End Secured Patents (Class 152/12)
  • Patent number: 11745542
    Abstract: A curved support structure for a non-pneumatic tire and a tire incorporating such support structure. A support membrane extends continuously between a radially-inner end and a radially-outer end and defines opposing sides. A radially-outer joint may be provided on one of the opposing sides while a radially-inner joint may be provided on the other side of the membrane. An annular band may be incorporated with the radially-outer joint. A wheel, hub, or other structure may be incorporated with the radially-inner joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Steven M. Cron, Damon Lee Christenbury
  • Patent number: 10399773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport vehicle (7) for storing unit loads in a storage rack (1) and removing unit loads from a storage rack. The transport vehicle comprises a base frame (27), running wheels (29) which rest on a first guide (36) in a rollable manner, the first guide extending parallel with the longitudinal direction of the storage rack and in a first guide plane extending parallel with a driving plane, and a guide unit (31; 60; 62; 74; 86) which is mounted to the base frame via a bearing device (46; 61; 63; 75; 87) and has guide wheels (49) which rest on a second guide (47; 88) and are rollable in guide sections (48), the second guide extending parallel with the longitudinal direction of the storage rack and in a second guide plane intersecting the driving plane in order to move the transport vehicle in a guided manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TGW Mechanics GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Grosse, Thomas Gruber, Martin Rausch, Johannes Schauer
  • Patent number: 9713940
    Abstract: Provided is a non-pneumatic tire including an attachment body attached to an axle, a ring-shaped body (13) configured to surround the attachment body from the outside in the tire radial direction, and a plurality of connecting members disposed between an exterior body (12) and the ring-shaped body (13) in a tire circumferential direction and configured to connect the exterior body (12) and the ring-shaped body (13) in a relatively displaceable manner, wherein, when the tire comes in contact with the ground, the connecting members are deformed by a compressive load in the tire radial direction, and the exterior body (12) and the ring-shaped body (13) are relatively displaced in the tire radial direction, among the plurality of connecting members, the connecting members disposed between the ground surface (G), with which the tire comes in contact, and the exterior body (12) abut other connecting members neighboring in the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nishida, Akihiko Abe
  • Patent number: 9616703
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an attachment body (11) attached to an axle, an inner tubular body (12) fitted onto the attachment body (11) from the outside, an outer tubular body (13) configured to surround the inner tubular body (12) from the outside in a tire radial direction, and a plurality of connecting members (15) disposed between the inner tubular body (12) and the outer tubular body (13) in a tire circumferential direction and configured to connect both of the tubular bodies (12) and (13) while maintaining relative elastic displacement therebetween, wherein at least one of an outer circumferential section of the attachment body (11) and an inner circumferential section of the inner tubular body (12) that are locked to each other is inclined throughout the circumference in the tire circumferential direction from the outside toward the inside in a tire radial direction as it goes from both of the outsides toward the inside in a tire width direction (H), and is formed in a V shape when seen in a cross-s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nishida, Akihiko Abe
  • Patent number: 9180732
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided having a removable hub i.e., a hub that may be separated from the remainder of the wheel assembly. The hub may be reused and other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel assembly replaced as needed. In addition, the hub may be constructed from a different material than used for other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: James Endicott
  • Patent number: 8950451
    Abstract: In a non-pneumatic tire (1), a plurality of connecting members (13) that connects a mounting body (11) and an annular body (12) are provided along a tire-circumferential direction. The annular body is split into a plurality of split bodies (12a) along the tire-circumferential direction. A resilient member (16) that is extended along the tire-circumferential direction and connects the plurality of split bodies in the tire-circumferential direction is provided in the annular body. This non-pneumatic tire (1) secures satisfactory ride quality, maneuverability and durability by suppressing increase in weight, hardness and rolling resistance, ensures uniform contact-pressure distribution, and prevents the occurrence of a puncture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Abe
  • Publication number: 20140345761
    Abstract: The wheel is all-metal, and is suitable for use on the moon. The wheel includes tread-plates mounted on leaf-springs, which deflect to permit suspension movement. The leaf-springs are flexible, light, and thin, yet are made strong enough to cope with heavy traction forces by the provision of hoop-cables, which link all the tread-plates together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: ONTARIO DRIVE & GEAR LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Derek VISSCHER
  • Patent number: 8783310
    Abstract: A plurality of connection members 13 connecting an installation disk 11 to a ring-shaped body 12 are formed, in a side view of the non-pneumatic tire, to be axisymmetrical about an imaginary line connecting the respective first ends 21a and 22a of first connection plates 21 and second connection plates 22 to an axial line O and extending in a tire-radial direction. The connection members 13 are arranged in a tire-circumferential direction such that the first connection plates 21 are arranged at a first tire-widthwise position in the tire-circumferential direction and that the second connection plates 22 are arranged at a second tire-widthwise position in the tire-circumferential direction. According to the invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight, hardness, and rolling resistance to secure satisfactory ride qualities and handling qualities, and it is possible to prevent a blowout from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Abe
  • Patent number: 8646497
    Abstract: A passive tuned vibration absorber is used to attenuate unwanted vibrations in the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly. Each spoke has a cutaway central portion having a tuned vibration absorber n the form of a protruding member having an axial width and a radial height and the radial height of the protruding member is less than a radial height of the spoke. Additionally, a method of determining the vibrational characteristics of the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelln, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Steven M Cron
  • Patent number: 5743316
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: American Mobility Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis S. Chrobak
  • Patent number: 5610216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.A rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of poly-(2-propanol-1,3-polysulfide).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Sandstrom, Lawson G. Wideman
  • Patent number: 5388623
    Abstract: A pair of roller skis 300 each constituted by attaching elastic wheels 302 to a boot-placing plate 301 in the front thereof and at the back thereof. The elastic wheels 302 each comprises a wheel supporting means having a circular rim part on the outer periphery and a tire part mounted on the circular rim part of the wheel supporting means and being elastically deformable in the direction perpendicular to the running direction of the wheel. Each elastic wheel 302 enables the running direction thereof to be simply changed with the wheel shaft kept in the same direction, and utilization of the features permits a skier to operate the roller skis with a feeling similar to that afforded by conventional snow skis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Homma Science Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Homma, Susumu Homma, Hiroshi Sato, Hisao Hiroi
  • Patent number: 4867217
    Abstract: The elastic tire (1) is composed of a plurality of elastic elements (3) ped between the nondeformable anchoring zone (2) and the tread (4). Each elastic element (3) comprises two connecting elements (34) and (35) the ends of which form a quadrilateral and an arm (31) guided by the connecting elements and joined to the tread (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Daniel Laurent
  • Patent number: 4784201
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire with an annular body of resilient elastomeric material and an outer cylindrical member supported by circumferentially spaced-apart ribs, is provided with four vibration-reducing features. First, the tire has an outer tread surface with a crown radius. Secondly, the tread has a pattern with a plurality of circumferential grooves and lateral grooves arranged to reduce uneven contact pressures caused by radial forces carried by the tire's ribs. Thirdly, the spacing of the ribs is randomly varied around the circumference of the tire to broaden a vibration spectrum caused by the ribs and reduce peak vibrations. Fourthly, a wheel rim that supports the annular body is provided with a structurally incorporated hoop to reduce deflection of the wheel rim during tire operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Palinkas, Scott R. Pajtas, George H. Nybakken
  • Patent number: 4739810
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel having a hub section and a resilient section that has a ground-engaging rim at its peripheral outer edge portion to which a tire tread can be provided for the ground engaging rim including an internal element to vary the rate of the wheel with deformation under load which is turnable for changing stiffness with deformation of the resilient section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4705087
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel having a hub section and a resilient section that has a ground-engaging rim at its peripheral outer edge portion to which a tire tread can be provided for the ground engaging rim including an internal element to vary the rate of the wheel with deformation under load which is turnable for changing stiffness with deformation of the resilient section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 4553577
    Abstract: A wheel structure having a rim and a hub interconnected by spokes with a longer portion and a shorter portion meeting at an angle or direction change region at locations all of which lie on a notional circle closer to the hub than to the rim. Preferably, the rim locations lie, in each case, beyond that radius including the spoke-hub origin point. Spurs can be provided at these locations, generally as extensions of the longer portion, to protrude into the back of the next location around the circle and thereby limit the distortion under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventor: John D. W. Gregg
  • Patent number: 4211268
    Abstract: A wheel has a plurality of variable length spokes extending radially from the hub to the rim and supporting the rim coaxially around the hub. Spoke length varying devices vary the lengths of the spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Inventor: Borut Ravnikar
  • Patent number: 4006765
    Abstract: A wheel wherein the periphery comprises overlapping resilient members so that viewed from the side such members form a continuous circle about the wheel's axle; the spokes connecting such members with the axle extending within the surface of an imaginary cone having the same axis of the axis of rotation of the wheel; the individual peripheral members either not being connected or being connected in a manner that the periphery is, in effect, expansible and resiliently expands when force is applied parallel to the axle whereby the apex angle of the imaginary cone is enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Inventor: Penrose Lucas Albright
  • Patent number: RE34909
    Abstract: A road wheel for a track laying vehicle comprising a metallic disc and rim part wherein the rim portion of the part is of toroidal geometry. An elastomeric tire .[.tread.]. .Iadd.part .Iaddend.is bonded to the outer surface of the rim part and has a .Iadd.tread with .Iaddend.a cylindrical outer face adapted for engagement with the track treads of the track laying vehicle. The cross sectional thickness of the metallic disc and rim part is substantially uniform throughout the same. The rim portion has a radially in-turned flange at the free end thereof extending at an acute angle to the axis of the road wheel. The disc portion merges with the rim portion integrally through a bend portion and extends radially inwardly a given distance to provide a track lug wear surface. The disc portion also has a reverse bend offset axially toward the outer free edge of the rim portion to provide clearance for track guide lugs in the operation of said wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Motor Wheel Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie M. Kindel, Iqbal S. Rai