Abstract:
A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and a flexible tire. The rigid wheel includes a radially outer rim wall, a plurality of mounting elements, and a plurality of inflatable spacers between the mounting elements. The flexible tire may be mounted on the mounting elements of the rigid wheel such that portions of the flexible tire between the mounting elements are separated from the outer rim wall by spaces between the mounting elements and are configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure. The inflatable spacers limit the amount of inward flex of the inwardly flexible portions of the flexible tire.
Abstract:
A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outermost mounting elements and a flexible tire mounted on the wheel. The tire engages the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.
Abstract:
A Segmented Tire Apparatus for improving the reliability and performance of irrigation systems. The Segmented Tire Apparatus includes a plurality of arcuate tire segments coupleable end to end to form a circular tire. Each of the arcuate tire segments has a plurality of treads which may be radial, transverse, or semi-transverse. Additionally the apparatus may be filled with a closed cell foam to provide stability and rigidity while inhibiting water from collecting on the inside of the tire.
Abstract:
A passive tuned vibration absorber is used to attenuate unwanted vibrations in the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly. Each spoke has a cutaway central portion having a tuned vibration absorber n the form of a protruding member having an axial width and a radial height and the radial height of the protruding member is less than a radial height of the spoke. Additionally, a method of determining the vibrational characteristics of the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly is included.
Abstract:
Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) or auxetic are used to make lightweight wheels and runflat tires. The NPR tires can be tailored and functionally-designed to optimally meet the runflat requirements for both military and commercial vehicles. NPR-runflat tires may be fabricated using standard materials and simple manufacturing processes, resulting in low-cost and high-volume production. In preferred embodiments the runflat tire designs are fully compatible with Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS), while providing a performance equivalent to current military vehicle solutions but at half the weight. An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring of unit cells is arranged to facilitate rolling terrain contact, such that the stiffness of the structure in the localized region of loading due to terrain contact increases as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be disposed between the concentric rings of unit cells which in preferred embodiments comprise a plurality of nested-V shapes. A cover may be provided over the outermost ring of unit cells forming a tire which may, or may not, be inflated.
Abstract:
A wheel provided with sub-wheels, in which a plurality of sub-wheels (31) supported rotatably about an axis extending in the same direction as that tangential to the circular rim (12) of the wheel are arranged on the circular rim to constitute a tire (40). The rotation of the tire and that of the sub-wheels are combined to cause the wheel to run in an arbitrary direction.
Abstract:
A wheel and solid rubber tire comprising a circular mounting disk having an axis perpendicular through the center of the circular disk. A wheel rim is rigidly affixed circumferentially around the mounting disk and has a cylindrical surface extending from one end of the rim to another and, axially aligned about the axis of the mounting disk. Multiple angled cross ribs having top and bottom edges rigidly affixed at the bottom edges to the cylindrical surface of the wheel rim substantially continuously thereacross at an angle from one end of the rim to the other and evenly spaced circumferentially therearound. One or more base layers of even thickness rubber are bonded to the cylindrical surface interposed between the angled cross ribs, and multiple additional layers of even thickness rubber are bonded to the one or more base layers with each additional layer bonded to the next so that a solid rubber tire is formed which is directly bonded to the wheel rim.
Abstract:
A shock-absorbing wheel assembly having an annular cast iron core member disposed concentrically about an annular bearing seat in spaced relation thereto, with the core member having passageways extending radially therethrough. A continuous integral mass of moldably polyurethane is provided to cover the exterior surface of the core member with a predetermined thickness, to fill the passageways in the core member, and to fill the spacing between the core member and the bearing seat. A method of forming the wheel assembly is provided, which includes locating the core member and bearing seat within a cylindrical mold cavity, permitting flowable polyurethane to flow into the interconnected spacings and passageways, and allowing the polyurethane to cure.
Abstract:
A punctureproof non-pneumatic vehicle tire comprising two halves applied on a felly which is subdivided into two parts by a metal or plastic ring. The two symmetrical halves of the tire are built up of segments each of which consists of the tread, the foot, supported by a wire core, and a connecting part. This connecting part is curved and asymmetrically arranged so that the parts in adjacent segments are alternately directed towards the middle of the felly and the edge of the felly. The connecting parts substantially reduce the total mass of the tire and constitute the actual cushioning element.