Abstract:
A safety wheel for a vehicle includes a rim having a body and a protrusion extending outward from an outer circumference of the body, and having a fastening groove; a first rubber layer wrapped on the protrusion of the rim; an air-filled tube disposed on the first rubber layer, and having a hollow body filled with compressed air therein; an outermost second rubber layer wrapped on the rim protrusion, the first rubber layer and the air-filled tube; and a rubber sheath wrapped on the rim protrusion, the first rubber layer, the air-filled tube and the second rubber layer. The safety wheel maintains pressure to support the weight of the vehicle, and even if the tire is blown out, prevents the vehicle from rocking and overturning due to inclination, as well as affords stability so that the vehicle can travel for a predetermined distance.
Abstract:
A tire assembly includes a safety rim, defining recesses on its inner surface, a tire including left and right edges, which are received in said recesses, and a plurality of inflated balls lying between the tire and the rim.
Abstract:
Helical spring loop structures (inner tires) reduce vehicle accidents when tire failure occurs, reduce tire heat build-up and tread wear simultaneously. The structure, having an ability to cope with a vehicle's failed tire while in motion, provides a safer driving environment. The structures preferably are made of steel oil tempered wire, ASTM A-229 or equal, covered with rubber tubing and assembled to form a loop which can be inflated. The wire provides structural stability and the rubber tubing provides cushioning, especially when inflated.
Abstract:
A double inner tube and valve system for use in a wheel assembly including a circular rim with a base wall and opposing radially extending flanges defining a well, and an aperture formed in said base wall. A tire is mounted on the rim, and defines an annular cavity in conjunction with the rim. The double inner tube is positioned in the annular cavity and defines an inflatable primary tube adjacent to the tire, and an inflatable secondary tube positioned between the primary tube and the rim. A valve assembly is attached to the double inner tube and positioned in the aperture in the rim. The valve assembly comprises a primary valve in fluid communication with the primary tube to allow inflation of the primary tube and a secondary valve which replaces the primary valve and is in fluid communication with the secondary tube for inflation of the secondary tube. The valve assembly is selectively configurable to inflate the primary tube or the secondary tube.
Abstract:
A tubeless inner tire or shield 14 provides for easy assembly of the shield 14 into the outer tire 12 and over the rim 16 as compared to previous designs. The beads 43 in the shield comprise stranded filaments and the bead portion 40,42 of the shield 14 has increased flexibility. The increased flexibility of the bead portion 40,42 eliminates kinking of the shield 14 upon assembly which could prevent the shield 14 from properly sealing against the rim 16. Air passageways 44 between the inner shield 14 and outer tire 12 are provided on the shield 14 near the bead portion 42. The air passageway 44 includes a protrusion 50 extending from the surface of the shield and has an inclined radially inner surface 58. The inner surface 58 is inclined at an angle of 25.degree. to 60.degree. relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the inner shield 14. The inclined inner surface 58 of the protrusion 50 facilitates the assembly of the inner tire 14 and the outer tire 12 on a rim 16 by functioning as a ramp.
Abstract:
A chemical sealant device is provided for repairing a flat tire of a wheel, which consists of a rim for supporting and fitting a tire thereabout. A first mechanism is on the interior of the rim for carrying a portion of the load of the wheel after the tire is punctured and becomes partially flat. A second mechanism is within the first carrying mechanism for releasing at predetermined intervals of rotation of the wheel, tire chemical sealant and compressed air into the tire so that eventually the tire will be repaired and tire pressure will be at least partially restored, whereby road damage to the tire will be prevented.
Abstract:
A mold member for use in manufacturing a closed-torus tire comprises an annular inflatable resilient member having a substantially cylindrical inner wall and a corrugated outer wall opposed thereto. At the beginning of a tire manufacturing process, the mold member is expanded from its corrugated shape into a perfect toroid. A layer of rubber is first wrapped around the toroid and then a filament or cord is wound about the rubber. Upon the completion of the winding operation, additional rubber material is molded in a toroidal shape about the filament or cord so that the cord is fully embedded in rubber. Simultaneously with the molding operation, the additional rubber material is cast to a central wheel member. After vulcanization, the mold member is deflated from the expanded toroidal shape to the original corrugated form and the mold member is retained in the tire as a run-flat component, the corrugations forming a bumpy riding surface to inform a driver that a flat has occurred.
Abstract:
A vehicle wheel rim device of a type in which a first wheel rim carries a first tire casing, and having a second tire casing inwardly of the first tire casing, characterized by the provision of a second rim inwardly of the first rim, the generally circular edge-portions of the second rim being supported by the generally cylindrical body portion of the first rim, and are spaced from the adjacent circular edge-portion of the first rim, and providing that the circular edge-portions of the second rim provide support for the bead-portions of the second tire casing in a manner in which the second tire casing bead portions are substantially spaced, respectively from the beam portions of the first tire casing, thus protecting the inward tire casing from the erratic flopping of the outer tire if it becomes disabled.
Abstract:
A pneumatic tire and wheel rim assembly containing a support hoop which supports the vehicle to which the assembly is fitted when the tire deflates by contacting the inside of the tire tread at the top and bottom of the assembly. The dimensions of the hoop are such that its inner surface does not touch the rim whether the tire is inflated or deflated, and its outer surface does not touch the tire when inflated normally.
Abstract:
In a pneumatic, tired wheel having a tubeless tire mounted on the rim of the wheel, the improvement comprising a toroidal support device to enable the tired wheel to travel in a flat state. The support device comprises an inflatable, toroidal, inner tube located on the rim for elastically clamping the tire beads against the rim flanges, said tube radially extending from the well of the rim to or slightly beyond the radially outer edges of the rim flanges, and a toroidal support element whose radially internal, circumferential wall section is impervious to puncture and lies adjacent the radially external, circumferential area of the inner tube, and wherein the outer surface area of the support element is spaced from the inner surface area of the tire when the tire is in its inflated state so that under normal travel conditions the support element does not contact the inner surface area of the tire. The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.