn concurrently with the wheel, the tubular support including a plurality of arc-shaped support segments;
• a skeletal structure including a plurality of arc-shaped segments each disposed in a respective tubular support segment and including
• a radially outwardly facing surface having a first curvature, and
• a radially inwardly facing surface having a second curvature smaller than the first curvature;
• and
• a plurality of spaced linkages mounted to the arc-shaped skeletal segments to extend radially outwardly beyond the radially outwardly facing surfaces of the respective arc-shaped skeletal segments.