A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim. At least one gas spring may have a controllable operating response.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and tread assemblies carried by the outer rim.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent interior portions of the outer rim to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web between the generally annular inner ring and the generally annular outer ring. The interconnected web defines a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around the tire and radially spaced at varying distances from an axis of rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension. The interconnected web includes a plurality of web elements having a varying thickness, including a first plurality of web elements above the axis of rotation and a second plurality of web elements below the axis of rotation. The varying thickness is configured to facilitate buckling of the interconnected web. When a load is applied, the first plurality of web elements are subjected to a tensile force while the second plurality of web elements buckle.

Provided is a non-pneumatic tire having excellent durability performance. This non-pneumatic tire is provided with an annular tread portion which contacts the road surface, an annular inner peripheral portion which is positioned radially inward of the tread portion, and multiple linking units which join the tread portion and the inner peripheral portion. The tread portion includes a first portion which contacts the road surface, and a second portion which includes an inner peripheral surface facing the inner peripheral portion. The thermal conductivity of the second portion is greater than that of the first portion.

Reinforcements for the annular band of a non-pneumatic tire. Different configurations and material arrangements are described. Exemplary embodiments of a non-pneumatic tire that can incorporate such annular band are also described.

A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration. The shear layer formed from a rubber composition having a very low hysteresis.

Expanded rubber articles and processes for making such, comprising: partially curing an expandable rubber formulation by heating it in a first mould cavity to form a moulded blank; releasing the moulded blank from the first mould cavity and allowing the moulded blank to expand to form an expanded moulded blank; and further curing and expanding the expanded moulded blank by heating it to form the expanded rubber article comprising an expanded rubber part, wherein the expanded moulded blank is heated in a second mould cavity. Optionally, the expanded moulded blank is contacted with a further rubber formulation and a substrate comprising a base material and an elastomer bonding layer in the second mould cavity to form an expanded rubber article additionally comprising a solid rubber part and a substrate.

Various example embodiments of a non-pneumatic tire, and methods for making the same, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-pneumatic tire is provided, the non-pneumatic tire comprising: a tread; at least one support ring, wherein the at least one support ring and the tread are concentric; at least one base element oriented between the tread and the at least one support ring; and a hub.