Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

摘要

A non-pneumatic tire (10) for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring (20), a generally annular outer ring (30), and an interconnected web (40) having a plurality of web elements (42) and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings (50). Web elements (42) are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire (10) between a wheel and a footprint region (32) where the tire (10) contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements (42) in other portions of the interconnected web (40) to operate in tension to support the load.