US20110011506A1 — Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

1 . A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load comprising: a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation; a deformable generally annular outer ring; and a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings and comprising at least one radial web element that is angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and at least one tangential web element that is generally transverse to the radial plane; wherein at least one of the web elements has a first end comprising a first connection point, and a second end comprising a second connection point, the web element extending radially in a curved manner between the first and second ends; wherein a substantial amount of said load is supported by a plurality of said web elements working in tension.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

1 . A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load comprising: a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation; a deformable generally annular outer ring; and a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings and comprising at least one radial web element that is angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and at least one tangential web element that is generally transverse to the radial plane; wherein at least one of the web elements has a first end comprising a first connection point, and a second end comprising a second connection point, the web element extending radially in a curved manner between the first and second ends; wherein a substantial amount of said load is supported by a plurality of said web elements working in tension.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

2 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the web elements gradually become thinner moving radially away from the center of the tire.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

3 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web elements has various thicknesses along its length.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

4 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a tread carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of said outer ring, said tread carrying layer being sufficiently stiff to support said web elements working in tension.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

5 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises a first plurality of generally polygonal openings having a first shape and a second plurality of generally polygonal openings having a second shape different from said first shape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

6 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings and at least one of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings are traversed when moving in any radially outward direction from said axis of rotation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

7 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein each of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings has a first inner boundary spaced at a first radial distance and each of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings has a second inner boundary spaced at a second, greater radial distance.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

8 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 7 wherein at least one generally polygonal opening of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings is larger than at least one generally polygonal opening of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

9 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said inner ring at a given location with its first connection point.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

10 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said outer ring at a given location with its second connection point.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

11 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a connection point joins at least three web elements.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

12 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring has a first thickness, said outer ring has a second thickness, and said web elements have a third thickness, said third thickness being smaller than said first thickness or said second thickness.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

13 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising web elements that extend in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

14 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings is radially oriented.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

15 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings has at least 3 sides.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

16 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings are generally hexagonally shaped.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

17 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of joined segments each having a width narrower than a width of said tire.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

18 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 17 wherein a first joined segment is circumferentially offset from an adjoining segment.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

19 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 17 , wherein a first joined segment has an interconnected web that is substantially similar to an interconnected web of a second joined segment.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

20 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a relatively radially inner layer of said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises alternating generally wedge-shaped openings.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

21 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings is generally symmetrical about a radial symmetry plane.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

22 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web comprises a generally continuous, generally radially constant web element intermediate said inner ring and said outer ring.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

23 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is adhesively engaged with said wheel.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

24 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is chemically bonded to said wheel.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

25 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is mechanically connected to said wheel.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

26 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web is made of a polymer.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

27 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said web elements comprise additional strengthening components.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

28 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a sidewall along at least a portion of the interconnected web.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

29 . A non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 , wherein said sidewall is attached to at least a portion of said interconnected web.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

30 . A non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 , wherein said sidewall is integrally formed with at least a portion of said interconnected web.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

31 . A non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 , wherein said sidewall has a domed shape that extends away from the interconnected web.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

32 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a tread carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of said outer ring.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

33 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 32 , wherein said tread carrying layer comprises reinforcing belts.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

34 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 32 , wherein a cross-section of said tread carrying layer taken along a plane extending radially from the tire's center has a rounded shape.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 32 words

35 . A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 32 , wherein a cross-section of said tread carrying layer taken along a plane extending radially from the tire's center has a crowned shape.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 111 words

36 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis or rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension; wherein said interconnected web comprises at least one web element having a curved profile relative to a radial plane extending through said tire; wherein said curved profile is configured to facilitate buckling of said interconnected web.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 111 words

36 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis or rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension; wherein said interconnected web comprises at least one web element having a curved profile relative to a radial plane extending through said tire; wherein said curved profile is configured to facilitate buckling of said interconnected web.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 108 words

37 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, an axis of rotation; AND said interconnected web comprising web elements having first ends comprising first connection points, and second ends comprising second connection points, the web elements extending radially in a curved profile between the first and second ends and defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 108 words

37 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, an axis of rotation; AND said interconnected web comprising web elements having first ends comprising first connection points, and second ends comprising second connection points, the web elements extending radially in a curved profile between the first and second ends and defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 93 words

38 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension; wherein said interconnected web comprises at least one web element having more than one thickness along its length.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 93 words

38 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, so as to support a load by working in tension; wherein said interconnected web comprises at least one web element having more than one thickness along its length.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 29 words

39 . The non-pneumatic tire of claim 38 , wherein the at least one web element comprises a first segment bordered on either side by substantially thicker second segments.

Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

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