A green tire includes a plurality of sheets of green rubber having a substantially circular shape, wherein each sheet of green rubber includes an upper ring and a lower ring, and each sheet of green rubber further includes a plurality of spoke portions extending from the upper ring to the lower ring. The green tire further includes a plurality of reinforcements. Each reinforcement is disposed between adjacent sheets of green rubber. At least one reinforcement is sandwiched between the upper rings of adjacent sheets of green rubber, and at least one reinforcement is sandwiched between the spoke portions of adjacent sheets of green rubber.

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 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).

The present invention is directed to airless tires. Exemplary airless tires include a hub configured for attachment to an axle and includes a hub support extending away from the hub. Such exemplary airless tires also include a heel configured around the hub and connected at a distal end of the hub support, whereby the heel includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the hub support. Such exemplary airless tires also include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel. Other exemplary airless tires include a centerless hub assembly configured for attachment to an axle and a heel configured around the centerless hub assembly. The heel in such exemplary airless tires includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the centerless hub assembly. These other exemplary airless tires include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel.

The present invention is directed to airless tires. Exemplary airless tires include a hub configured for attachment to an axle and includes a hub support extending away from the hub. Such exemplary airless tires also include a heel configured around the hub and connected at a distal end of the hub support, whereby the heel includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the hub support. Such exemplary airless tires also include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel. Other exemplary airless tires include a centerless hub assembly configured for attachment to an axle and a heel configured around the centerless hub assembly. The heel in such exemplary airless tires includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the centerless hub assembly. These other exemplary airless tires include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel.

A non-pneumatic tire includes beads, apexes, an inner liner, a cushion ply, a tread rubber, sidewall rubbers, and a first carcass ply; and further includes sidewall support layers and a crown support layer. The sidewall support layers are located at the locations of sidewalls and interposed between the inner liner and the first carcass ply. The crown support layer is located at the location of a crown, and interposed between the inner liner and the first carcass ply or between the first carcass ply and the cushion ply. Both ends of the crown support layer respectively extend toward the sidewalls and are partly overlapped with the sidewall support layers.

A method of manufacturing an airless tire including a spoke unit includes a first step of injection-molding a first spoke part, a second spoke part, a third spoke part and a fourth spoke part in a disc-like shape. The method further includes a second step of forming a first spoke by fusing the first spoke part and the second spoke part. The method further includes a third step of forming a second spoke by fusing the third spoke part and the fourth spoke part, and a fourth step of forming the spoke unit by fusing the first spoke and the second spoke.

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 three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel including a hub. An outer surface of the hub is bonded with a hard body, a first layer of tread and a second layer of tread having a hardness lower than that of the first layer of tread. The hard body, the first layer of tread, and the second layer of tread are arranged from inside to outside in sequence. The second layer of tread is bonded in a concave surface portion on an outer surface of the first layer of tread. The first layer of tread and the second layer of tread are both elastic bodies. The hard body is configured to have an I-shaped structure body. The three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel is a wheel body made by bonding three layers of materials with different hardness.

An apparatus for assembling a non-pneumatic tire that includes a base and a plurality of elements that move relative to the base. The plurality of elements have a central axis, and the elements are disposed in a circumferential direction around the central axis and move in a radial direction towards and away from the central axis. A radial movement member, hub, and a plurality of spokes are also present. Each one of the spokes is disposed between adjacent ones of the elements. The elements and the spokes are moved inwards in the radial direction by the radial movement member towards the central axis so that the spokes are moved in the radial direction towards the hub. Adhesive engages the spokes and the hub at an attachment location of the spokes and the hub.