A method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels is provided. The exemplary method and apparatus allow for the use of the same molding system to manufacture wheels with different hub constructions. Different configurations of removable mold elements are utilized within the same molding system to provide wheels with different hub constructions.

A non-pneumatic tire 1 comprises: a radially inner ring 3 coupled with an tire wheel H; a radially outer ring 2 comprising a radially outermost annular tread portion 5 having electrical conductivity, and a radially innermost second portion 6; and radial link portions 4 connecting between the radially outer and inner rings 2 and 3. The second portion 6, radial link portions 4 and radially inner ring 3 are each formed of a resin material containing carbon black to have electrical conductivity. The resin material comprises 0.5 to 20 parts by mass of carbon black having a BET specific surface area of from 300 to 1500 sq.Math.m/g with respect to 100 parts by mass of its resin component. The tread portion 5 is electrically connected with the second portion 6.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The first and second layer of fabric of the three-dimensional spacer structure are reinforced with a respective first and second layer of non-crimped fabric, eliminating the need for a rubber shear layer and reinforcement layers commonly used for the shear band.

A wheel assembly is disclosed, the wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and an airless tire mounted on the wheel. A portion of the tire is separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure. A spacer is interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire. The spacer may be permanently affixed to the wheel assembly or may be removably attached to the wheel assembly. The spacer may be adjustable between a first size and a second size.

A wheel assembly is disclosed, the wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and an airless tire mounted on the wheel. A portion of the tire is separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure. A spacer is interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire. The spacer may be permanently affixed to the wheel assembly or may be removably attached to the wheel assembly. The spacer may be adjustable between a first size and a second size.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a circumferential tread having a first axial width. The tire further includes a lower annular band having a circumferential convex curved surface and a second axial width greater than the first axial width. The lower annular band is configured to deflect upon application of an axial force above a threshold axial force. The tire also includes tire structure connecting the circumferential tread to the lower annular band. The tire structure has a third axial width less than the second axial width.

Provided is an non-pneumatic tire that includes thermoplastic elastomer which is pre-tensioned during the process of forming the non-pneumatic tire. The pre-tension is provided by a thermal means that is naturally available in the forming process. This results in an efficient manufacturing combined with efficiency of pre-tension, without a complexity of adding a pre-tension from mechanical means.

A non-pneumatic tire (100) having an annular beam (200) and an annular support (103) comprising a plurality of thermoplastic elastomeric spokes formed by a thermoplastic injection process. When manufacturing this non-pneumatic tire via a mold, then the radial extent of a mold cavity is defined by the radially inner extent of the annular beam (200). The non-pneumatic tire's annular beam (200) includes a first elastomer and a circumferential reinforcement extended in a circumferential direction. The annular beam (200) is free of the circumferential reinforcement at an axial extent over a width of at least 8 mm the axial extent comprising the first elastomer. The plurality of thermoplastic elastomeric spokes are made of a second elastomer and extend radially inward from the annular beam (200). The present invention also refers to a process for forming such a non-pneumatic tire (100).

CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT OF A FLEXIBLE WHEEL FOR WHEELBARROW OR MANUALLY TRACTIONED INDUSTRIAL CARTS is constituted by a single block that comprehends three parts: the outer ring(1), the center wall(2), and the inner ring(3); and the outer ring(1) has on its extremity a tread surface(15), and as tangents on each side it has side tread surfaces(12); and each side tread surface(12) has a plurality of radial cavities(11) spaced along the wheel; and the radial cavities(11) of a side tread surface(12) are not aligned in relation to the radial cavities(11a) of the opposite side tread surface(12a); and the center wall(2) is a flat, solid, ring-shaped wall contained in the central plane which contains the body of the wheel, and on each side of the flat wall there are a plurality of flexible structures(14) radially aligned to the radial cavities(11) contained in the outer ring(1); and the inner ring(3) is constituted of a circular wall(31), a reinforcement rim(32), and mass reducers(33); and the mass reducers(33) are recesses with radial walls.