STRUCTURALLY SUPPORTED RESILIENT TIRE.

摘要

A resilient tire (100) that supports a load without internal air pressure includes a ground contacting tread portion (110) and sidewall portions (150) extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions (160) adapted to remain secure to a wheel (10) during rolling of the tire. A reinforced annular band is disposed radially inward of the tread portion. The band comprises an elastomeric shear layer (120), at least a first membrane (130) adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane (140) adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of said membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of said shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.