Abstract:
A wheel includes a rim including seats configured to accept the beads of a tire. The tire is intended to be used with a cellular rubber support ring of substantially toroidal shape which allows for running in the deflated state. The rim has a groove, intended to accept the support ring. Each edge of the groove includes a protrusion, wherein the protrusions face axially toward one another. Circumferentially spaced strips are connected to the radially inner surface of the support ring. The ends of each strip include axially spaced spring leaves arranged to engage respective ones of the protrusions for restraining the support ring against radially outward movement under the action of centrifugal force.
Abstract:
An assembly (1) formed of a wheel comprising a rim (3) equipped with an inflation valve (4), a tire (2) mounted on said rim (3) of said wheel, and a foam insert (5) placed inside the volume defined by the internal wall of the tire (2) and the wheel rim (3). The foam insert (5) is disposed in a first compartment (A) in communication with the atmosphere via a duct (36) and isolated in airtight manner by a flexible membrane (51) from the rest of the space (B) inside the tire casing, which space forms a second compartment (B) in communication with the inflation valve (4, 41) and designed to be inflated to the utilisation pressure of the tire. At least one of the edges of the membrane (52a, 52b) forms an airtight joint with the rim (3) along a circular bearing surface (32a, 32b), separate from the rim seats (31a, 31b) designed to receive the beads (21a, 21) of the tire (2), and situated axially inside the space between each of the seats (31a, 31b) and the sidewall of the foam insert (50a, 50b) positioned opposite said seat.
Abstract:
A system (1′) formed of a wheel comprising a rim (3′) equipped with an inflation valve (4′), a tire (2′) mounted on said rim of said wheel, and an airtight cellular foam insert (5′) placed inside the volume defined by the internal wall of the tire (2′) and the rim of the wheel (3′). The foam insert (5′) is disposed in a first compartment (A), in communication with the atmosphere via a duct (44′, 46′), and isolated from the rest of the space inside the tire casing by a device (302′) ensuring the airtight seal between the wall of said first compartment (A) and an element of the internal wall of the rim or the casing, in such a way as to form a second airtight compartment (B) communicating with the inflation valve (4′) and inflated to tire utilisation pressure. The duct for providing communication with the atmosphere (44′, 46′) is equipped with a closing device (45′) which adopts the closed position during travel and is capable of being brought into the open position between two travel phases.