Metallic Spring Cushion Patents (Class 152/156)
  • Patent number: 9994073
    Abstract: A tire includes: a ring shaped tire frame member that is made of a resin with plural tire pieces joined along a tire circumferential direction; a joint portion reinforcing belt that is adhered to the tire frame member, that extends around the tire circumferential direction, and that covers a joint portion of the plural tire pieces; and a tread layer that is provided further to the tire radial direction outside than the tire frame member and the joint portion reinforcing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kouno, Seiji Kon
  • Patent number: 8978720
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 including a cylindrical annular structure 10; a rubber layer 11 that will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure 10, on an outer side 10so of the annular structure 10; and a carcass portion 12 including fibers covered with rubber, provided on both sides 2S in a direction parallel to a center axis (Y-axis) of a cylindrical structure 2 including the annular structure 10 and the rubber layer 11. In a meridian cross-sectional view of the structure 2, an outer side 11so of the rubber layer 11 and the outer side 10so of the annular structure 10 have the same form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodama, Susumu Imamiya
  • Publication number: 20140230977
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer. One end portion of at least one spring is wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent a rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James Alfred Benzing, II, Wesley Glen Sigler
  • Patent number: 8679272
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 8561661
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Publication number: 20130008574
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 including a cylindrical annular structure 10; a rubber layer 11 that will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure 10, on an outer side 10so of the annular structure 10; and a carcass portion 12 including fibers covered with rubber, provided on both sides 2S in a direction parallel to a center axis (Y-axis) of a cylindrical structure 2 including the annular structure 10 and the rubber layer 11. In a meridian cross-sectional view of the structure 2, an outer side 11so of the rubber layer 11 and the outer side 10so of the annular structure 10 have the same form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodama, Susumu Imamiya
  • Patent number: 7681612
    Abstract: The run-flat supporting body (1) is configured of the annular shell (2) and elastic rings (3) and (3). The annular shell (2) works as a supporting surface on an outer peripheral side, and bifurcates into two leg portions on an inner peripheral side. In addition, the annular shell (2) is provided with a large number of the through holes (4) in wall surfaces thereof. The elastic rings (3) and (3) are attached respectively to the two leg portions of the annular shell (2). The run-flat supporting body 1 is supported on a rim of a wheel with the elastic rings (3) and (3). According to a configuration of the present invention, peripheries of the respective through holes (4) are thickened, residual stresses are applied to the peripheries of the respective through holes (4), or each through hole (4) is formed into an elliptic shape having the major axis in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Naito
  • Patent number: 7549452
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire provided with an elastic fixing band having excellent durability and enabling stable attachment of a member, which is independent from the tire, to an inner surface of a tread thereof. The pneumatic tire of the present invention includes a member attached to an inner surface of a tread thereof by use of an elastic fixing band, the member being independent from the tire. The pneumatic tire is characterized in that the elastic fixing band is formed of a metallic band form with a width in a range of 10 to 40 mm and a thickness in a range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Toshiyuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7500499
    Abstract: Disclosed are a tire wheel assembly and a noise-reducing device whereby cavity resonance sound can be effectively reduced. A noise-reducing device, which includes a shell structure where a rough surface portion having a ten-point height of irregularities (Rz) in a range of 0.1 to 5.0 mm is provided on at least part of a surface, is attached to a wheel rim in a cavity portion of a pneumatic tire, and additionally, a height of the shell structure from a rim sheet is set in a range of 10 to 70% of a cross-sectional height of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 7188648
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a rim, a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim and a run-flat support member. The pneumatic tire includes a cavity, and the run-flat support member is disposed in the cavity of the pneumatic tire. The run-flat support member includes an annular shell and elastic rings. The annular shell has a support surface located radially outward and two leg portions formed radially inward. The elastic rings support the leg portions on the rim. The leg portions of the annular shell are detachably attached to the elastic rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Mori, Mitsuo Kurebayashi
  • Patent number: 6983774
    Abstract: A tire reinforcing arrangement includes an outer tire having two hooked flanges at two sides, two annular spare tires bilaterally set inside the outer tire, each annular spare tire being formed of a plurality of spare tire blocks that are fastened to one another by links and screw bolts, each spare tire block having two mounting through holes, a top locating groove adapted to receive the hooked flanges of the outer tire, an embossed bottom wall, and two projecting portions diagonally disposed at two ends, and stretchers respectively stopped between the annular spare tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6932130
    Abstract: A run flat tire wheel assembly having a flat run support formed by a ring-shaped metal shell and rubbery elastic members in a tire rim cavity, said tire wheel assembly improving bondability between the ring-shaped metal shell and rubbery elastic members by making said rubbery elastic member from a rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber, 40 to 90 parts by weight of carbon black, 3 to 8 parts by weight of sulfur, 0.1 to 1 part by weight of an organic acid cobalt salt in terms of content of cobalt element, 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a phenylene-diamine-based antiaging agent, and 1 to 6 parts by weight of a resol-type alkylphenol resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hotaka, Yasuhiro Ishikawa, Osamu Ozawa, Ryotaro Suefuji
  • Patent number: 6915824
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member is disposed in a cavity of a pneumatic tire fitted to a rim. The run-flat support member includes a circular shell, in which an outer circumferential side thereof is a support surface and an inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and left and right elastic rings which support the two leg portions on the rim. The elastic rings have different rigidities from each other so that the elastic ring receiving a larger load during run-flat traveling has a higher rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6913050
    Abstract: A wheel with a spring unit includes a rim, a disc and a plurality of spring units. Each spring unit is directed circumferentially and arranged in an annular space between the rim and the disc. Each spring unit includes at least one metal spring. The metal spring may be a coil spring or a leaf spring, and may be prestressed in compression or tension. To restrict the lateral relative movement between the rim and the disc, a pair of stopper ribs are disposed on opposite sides of the spring unit, or an axial movement stopper is disposed at axially outboard end of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Topy Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 6906018
    Abstract: The invention provides bar compositions with high level of sugar or sugars (greater than about 25% by wt.) and which can be extruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Patel, Yury Yarovoy, Charles Craig Nunn, Joseph Oreste Carnali
  • Patent number: 6901980
    Abstract: Disclosed are a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member which are designed to be lightened without losing durability during run-flat traveling. The tire/wheel assembly is constituted as follows: a pneumatic tire is fit to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire. The circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the pneumatic tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface. The elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, contact portions and noncontact portions for the circular shell are alternately formed on the elastic rings in a shell circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Iida, Shinya Harikae
  • Patent number: 6843286
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member 3 is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire 2, the run-flat support member 3 including a circular shell 4 in which the outer circumferential side thereof is used as a support surface and the inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and an elastic ring 5 supporting the ends of the two leg portions on a rim 1. The circular shell 4 is configured by jointing side edges 7, 7 of at least two shell segments 4a, each having a single convex circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6843287
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member 3 is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire 2, where the run-flat support member 3 includes a circular shell 4 in which the outer circumferential side thereof is used as a support surface and the inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and elastic rings 5 supporting the ends of the two leg portions on a rim. An air path 7 is provided in the elastic ring 5 so as to interconnect the inside and outside of the run-flat support member 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akikazu Seko, Takuzo Sano, Noboru Takada
  • Patent number: 6843288
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member. The tire/wheel assembly is formed as follows: a pneumatic tire is fitted to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the wheel rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, a plurality of through-holes or wavy asperities are made in the inner rim of each of the leg portions of the circular shell along a shell circumferential direction. The inner rims in which these through-holes or asperities are formed are embedded in the elastic rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akikazu Seko, Takuzo Sano, Koichi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6843289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member. A pneumatic tire is fitted to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, the leg portion of the circular shell is formed to have a sidewall extending in a shell radial direction and a bottom wall that is substantially parallel to a shell axial direction. The elastic ring is attached to the sidewall of the leg portion while being abutted on the bottom wall of the same without an engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimura, Takumi Sekiguchi, Mitsuru Naito
  • Patent number: 6840294
    Abstract: Disclosed are a run-flat tire and a tire/wheel assembly in which the workability of the tire-to-rim fit has been improved while including a core-type run-flat support member. The tire/wheel assembly is formed by coupling a pneumatic tire and a rim of a wheel. In the tire/wheel assembly, the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. At the same time, a seat portion and an engaging portion are provided for at least one of the elastic rings, in which the leg portion of the circular shell can be settled on the seat portion, and the engaging portion is extended in an outer tire axial direction from the seat portion and sandwiched between a tire bead base and a rim seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Publication number: 20040231773
    Abstract: A run-flat tire-wheel assembly having, in an inside cavity of the tire/rim, a run-flat support formed by a ring-shaped metal shell and rubber elastic members wherein the contact surfaces of the ring-shaped metal shell and the rubber elastic members are coated with an organic solvent-based adhesive, whereby the bondability between the ring-shaped metal shell and rubber elastic members is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Takeshi Hotaka, Yasuhiro Ishikawa, Osamu Ozawa, Ryotaro Suefuji
  • Patent number: 6805176
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member 3 is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire 2, the run-flat support member 3 including a circular shell 4 in which the outer circumferential side thereof is used as a support surface and the inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and elastic rings 5 supporting the ends of the two leg portions on a rim. The outer circumferential surface of the circular shell 4 in a cross-section cut in a tire width direction has a shape with a plurality of convex portions 4a, 4b, aligned in a tire width direction, and these convex portions have a plurality of different kinds of radius of curvatures and/or thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6796345
    Abstract: A wheel with a spring unit includes a rim, a disc and a plurality of spring units. Each spring unit is directed circumferentially and arranged in an annular space between the rim and the disc. Each spring unit includes at least one metal spring. The metal spring may be a coil spring or a leaf spring, and may be prestressed in compression or tension. To restrict the lateral relative movement between the rim and the disc, a pair of stopper ribs are disposed on opposite sides of the spring unit, or an axial movement stopper is disposed at axially outboard end of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Topy Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20040035513
    Abstract: Disclosed are a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member which are designed to be lightened without losing durability during run-flat traveling. The tire/wheel assembly is constituted as follows: a pneumatic tire is fit to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire. The circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the pneumatic tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface. The elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, contact portions and noncontact portions for the circular shell are alternately formed on the elastic rings in a shell circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Eiichi IIda, Shinya Harikae
  • Publication number: 20040035512
    Abstract: An auxiliary member, made of metal or synthetic resin, is disposed between each rim seat of the rim of a wheel and at least a bead base portion of each of the beads of a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Shinichi Mori
  • Publication number: 20040025995
    Abstract: Disclosed are a run-flat tire and a tire/wheel assembly in which the workability of the tire-to-rim fit has been improved while including a core-type run-flat support member. The tire/wheel assembly is formed by coupling a pneumatic tire and a rim of a wheel. In the tire/wheel assembly, the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. At the same time, a seat portion and an engaging portion are provided for at least one of the elastic rings, in which the leg portion of the circular shell can be settled on the seat portion, and the engaging portion is extended in an outer tire axial direction from the seat portion and sandwiched between a tire bead base and a rim seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Publication number: 20040025994
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member 3 is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire 2, where the run-flat support member 3 includes a circular shell 4 in which the outer circumferential side thereof is used as a support surface and the inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and elastic rings 5 supporting the ends of the two leg portions on a rim. An air path 7 is provided in the elastic ring 5 so as to interconnect the inside and outside of the run-flat support member 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Akikazu Seko, Takuzo Sano, Noboru Takada
  • Publication number: 20040016489
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member in which an improvement in durability is enabled for run-flat traveling. The tire/wheel assembly is formed as follows: a pneumatic tire is fitted to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the wheel rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, a plurality of through-holes or wavy asperities are made in the inner rim of each of the leg portions of the circular shell along a shell circumferential direction. The inner rims in which these through-holes or asperities are formed are embedded in the elastic rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Akikazu Seko, Takuzo Sano, Koichi Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20040016490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member which can achieve both workability of tire-to-rim fit and durability for run-flat traveling. The tire/wheel assembly is formed as follows: a pneumatic tire is fitted to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface, and the elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, the leg portion of the circular shell is formed to have a sidewall extending in a shell radial direction and a bottomwall that is substantially parallel to a shell axial direction. The elastic ring is attached to the sidewall of the leg portion while being abutted on the bottom wall of the same without an engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimura, Takumi Sekiguchi, Mitsuru Naito
  • Publication number: 20040011447
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member is disposed in a cavity of a pneumatic tire fitted to a rim. The run-flat support member includes a circular shell, in which an outer circumferential side thereof is a support surface and an inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and left and right elastic rings which support the two leg portions on the rim. The elastic rings have different rigidities from each other so that the elastic ring receiving a larger load during run-flat traveling has a higher rigidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6672349
    Abstract: Vehicle wheel that includes a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim. The pneumatic tire includes a tire tread, two side-walls, a carcass, reinforcing elements, and two tire beads with bead cores. The vehicle wheel also includes an emergency support body, mounted on the wheel rim and positioned inside the pneumatic tire. The emergency support body includes an emergency rolling surface to support the tire in case of a failure of the pneumatic tire. The emergency rolling surface includes a radially exterior surface of a ring torus with a bowl-shaped cross section, and the ring torus includes axially exterior sections having cross-sectional contours with first curvatures open to the wheel rim and an intermediate section positioned between the axially exterior sections having a contour with a second curvature open to a crest point of the pneumatic tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Glinz, Horst Sergel, Hans-Bernd Hellweg, Heinrich Huinink
  • Patent number: 6648039
    Abstract: An elastomeric motor vehicle tire has a pair of essentially parallel side walls and with radially interior ends and radially exterior ends, and an annular road facing surface at the exterior ends and a mounting aperture there through at the interior ends and with the side walls and contacting surface, when mounted on a wheel, forming an inner recess for the containment of air. A plurality of metallic coil springs are on the road facing surface away from the side walls and apertures. A plurality of protrusions have an outer surface adapted to contact the road when in use and an inner hemispherical surface contacting an associated spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Eli Bina
  • Patent number: 6619350
    Abstract: Vehicle wheel includes a rim and a pneumatic tire which includes a tread, two side walls, a carcass, reinforcing elements, and two tire beads with bead cores. An emergency running support body is supported on the rim which is arranged to support one of the pneumatic tire and an interior of the tread in an event of an emergency condition. The emergency running support body includes a shell-shaped ring body located inside the pneumatic tire and an emergency running surface on its exterior. At least one container, which contains a lubricant, is positioned inside a first ring chamber. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification , nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Dieckmann, Hans-Bernd Hellweg, Michael Glinz, Roland Jenke, Joachim Busche, Udo Frerichs
  • Patent number: 5800643
    Abstract: Helical spring loop structures (inner tires) reduce vehicle accidents when tire failure occurs, reduce tire heat build-up and tread wear simultaneously. The structure, having an ability to cope with a vehicle's failed tire while in motion, provides a safer driving environment. The structures preferably are made of steel oil tempered wire, ASTM A-229 or equal, covered with rubber tubing and assembled to form a loop which can be inflated. The wire provides structural stability and the rubber tubing provides cushioning, especially when inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Inner Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Frankowski
  • Patent number: 4964451
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire of the belted type has a radial reinforcement in the side walls and tread portions of the body, anchored to the bead rings thereof and in the flattened tread portion a circumferential belt formed by flattened helical links looped or interlaced together and having their axes transverse to the circumferential direction is disposed in the flattened tread portion between the radial reinforcement and the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Oskar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4794966
    Abstract: In order to maintain a pneumatic tire in an operational state after the tire has been deflated, a combined structure is embedded within the crown portion of the tire to resist compressive forces encountered when the tire is deflated. The combined structure includes a prestressed coil located adjacent coaxially spaced band segments. Radial plies are present in the tire to transmit compressive forces from a ground contact area to the combined structure which resists the compressive forces successfully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4673014
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic radial tire is equipped with a prestressed helical coil which is positioned inside the tire crown radially inwardly of the tread thereof. The coil is wound to approximately 50 percent of its free diameter to prestress it and the outer surface has a resin-impregnated tape applied thereto. The tape serves to hold the coil in a predetermined condition while the taped coil is cured. The taped coil can be co-cured in situ with the tire or prepared in advance of tire fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4579160
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire, which has a plurality of comprssion springs radially disposed inside a conventional tire casing, located in such a manner, that if the tire is punctured and the air is lost, the radius of said tire will remain substantially constant, which will allow the vehicle or aircraft involved to retain its stability, and thus prevent damage to property and the loss of human life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Arthur H. Berndtson
    Inventor: Derek D. Hardingham
  • Patent number: 4428411
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire having an annular structural compression element in the inside surface of the crown thereof, which compression element is stabilized by a multiplicity of closely spaced spoke-like radial elements in the tire sidewalls such that de-pressurized operation of the tire without damage is possible. The compression element is a helix with closely spaced coils wound from a rod of a cross-sectional shape selected from various solid and tubular configurations. Round, square, and rectangular coil cross-sectional configurations are shown as are interlocking convex/concave, tongue/groove arrangements. Methods of installing the helical compression element in the tire as by winding up the helix to reduce its diameter such that it can pass through the beads, or by introducing one end of an end coil of the helix over one of the beads into the interior of the tire and providing a relative rotation to feed the helix into the tire are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Edward G. Markow, M. Alan Kopsco
  • Patent number: 4399851
    Abstract: The running characteristics of a tire for a wheel are improved to provide a more quiet run, by attaching to an inner and/or outer surface of the tire vibration absorbing elements. Vibration absorbing elements may even be inserted into the tire material itself. The vibration absorbing elements are secured to the tire surface in a force and moment or torque transmitting manner by vulcanization or by a suitable adhesive. A strap may hold the individual absorbing elements together or the elements may form integral parts of the strap which is secured to the tire surface, for example, by a rubber vulcanizing operation. The vibration absorber elements may be secured to an inner tube instead of to the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Oskar Bschorr
  • Patent number: 4318434
    Abstract: Passive, self-energizing means for increasing the load carrying capabilities in the depressurized condition of a banded radial run-flat tire system. In this invention, an inner tube inflated to a pressure of about 3-5 psi is positioned on the wheel rim inside the tire which is inflated to its normal pressure of about 30 psi. Because of this pressure differential, the inner tube is compressed to about one-sixth its volume at ambient pressure and in normal operation it rides out of contact with the inside walls of the tire casing without interaction therewith. If the tire is depressurized because of a puncture or other cause, the release of tire pressure on the inner tube results in the expansion of the tube outwards to maintain the curvature in the sidewalls, which curvature enhances the load capacity of the tire in the depressurized condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4111249
    Abstract: A resilient pneumatic tire which is reinforced by a radially stabilized compression element such that the vehicle on which the tire is mounted can be operated safely in an essentially normal manner regardless of the state of pressurization of the tire. The compression element can be a solid flexible band of high-strength metal or plastic, or can comprise a layered construction having at least a pair of concentric metal bands which have a resilient material sandwiched therebetween. The compression element is stabilized by radial means such as plies comprising radial cords or wires. The radial elements have freedom in shear with respect to one another and they share radial loads imposed on the compression element and tire such that they reinforce and stabilize the compression element and tire. Alternately, the radial stabilizing means can be radial rib-like elements cast or formed integrally in the sidewall of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4091856
    Abstract: A tire, which can be solid or pneumatic, which has an elastomeric tread portion, an inextensible annular reinforcing structure beneath the tread and a hoop of rubber inwardly of the reinforcing structure. The hoop of rubber is held in a state of compression in the unloaded and, if the tire is pneumatic, uninflated state of the tire by the annular reinforcing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Dunlop Limited
    Inventor: William Lewis Jackson