A flat tire airbag system has an inner tube having an inner portion adapted to be mounted upon the wheel of the pneumatic tire, and an outer portion adapted to support the tire when inflated. A tire pressure monitoring system is operably mounted to monitor pressure within the pneumatic tire, and an airbag inflation mechanism is provided for automatically inflating the inner tube responsive to the tire pressure monitoring system detecting a loss of pressure within the pneumatic tire.

A rapid inflation system is provided for the tires of a machine such as an agricultural machine which must periodically move between field conditions and road conditions. The system can relatively rapidly inflate the tires from a lower field ready state to a higher pressure road ready state by the use of a high pressure reservoir chamber defined within the tire.

A rapid inflation system is provided for the tires of a machine such as an agricultural machine which must periodically move between field conditions and road conditions. The system can relatively rapidly inflate the tires from a lower field ready state to a higher pressure road ready state by the use of a high pressure reservoir chamber defined within the tire.

A multi air chamber tire 1 includes a tread portion 4, a pair of bead portions 2, a pair of sidewall portions 3, and partition walls 30 respectively provided to half portions of a tire which are defined with respect to a tire equator plane, the partition walls 30 partitioning an inner cavity of the tire to form a plurality of air chambers disposed adjacent to each other. Each of the partition walls 30 includes a first coupling portion 9a and a second coupling portion 9b coupled with a tire inner wall surface. When the tire 1 is filled with fluid, a first air chamber 20 is formed in a space inward of the partition walls 30 in a tire width direction, and a second air chamber 21 is formed in each space between a partition wall 30 and the tire inner wall surface of a sidewall portion 3.

A multi air chamber tire 1 includes a tread portion 4, a pair of bead portions 2, a pair of sidewall portions 3, and partition walls 30 respectively provided to half portions of a tire which are defined with respect to a tire equator plane, the partition walls 30 partitioning an inner cavity of the tire to form a plurality of air chambers disposed adjacent to each other. Each of the partition walls 30 includes a first coupling portion 9a and a second coupling portion 9b coupled with a tire inner wall surface. When the tire 1 is filled with fluid, a first air chamber 20 is formed in a space inward of the partition walls 30 in a tire width direction, and a second air chamber 21 is formed in each space between a partition wall 30 and the tire inner wall surface of a sidewall portion 3.

A tire apparatus is provided, the apparatus including a tire body for attachment to a wheel rim to define a first inflatable volume. An inner chamber defines a second inflatable volume which is located within the first inflatable volume of the tire body. A first fluid communication path is provided between the first and second inflatable volumes and a second fluid communication path is provided between the first inflatable volume and the atmosphere. A first valve opens and closes the first fluid communication path, and a second valve opens and closes the second fluid communication path. The tensile strength and pressure-containing capacity of the material structure of the second inflatable volume is greater than that of the tire first inflatable volume. A first fluid pressure within the first inflatable volume of the tire body is optimisable by opening the first valve to allow pressure transfer from the second inflatable volume into the tire body, and/or opening the second valve to allow pressure to vent from the tire body to atmosphere. A vehicle wheel and active tire pressure control system incorporating the tire apparatus are also provided.

A tire apparatus is provided, the apparatus including a tire body for attachment to a wheel rim to define a first inflatable volume. An inner chamber defines a second inflatable volume which is located within the first inflatable volume of the tire body. A first fluid communication path is provided between the first and second inflatable volumes and a second fluid communication path is provided between the first inflatable volume and the atmosphere. A first valve opens and closes the first fluid communication path, and a second valve opens and closes the second fluid communication path. The tensile strength and pressure-containing capacity of the material structure of the second inflatable volume is greater than that of the tire first inflatable volume. A first fluid pressure within the first inflatable volume of the tire body is optimisable by opening the first valve to allow pressure transfer from the second inflatable volume into the tire body, and/or opening the second valve to allow pressure to vent from the tire body to atmosphere. A vehicle wheel and active tire pressure control system incorporating the tire apparatus are also provided.

A multiple chamber pneumatic tire having an upper section and a lower section. A diaphragm separates the upper section from the lower section. The lower section has at least two chambers. The chambers each have a chamber valve, a nail guard layer, a plurality of fibers having an end connected to an inner wall surface of a chamber, and an interconnected barrier connected to at least two portions of a chamber wall surface. The upper section of the tire has at least one linkage located within at least one tube with a primary end connected to a chamber valve of a chamber and a secondary end connected to a tire rim or to a main valve. A tire pressure monitoring system can be in communication with a chamber valve. The tire can have a ring with at least one retractable stud.

A multiple chamber pneumatic tire having an upper section and a lower section. A diaphragm separates the upper section from the lower section. The lower section has at least two chambers. The chambers each have a chamber valve, a nail guard layer, a plurality of fibers having an end connected to an inner wall surface of a chamber, and an interconnected barrier connected to at least two portions of a chamber wall surface. The upper section of the tire has at least one linkage located within at least one tube with a primary end connected to a chamber valve of a chamber and a secondary end connected to a tire rim or to a main valve. A tire pressure monitoring system can be in communication with a chamber valve. The tire can have a ring with at least one retractable stud.

A multi-chamber tire, comprising an outer layer portion and an flexible ring body in an annular fashion; the outer layer portion is arranged on the external side of the flexible ring body; the flexible ring portion is provided with chambers arranged around the flexible ring portion; the chambers are provided with a plurality of partitioned gussets; each of the partitioned gussets is arranged around the flexible ring body and extends along the axial and radial directions, and the plurality of partitioned gussets are arranged around the flexible ring body alternately, dividing the chambers into a plurality of isolating chambers isolated from each other.