Abstract:
The present invention discloses a tire for a conventional rim, having two exterior sidewalls and two interior walls, and an annular tread portion with a center, an interior and an exterior surface. The first and second sidewalls extend radially from the tread portion. Each sidewall has a perimeter edge which is sized and configured to be coupled to a wheel hub. The first and second interior walls extend from substantially near the perimeter edge of the first and second sidewalls, respectively, to a predetermined location on the interior surface of the tread portion. The first and second interior walls being attached to the tread portion to transfer loads applied to the tire by alternatively flexing and compressing in response to the loads applied to the tire.
Abstract:
A three-chamber tire comprises a tire body including a bead mounted to a rim and an interior hollow space therewithin to form a service chamber; a low-pressure chamber mounted circumferentially around the interior hollow space of the tire, said low-pressure chamber including a wall, at least part of which is flexible, to form a partitioned, closed space; a high-pressure chamber mounted, adjacent to the low-pressure chamber, circumferentially around the interior hollow space of the tire, the high-pressure chamber including a wall, at least part of which is flexible, to form a partitioned, closed space; a bulge portion mounted to the outer surface of the high-pressure chamber and normally urged, in a direction toward the rim to be pressed; and a control valve for the low-pressure chamber positioned between the service chamber and the low-pressure chamber, in communication with each other, wherein the communication therebetween is cut off when the air pressure of the low-pressure chamber reaches a predetermined pressure; a control valve for the high-pressure chamber enabling the communication between the high-pressure chamber and the low-pressure chamber to be possible depending on the decrease in the air pressure of the service chamber, while enabling the communication to be cut off when the air pressure of the high-pressure chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.
Abstract:
A wheel and tire assembly which includes inner and outer tubeless tires mounted on the wheel. The two tires together define inner and outer air chambers which are pressurized through separate air valves. The outer tire includes a plurality of radially spaced projections on its inner surface which define passageway between the inner and outer tires at their respective beads to allow the filling of the outer chamber. The inner tire may include a bevelled end portion at its bead to further facilitate filling of the outer chamber.
Abstract:
A tire assembly comprising outer and inner tires having at least one vent and one plug is described. The vents and plugs mate in the assembly providing an air tight seal in the bead seal region of the tires. The vents or plugs permit air to escape from the outer tire if an attempt is made to mount the outer tire on a rim without a mating inner tire.
Abstract:
A dual-chamber pneumatic tire having two separate concentric annular air chambers. The outermost air chamber, disposed behind the tire tread normally in contact with the ground has a relatively small volume, is toroidal and substantially elliptical in cross-section and is inflated at a higher pressure than the innermost chamber disposed in the remaining volume of the tire. The two chambers are separated by an elastically deformable, collapsible partition wall or diaphragm which is integrally attached to the interior tread surface near the sidewalls or which is, alternatively, made removable. The low pressure innermost chamber is inflated by means of a conventional air valve or by a regulator valve between the innermost chamber and the outermost chamber, while the outermost chamber is inflated by means of an air valve connected to the wall or diaphragm by means of flexible hose, or, alternatively by a valve disposed at the base of the tire sidewalls. The structure of the invention is particularly adapted to tubeless tires.
Abstract:
A pneumatic insert for a pneumatic tire comprises a generally toroidal shaped hollow member having a pair of annular insert beads with sidewalls extending therefrom joined to an insert crown portion. An annular flap portion is joined to the outer surface of each insert sidewall at the bead area and extends beyond each bead a predetermined amount.The pneumatic insert is disposed in a standard tire and mounted on standard rim. The insert flaps are tucked between the respective insert beads and the bead support surface of the rim to provide a leak-tight seal. When the insert is inflated the insert beads push the respective tire beads against the rim flange. In one embodiment the tire is inflated through an air passage member disposed between the tire and insert beads. In another embodiment the tire is inflated directly through the tire sidewall with a hypodermic needle. The insert inflation chamber and the tire inflation chamber do not communicate and can be inflated to different pressure levels.Other embodiments of the pneumatic insert include fabric reinforcements and/or protective caps.
Abstract:
This disclosure relates to a tire and rim combination having run-flat capabilites. These capabilities are provided by a run-flat support system which is comprised of a pneumatic tube member located in the drop center area of the rim and an annular, "free-floating" ring member riding on the tube which contacts only the tube when the tire is operating under normal conditions and only the tube and inner periphery of the tread area of the tire when the tire is run flat.
Abstract:
A pneumatic tired wheel having excellent highspeed performance after puncture comprises a tubeless tire, a bead stopper and a rim. The tubeless tire comprises a pair of elastic reinforcements having a Shore A hardness of at least 47, the bead stopper comprises an independent air-tight chamber and a crown portion with at least one inextensible reinforcing layer. The crown portion has an outer diameter determined in connection with the outer diameters of the flange of the rim and the tread portion of the tire.