Abstract:
A solid vacuum wheel and tire assembly incorporating a vacuum to adhere a solid tire in place against a wheel rim, allowing for safe and reliable operation. The assembly incorporates a flexible solid tire core which contracts into place after a vacuum is applied, contracting and adhering directly onto the wheel rim and filling a void between the rim and tire, having no air pressure to go flat or release if punctured. Vacuum channels installed along the wheel rim direct a vacuum seal to the tire core. A vacuum valve is installed into a vacuum chamber, which acts as a conduit to direct the vacuum throughout the assembly. The solid tire incorporates a possible concave shaped tire tread configuration, tire tread rubber and a steel belt. The solid tire core material comprising of solid or porous rubber, jell or a combination of each provides a solid flexible non-pneumatic core structure.
Abstract:
The tire with an inner core includes a resilient annular shell similar to a conventional vehicle tire, and an annular inner core disposed therein, allowing the vehicle to continue traveling if the annular shell is damaged. The resilient annular shell includes a central portion and a pair of sidewalls extending therefrom. The annular inner core is disposed within the resilient annular shell and includes an inner annular edge, a pair of side annular edges, and an outer annular edge. In one embodiment, the outer annular edge of the annular inner core contacts the interior surface of the central portion of the resilient annular shell, and the pair of side annular edges are spaced apart from the interior surfaces of the pair of sidewalls of the resilient annular shell for receiving pressurized air therebetween. Preferably, the annular inner core is formed from a wire-reinforced resilient material, such as rubber.
Abstract:
The invention provides an insert for supporting a pneumatic tire which is intended to support substantially the entire internal face of the pneumatic tire and has a radially internal face intended to sit atop a wheel rim that accepts the pneumatic tire, has at least one cavity designed to be inflated by a valve of the wheel which valve is independent of the insert, via inflation gas conveying means opening onto said radially internal face and into said at least one cavity and discharge means for discharging the gas from this cavity, said at least one cavity and these conveying and discharge means being formed in and/or on the insert, the inflatable cavity being formed by an internal volume within the heart of the insert or alternatively by a concave external surface of the insert.
Abstract:
An elastic vehicle tire with a cavity (11) enclosed by a tread strip (2) supporting the tread (3) and sidewalls (4, 4.1) adjacent to this on both sides shows a foam insert (9) connected to the inside (10) of the tread strip (2). The side walls each carry a bead (5, 5.1) disposed at the free end to fit around the flange (8, 8.1) of the rim (6) of wheel (7). The foam insert (9) partly fills the cavity (11) and serves a dampening function, in particular in a frequency range below 400 Hz.
Abstract:
A device, such as a safety support, comprising a body and a base, in which the base comprises at least one zone of resistance which is essentially circumferentially inextensible and is mechanically coupled to the body, and at least one centering zone which is mechanically joined to the resistance zone by connections with low tensile rigidity and so to be mechanically uncoupled from the body.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns a runflat device for a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle and an assembly incorporating said device. A device in accordance with the invention for a unit comprises a wheel rim having a plurality of pieces and a tire cover comprising beads mounted against the flanges of the rim, the device comprising: a support ring for mounting around the rim to support the tire cover following a drop in inflation pressure and divided into at least two ring sectors; and means for locking said beads against the flanges to connect the sectors to the beads. The device is such that each ring sector comprises a rigid wall which defines at least one internal volume and which defines the lateral faces of the ring sector.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the preparation of a tire (e.g. open torroidal shaped tire) which contains a closed cell cellular rubber within its tire cavity. In one aspect, the cellular rubber is a closed cell cellular rubber composition prepared with an organic peroxide curative with closed cell forming blowing agent. In one aspect, the tire may contain the closed cell cellular rubber under pressure within its tire cavity. In another aspect, the closed cell cellular rubber is formed with a heat profile for the rubber tire casing by utilization of a balance between an organoperoxide and blowing agent to cause a cooperative combination of curing and closed cellular formation of the rubber composition within the tire casing cavity.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for manufacturing a cross-linked expanded safety support having a cellular structure comprising closed cells. The process involves kneading by thermomechanical working a rubber composition comprising a diene elastomer having a molar ratio of diene units (defined as units resulting from dienes) of less than 15%, water in an amount of from 3 to 6 phr (phr=parts by weight per 100 parts elastomer), a blowing agent, such as azobisformamide, that provides for formation of the cellular structure and a vulcanization system. The rubber composition so prepared is then formed, e.g. by injection or extrusion, into cross-linkable blank, which is then cured in a mold and then demolded. The demolded blank is then expanded by decomposition of the blowing agent and vulcanized to produce the cross-linked expanded elastomeric support.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for manufacturing a cross-linked expanded safety support having a cellular structure comprising closed cells. The process involves kneading by thermomechanical working a rubber composition comprising a diene elastomer having a molar ratio of diene units (defined as units resulting from dienes) of less than 15%, water in an amount of from 3 to 6 phr (phrnullparts by weight per 100 parts elastomer), a blowing agent, such as azobisformamide, that provides for formation of the cellular structure and a vulcanization system. The rubber composition so prepared is then formed, e.g. by injection or extrusion, into cross-linkable blank, which is then cured in a mold and then demolded. The demolded blank is then expanded by decomposition of the blowing agent and vulcanized to produce the cross-linked expanded elastomeric support.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a novel wheel which serves for equipping with a pneumatic tire and essentially realizes two apparently incompatible properties of solid rubber tires and pneumatic tires, namely strength and good shock absorption, in a single wheel. This wheel is distinguished by the fact that it has a toroidal hollow foam member enclosed by the pneumatic tire and comprising reversibly deformable material having a large number of enclosed cavities serving for the absorption of gas. The substantial advantage of the tire according to the invention is obvious. Damage to the tire skin by a stone or nail does not in fact inevitably lead to an immediate and complete loss of air, as is often the case with known tires. Thus, the toroidal hollow foam member can itself store air in its cells, which not only permits continued riding for a certain time but also reduces the risk of accidents in the event of damage to the tire. Further advantages of the tire according to the invention are that the sound-insulating properties of the foam reduce the running noises of the wheel and that the foam torus optionally enclosed in an inner tube is hollow inside, which simplifies the removal of the pneumatic tire from the rim.