Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle; a plurality of friction plates each engaging one of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly; and a plurality of cable members each connecting the mounting plate to the tire assembly such that each cable member extends radially outward through a first hole in one of the friction plates and radially inward through a second hole in the one friction plate to form a loop about the one friction plate and the one part of the plurality of parts of the tire assembly.

Abstract: A shear layer for a shear band that is used in a tire is provided that has multiple cells having a chiral configuration. The chiral configuration may be hexagonal or tetrachiral or have other configurations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting anomalies in web structures used in the formation of tires are disclosed. A thermal imaging device, such as an infrared camera, can be used to scan a portion of web structure as the web structure leaves a calender. The thermal images can be analyzed for temperature differentials in the web structure. The presence of a temperature differential can signify the presence of an anomaly in the web structure, such as a missing or out of place cable anomaly, an improper edge trim anomaly, or a missing rubber material anomaly.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring comprises 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.

Abstract: A shear layer for a shear band that is used in a tire is provided that has multiple cells or units having an auxetic configuration and that are constructed from aluminum or titanium alloys. The cells may have an angle of ?10°.

Abstract: A tire includes a plurality of helical springs. Each helical spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each helical spring is interlaced with at least one other helical spring thereby forming a laced toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the tire.

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.

Abstract: A railway vehicle wheel always improve damping characteristics when a thin visco-elastic layer is placed between the tire and the connecting disc or ring. The visco-elastic layer improves damping through shearing action and has a thickness that is lower than that of the tire by an order of magnitude.

Abstract: An airless tire incorporating a reinforcement chord system that is pre-assembled before placement in a tire mold to provide reinforcement for an airless tire that is formed in that mold and including one or more bands of selective length each formed into a ring with stand-off supports removably attached to each band or to each of the plurality of bands, the stand-off supports including legs or pins that can be formed to desired length appropriate for use in a selected mold.