Abstract:
A bead wire for a bead core of a tire, having at least one portion of its annular extent formed from a material having characteristics of superelasticity, resulting in increasing deformations of the bead core when a constant stretching load is applied at constant temperature. As the load ceases, the bead core recovers from the deformation. The characteristics of the bead core allow mounting a tire incorporating the bead core to a rim at ambient temperature, with intelligent adjustment of the bead core to the dimensions of the seat of the rim. The bead core increases the magnitude of an inward contraction stress as its temperature increases, so that it increases the gripping pressure exerted by the tire beads on the rim when the tire runs in the deflated state.
Abstract:
An inflation and deflation device for an inner tube and an inner tube provided with this device are described. The inner tube is elastically expandable for the introduction of fluid into its internal volume and can be housed in the space between tire and rim, which can be isolated from the external environment at atmospheric pressure. The device does not have elements for connecting the internal volume of the inner tube and the environment outside the wheel.
Abstract:
A tire (20) comprises a bead core (22) of ferromagnetic material, for example steel wire, around which one or more windings (30a, 30b, . . . , 30n) of conducting wire are wound to form the secondary of an electricity generator of the induction type. The assembly of windings and bead core (22), together with the circuits using the electricity thus generated, is produced as a single unit to be incorporated, together with the bead filler (26), in a bead (28) of the tire, and of one or more magnets fixed with respect to the hub of the wheel or integral with the chassis of a vehicle comprising a wheel (18) fitted with the tire (20), which induce current in the windings. If the magnets are electromagnets (32) supplied with alternating current, the electricity generator operates both when the wheel (18) is rotating and when the wheel is stationary. On the other hand, if the magnets are permanent magnets (66) or electromagnets supplied with direct current, the electricity generator operates only if the wheel (18) is rotating.