Adapter for rolling assembly and rolling assembly comprising same

Abstract

Adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation comprising a tire having two beads, a rim with rim well (13) between two rim seats (12) each with an axially outer end, and width W between axially outer ends of these rim seats. The adapter, coupled between each bead and each rim seat, has two axially outer ends (2) each comprising seat (3) and bearing face (4) in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Body (5) connects outer axial ends (2) and comprises a main reinforcement, face (16) in contact with each seat (12) and with well (13) and positioned radially on the inside. The adapter has a total axial width L between each seat (3), and 60%W/L20%. Body (5) comprises immobilizing element (8) to wedge the adapter in the rim well (13).

Claims

1. An adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation, the rolling assembly comprising a tire having two beads, and a rim having a rim well positioned between two rim seats, each rim seat having an axially outer end, the rim having a total width W between each axially outer end of the two rim seats, the adapter comprising: two axially outer ends, each outer end comprising an adapter seat and an adapter bearing face, each adapter bearing face being oriented substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and a body connecting said two axial outer ends so as to form a single component, the body comprising at least one main reinforcement layer and an immobilizing element, the body having a face adapted to be in contact with each rim seat, the immobilizing element being shaped, and positioned on the face, so as to be capable of being wedged into the rim well, wherein each axially outer end comprises an outer reinforcing bead wire wrapped by the at least one main reinforcement layer, wherein the adapter is shaped to couple the beads of the tire on the adapter seat and on the adapter bearing face, and to be mounted on the rim seats and in the rim well, and wherein the adapter has a total axial width L between each adapter seat so that a ratio of the total width of the rim to the total axial width of the adaptor, W/L, is greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 60%.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the ratio W/L is greater than or equal to 25% and less than or equal to 50%.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein each outer reinforcing bead wire is comprised of one of the group consisting of a metal, a composite material, a thermoplastic material, and a resin.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element has a total axial length greater than or equal to 10% and less than or equal to 80% of the total width W of the rim.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element comprises a reinforcer with an extension modulus greater than 4 GPa.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element comprises a reinforcer selected from the group consisting of metal, nylon, PET, and aramid.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one projection positioned on a surface of the body opposite the face so as to be capable of contacting an inner surface of one bead of the tire.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the projection is comprised of one of the group consisting of a metal, a composite material, a thermoplastic material, and a resin.

9. The adapter of claim 1, further comprising a planar hoop element positioned on a surface of the body opposite the face and between the two rim seats, the hoop element having an axial length equal to a distance between the two rim seats and having an extension modulus greater than or equal to 4 GPa.

10. A rolling assembly comprising: a tire having two beads; a rim having a rim well positioned between two rim seats, each rim seat having an axially outer end, the rim having a total width W between each axially outer end of the two rim seats; and the adapter of claim 1, the adapter being coupled between each bead of the tire and each rim seat, and the immobilizing element being wedged in the rim well.

11. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element has a total axial length greater than or equal to 30% and less than or equal to 50% of the total width W of the rim.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element comprises a reinforcer with an extension modulus greater than 12 GPa.

13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing element is positioned offset on the face of the body so that the tire is capable of being mounted on the rim so that a median axis of the adapter is offset from a median axis of the rim.

14. The adapter of claim 13, wherein a median axis of the immobilizing element is coincident with the median axis of the rim.

15. The adapter of claim 13, wherein a median axis of the immobilizing element is offset from the median axis of the rim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with the support of the examples and attached figures which are given solely by way of illustration and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view in cross section of one embodiment of the adapter according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view in cross section of one embodiment of the adapter according to the invention mounted on a rim, and

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a schematic view in cross section of another embodiment of the adapter according to the invention, and

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a schematic view in cross section of a rolling assembly comprising the adapter according to the invention, a tire and a rim according to a first embodiment,

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a schematic view in cross section of a rolling assembly comprising the adapter according to the invention, a tire and a rim according to a second embodiment,

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a schematic view in cross section of a rolling assembly comprising the adapter according to the invention, a tire and a rim according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) As FIG. 1 shows, the adapter of general reference 1, substantially of linear shape, comprises two axially outer opposite ends 2 each one comprising an adapter seat 3 and a corresponding adapter bearing face 4 substantially comprised in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a tire. A body 5 connects the two ends 2 so as to form a one-piece component. The body comprises at least one reinforcement 6 made up of two plies containing textile reinforcers. The two plies make an angle of 45 with the circumferential direction. The adapter has a total axial width L equal to 190.5 mm measured between each bearing surface 4.

(9) A face 16, that can be delimited by marks on the surface and that is situated radially on the inside of the adapter 1, is intended to be in contact with a rim well 13 and the rim seats 12 (FIG. 2).

(10) The body 5 in its middle part (represented by an axis 7) comprises an immobilizing element 8 having a total axial length equal to 25% of the width L for a passenger vehicle wheel of width 7.5 inches, namely 190.5 mm. The immobilizing element 8 is made of rubber which has an extension modulus equal to 50 GPa.

(11) According to this embodiment, the adapter comprises a hoop 9 positioned over at least part of the radially external surface of the body 5. The hoop is made of materials conventionally used in tires, based on textile or on metal.

(12) The radially external ends 2 each comprise an outer reinforcing element 10, also known as a bead wire, made of a glass-resin composite material.

(13) As FIG. 2 shows, the adapter 1 is positioned on a rim 11 depicted in part. This rim comprises two rim seats 12 separated by a rim well 13.

(14) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the adapter comprises, in addition to the elements mentioned hereinabove, two projections 14, each one positioned on the body 5 and the centres of which are spaced apart by a distance d of at least 21 mm measured from the end of the bearing surface 4.

(15) These two projections 14 are made of elastomer rubber, possibly reinforced with cords running mainly in the circumferential direction.

(16) FIG. 4 depicts a mounted assembly comprising a rim 11 of width W on which the adapter 1 is inserted and on which a conventional tire 17 is inserted via its beads 18.

(17) This assembly is assembled in the conventional and known way by forcibly positioning the adapter on the rim in such a way that the immobilizing element 8 becomes inserted into the well 13. The beads 18 of the tire 17 are then each positioned on a seat 12 of the adapter 1. The mounted assembly is then inflated to its nominal pressure. In FIG. 4, the immobilizing element 8 is positioned in the middle part of the rim.

(18) As FIG. 5 shows, the immobilizing element 8 is positioned offset from the median axis XX of the adapter but centrally with respect to the median axis ZZ of the rim. It is positioned at a distance l greater than or equal to (W/2+21) mm in the case of a wheel of width 7.5 inches, namely 190.5 mm.

(19) The length l between the centre of the rim well and the axially outer end of the adapter complies with the physical constraints A>5 mm and B>21 mm, where A is the width of a rim seat and B is the distance between the bearing face 4 of an axially outer end of the adapter and an axial end 11A of a rim seat.

(20) As FIG. 6 shows, the immobilizing element 8 is positioned offset from the median axis ZZ of the rim and with respect to the median axis XX of the adapter. In this figure, it is positioned at a distance l in mm away from the centre of the axially outer end on the inboard side of the vehicle, in which
l=LW+5+W/20021

(21) For a passenger vehicle wheel of reference 7.5 J 17, W is equal to 50 mm, L to 190.5 mm and l to 56 mm.

(22) The following examples show the results obtained with the adapter according to the invention.

EXAMPLE

Kerb Knock Tests

(23) This test involves causing a mounted assembly to mount a kerb at an angle of attack of 30. This choice of angle is based on the fact that it represents a loading that is very penalizing to a tire. The test is performed with two different kerb heights (90 mm and 110 mm).

(24) The test proceeds as follows. Several passes are made with the wheel at different speeds until the tire becomes punctured. The starting speed is 20 km/h and then the speed is incremented by 5 km/h on each new pass.

(25) A conventional assembly without an adapter (control 1) is compared against an assembly fitted with an adapter according to document WO00/78565 (control 2) and to an assembly fitted with an adapter according to the invention (invention). These assemblies are all of the size 205/55R16 comprising a 6.5J16 rim. The results are collated in Table II below and are given in percentages:

(26) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Control 1 Control 2 Invention Percentage of the 100 >150 >150 puncturing speed compared with control- kerb height 90 mm Vertical thrust loading 100 50 40 level (Fz) recorded at the puncturing speed Condition of mounted Tire Tire and wheel Tire, adapter assembly following punctured intact and wheel knocks Wheel Adapter plastically intact marked deformed

(27) Results greater than 100 show an improvement in behaviour when subjected to a lateral knock.

(28) The test performed on the kerb height of 90 mm leads to the control tire puncturing at a speed of 30 km/h, whereas the assembly according to the invention suffers no damage at this same speed, or even at a speed of 50 km/h.

(29) The test performed on the kerb height of 110 mm leads to the control tire puncturing at a speed of 20 km/h, whereas the assembly according to the invention suffers no damage at this same speed, or even at a speed of 50 km/h.

(30) The scope of protection of the invention is not limited to the examples given herein above. The invention is embodied in each novel characteristic and each combination of characteristics, which includes every combination of any features which are stated in the claims, even if this feature or combination of features is not explicitly stated in the examples.