Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle or other device, including, for example, to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as, for instance, by being more thermally efficient (e.g., to avoid or reduce adverse effects such as rapid degradation in material properties that could otherwise arise due to excessive temperatures) and/or more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear it during use).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wheel comprising a non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle, such as a vehicle that is steerable and/or otherwise movable by leaning the vehicle (e.g., a bicycle, a motorcycle or another two-wheeled vehicle), in which the non-pneumatic tire may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including, for example, to avoid sudden failure, improve steering and/or other movement of the vehicle (e.g., when the vehicle is leaned and the non-pneumatic tire is cambered), improve ride comfort, and/or exhibit less rolling resistance.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel includes a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as by being more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear during use). The non-pneumatic tire includes an annular beam configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire and an annular support extending radially inwardly from the annular beam and configured to support loading by tension. An elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support may have selected properties, including greater crack propagation resistance when subject to tensile stress.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle or other machine. The non-pneumatic tire may comprise an annular beam. The annular beam may comprise a plurality of layers of different elastomeric materials. The annular beam may be free of a substantially inextensible reinforcing layer running in a circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. The annular beam may comprise a plurality of openings distributed in the circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. Such an annular beam may be part of other annular devices.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle or other machine. The non-pneumatic tire may include an annular beam. The annular beam may include a plurality of layers of different elastomeric materials. The annular beam may be free of a substantially inextensible reinforcing layer running in a circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. The annular beam may include a plurality of openings distributed in the circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. Such an annular beam may be part of other annular devices.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed for robust, long-lasting performance in challenging conditions, including by using a process to make the non-pneumatic tire that may be specified such that a material of the non-pneumatic tire retains most or all of its inherent capabilities. For example, an annular beam and an annular support of the non-pneumatic tire may be injection molded together from elastomeric material flowing first where at least part of the annular beam is before flowing where at least part of the annular support is (e.g., using a molding apparatus that comprises a mold including a mold cavity and outer gating to inject thermoplastic material at an outer part of the mold into the mold cavity adjacent to where the annular beam is to be formed).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a construction vehicle, etc.) or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle or other device, including, for example, to improve a shock-absorbing capability of the wheel, to improve a lateral stability of the vehicle or other device, and/or to enhance other aspects of its use and performance and/or that of the vehicle or other device.

Abstract: A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), an agricultural vehicle, etc.) may be designed (e.g., may comprise non-pneumatic tires) to enhance its use or performance and/or that of the vehicle such as, for example, by being lightweight and/or by better handling loads, including, for instance, those resulting from track tension within the track system and/or from unevenness or other aspects of the ground, including encounters (e.g., impacts) with obstacles on the ground (e.g., rocks, portions of trees, debris, bumps, abrupt changes in ground level, etc.). The track system may comprise tension-based non-pneumatic tires.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including, for example, to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as, for instance, by being more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear it during use). The non-pneumatic tire comprises an annular beam configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire and an annular support extending radially inwardly from the annular beam and configured to support loading by tension. An elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support may have selected properties, including greater crack propagation resistance when subject to tensile stress.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle or other device, including, for example, to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as, for instance, by being more thermally efficient (e.g., to avoid or reduce adverse effects such as rapid degradation in material properties that could otherwise arise due to excessive temperatures) and/or more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear it during use).

Abstract: A wheel (e.g., a caster wheel) for a vehicle or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle or other device, including, for example, by being less laterally stiff (e.g., less torsionally stiff) to better manage lateral loading on the wheel (e.g., when the vehicle or other device turns and/or encounters an obstacle, such as a stump, root, curb, etc., at a lateral side of the wheel) and/or by better distributing pressure applied by the wheel onto the ground (e.g., to reduce, minimize or eliminate potential for damaging the ground).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle or other machine. The non-pneumatic tire may include an annular beam. The annular beam may include a plurality of layers of different elastomeric materials. The annular beam may be free of a substantially inextensible reinforcing layer running in a circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. The annular beam may include a plurality of openings distributed in the circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire. Such an annular beam may be part of other annular devices.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.