Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The support structure is constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.

Abstract: Methods and systems for precision charging control of an untethered vehicle include at least a wireless charging antenna carried by a vehicle and in electrical communication with a vehicle propulsion system. A plurality of wireless charging antennae is positioned on or within a roadway and are in communication with at least a roadway control system and a power source. An authentication connection is established between the vehicle wireless charging antenna and the roadway control system. A dynamic seek operation is triggered between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae to pair the first wireless charging antenna with the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae. A quantity of electrical energy is transferred between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae.

Abstract: Various example embodiments of a non-pneumatic tires are presented. In one embodiment, a non-pneumatic tire is provided, comprising: a tread; a support ring comprising a plurality of support ring elements, each having the same diameter, wherein the plurality of support ring elements are coupled to one another by at least one strap; a hub, wherein the tread, the support ring, and the hub are concentric; a plurality of base elements oriented between the tread and the support ring, wherein each of the base elements extends along the width of one of the support ring elements. Alternatively, each of the base elements may extend from an axially outer edge of a support ring element to the center of an adjacent support ring element.

Abstract: An exemplary spoke for a non-pneumatic wheel. The spoke can be manufactured with a reinforcement structure having reinforcement elements and one or more layers of material. The spoke can also be provided in various shapes and configurations. The spoke includes anchors that allow the spoke to be more readily incorporated into, or removed from, a non-pneumatic wheel. More particularly, the anchors also allow the spoke to be joined as one-piece with the non-pneumatic wheel or releasably connected on one or both ends with the non-pneumatic wheel.

Abstract: A robot has an electronic surveillance system embedded within a chassis disposed between two wheels. The wheels include a main body and a plurality of treads. The treads are generally disposed radially around the main body and extend distally from outer portion of the main body. The main body generally defines a plurality of compression cells and may present a substantially frustoconical outer surface.

Abstract: An improved mobility assistance apparatus designed for the elderly is disclosed herein. The apparatus alleviates wrist and back strain and increases stability by distributing the users weight across his or her forearms onto a pair of armrests. The user stands centered inside of the improved mobility assistance apparatus which provides better stability in all directions, helping to keep users from falling over backwards or to the side as is common with existing walkers. The wheels of the improved mobility assistance apparatus conform to obstacles in the ground, creating a smoother walking experience.

Abstract: Provided is a non-pneumatic tire having excellent durability performance. This non-pneumatic tire is provided with an annular tread portion which contacts the road surface, an annular inner peripheral portion which is positioned radially inward of the tread portion, and multiple linking units which join the tread portion and the inner peripheral portion. The tread portion includes a first portion which contacts the road surface, and a second portion which includes an inner peripheral surface facing the inner peripheral portion. The thermal conductivity of the second portion is greater than that of the first portion.

Abstract: A wheel for a robot cleaner includes an outer ring in contact with a surface to be cleaned, an inner ring which is disposed inside the outer ring and receives a driving force, a plurality of spokes which connect the outer ring and the inner ring, and form a plurality of independent spaces through which air passes, and a plurality of ribs disposed in the plurality of independent spaces, each of the plurality of ribs having a shorter length than a length of each of the plurality of spokes.

Abstract: A structurally supported, non-pneumatic wheel is provided. The wheel includes a hub constructed from a polymeric material, which can more readily resist deformation during an impact event and provide improvements in noise generation and manufacturing cost. A plurality of tension-transmitting web elements connect the hub with a compliant, load supporting band.

Abstract: An airless tire includes a tread ring, a hub positioned on radially inner side of the ring, and a spoke structure including polymer material and connecting the ring and hub, the structure including spoke pieces arrayed in circumferential direction. Each spoke piece has a tread connecting portion, a hub connecting portion, and a spoke curved portion between the tread and hub connecting portions, each spoke piece has straight radial length LSb of at least 1.05 times straight radial length LSa and curved radial length LLb of at least 1.03 times LSb when positioned at 0° on coordinate around the tire axis where a perpendicular line extending vertically upward from the tire axis is set 0°, LSb is measured along the base line under base-load condition, LSa is measured along the base line under no-load condition, and LLb is measured along a curve of each spoke piece under the base-load condition.

Abstract: A retarding roller (a roller) is formed of a synthetic rubber (an industrial rubber material) such as ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber (EPDM) or polyurethane, or alternatively, silicone. The roller core of the retarding roller is cylindrical. M arc-shaped long holes (where M is an integer greater than or equal to 4) are formed in each of N layers (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) from a first layer (an outermost layer) to an Nth layer (an innermost layer) which are circular and concentric to a center axial line. In each layer, long holes are formed such that spokes in adjacent layers (an ith layer and an i+1th layer, where i is an integer from 1 to N?1) do not overlap in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A rigidity measurement device of a tread ring comprises a support jig for detachably holding a tread ring unit. The support jig has an open part for deformably exposing a measurement area, which is one portion of the tread ring, to the exterior, and a restraining part for essentially non-deformably restraining a non-measurement area, which is an area other than the measurement area of the tread ring. The restraining part inhibits deformation of the non-measurement area, whereby stress is no longer generated in the non-measurement area and the rigidity of the measurement area alone can be measured.

Abstract: An airless tire includes a cylindrical tread ring, a hub and a spoke structure connecting the tread ring and hub. The spoke structure has a tread-side annular component, a hub-side annular component, and spoke plates radially extending from the hub-side to tread-side components, each spoke plate has thickness having first tapered-thickness region, second tapered-thickness region and minimum-thickness region such that the first region radially extending outward has the thickness gradually reducing from first position at which the hub-side component is bonded, the second region radially extending inward has the thickness gradually reducing from second position at which the tread-side component is bonded, and the minimum-thickness region has the minimum thickness between the first and second regions, and the first and second regions are formed such that each of tire radial lengths of the first and second regions is at least 0.05 times a tire radial length of a spoke plate.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension. The tire can comprise a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and a web having a plurality of web elements. The tire can further comprise a layer or layers fabric material acting as a bonding agent to bond tire components together.

Abstract: A spoke casting device for integrally cast-molding a spoke of an airless tire includes a casting mold including upper and lower molds which relatively moves between mold closed and mold open states in tire axial direction, a positioning device which concentrically positions a hub and a tread ring with respect to the cast mold, and a demolding device which pushes out an airless tire from the lower mold in the open state. The cast mold concentrically holds the ring and hub between the upper and lower molds and forms a cavity for casting a spoke made of a polymer material between the ring and hub held in the closed state, and the positioning device includes a first positioning device including an outer peripheral surface contact portion such that the contact portion makes contact with outer peripheral surface of the ring and positions the ring with respect to the cast mold.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle is disclosed. The non-pneumatic tire includes a tread, a rim part, inside and outside annular bands, a spoke member, and a pair of protective films. The tread comes into contact with a road surface. The rim part is connected to the axle of a vehicle. The inside and outside annular bands are disposed between the tread and the rim part, and are coaxially spaced apart from each other. The spoke member includes supports disposed in a predetermined pattern and configured to connect the inside and outside annular bands, and openings defined by the supports. The pair of protective films are disposed at both ends of the tire in the widthwise direction of the tire, and prevents foreign substances from infiltrating into the openings of the spoke member. The protective films are made of the same material as the spoke member and integrated with the spoke member.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to shear band of a tire that has means for inducing buckling when the tire is subjected to high deformations, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a shear band with at least one membrane that has a reinforcement having predetermined configurations for controlling the buckling behavior of the reinforcement when the membrane is subjected to compressive stress.

Abstract: Non-pneumatic resilient wheel (10), that is supported structurally and defines three perpendicular directions, circumferential (X), axial (Y) and radial (Z), this wheel comprising: a hub (11); an annular band referred to as a shear band (13) comprising at least one inner circumferential membrane (14) and one outer circumferential membrane (16) that are oriented in the circumferential direction X; and a plurality of support elements (12) that connect the hub (11) to the inner circumferential membrane (14)U. The two membranes (14, 16) are connected to one another by means of a series, that extends in the circumferential direction (X), of cylinders (15) referred to as connection cylinders, said connection cylinders (15) being non-touching in the circumferential direction X and having their generatrix oriented in the axial direction Y. The connection cylinders (15) are composite cylinders comprising fibers embedded in a resin matrix.

Abstract: Provided is a non-pneumatic tire in which buckling can be prevented without a weight increase, the non-pneumatic tire including a spoke structure. The spoke structure is obtained by circumferentially arranging spokes intermittently at intervals and coupling together annular cylindrical outer member and cylindrical inner. The spoke structure is joined to an inner peripheral side of a tread ring. At least some of a plurality of spaces formed between two spokes adjacent to each other in the tire circumferential direction have an air-containing structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-pneumatic tire which can improve a riding quality, a noise performance and the like while improving a durability, and can further sufficiently suppress a buckling of a ground portion between spokes, because a circumferential fluctuation of a tire rigidity is hard to be generated due to a positional relationship between a spoke position and a center position of the ground surface, and a strain can be dispersed into each of portions of a support structure body.

Abstract: A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting tread portion, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the reinforced annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The reinforced annular band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of the shear layer, and a longitudinal compression modulus of a second membrane is at least equal to the longitudinal tensile modulus of a first membrane 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.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner surface, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements 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 between a hub and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface may assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load. Since the tire is non-pneumatic, it may be easier to maintain and may have a longer life than standard pneumatic tires since it eliminates the possibility of blowouts, flat tires, or tires operating with low air pressure.

Abstract: A tire rim for a non-pneumatic tire. The tire rim has an outer hoop that slideably engages a mounting ring disposed on the non-pneumatic tire. The mounting ring is slideably engaged in a lateral direction on the outer hoop. The rim and mounting ring can be secured using one or more mounting plates. The rim allows for the non-pneumatic tire to be easily mounted and removed.

Abstract: A tire includes a rigid outer ring, a rigid inner ring, and an intermediate ring interconnecting the rigid outer ring and the rigid inner ring. The intermediate ring is biasingly compressible in a first direction and rigid in a second direction. The intermediate ring may include a plurality of lattice members and a resiliently compliant elastomer. The plurality of lattice members may be disposed within the resiliently compliant elastomer. The rigid outer ring and the rigid inner ring may include a solid cross-section.

Abstract: A structurally supported tire includes an outer annular band, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The annular band may further comprise a shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the shear layer, and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the shear layer. A preferred web spoke has a cutaway section transverse to the annular band. The cutaway section has a profile formed by straight line segments joined by a blending radius. The profile of the cutaway comprises a height and a maximum depth greater than five percent of the height and less than thirty percent of the maximum width. The profile has an angle alpha formed by a line tangent to the profile relative to the horizontal at least equal to ten degrees at the radially outermost and radially innermost extent of said profile.

Abstract: A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting tread portion, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the reinforced annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The reinforced annular band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a tire which supports load by means of compressing the tire's elastomeric structure and requires no internal inflation pressure. The preferred embodiments utilize circumferential ribs or radially oriented ribs of elastomer to support the load.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic resilient tire which derives its capacity to bear a load from laminated elements capable of supporting bending moments. The laminated elements include a stack of resilient sheets superposed and separated by a layer of rubber adhering to the latter, forming a beam capable of undergoing bending stress.

Abstract: A resilient wheel structure having a rim and a hub interconnected by spokes, wherein the rim is sufficiently stiff to distribute a load to all of the spokes, and wherein the wheel is able to absorb loads in both the radial and axial directions. The rim comprises an inner and outer rim portion supported by ribs, that are located co-radially with curved spokes that allow tension and compression. The wheel structure being optimally used on a mobile robot.

Abstract: A compliant rim 2 has an annular radially outer rim portion for attaching a tire 17, a tread, or a track 16 thereto, a radially inner hub 4 for attaching to an axle, and a plurality of load supporting spokes 3 tangentially mounted to the radially outer rim portion and the hub 4. Each spoke 3 has a curvilinear shape, preferably a spirally formed shape.

Abstract: A deformable structure for a vehicle, designed to roll on an axis of rotation, including an annular internal element centered on the axis, an annular external element, flexible and appreciably inextensible, forming a tread radially arranged externally relative to the internal element, a plurality of spokes arranged substantially radially between the internal element and the external annular element, each spoke being capable of opposing a radial compressive stress, beyond a given threshold, an appreciably constant force, the external element having a circumferential length such that the spokes are preloaded in radial compression, and in which provision is made for stabilizing the relative positions of the internal element and external element, characterized in that the spokes are formed and arranged between the internal and external elements, in such a way that their flexibility in a meridian plane is well below their flexibility in a circumferential plane, and in that the of stabilization limits the amplitude

Abstract: A skate with single-rail truck, particularly with in-line wheels, comprising a rail-shaped frame which is associable with a shoe and supports a plurality of in-line wheels, each wheel being formed by half-bodies arranged on opposite sides of the rail-shaped frame. The skate further comprises two bearings, for the connection of each wheel to the rail-shaped frame, which are arranged on opposite sides of the frame, and means for coupling the half-bodies of each wheel to make them rotate rigidly together.

Abstract: Wheel, particularly for skateboards or rollerskates, including a central hub with radial spokes, and a tire which is connected to the hub and which has wings arranged in the interspaces delimited by the radial spokes and the central hub. The wings are arranged to only partially fill the interspaces between the spokes such that empty spaces without material are arranged directly adjacent the spokes. The wings may have a degree of rigidity which is different than the rigidity of the outer portion of the tire.

Abstract: A dynamic steerable spring for axially mounting for supporting a compressive load as it would experience as a vehicle wheel, the load from such vehicle being distributed being evenly transferred to a spring hub, as a replacement for a conventional pneumatic or non pneumatic tire. The spring is preferably manufactured from a single flat sheet of a spring steel type material that is formed into a circular disk that is cut by identical equally spaced radial slots from the disk circumference to a radial distance from the disk center, that is the spring hub wherethrough radially spaced lug bolt holes are formed, with the disk elements between the slots being identical and each terminating in essentially a rectangular end portion.

Abstract: Pural non-pneumatic (NPTs) are unitarily fitted, side-by-side, on a wheel rim, forming a multiple NPT (MNPT) to carry a load by sharing the load between the side-by-side NPTs. By "unitarily" is meant that the NPTs are fitted to the rim as a whole, without cutting or sectioning. With this construction, a MNPT is provided with characteristics which are surprisingly better than those attributable to a single NPT having the same or a different outer hoop diameter but the same mass of resin as the plural NPTs. The NPTs may be formed as rings, then by heat-distending them, unitarily post-fitted to the surface of an adhesively prepped wheel rim, for operation at relatively low torque; alternatively, and more preferably the NPTs are cast or otherwise thermoformed, as for example by injection molding, onto the wheel rim and self-adhesively autogenously secured, so as to provide the plural NPTs integrally bonded to the wheel rim.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic supporting wheel includes a central part and a wheel-rim which is supported by the central part. The wheel-rim has an outer wheel-rim part which is intended to roll against an underlying surface, and an inner wheel-rim part which is located radially inwards of the outer wheel-rim part. At least the inner of the two wheel-rim parts is constructed from a plurality of curved, elongated elements which consist of a resilient material and which are spaced in the circumferential direction of the wheel. When seen in a section taken diametrically through the wheel, each of these elements presents parts which are curved in opposite directions. For the purpose of taking-up forces which act substantially radially between the wheel center and the region of the wheel in contact with the underlying surface when the wheel is subjected to load, the elements are elastically yielding in the radial direction of the wheel during increased bending of the elements.

Abstract: The improved wheel assembly includes a hub member having a cylindrical casing with an axial bore adapted to receive the end of a wheel axle, and a plurality of threaded bolts which threadably engage conventional lug nuts; a tubeless, airless tire member having three continuous supporting belts, a plurality of reverse inclined Z-shaped supporting rods connected to each other and to each supporting belt, and a transverse central opening adapted to receive the hub; and an annular cap member adapted to engage the outer periphery of the central opening of the tire member and to receive the bolts of the hub member.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire (10) comprising an annular body (15) of resilient construction having a radially outer peripheral portion (19) and a radially inner peripheral portion (17). A circumferential web extends between, and is connected to, the radially inner and outer portions. To each side of the circumferential web there is a set of circumferentially spaced ribs (45, 49). Each rib extends between and is connected to the radially inner and outer portions of the tire. Each rib is also connected to the web. A characterizing feature of the tire is that the circumferential web comprises consecutive web sections (53) extending in alternate directions.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire wheel having an annular hub with a carcass connected thereto, which carcass has C-shaped sidewalls with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots that extend into the crown of the carcass. The crown of the tire wheel receives a tread ring to enhance rolling. The hub receives a circumferentially extending shock absorbing element that is curvilinear in cross section with slots extending radially from the hub.

Abstract: A side web non-pneumatic tire ("SWNPT") is integrally molded from a stiff, resilient elastomeric material with particular specifications, to form a unitary honeycomb structure bounded by integrally molded outer and inner cylindrical coaxial and coextensive members ("hoops"), and, a single side web member. The outer hoop is supported and cushioned by the honeycomb which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, angularly oppositely directed planar rib members (ribs) bounded by the side web on one side only. The side web, preferably on the outboard edge of the hoops, connects the hoops near their outboard edges. The opposite side surfaces of the side web lie at an angle .theta. in the range from 0.degree. to 30.degree. on either side of vertical to the rotational axis of the SWNPT. The ribs extend axially along the inner and outer hoops, connecting them, and the outboard edges of all the ribs lie upon the inboard face of the web.

Abstract: A trapezoidal non-pneumatic tire ("TNPT") is integrally molded from a stiff, resilient elastomeric material with particular specifications, to form a unitary structure comprising outer and inner cylindrical coaxial members ("hoops"), the outer being wider than the inner. The outer hoop is supported and cushioned by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, planar rib members (ribs) and a planar central web member (web) which connects the hoops at their circumferential center lines. The web lies in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the TNPT. The ribs extend axially along the inner and outer hoops, connecting them, and the edges of the ribs lie along the opposite faces of the web. The ribs are angled in the range from 15.degree. to 75.degree. to radial planes which intersect them at their radially inner ends, and the ribs on one side of the web are angled oppositely from those on the other. A rubber tread is secured to the outer surface of the outer hoop.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire ("NPT") is integrally molded from a stiff, resilient elastomeric material with particular specifications, to form a unitary structure comprising outer and inner cylindrical coaxial and coextensive members ("hoops"). The outer hoop is supported and cushioned by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, planar rib members (ribs) and a planar central web member (web) which connects the hoops at their circumferential center lines. The web lies in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the NPT. The ribs extend axially along the inner and outer hoops, connecting them, and the edges of the ribs lie along the opposite faces of the web. The ribs are angulated in the range from 15.degree. to 75.degree. to radial planes which intersect them at their radially inner ends. A rubber tread is secured to the outer surface of the outer hoop.