A vehicle wheel includes two annular rim members, at least one annular flange member disposed between the two rim members, a securing member that secures relative positional relationship between adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, a plurality of body springs that each connects adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, and a plurality of linking springs linked to the plurality of body springs so as to restrict relative displacement between the plurality of body springs. At least part of each body spring in a width direction of the vehicle wheel protrudes further to an outer side in a radial direction of the vehicle wheel than the rim members and the flange member, and the plurality of body springs is provided at intervals over an entire circumferential direction of the vehicle wheel.

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly which includes a rim, and a spoke ring structure having an inner ring that is mounted on an outer surface of the rim. The inner ring has one or more retention nubs aligned for reception in complementary shaped grooves on the outer surface of the rim, wherein the spoke ring structure has a plurality of spoke members, and an outer tread ring is mounted on the outer circumference of the spoke ring.

A flexible wheel may include a flexible tire section which is deformable in a radial direction from a circumference thereof, and an anti-bending guide section coupled with the flexible tire section. The anti-bending guide section is connected to a driving shaft, and the flexible tire section and the anti-bending guide section are concentric. The flexible tire section includes a ring-shaped outer layer, one or more inner layers, and a plurality of spokes. In addition, the anti-bending guide section includes a plurality of plates, a hub, and a plurality of guides.

A flexible wheel may include a flexible tire section which is deformable in a radial direction from a circumference thereof, and an anti-bending guide section coupled with the flexible tire section. The anti-bending guide section is connected to a driving shaft, and the flexible tire section and the anti-bending guide section are concentric. The flexible tire section includes a ring-shaped outer layer, one or more inner layers, and a plurality of spokes. In addition, the anti-bending guide section includes a plurality of plates, a hub, and a plurality of guides.

A monofilament made of glass-resin composite has improved properties in compression, in particular at high temperature, and comprises glass filaments embedded in a crosslinked resin. The glass transition temperature of the resin is equal to or greater than 190° C. The elongation at break of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is equal to or greater than 4.0%. The initial tensile modulus of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is greater than 35 GPa. The real part of the complex modulus of the monofilament, measured at 190° C. by the DMTA method, is greater than 30 GPa. Pneumatic or non-pneumatic tires are reinforced with such a composite monofilament.

A monofilament made of glass-resin composite has improved properties in compression, in particular at high temperature, and comprises glass filaments embedded in a crosslinked resin. The glass transition temperature of the resin is equal to or greater than 190° C. The elongation at break of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is equal to or greater than 4.0%. The initial tensile modulus of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is greater than 35 GPa. The real part of the complex modulus of the monofilament, measured at 190° C. by the DMTA method, is greater than 30 GPa. Pneumatic or non-pneumatic tires are reinforced with such a composite monofilament.

An improved spoke (100) for a tire (10) attaching an outer tread to a hub (12), the spoke (100) having a spoke element possessing spoke element reinforcements, the spoke element joined by a joint body (114) comprised of an elastomer connecting the spoke element to an outer compliant band (200) where the joint body (114) possesses an improved profile for increased robustness.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

A non-pneumatic wheel includes an outer band, a hub and a plurality of spokes formed from a polyamine material. Each of the plurality of spokes is displaced to create pretension in the radial direction under a design load and the displacement is equal to or greater than the predetermined deflection of the outer band. The plurality of spokes is made from a polyamide material having a conditioned tensile modulus between 600 MPa and 3000 MPa, an equilibrium moisture content of no more than 1.5%, and a fatigue failure resistance that can withstand at least 1 million cycles.

A composite PDU tire in an aircraft cargo handling system may comprise a plurality of bonded regions configured to propel cargo within an aircraft cargo bay. The composite tire may include edge regions that are stiffer than a cylindrical region. The edge regions may be configured to have a greater wear resistance and abrasion resistance relative to the cylindrical region. The cylindrical region may be configured to have greater traction relative to the edge regions. The edge regions may include a fillet profile and may be configured to reduce chipping as cargo climbs across the tire.