US20090211675A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-pneumatic tyre assembly
Assignee: Big Tyre Pty Ltd
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Filing: 2006-04-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2026-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A non-pneumatic wheel assembly ( 10 ) which has an outer rim assembly ( 26 ), an inner vehicle hub connection member ( 11 ), a compartment located between the outer rim assembly ( 26 ) and the inner hub connection member ( 11 ) which has a plurality of spring elements ( 21, 22 ) wherein at least some of the spring elements ( 21, 22 ) are attached to the outer rim assembly ( 26 ) and/or the inner hub connection member ( 11 ) characterised in that the spring elements ( 21, 22 ) are oriented in opposed or counteracting orientations.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Louden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C7/00; B60C7/10; B60C7/14; B60B; B60B9/00; B60B9/02; B60B9/08; B60C7/08; B60C7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
1 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly which has (iv) an outer rim assembly; (v) an inner vehicle hub connection member; and (vi) a compartment located between the outer rim assembly and the inner hub connection member which has a plurality of spring elements wherein at least some of the spring elements are attached to the outer rim assembly and/or the inner hub connection member characterised in that the spring elements are oriented in opposing or counteracting orientations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
1 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly which has (iv) an outer rim assembly; (v) an inner vehicle hub connection member; and (vi) a compartment located between the outer rim assembly and the inner hub connection member which has a plurality of spring elements wherein at least some of the spring elements are attached to the outer rim assembly and/or the inner hub connection member characterised in that the spring elements are oriented in opposing or counteracting orientations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
2 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer rim assembly comprises a solid annular member covered in rubber or other suitable elastomeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
3 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer rim assembly comprises a flexible or deformable annular member comprising a plurality of traction or rim elements pivotally or hingedly connected to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
4 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the traction or rim elements are in the form of plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
5 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the traction elements has an outer rubber tread element attached thereto so that the outer rim assembly comprises a plurality of traction elements covered in tread elements thereby providing a multiplicity of pads all hingedly connected to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of traction elements are covered by an annular member of solid rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
7 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer rim assembly is covered with an annular rubber sheath as a friction grip drive when the non-pneumatic wheel assembly is used on an internal surface of tracks of machinery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
8 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer rim assembly has elevated teeth when used on an internal surface of tracks of machinery to provide a positive drive for tracks with central drive sprocket apertures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
9 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner vehicle hub connection member is a solid annular member which has an inwardly extending flange having a plurality of attachment apertures for attachment to a hub of a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
10 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the inner hub connection member on an internal surface thereof has a plurality of races for supporting the spring elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
11 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one race supports an array of spring elements which are curved or arcuate and all oriented in a similar direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
12 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein one or more races adjacent to said at least one race supports another array of spring elements which are curved or arcuate and which extend in an opposing or counteracting orientation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
13 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the spring elements are directly attached to an internal surface of the inner hub connection member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
14 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are provided inner attachment means for the spring elements comprising a plurality of attachment lugs or pinning lugs for attachment of a proximal end of an adjacent spring element to the inner hub connection member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
15 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein there are provided opposed pairs of pinning lugs whereby the end of a respective spring element may be attached to a suitable pair of lugs by an appropriate fastener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
16 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are provided outer attachment means for the spring elements in the form of pairs of spaced lugs which pairs of spaced lugs extend away from an internal surface of the outer rim assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
17 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 incorporating a plurality of damping elements to act in conjunction with the spring elements to limit unwanted movement or excitation of the spring elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
18 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the damping elements may comprise hydraulic ram assemblies, gas struts or members having a suitably inwardly directed bias ensuring that the wheel assembly has a circular shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
19 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the damping elements are attached to a central race located on an internal surface of the inner hub connection member by connection means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
20 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the connection means comprise a single attachment lug or pair of opposed attachment lugs where an adjacent end of a respective damping element may be attached thereto by a suitable fastener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
21 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring elements are provided in different arrays wherein each array is located in different planes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
22 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein each spring element of each array is similar in shape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
23 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are provided at least one intermediate ring between the inner hub connection member and the outer rim assembly and there is also provided an inner array of spring members extending between the inner hub connection member and the at least one intermediate ring and an outer array of spring elements extending between the at least one intermediate ring and the outer rim assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
87 words
24 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided two different arrays of spring elements wherein one array is a double array of spring elements with each array of spring elements located on an outer side of the non-pneumatic wheel assembly and the other array of spring elements is interposed between each outer array of spring elements and comprises a single array of spring elements having a width that is substantially greater than spring elements of each of the double array.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
25 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein the single array of spring elements has a width that is approximately twice that of the spring elements of said double array.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
26 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein each of spring elements of said double array and said single array are attached to pockets located on an outer surface of the inner vehicle hub connection member and also located on an inner surface of the outer rim assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
27 . A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein each of the spring elements has a waisted or neck portion adjacent each of the pockets.
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