LIGHTWEIGHT TIRE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A tire has an axis of rotation. The tire includes a circular tread band, a circular hub for attachment to an axle, and a structure including a plurality of annular rings interconnecting the tread band and the hub and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub. A first group of rings are disposed axially adjacent each other and a second group of rings are concentric and disposed radially adjacent each other.

Claims

1. A tire having an axis of rotation, the tire comprising: a circular tread band; a circular hub for attachment to an axle; and a structure including a plurality of annular rings interconnecting the tread band and the hub and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub, a first group of rings being disposed axially adjacent each other and a second group of rings being concentric and disposed radially adjacent each other.

2. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include layers of fabric.

3. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include reinforcement members of yarn, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric.

4. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include layers connected together by reinforcement members.

5. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include knitted layers.

6. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include an open layer of individual pile fibers connecting a first layer of fabric and a second layer of fabric.

7. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rings of the plurality of rings include a closed layer of fabric piles connecting a first layer and a second layer.

8. The tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of rings are interconnected by annular bands.

9. The tire as set forth in claim 8 wherein the annular bands are constructed rubber.

10. The tire as set forth in claim 8 wherein the annular bands are constructed of plastic.

11. The tire as set forth in claim 8 wherein the annular bands are constructed of metal.

12. A tire having an axis of rotation, the tire comprising: a circular tread band; a circular hub for attachment to an axle; and a structure including a plurality of spokes interconnecting the tread band and the hub and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub, the structure having a group of radially extending spokes disposed axially adjacent each other.

13. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include layers of twisted fabric.

14. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include reinforcement members of yarn, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric.

15. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include layers connected together by reinforcement members.

16. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include knitted layers.

17. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include an open layer of individual pile fibers connecting a first layer of fabric and a second layer of fabric.

18. The tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spokes include a closed layer of fabric piles connecting a first layer and a second layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The structure, operation, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon contemplation of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of an example tire in accordance with the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 represents a schematic sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of another example tire in accordance with the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 4 represents a schematic sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

[0059] FIG. 5 represents a schematic detail of an assembly step in accordance with the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 6 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of still another example tire in accordance with the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 7 represents a schematic sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

[0062] FIG. 8 represents a schematic detail of an example three dimensional fabric for use with the present invention;

[0063] FIG. 9 represents a schematic detail of another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention;

[0064] FIG. 10 represents a schematic detail of still another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention;

[0065] FIG. 11 represents a schematic detail of yet another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention;

[0066] FIG. 12 represents a schematic detail of still another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 13 represents a schematic detail of yet another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention; and

[0068] FIG. 14 represents a schematic detail of still another example three dimensional fabric in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0069] Three dimensional fabric may provide large design freedom for different lightweight pneumatic and non-pneumatic tire components and designs. Three dimensional fabric may be tuned to yield varied mechanical, thermal, and/or electrical properties. Three dimensional fabric may further efficiently distribute stress from one direction to others directions.

[0070] FIGS. 1-2 show an example tire 100 in accordance with the present invention. The tire 100 may include a circular tread band 110, a circular hub 115 for attachment to an axle (not shown), and a structure including a plurality of annular rings 120 interconnecting the tread band 110 and the hub 115 and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub. The annular rings 120 may include several rings disposed axially adjacent each other (three in FIG. 2) as well as several concentric rings disposed radially adjacent each other (three in FIGS. 1-2).

[0071] These rings 120 may include layers of fabric. Some layers may have reinforcement members (such as yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) which extend in a first and a second direction. Other layers may be connected together by reinforcement members (yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) or other knitted layers extending in a defined third direction. An open layer may include individual pile fibers or reinforcements connecting a first and a second layer of fabric. A closed layer may include fabric piles connecting a first layer and a second layer.

[0072] FIGS. 3-4 show an example tire 300 in accordance with the present invention. The tire 300 may include a circular tread band 310, a circular hub 315 for attachment to an axle (not shown), and a structure including a plurality of annular rings 320 interconnecting the tread band 310 and the hub 315 and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub. The rings 320 may be interconnected by annular bands 330 constructed of materials such as rubber, plastic, metal, and/or other suitable material. The annular rings 320 may include several rings disposed axially adjacent each other (three in FIG. 4) as well as several concentric rings disposed radially adjacent each other (three in FIGS. 3-4).

[0073] These rings 320 may include layers of fabric. Some layers may have reinforcement members (such as yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) which extend in a first and a second direction. Other layers may be connected together by reinforcement members (yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) or other knitted layers extending in a defined third direction. An open layer may include individual pile fibers or reinforcements connecting a first and a second layer of fabric. A closed layer may include fabric piles connecting a first layer and a second layer.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows an example assembly step 500 in accordance with the present invention. A tire casing 510 may include a plurality of annular rings 520 (three in FIG. 5) that may or may not be similar to the rings 120, 320 of FIGS. 1-4. The annular rings 520 may have identical or different constructions as desired. The rings 520 may together define a cartridge 530 for replacement in the corresponding casing 510.

[0075] FIGS. 6-7 show an example tire 600 in accordance with the present invention. The tire 600 may include a circular tread band 610, a circular hub 615 for attachment to an axle (not shown), and a structure including a plurality of radially extending twisted spokes 620 interconnecting the tread band 610 and the hub 615 and transferring a load from the tread band to the hub. The spokes 620 may be constructed of materials such as rubber, plastic, metal, and/or other suitable material. The annular rings 320 may include several spokes disposed axially adjacent each other (three in FIG. 7).

[0076] The rings 120, 320 and spokes 620 may include layers of fabric. Some layers may have reinforcement members (such as yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) which extend in a first and a second direction. Other layers may be connected together by reinforcement members (yarns, filaments, fibers, and/or fabric) or other knitted layers extending in a defined third direction. An open layer may include individual pile fibers or reinforcements connecting a first and a second layer of fabric. A closed layer may include fabric piles connecting a first layer and a second layer.

[0077] The hub 115, 315, 615 may be metal, polymer and/or carbon material. Each ring 120, 320 and/or spoke 620 may be coated/dipped in a dedicated solution for increasing rigidity and strength. Successive concentric rings 120, 320 of decreasing radius may be joined together by a flexible polymer adhesive layer with or without radial reinforcement.

[0078] The fabric may be constructed of polyester-terephthalate (polyethylene-terehthalate), high performance fibers, etc. These fibers may be constructed as a single component, from such materials as nylon fiber, rayon fiber, polyester fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber, polyethylene fiber, aramid fiber, and/or other suitable high performance fibers or of multi component fibers consisting of a combination of these materials. The light weight and enhanced mechanical properties of these fibers may allow for many design improvements effecting cost, weight, rolling resistance, etc. Thickness of deck layers (e.g., shear bands of a non-pneumatic tire), roll width, density, and height of vertical piles may be adjusted to meet various tire requirements. The cells between two deck layers may be filled with light weight material, wires, tubes, foam, sealant material, sensors, etc.

[0079] The materials and material properties of textile reinforced composite structures 120, 320, 620 may be specially customized for particular load situations by modifying the fiber material and/or architecture. For example, one five centimeter cube 400 of a three dimensional fabric may weigh only 6.5 grams (FIG. 8). The cube 800 may have a plurality of open cells 810 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 820. Another example structure 900 may be five centimeters by five centimeters by 0.7 centimeters and weigh 1.1 grams (FIG. 9). A conventional chipper compound of the same dimensions may weigh 30.0 grams. The structure 900 may have a plurality of open cells 910 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 920.

[0080] FIG. 10 shows four example hexagonal constructions 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040 that may be used as rings 120, 320 and/or spokes 620 in a non-pneumatic tire 100, 300, 600. The constructions 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040 may have a plurality of closed cells 1011, 1021, 1031, 1041 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 1013, 1023, 1033, 1043.

[0081] FIG. 11 shows four example three plane constructions 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140 that may be used as rings 120, 320 and/or spokes 620 in a non-pneumatic tire 100, 300, 600. The constructions 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140 may have a plurality of closed cells 1111, 1121, 1131, 1141 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 1113, 1123, 1133, 1143.

[0082] FIG. 12 shows four example two plane constructions 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240 that may be used as rings 120, 320 and/or 620 in a non-pneumatic tire 100, 300, 600. The constructions 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240 may have a plurality of closed cells 1211, 1221, 1231, 1241 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 1213, 1223, 1233, 1243.

[0083] FIG. 13 shows three example curved constructions 1310, 1320, 1330 that may be used as rings 120, 320 and/or spokes 620 in a non-pneumatic tire 100, 300, 600. The constructions 1310, 1320, 1330 may have a plurality of closed cells 1311, 1321, 1331 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 1313, 1323, 1333.

[0084] FIG. 14 shows an enhanced view of an example construction 1400 detailing the interrelationships of individual fibers 1401 for use as rings 120, 320 and/or spokes 620 in a non-pneumatic tire 100, 300, 600. The construction 1400 may have a plurality of open cells 1411 defined by the three dimensional structure of the fabric 1401.

[0085] Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.