ANNULAR RING AND NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE

摘要

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

主权项

1. An annular beam of monolithic construction, comprising:
one homogeneous material having a modulus of at least 90 MPa; at least a first circumferentially continuous band lying on a radially inward extent of a web structure; at least a second continuous band lying on a radially outward extent of the web structure; and wherein a ratio of a shear deflection to a bending deflection of the annular beam at a center of a design contact length is at least 1.2:1, when a radially outward extent of the beam is deformed against a substantially flat surface over the design contact length.