AIRLESS AND RUNFLAT TIRE STRUCTURES, COMPONENTS AND ASSEMBLY TECHNIQUES

摘要

An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring of unit cells is arranged to facilitate rolling terrain contact, such that the stiffness of the structure in the localized region of loading due to terrain contact increases as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be disposed between the concentric rings of unit cells which in preferred embodiments comprise a plurality of nested-V shapes. A cover may be provided over the outermost ring of unit cells forming a tire which may, or may not, be inflated.

主权项

1. An airless, run-flat tire structure, comprising:
an inner rim having a width and a central axis of rotation; an outer tread structure; and a ring of V-shaped structural members disposed circumferentially between the inner rim and the outer tread structure, each structural member comprising two panels joined at a common edge forming a V-shaped cross section, with the other edge of each panel terminating in a pair opposing edges, each V-shaped structural member having a height defined as the distance between a plane tangent to its opposing edges and its common edge.