The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

An injection molded composite comprising a first bonding surface of a diene rubber composition bonded to a second bonding surface of a polar thermoplastic elastomer composition. There may be no more than 25% of the bonding surfaces having an adhesive applied to them or alternatively, no adhesive is applied. Furthermore, the polar thermoplastic elastomer composition was injected against the first bonding surface to form the second bonding surface and the first bonding surface has an active halogen moiety.

A method of manufacturing a spoke (12) for a non-pneumatic tire is provided that involves providing a first form (14) and a second form (16), where first and second components (18, 20) of the spoke are placed on the first form (14). A third component (22) of the spoke is placed on the second form (16). The first and second components are transferred to the second form (16). The first component, the second component, and the third component are transferred from the second form to a mold (48). Further, the first component, the second component, and the third component have heat and pressure applied thereto for curing.

A curing mold (10) for a tire comprises: a plurality of circumferentially distributed sectors (18) that are intended to mold the tread of the tire, at least one sipe blade (40) intended to mold a void in the tread, the sipe blade extending over two adjacent sectors (18) such that the sipe blade comprises a part (40a, 40b) in each of the two sectors, the two parts of the sipe blade being separated, in the closed position of the mold, by a space (26) that creates flash during the curing of a tire, the parts of the sipe blade comprising cutting means (38) that are able to cut off the flash during the opening of the mold.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the non-pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting annular tread portion comprising a tread rubber composition, a shear band comprising a cord reinforced rubber composition and disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and at least one spoke disk disposed radially inward of the shear band; wherein the spoke disk has an outer ring, and an inner ring, and a first and second spoke extending radially between the outer ring and the inner ring, wherein the first and second spokes are connected at a joint; the method comprising the steps of: applying a curable adhesive as an interface between a radially outermost surface of the spoke disk and a radially innermost surface of the shear band in its uncured state; assembling the tread portion in an uncured state, the shear band in an uncured state, and the at least one spoke disk to form an pre-assembly; and curing the pre-assembly.