A wheel for a vehicle, such as a forklift (e.g., an electric forklift) or another material-handling vehicle, in which the wheel comprises a tire (e.g., a non-pneumatic tire) and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle, including, for example, to exhibit less rolling resistance, be more energy-efficient and/or allow the vehicle to travel faster and/or with improved ride comfort. For instance, elastic deformation of the wheel as it rolls may be better managed (e.g., reduced), which may improve thermal behavior of the wheel and/or may be combined with ways to better distribute or dissipate heat (e.g., by increasing thermal conductivity).

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes the steps of providing an outer shear band ring (56) and an intermediate section (14) that has a supporting structure (16). The intermediate section (14) is collapsed from an uncollapsed state to a collapsed state. The intermediate section in the collapsed state is inserted inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire. Compression of the intermediate section (14) is released when the intermediate section (14) is inside of the outer shear band ring (56) so that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state. In one embodiment, the compressing step of the intermediate section (14) is performed by a compression device (68) that has a plurality of gripping members.

Non-pneumatic wheel (1) with an annular reinforcing structure (10) produced from at least one elastomer compound, arranged radially on the inside of a tread (7), the structure (10) having a plurality of reinforcing strips (12, 14) arranged in layers, the strips (12, 14) of each of the layers being arranged in juxtaposition in a substantially circumferential direction, the strips being coated with an elastomer composition (13), the structure (10) made of at least three layers of strips (12, 14), wherein the strips are formed of a laminate of at least two composite layers, each composite layer has fibres coated in a polymer matrix, the fibres making an angle with the circumferential direction, the difference in values of the said angles from one layer to the next being approximately 90.

In a non-pneumatic tire, an outer ring comprises a laminate having a plurality of fiber layers, and at least one elastomer layer interposed between an adjacent pair of a plurality of fiber layers, the plurality of fiber layers include an outermost layer which among the plurality of fibers is that which is arranged in outwardmost fashion in a tire radial direction, and an innermost layer which among the plurality of fibers is that which is arranged in inwardmost fashion in the tire radial direction, and at least one of the outermost layer and the innermost layer contains a first fiber array at which fibrous material is arrayed so as to extend in the long direction of a joint.

A nonpneumatic tire has at least one spoke loop structure connected to a shear band, wherein the spoke loop structure has a plurality of loops extending inward from the shear band, and wherein each loop is connected to a wheel. A method for forming the nonpneumatic tire includes the step of forming a base and loop subassembly by providing a base having a plurality of grooves, inserting a layer of elastomer strip into each groove and forming a loop between each of the grooves; and inserting the base and loop subassembly which has a plurality of flexible loops extending inward from a shearband so that the base is positioned adjacent the shear band; curing the base and loop subassembly formed from a strip of elastomeric material into the shearband; providing a wheel, and then connecting each loop to the wheel.

A non-pneumatic tire is described herein having a spoke loop structure forming an annular ring, and further including a ground contacting tread portion and a shear band. The spoke loop structure has a plurality of flexible loops extending inward from the shear band, wherein each loop is formed from a strip of elastomeric material, and wherein each loop is connected to a wheel. The wheel has at least two circumferential partition, wherein each spoke loop is received in a compartment formed between two adjacent partition, wherein the compartment prevents axial movement of the spoke loop.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a rim part configured to be coupled to an axle; a tread part formed in a shape of surrounding an outer side of the tire in a circumferential direction thereof and being in contact with the ground; a spoke part which is formed between the rim part and the tread part and is provided with an upper arch bodies and lower arch bodies of an arch shape to absorb impacts transmitted from the ground to the tread part; and a structural reinforcement part which is inserted into the inside of the tread part and is provided with a cord sheet member comprising a plurality of wires to perform load support and stress distribution of the spoke part.

A non-pneumatic tire includes: an inner annular portion; an outer annular portion; a plurality of coupling portions which couple the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion to each other and are provided independently of one another in a tire circumferential direction; at least one annular overall reinforcing layer embedded entirely in the outer annular portion in a tire width direction; and at least one annular partial reinforcing layer embedded only in a part of the outer annular portion in the tire width direction, wherein the outer annular portion includes a connecting region to which the plurality of coupling portions are connected, and a non-connecting region to which the plurality of coupling portions are not connected, in the tire width direction, and wherein the partial reinforcing layer overlaps the non-connecting region in a tire radial direction when viewed from the tire circumferential direction.

A non-pneumatic tire defining axial, radial and circumferential directions, the non-pneumatic tire comprising an annular shear band (106) including an annular shear layer (252) comprising an elastomeric material, and a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned within the shear layer (252) along a plurality of axially-extending rows (254.sub.A, 254.sub.B, 254.sub.C, 254.sub.D, 254.sub.E) within a radial plane of the tire, the reinforcing elements having circular cross-sections along the radial plane of the tire, wherein along each row the reinforcing elements alternate between reinforcing elements (250.sub.D1) having a first diameter and reinforcing elements (250.sub.D2) having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

A non-pneumatic tire defining axial, radial and circumferential directions, the non-pneumatic tire comprising an annular shear band (106) including an annular shear layer (252) comprising an elastomeric material, and a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned within the shear layer (252) along a plurality of axially-extending rows (254.sub.A, 254.sub.B, 254.sub.C, 254.sub.D, 254.sub.E) within a radial plane of the tire, the reinforcing elements having circular cross-sections along the radial plane of the tire, wherein along each row the reinforcing elements alternate between reinforcing elements (250.sub.D1) having a first diameter and reinforcing elements (250.sub.D2) having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.