A polyurethane microcellular elastomer, a non-pneumatic tire and a preparation process and use thereof are provided. The polyurethane microcellular elastomer is obtained from a polyurethane reaction system comprising components such as isocyanate, trimethylolpropane-started polycaprolactone triol, a catalyst and a foaming agent. The non-pneumatic tire produced from the polyurethane microcellular elastomer has very strong fatigue resistance and can be used for non-motor vehicles running at high speed.

The disclosed technology generally relates to a tire, and more particularly to a non-pneumatic tire that has handling performance similar to a pneumatic tire, supports the load of a vehicle and improves riding comfort by employing a parametric structure. In one aspect, a non-pneumatic tire includes a tread that comes in contact with the ground, a rim that is connected with an axle, and a spoke unit that functions as a structural support between the rim and the tread, in which the spoke unit is formed by circularly arranging spokes. The spokes have a single closed-loop longitudinal cross-section circumscribed to the rim and around the center of the tire.

A tire for a mobile vehicle includes an outer flexible ring mounted to an inner central rim and a spoke structure extending radially between the inner central rim and the outer flexible ring. The spoke structure is constructed from a plurality of elements disposed side-by-side such that the elements extend circumferentially around the perimeter of the inner central rim and radially inside the outer flexible ring. The spoke structure further defines a plurality of triangular openings disposed between the outer flexible ring, a first element of the plurality of elements and a second element of the plurality of elements. The first element is circumferentially adjacent the second element.

A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first corrugated ring having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by welding or an adhesive.

A non-pneumatic elastic wheel (30) defining three perpendicular directions, circumferential (X), axial (Y) and radial (Z), comprises at least: —a hub (31), for example made of metal; an annular band referred to as a shear band (32) oriented in the circumferential direction (X), surmounted by a tread (33); and a plurality of support elements (34) connecting the hub (31) to the annular shear band (32). The annular shear band (32) is formed by a laminate comprising at least one layer of silicone rubber, in particular of the high temperature crosslinking type, such as, for example, a silicone rubber of VMQ or PVMQ grade, the said layer being sandwiched between two layers of fibre-resin composite comprising filaments of an inorganic substance, in particular glass, embedded in a thermoset resin such as, for example, a vinyl ester resin.

A wheel comprising a non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle, such as a vehicle that is steerable and/or otherwise movable by leaning the vehicle (e.g., a bicycle, a motorcycle or another two-wheeled vehicle), in which the non-pneumatic tire may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including, for example, to avoid sudden failure, improve steering and/or other movement of the vehicle (e.g., when the vehicle is leaned and the non-pneumatic tire is cambered), improve ride comfort, and/or exhibit less rolling resistance.

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a band layer constructed of a single material and a tread rubber layer directly attached to the band layer.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The outer rim may include outer rim segments each hingeably coupled in end-to-end relation to an adjacent outer rim segment to define the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner and outer rims, and tread members each carried by a respective one of outer rim segments.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The outer rim may include outer rim segments each hingeably coupled in end-to-end relation to an adjacent outer rim segment to define the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner and outer rims, and tread members each carried by a respective one of outer rim segments.

A method of making a tire includes placing substantially circular sheets of polymeric material on top of each other until a tire is built to a predetermined width. A predetermined tread shape is formed along a circumference of the substantially circular sheets of polymeric material.