Abstract:
A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel and an airless flexible tire with certain performance characteristics of a pneumatic tire. The rigid wheel includes a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements removably attached to a radially outer margin of the central portion. The tire is mounted on the wheel and 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 tire is configured such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, thereby minimizing ground penetration and soil disruption. The tire may include one or more tension elements embedded in the tire to increase the tire's strength and resilience.
Abstract:
A tire structure includes a hole defined through a sidewall of the tire and a flexible valve is inserted in the hole. A passage is defined longitudinally through the flexible valve and the flexible valve is deformed by the sidewall so as to seal the passage.
Abstract:
A low pressure tire including a torus of flexible, substantially inelastic material. The material will not deform at a temperature of about 225° F. The torus includes an inner diameter surface for engaging a tire supporting rim and an outer diameter surface for contacting a support surface. The torus can flatten under a load to facilitate movement of the tire over soft or irregular support surfaces. A sealable opening permits the inflation and deflation of the torus.
Abstract:
A split tire arrangement (10) for use with a closed torus tire (14), includes a first and second rim halves (11,12) each respectively having a first tapered diameter (23) and a second smaller tapered diameter (24) located on an inner side (21) of the split halves adjacent the first tapered diameter. A split band (13) is located on the second tapered diameter (24) and has a radially outwardly extending center portion (38) to locate the closed torus tire (14) relative to the split band (13) with the edges (34,36) of the split band terminating under the roll hoops (16,17) of the closed torus tire (14). This provides an arrangement for mounting the closed torus tire (14) to the split rim arrangement (10) without requiring the high forces of rubber sliding on metal.
Abstract:
A pneumatic wheel comprising an inflatable element of substantially toroidal shape having a central tubular passage, and a hub disposed in the central passage. The hub and inflatable element are frictionally coupled without being physically secured together whereby since no physical connection exists between the hub and the inflatable element the latter can freely deform in the vicinity of the hub.