System for non-pneumatic support of a vehicle
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsJames Alfred Benzing, II, Wesley Glen Sigler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer. One end portion of at least one spring is wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent a rim.
Claims20
A non-pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of springs, each spring comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion, each spring being interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire, the toroidal structure being at least partially coated with an elastomer,
- one end portion of at least one spring being wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent to a rim,
- other springs being incorporated with the non-pneumatic tire at a bias angle, from radial to circumferential, for the purpose of distributing load.
A system for constructing a non-pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of helical springs, each helical spring comprising a first end portion secured to a first bead portion, a second end portion secured to a second bead portion, and an arching middle portion, each helical spring being interwoven with at least one other helical spring thereby forming a toroidal carcass ply structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire, the toroidal carcass ply structure being at least partially coated with an elastomer cured to adhere to the toroidal carcass ply structure,
- coil diameters of the helical springs varying for creating continuity in the toroidal carcass ply structure throughout a range of radial positions in the non-pneumatic tire.
A pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of springs, each spring comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion, each spring being interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire, the toroidal structure being at least partially coated with an elastomer,
- one end portion of at least one spring being wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent to a rim,
- the springs being constructed of a ceramic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.