Abstract: A shear band comprising a three-dimensional spacer structure, wherein the three-dimensional spacer structure is formed from a first and second layer of material, each layer of material having first reinforcement members which extend in a first and direction, and second reinforcement members which extend in a second direction, wherein each layer of material is connected to each other by a plurality of connecting reinforcement members which extend in a third direction, wherein the shear band further comprises a first membrane layer located radially outward of the three-dimensional spacer structure. The invention further comprises a non-pneumatic tire which includes the above described shear band.

Abstract: A nonpneumatic tire includes an upper ring and a plurality of spokes extending from the upper ring. At least one reinforcement embedded in each spoke, wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38° C. to 260° C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa.

Abstract: Degradation of a running wheel is detected without using a special sensor or the like. Degradation of a running wheel of a running vehicle that travels using the running wheel that is rotated by a running motor is detected. A difference between a velocity of the running wheel obtained based on a number of rotations of the running wheel and a ground speed of the running vehicle, is obtained as a slip velocity, and degradation of the running wheel is detected based on a fact that torque of the running motor and the slip velocity have passed through a predetermined abnormal range in a space comprising a torque component and a slip velocity component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airless tire, and includes first and second bands that face each other with a distance interposed therebetween, a plurality of spokes that connect the first band to the second band and are provided at intervals, and first and second connecting members that connect the adjacent spokes. The spoke includes a first member of which one end is curved from the first band toward the second band, and a second member of which one end is curved from the second band toward the first band. The other ends of the first and second members are connected to each other, and the first and second members are curved in opposite directions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an airless are which absorbs shock and holds pressure applied to the tire through an auxetic spoke buffer without using air pressure. The airless tire includes a cylindrical tread being in contact with the ground, an axle fixing section having a smaller circumference than the tread and disposed inside the tread, and an auxetic spoke buffer connecting the tread and the axle fixing section and providing a buffering function. Accordingly, the airless tire is transformed only to an extent to properly function as a fire when the spoke buffer is transformed by pressure or impact and fully returns to an original shape when pressure or impact is removed.

Abstract: Composite laminated product (1) that forms a deformable cellular structure includes an upper band (2) and a lower band (3) both oriented in the same main direction (X) between the two bands (2, 3) and connecting the latter, a series extends in the direction X, of cylinders (4) referred to as connection cylinders. The connection cylinders (4) are non-touching in the direction X and having their generatrix oriented along an axis Y perpendicular to the direction X. The connection cylinders are composite cylinders including fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Such a laminated product can be used as an elastic beam having a high resistance to flexural/compressive stresses and having a high endurance to such repeated or alternated stresses, in particular as a shear band in a non-pneumatic resilient wheel.

Abstract: A solid tire for a wheel comprising electrically conducting means (15) made according to the method of any one of claims 1-16 comprising a cured first cylindrical layer (1) comprising a first outer circumferential surface (10) provided for contacting the ground, the first layer (1) having an electrical resistance being larger than 1010 ?cm, the tire (5) comprising an electrically conducting path (6) in electrical connection with the electrical conducting means (15) and extending through the first layer (1), the electrical conducting path (6) comprising a path-filling material (16) having a lower electrical resistance than the electrical resistance of the first layer (1), characterized in that the first layer (1) comprises less than 2 pphr carbon black, in that the first layer (1) comprises more than 30 pphr reinforcing filling material and in that the electrically conducting path (6) has a ground contacting surface (19) having an area of at least 150 mm2.

Abstract: A road wheel for a tracked vehicle is provided with a circular mounting flange having a dished wall extending radially outwards and circumferentially therefrom, a peripheral rim having a first edge and a second edge with the rim connected to an outer edge of the dished wall at an intermediate region of the rim, and a first lip extending from the first edge. Another road wheel for a tracked vehicle is provided with a mounting flange, a peripheral rim, at least one inner dished wall, at least one outer dished wall offset from the inner dished wall along the flange, and at least two connector walls with each connector wall extending between the inner dished wall, outer dished wall, and the peripheral rim.

Abstract: This skew-symmetric non-pneumatic tire focuses on the mechanical aspects of the design of the design to solve problems associated with the ride comfort, durability and assembly of a non-pneumatic tire. The tire has a generally cylindrical hub surrounding the axis of rotation and a generally cylindrical outer surface sharing the common axis of rotation; a pair of disk-like side wall members comprising non-buckling webs extending between and mating with their respective hub and outer cylindrical surface; said pair of side wall members have webs sharing a common configuration resulting in an assembly with a skew-symmetric structure with respect to the loading direction; and a tread-band circumscribing the cylindrical outer surfaces of the side walls.

Abstract: A composite solid tire 10 including an inner rubber layer 14 and an outer layer 18 formed of a polyurethane elastomer is provided which has an improved durability by effectively improving the retention strength of the inner and outer layers. The composite solid tire 10 includes circumferential grooves 22, 22 having a predetermined depth formed in the outer circumferential surface 16 of the inner rubber layer 14 and anchor portions 24, 24 formed of the same polyurethane elastomer as the outer layer 18 and integrally formed with outer layer 18. The anchor portions 24, 24 are fitted into the circumferential grooves 22, 22 so that the outer layer 18 is integrally formed on the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer.

Abstract: Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) or auxetic are used to make lightweight wheels and runflat tires. The NPR tires can be tailored and functionally-designed to optimally meet the runflat requirements for both military and commercial vehicles. NPR-runflat tires may be fabricated using standard materials and simple manufacturing processes, resulting in low-cost and high-volume production. In preferred embodiments the runflat tire designs are fully compatible with Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS), while providing a performance equivalent to current military vehicle solutions but at half the weight. An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure.

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 fibres embedded in a resin matrix.

Abstract: An improved shear band for use in non-pneumatic tires, pneumatic tires, and other technologies is provided. The shear band is constructed as a composite of layers that are combined in a specific manner. Each layer is constructed from one or more materials having certain selected physical properties. The layers are combined a specific manner to create a composite having physical properties and performance characteristics desirably outperforming that of the individual materials forming the layers. When used in tire construction, improvements in rolling resistance can also be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a tire assembly comprising a plurality of non-pneumatic tires removably disposed on a single rim.

Abstract: A solid rubber tire for use on vehicles such as heavy construction equipment is provided with a plurality of layers of different hardness. One of the layers is relatively softer than the other layers and holes are formed at least partially into the tire to provide added flexibility and smoothness of ride to the solid rubber tire.

Abstract: A cushion tire is formed from a rubber material without being provided with an airspace inside the tire. An aspect ratio, which is a ratio of a sectional height of a tire with respect to a width of the tire, is set to 15 to 80%. And a number of holes are formed in both bilateral side surfaces of the tire along a circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: An improved means for retreading a solid tire is disclosed. The retreading means comprises wrapping uncured rubber around the periphery of the tire, clamping the tire body and uncured rubber assembly in a C mold comprising a tread ring and a sidewall ring and curing the tire.

Abstract: Tire has a casing defining a hollow interior, a fill disposed in the interior of the casing, and the fill including at least one layer having an initial diameter substantially the same as the initial diameter of the casing. The fill layer includes an expansion joint. When the casing expands the expansion joint expands and causes the first layer to substantially continuously contact the casing. The expansion joint may be configured so that the layer(s) of the fill substantially continuously contact each other and the casing, respectively, as the casing expands. The expansion joint may be engineered to produce a gap extending between first and second free ends of the layer(s). Or the gaps may be selected so that the first and second ends of the respective layers continuously remain at least partially in contact with each other before, during, and after expansion is completed; i.e., when the casing is at maximum expansion.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire having an elastomeric portion encompassing the tread and a radially inward foam portion. In the elastomeric portion, certain physical characteristics of the elastomeric portion differ between the tread surface and the radially inward region. An increase in the Shore A hardness provides the tire structure with an elastomeric hoop which imparts improved rolling resistance to the tire, without compromising wet/dry traction. Likewise, the weight and compliance of the tire may be adjusted in the foam portion without adverse effects on the rolling resistance. The non-pneumatic tire may be formed from a multi-shot process in a spin cast procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resilient wheel for solid pneumatic tires in which a resilient rubber or rubber-like material is bonded and cured to a wheel hub. A rigid outer support band, such as a steel band, is then bonded to the resilient material, thereby making a larger diameter wheel having the resilient material layer bonded between the inner hub and the outer support band. A replaceable tread is formed by bonding a tread compound to an inner rigid support band, such as a steel band. The replaceable tread may be fitted to the resilient wheel by a friction fit between the two steel support bands or by a bolt-on construction. When the tread has been worn down after use, the tread layer may be removed and a new one substituted therefor, thereby obviating the need to scrap the entire wheel. The resilient wheel portion may therefore be used on a repeating basis, replacing the tread layer portion as necessary. A preferred embodiment comprises a steel banded solid tire in which a 360.degree.

Abstract: Tire has a casing defining a hollow interior, a fill disposed in the interior of the casing, and the fill including at least one layer having an initial diameter substantially the same as the initial diameter of the casing. The fill layer includes an expansion joint. When the casing expands the expansion joint expands and causes the first layer to substantially continuously contact the casing.

Abstract: A wheel and solid rubber tire assembly as provided with a metal wheel having a predetermined diameter and a cylindrical rim around the periphery of the wheel. The rim has a predetermined narrow width. A soft narrow layer of rubber is secured to the narrow rim and has a first diameter and a first width at the first diameter approximately equal to the narrow width of the rim. The soft layer has a second predetermined diameter larger than the first diameter. A wide wear layer of solid rubber, having a width that is significantly greater than the width of the narrow layer, is bonded to the narrow layer at the second diameter. The wear layer has a predetermined maximum outer diameter that is larger than the second diameter of the inner soft layer. The wear layer has a hardness greater than the hardness of the soft narrow layer. The movement of the soft inner layer upon compression is increased per pound of impact so that a smoother ride is provided.

Abstract: A main tire body, mounted to the rim (3) of a wheel, includes in one embodiment, an annular tire material (6) and a fiat wound spring ring (8) disposed within the annular tire material (6). The annular tire material (6) is a material with a cross section that can form in a semi-circular annular space (7) between the rim (3). The flat wound spring ring (8) a is annularly arranged within the annular space (7). In another embodiment, the main tire body includes an annular first tire material (10), a second tire material (11), and a plurality of airtight chambers (15) which help to absorb impacts. The first tire material (10) is mounted to the rim (3). The second tire material (11) is an annular material with an elastic body attached to the outer peripheral side of the first tire material. The airtight chambers portion (15) are formed in the second tire material between the first tire material. In another embodiment, the main tire body includes an annular first tire material (20), and a second tire material (21).

Abstract: A pneumatic-shaped solid tire in which rim slip is improved, the tire main body (4) comprises a tread rubber layer (3) and a base rubber layer (2) made of a rubber composition having a JIS(A) hardness from 75 to 90 in which short cordlike or fiberlike reinforcing materials are not mixed, the thickness (TC) of the base rubber layer measured from the base line (BL) to the radially outer face thereof is 0.3 to 0.7 times the tire section height (TH), and the base rubber layer is provided therein with a radially inner band (7) and a radially outer band (6) which are spaced apart from each other in the radial direction of the tire, each of the bands comprising at least one ply of heat-shrinkable organic fiber cords laid at an angle from 0 to 15 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: A wheel and tire assembly with a solid rubber tire for use on heavy construction equipment. The assembly comprises a mounting disc, a large diameter rim, having a cylindrical surface, rigidly affixed to the mounting disc and having actually opposed peripheral sides. Cross rib means are rigidly fastened to and laterally extending across the cylindrical surface. There are side support means rigidly affixed to and radially projecting from each peripheral side of the cylindrical rim surfaces. A base layer of even thickness of substantially flat rubber is cemented to the cylindrical surface interposed between the cross ribs and the side supports. Multiple additional layers of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber are bonded to the base layer and each succeeding additional layer of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber is bonded to the preceding additional layer until a low profile solid rubber tire is obtained, which tire is bonded directly to the large diameter rim.

Abstract: A deformable nonpneumatic tire includes a radially inner, substantially annular, base which may be connected to a rigid element such as a wheel, a radially outer, substantially annular, cap to which a tread having a pattern may be mounted, and a substantially annular deformable structure connected between the base and the cap. The deformable structure includes a plurality of intrinsically dissymmetrical patterns formed by elongate slender elements of an elastically deformable material when seen in section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tire. The slender elements are arranged to define recesses extending crosswise over the entire axial width of the tire.

Abstract: A wheel and tire assembly with a solid rubber tire for use on heavy construction equipment. The assembly comprises a mounting disc, a large diameter rim, having a cylindrical surface, rigidly affixed to the mounting disc and having actually opposed peripheral sides. Cross rib means are rigidly fastened to and laterally extending across the cylindrical surface. There are side support means rigidly affixed to and radially projecting from each peripheral side of the cylindrical rim surface. A base layer of even thickness of substantially flat rubber is cemented to the cylindrical surface interposed between the cross ribs and the side supports. Multiple additional layers of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber are bonded to the base layer and each succeeding additional layer of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber is bonded to the preceding additonal layer until a low profile solid rubber tire is obtained, which tire is bonded directly to the large diameter rim.

Abstract: A cushion tire especially intended for industrial or construction vehicles such as a forklift truck wherein the cushion tire has a triple layered structure comprising a base rubber layer, a middle rubber layer and a tread rubber layer arranged radially outwardly in that order, and the middle rubber layer is provided with a hollow part extending circumferentially of the tire, whereby the ride is softened while durability and driving stability are maintained at a good level.

Abstract: The tire for heavy load consists of a multi-layered flat ring held in the axial and radial direction by a two-part metal felloe and supported between the felloe by air.

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.

Abstract: A tire having axially spaced rings of elastomeric material with different spring rates and tread configurations to provide variable operating characteristics at axially spaced positions across the tire. Each of the rings has an inner bead portion and an outer belt portion connected by a load-carrying and cushioning intermediate structure which may have radially extending strap members reinforced by a ply of reinforcing cords.