The invention relates to a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising 1) a wheel rim (4) having two opposed circular rim flanges (5); 2) an outer tire (3) having two beads secured at the circular rim flanges (5); 3) a non-pneumatic inner tire (1) comprising expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU), which inner tire (1) is enclosed by the outer tire (3) and the wheel rim (4); wherein the inner tire (1) in the assembly is in a compressed state S1, which state is compressed as compared to a relaxed state S2 when the inner tire (1) is not enclosed by the outer tire (3), the compression being such that the cross-sectional surface area SA of the inner tire (1), which area is perpendicular to the plane of the tire, is smaller in state S1 than in state S2.

Methods of forming a tire 4 directly on a wheel in which the wheel has a conduit which runs between its hub and rim. A mold is placed over the wheel in order to form a cavity between an inner surface of the mold and the wheel's rim. Liquid materials to form the tire 4 are injected into the cavity via the conduit and the wheel spun to distribute the materials throughout the cavity, which materials solidify to form the tire 4 attached to the wheel. The method includes the step of placing a hub cap 6 over a face of the wheel prior to placing the mold and sealing the hub cap 6 to the wheel during the molding process. The tire 4 may have a substantially hollow interior 50 which may include a flexible web 18 sealed within the rim of the wheel by the hub cap 6.

The present application relates to a tire (2) comprising a tread portion (4) and sidewalls (6) terminating with beads, with inner sides defining an annular cavity; a deformable structure (8) located in the annular cavity in contact with the inner side of the tread portion (4), said structure (8) comprising bendable elements (10); wherein the bendable elements (10) of the deformable structure (8) comprise a piezoelectric material (10.sup.2) so as to produce electrical energy from bending of said elements (10) and comprise at least one thermoelectric material (10.sup.1, 10.sup.3) so as to produce electrical energy from heat of said elements.

Disclosed herein are methods for degrading polyurethane foam from mounted polyurethane foam-containing tires, methods for separating a wheel from a mounted polyurethane foam-containing tire, methods for preparing a degradable foam-containing tire, and degradable foam-containing tires. The methods include applying a solution comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof to the polyurethane foam inside of a tire, incorporating a degradant comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof into the polyurethane foam, or both, and then heating to degrade the foam. Degradation of the foam allows for separation of the wheel from the rubber carcass of the tire.

The present invention relates to a coating and a frame for wheels. The coating has a hollow cylindrical configuration and extends radially between inner and outer portions. The outer portion acts as a tread element and confers the ability to maintain, in use, contact with the ground, to such coating. The inner portion defines a plurality of engagement elements. The frame comprises a hub, a crown and a supporting element which operates in connection between the hub and the crown. The crown is arranged peripherally with respect to the hub and acts as a support element for the coating when the coating is applied to the frame so as to externally encircle the crown. The crown defines a plurality of engagement elements. The engagement elements of the coating and the crown create an interference-type coupling between the coating and the frame, generating forces in the tangential direction.

Metallated aminosilane compounds for use as functional initiators in anionic polymerizations and processes for producing an aminosilane-functionalized polymer using the metallated aminosilane compounds to initiate anionic polymerization of at least one type of anionically polymerizable monomer. Preferred use of the metallated aminosilane compounds results in rubber compositions for use in tires comprising an aminosilane functionalized polymer.

A non-pneumatic tire includes: a ring member (14) including an inner cylinder (12) externally covering an attachment body (11) to be attached to an axle and an outer cylinder (13) surrounding the inner cylinder (12) from a tire radial outer side; a plurality of connecting members (15) arranged along a tire circumferential direction between the inner cylinder (12) and the outer cylinder (13) and connecting the two cylinders to each other; and a tread member (16) made of vulcanized rubber and located on a tire radial outer side of the outer cylinder (13), wherein at least one part of the outer cylinder (13) and the plurality of connecting members (15) are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and an adhesion layer (25) containing an epoxy-based adhesive agent is located between the tread member (16) and the outer cylinder (13) having an amino group in a surface thereof.

Metallated aminosilane compounds for use as functional initiators in anionic polymerizations and processes for producing an aminosilane-functionalized polymer using the metallated aminosilane compounds to initiate anionic polymerization of at least one type of anionically polymerizable monomer. Preferred use of the metallated aminosilane compounds results in rubber compositions for use in tires comprising an aminosilane functionalized polymer.

The invention solves the problem of creating a rubber composition that can be used in a solid tyre of an extremely simple and manufacturable design to provide safe and hygienic operation of the tyre without accumulating a static electric charge and without leaving black marks on a floor surface. An electrically conductive rubber composition for non-marking solid tyres is proposed, which composition comprises (1) a rubber or a mixture of at least two rubbers, (2) oxide fillers and modifiers, (3) organic plasticisers and modifiers, (4) a curing system and (5) carbon nanotubes, wherein the total amount of carbon nanotubes and carbon of other allotropic modifications constitutes from 0.05 to 1.5 wt % relative to the amount of rubber. A non-marking solid tyre made from the electrically conductive rubber composition is also proposed.

A non-pneumatic wheel (10) having a hub (12), an outer tread band (200) and a plurality of spokes (100) connecting the hub with the outer tread band, each of the plurality of spokes having first and second spoke elements (140) joined by a body (130, 136) comprised of an elastomer connecting the first spoke element to the second spoke element, wherein at least one of a second (112) and a third (114) joint body has a heel portion (190, 191) made of a rubber composition having a higher rigidity.