A non-pneumatic tire includes an attachment body (11) attached to an axle, an outer rim body (13) configured to surround the attachment body (11) from the outside in a tire radial direction, and a connecting member (15) configured to displaceably connect the attachment body (11) and the outer rim body (13), wherein the connecting member (15) includes elastic connecting plates (21, 22) each having both end sections (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) connected to the attachment body (11) and the outer rim body (13), a plurality of curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h) curved in a tire circumferential direction are formed at the inner end sections (21b, 22b) of the elastic connecting plates (21, 22) connected to the attachment body (11) in a direction in which the elastic connecting plates (21, 22) extend in a side view of the tire when the tire is seen from a tire width direction, and in the curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h), the curve directions of the curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h) adjacent to each other are opposite to each other.

A non-pneumatic tire includes an attachment body (11) attached to an axle, an outer rim body (13) configured to surround the attachment body (11) from the outside in a tire radial direction, and a connecting member (15) configured to displaceably connect the attachment body (11) and the outer rim body (13), wherein the connecting member (15) includes elastic connecting plates (21, 22) each having both end sections (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) connected to the attachment body (11) and the outer rim body (13), a plurality of curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h) curved in a tire circumferential direction are formed at the inner end sections (21b, 22b) of the elastic connecting plates (21, 22) connected to the attachment body (11) in a direction in which the elastic connecting plates (21, 22) extend in a side view of the tire when the tire is seen from a tire width direction, and in the curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h), the curve directions of the curved end sections (21g, 21h, 22g, 22h) adjacent to each other are opposite to each other.

A system for adjusting the compliance of a wheel is provided. In one embodiment, wheel segments are adjusted, causing the stiffness of the wheel to change. Such adjustments can be made while the wheel is rotating, allowing the wheel compliance to be changed while a vehicle is in motion.

A system for adjusting the compliance of a wheel is provided. In one embodiment, wheel segments are adjusted, causing the stiffness of the wheel to change. Such adjustments can be made while the wheel is rotating, allowing the wheel compliance to be changed while a vehicle is in motion.

An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring of unit cells is arranged to facilitate rolling terrain contact, such that the stiffness of the structure in the localized region of loading due to terrain contact increases as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be disposed between the concentric rings of unit cells which in preferred embodiments comprise a plurality of nested-V shapes. A cover may be provided over the outermost ring of unit cells forming a tire which may, or may not, be inflated.

An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring of unit cells is arranged to facilitate rolling terrain contact, such that the stiffness of the structure in the localized region of loading due to terrain contact increases as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be disposed between the concentric rings of unit cells which in preferred embodiments comprise a plurality of nested-V shapes. A cover may be provided over the outermost ring of unit cells forming a tire which may, or may not, be inflated.

A connecting member (15) includes a plurality of elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) having both end portions connected to an attachment body and an outer tubular body (13) in a tire width direction (H), outer end portions connected to outer tubular bodies (13) of at least one of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) among the plurality of elastic connecting plates disposed in the tire width direction (H) overhang the other portion at both sides in the tire width direction (H), the outer end portion has an overhanging quantity (W.sub.1) of an outside outer end portion (25) outward in the tire width direction (H) from an outer end portion main body (27) that is equal to or larger than an overhanging quantity (W.sub.2) of an inside outer end portion (26) overhanging the outer end portion main body (27) inward in the tire width direction (H), the length (L.sub.1) of the outside outer end portion (25) in the extension direction of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) is equal to or larger than a length (L.sub.2) of the inside outer end portion (26) in the extension direction, and a cross-sectional area of the outside outer end portion (25) perpendicular to a plate thickness direction of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the inside outer end portion (26) perpendicular to the plate thickness direction.

A connecting member (15) includes a plurality of elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) having both end portions connected to an attachment body and an outer tubular body (13) in a tire width direction (H), outer end portions connected to outer tubular bodies (13) of at least one of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) among the plurality of elastic connecting plates disposed in the tire width direction (H) overhang the other portion at both sides in the tire width direction (H), the outer end portion has an overhanging quantity (W.sub.1) of an outside outer end portion (25) outward in the tire width direction (H) from an outer end portion main body (27) that is equal to or larger than an overhanging quantity (W.sub.2) of an inside outer end portion (26) overhanging the outer end portion main body (27) inward in the tire width direction (H), the length (L.sub.1) of the outside outer end portion (25) in the extension direction of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) is equal to or larger than a length (L.sub.2) of the inside outer end portion (26) in the extension direction, and a cross-sectional area of the outside outer end portion (25) perpendicular to a plate thickness direction of the elastic connecting plates (21) and (22) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the inside outer end portion (26) perpendicular to the plate thickness direction.

A non-pneumatic tire having a hub and a compliant outer band connected by multiple rows of connecting members, the connecting members of a given row of connecting members angled in a like direction and the predominant curvature of each connecting member resulting in the majority of the connecting member positioned toward a preferred intended direction of rotation of the tire.

A non-pneumatic tire having a hub and a compliant outer band connected by multiple rows of connecting members, the connecting members of a given row of connecting members angled in a like direction and the predominant curvature of each connecting member resulting in the majority of the connecting member positioned toward a preferred intended direction of rotation of the tire.