Mutually Free Walls Patents (Class 152/340.1)
  • Patent number: 10556462
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aluminum wheel for a vehicle, in which a resonance tube is coupled to a rim of the wheel, wherein a first surface of the resonance tube is fitted into a well groove formed in a well of the rim, and a second surface of the resonance tube comes into contact with the rim by a pressure member including a steel wire and a fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10252582
    Abstract: A wheel provided with a tire in tire installation in which an outer ground engaging tire is mounted on a rim of the wheel and an inner inflatable member is mounted on the rim inside the outer tire. The inner surface of the outer tire and the outer surface of the inner inflatable member are provided with respective electrically conductive members suitably in the form of induction loops. A controller determines when the respective electrically conductive members come into close proximity or contact, enabling manual or automated adjustment of air pressure to minimize abrasion between the outer tire and inner inflatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Mueller
  • Patent number: 9487046
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire may include a hub configured to be coupled to a machine, with the hub having a rotational axis about which the tire is configured to roll. The tire may also include a support structure including an inner circumferential portion associated with the hub and an outer circumferential portion radially spaced from the inner circumferential portion. The support structure may extend between opposed, axially-spaced side edges of the tire, and the support structure may include a plurality of cavities. The tire may also include a tread portion associated with the outer circumferential portion. The support structure may also include a plurality of layers of elastomeric material each having opposing faces lying in opposing planes substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. At least some of the layers may include apertures corresponding to the cavities, and the layers may be chemically bonded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron K. Amstutz, Stephen J. Pierz, Thierry A. Marchione, Kevin L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20150090385
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire assembly for a bicycle rim, comprising a wheel tire with a tread surface and two tire beads which in the mounted condition bear on the interior side of the rim edges, an inner tire which in the mounted condition is disposed within the wheel tire, a tube which in the mounted condition is disposed within the inner tire, valve means for filling with different air pressures, on the one hand side, the tube and, on the other hand side, an intermediate space between the rim and the wheel tire, wherein the inner tire in the filled and mounted condition bears on the tire beads of the wheel tire at least in sections and presses said beads against the rim, wherein the inner tire is provided with a first through opening in its wall, wherein the first through opening in the mounted condition is in communication with the intermediate space between the rim and the wheel tire, and wherein an insert part is provided which in the mounted condition is disposed between the rim and the tube, and be
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Markus HACHMEYER, Oliver ZUTHER
  • Patent number: 8978724
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire/rim assembly which is improved in the run-flat durability with the mass of the tire being reduced. In a pneumatic tire/rim assembly with a run-flat capability, an air bladder (2) made of a circular ring-shaped film body is inserted inside a pneumatic tire (1) mounted on a rim (R). At least part of the film body is formed of a sealing layer (3) made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8528612
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful inner structural supporter type run flat tire having enough structural strength for controlling the steering wheel to some extent when the tire goes flat and having easy structure for installing to the rim wheel. A wheel 10 has a flange 11 with a bead part of a tubeless tire fitted thereto and a container 12 having a diameter smaller than that of the flange 11, and comprises a rim valve for adjusting the air pressure of the tubeless tire, and a second rim valve for adjusting air pressure in an inner tire 20. The inner tire 20 is stored in the container 12. While the inner tire 20 is stored in the container 12, the tubeless tire 30 is fitted to the flange of the tire wheel 10, air is fed into the inner tire 20 via the second rim valve until the air pressure reaches a predetermined value, so the inner tire 20 is inflated inside the tubeless tire 30, and an inner tire is provided as the inner tire in the outer tubeless tire space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130033095
    Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire having an annular tread between and connected to outer edges of opposed first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls terminate at radially inner edges defining first and second bead sections, respectively. The tire also has a first interior wall having one edge coupled to the tread and an opposite free edge. The first interior wall is positioned between and generally parallel to and spaced from the first and second sidewalls. A first annular spacer is positionable adjacent the first bead section between the first sidewall and the first interior wall on one side of the first interior wall. A second annular spacer is positionable on the opposite side of the first interior wall. The first and second annular spacers are configured to generally maintain a spacing of the first and second sidewalls and the first interior wall relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Eladio A. Vargas
  • Publication number: 20110272073
    Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity between first and second sidewalls that extend respectively from first and second tire core beads to a tire tread region. At least one of the sidewalls is provided with an air tube peristaltic pump assembly. An air tube has an internal tube air passageway and is positioned within a sidewall groove in contacting engagement with opposite groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. The sidewall groove operatively bends within a rolling tire footprint to compress the air tube from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter adjacent the rolling tire footprint. A core bead passageway extends within a core bead adjacent the one tire sidewall for operatively storing air evacuated from the air tube passageway. Conduits are provided to route air from the air tube to the core bead passageway and valve mechanisms are positioned within the core bead passageway to control the flow of air from the core bead passageway into the tire cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Allen Losey
  • Patent number: 8020596
    Abstract: The present device is an integrated automotive wheel for electric vehicles which substantially reduces energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional drive train. The wheel includes an axle, a hub, two composite sidewalls, a low pressure inner chamber with shock absorbing hub protector, and at least one outer high pressure pneumatic chamber with tread. The hub can contain an electric hub motor which rotates the wheel, propelling the vehicle. The sidewalls include at least one pressurized chamber which position the outer tread ring and enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic wheel, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the sidewalls can temporarily buckle in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation, with suspension and shock absorption capability built in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Glenn Arthur Morrison
  • Publication number: 20100206449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel having inner and outer tires which can allow a vehicle to be moved to a place of safety or a near service station by forming the inner and outer tires and by maintaining balance and steering control of the vehicle by means of the inner tire positioned inside the outer tire even when the outer tire blows out or gets torn. The vehicle wheel comprises a rim connected with an axle of a vehicle, an outer tire having a large diameter mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the rim and an inner tire having a small diameter positioned inside the outer tire and mounted on the rim, wherein a first air compression chamber formed between the outer circumferential surface of the rim and the inner tire and a second air compression chamber formed between the outer and inner tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Seng Gy Jang
  • Publication number: 20100116396
    Abstract: A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20090020201
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly comprising a rim, a pneumatic tire that has a double structure including an outer tire and an inner tire inserted thereinto, and is assembled with the rim, and air chambers formed inside and outside the inner tire, wherein the rim includes a pair of bead seats on which bead portions of the outer tire and the inner tire are placed, a first rim flange protruding outward in a diameter direction of the tire from a side end of the bead seat, a second rim flange disposed inside the first rim flange in a rim width direction and formed on at least one of the bead seats while protruding therefrom, and an air valve provided to the second rim flange, the outer tire is held by the first rim flange and the second rim flange with the bead portion thereof being nipped therebetween, the inner tire is mounted with the bead portion thereof being in internal contact with the second rim flange, and in an outer wall surface area of the inner tire extending outward from a position of a maximum height of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Publication number: 20090000714
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire includes an outer tire installed such that a bead portion is inscribed in a rim flange, and an inner tire inserted inside the outer tire and installed such that a bead portion is inscribed in the bead portion of the outer tire. A plurality of protrusions are provided in an annular outer side wall surface region extending in an outer side in a tire diametrical direction from a bead heel of the inner tire so as to be differentiated in the positions in the tire diametrical direction and overlap with one another when seen in a tire circumferential direction, and a ventilation path for feeding an air supplied to a portion near the bead heel into an air chamber is formed between the protrusions in a state where the outer side wall surface region is inscribed in the bead portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 7131477
    Abstract: A bead lock including an insert casing and a bead spacer for providing an air passageway in a vehicle tire to be mounted on a wheel rim on which is located an insert valve and a rim lip for retention of the vehicle tire bead, the insert casing including an insert bead adapted to push against the tire bead and to hold the tire bead firmly against the inner surface of the rim lip, the inner wall of the vehicle tire and the outer surface of the insert casing defining an internal tire space to be pressurized for inflation of the vehicle tire or depressurized for the deflation of the vehicle tire via the insert valve, the tire bead and the insert bead interposed between the internal tire space and the insert valve, the bead spacer extending from the insert bead to an insert valve area corresponding in use to the insert valve location whereby to define at least one air passage for communication of the internal tire space with the insert valve, wherein the bead spacer is made of material sufficiently flexible to sub
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Roger Smith
  • Patent number: 6901981
    Abstract: In the present invention, an outer tire is supported and positioned by an auxiliary inner tire such that air can be pumped into the space between the inner and outer tires. When there is a flat tire or leakage, the outer tire is supported by the inner tire and still has an appropriate support to the car, and thus the outer tire will not be compressed completely or grinded by the rim of the wheel, so that the tire will not be damaged easily and the auxiliary inner tire can continue running for a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Wei-Min Wu
  • Publication number: 20040206437
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly capable of reducing air column resonance sound without deteriorating uniformity or damaging rim assembling performance. In this tire/wheel assembly, an annular tube, an outer sectional area of which is nonuniform in a tire circumferential direction, is arranged in a closed space formed between a pneumatic tire and a wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Ichiro Akiyama, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Yasuji Akiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20040177908
    Abstract: A tire assembly of the present invention is specially for off-road racing motorcycle or bicycle, wherein an inner tube and a sub-inner tube are defined between an outer tire and a wheel rim, the inner tube is inflated at normal pressure while a space between the outer tire and the sub-inner tube is inflated with the pressure applicable to racing purpose, such that, in case of running in low pressure, two annular lips of the outer tire will not fall off the wheel rim while it encounter a great impact, as a result, it prevent the inner tube from being squeezed to leak by the outer tire and the wheel rim and the broken of the cord fabric of the outer tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Tony Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20040154719
    Abstract: A rubber-fiber composite material of the present invention comprises a non-woven fabric and a rubber which coats the non-woven fabric. At least a part of the non-woven fabric is made of an organic fiber having a single fiber diameter of 10 to 35 &mgr;m, a fiber length of 30 to 100 mm and a tensile modulus of 50 GPa or higher. By the use of the non-woven fabric at least a part of which is made of the organic fiber having the above properties, a sufficient impregnation of rubber into the inside of the non-woven fabric is ensured to enable the production of the rubber-fiber composite material having a high stiffness. Using the rubber-fiber composite material of the present invention as the reinforcing material for rubber articles, the resultant rubber articles have enhanced stiffness, improved durability and reduced weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Yugo Zuigyou
  • Patent number: 6712107
    Abstract: Toric membrane M used as a support means for the tread of a tire P and forming together with the said tire P and its mounting rim J an assembly that can roll when the tire P suffers a loss of pressure, the said membrane M being expandable, capable of filling the internal cavity of the tire P, consisting of an airtight interior layer (10), a crown reinforcement (14) comprising two crossed plies (141, 142), two carcass half-plies (111, 112) anchored in each bead B reinforced by a reinforcement ring (2) and a cap (17) reinforced by a hopping armature (16), the crown reinforcement (14) being detached from the interior layer (10) and from the edges of the carcass half-plies (111, 112) which are on either side of the equatorial plane XX′ and are connected by at least one connecting ply (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Clouet
  • Patent number: 6688359
    Abstract: An inner tire used in a dual-chambered tire is provided by an inner tire in which an exterior sidewall of tire provides for two annular rows of overlapping raised facets that extend above the exterior surface of the tire. Each facet defines a right angle with respect to the adjacent sidewall of the tire and provides for an elevated surface having a substantially uniform height with respect to the underlying tire exterior surface. The facets further define a plurality of gaps and passageways that have a constant height and through which pressurized air may flow during the inflation of the outer tire. The air gaps and air passageways defined by the facets have a sufficient depth that the resulting passageways do not collapse when the pressurized inner tire is in engagement with the pressurized outer tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Gary Lunsford Blalock, Matthew J. Forthofer
  • Publication number: 20030178116
    Abstract: There is proposed a toric air bag for a safety tire capable of sufficiently and equally contacting with a full inner face of a tire in the expansion-deformation of the toric air bag by a drop of an internal pressure in the tire, wherein at least an expansion-deforming portion of the toric air bag having a hollow torus shape as a whole is constructed with a tension support member, and to the expansion-deforming portion is given a property indicating a characteristic of extension ratio-tensile force that tensile force per unit width is substantially and gradually increased with the increase of elongation through the expansion-deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Yuji Yamaguchi, Masahiko Yamamoto, Yugo Zuigyo, Osamu Saito, Tetsuhito Tsukagoshi
  • Publication number: 20030131918
    Abstract: A new tire design superseding current conventional single-chamber tire design is delineated. This new invention incorporates the use of multiple independent chambers arranged side-by-side to improve vehicular safety and functionality. This design is an improvement over prior art utilizing concentric dual chambers by maintaining tire height in the event of a single chamber puncture. During such blow outs, steering and ride would be unimpeded, allowing driver to complete travel and replace damaged tire at a more convenient time. Much time will be saved in not requiring driver to either change the punctured tire immediately or to call and wait for road service assistance. This feature is especially important in military, police, or commercial applications where uninterrupted and unaffected travel is crucial to ensuring occupant safety, achieving mission objectives, or meeting delivery or travel deadlines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: K. Kenneth Eng
  • Publication number: 20030041941
    Abstract: An inner tire used in a dual-chambered tire is provided by an inner tire in which an exterior sidewall of tire provides for two annular rows of overlapping raised facets that extend above the exterior surface of the tire. Each facet defines a right angle with respect to the adjacent sidewall of the tire and provides for an elevated surface having a substantially uniform height with respect to the underlying tire exterior surface. The facets further define a plurality of gaps and passageways that have a constant height and through which pressurized air may flow during the inflation of the outer tire. The air gaps and air passageways defined by the facets have a sufficient depth that the resulting passageways do not collapse when the pressurized inner tire is in engagement with the pressurized outer tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Gary Lunsford Blalock, Matthew J. Forthofer
  • Publication number: 20030000618
    Abstract: Toric membrane M used as a support means for the tread of a tire P and forming together with the said tire P and its mounting rim J an assembly that can roll when the tire P suffers a loss of pressure, the said membrane M being expandable, capable of filling the internal cavity of the tire P, consisting of an airtight interior layer (10), a crown reinforcement (14) comprising two crossed plies (141, 142), two carcass half-plies (111, 112) anchored in each bead B reinforced by a reinforcement ring (2) and a cap (17) reinforced by a hopping armature (16), the crown reinforcement (14) being detached from the interior layer (10) and from the edges of the carcass half-plies (111, 112) which are on either side of the equatorial plane XX′ and are connected by at least one connecting ply (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Alain Clouet
  • Patent number: 6481481
    Abstract: A reinforced rubber toric membrane, inflated to a pressure p0 greater than the pressure p1 of the cavity of the tire in which it is used, has a hooping ply of cords or cables, oriented circumferentially, and is reinforced in each of its sidewalls by at least one ply of reinforcement elements, each being composed of a core having a breaking load which is firstly greater than the tension, per element of ply, due to the pressure differential p0 −p1 and to the maximum centrifugal force to which said element is subjected, and secondly such that it permits the breaking of said reinforcement elements for a pressure differential p0−p′1 greater than p0−p1 and after the breaking of the elements of the hooping ply, around which core is wound at least one cord or cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Clouet
  • Patent number: 6467518
    Abstract: A toric membrane of reinforced rubber, used as a support for the tread of a tubeless tire and forming with the tire P and its mounting rim a rolling assembly, characterized in that, when inflated to a pressure p0 greater than the pressure p1 of the cavity of the tire, it has in the inflated state a crown radius RM less than the loaded radius RE of the tire when used at its recommended pressure, the membrane being reinforced in its crown by a crown reinforcement and a hooping reinforcement composed of circumferentially oriented cords or cables, and in its sidewalls by at least one reinforcement ply, wound around an annular reinforcement element having a breaking load slightly greater than that of the hooping reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie General des Establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Alain Clouet, Renaud Rivaton
  • Patent number: 6283185
    Abstract: A toric membrane of reinforced rubber, used as a supporting means for the tread of a tubeless tire, and forming with said tire and its mounting rim a traveling assembly, characterized in that, inflated to a pressure po greater than the pressure p1 of the cavity of the tire, it has, in the inflated state, a crown radius RM less than the loaded radius RE of the tire used at its recommended pressure, said membrane being reinforced, at least in its crown, by a crown reinforcement and a hooping reinforcement, composed of cords or cables oriented circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Renaud Rivaton
  • Patent number: 6186203
    Abstract: A shock absorbing tire and wheel assembly, particularly suitable for civil engineering plant comprises interconnected outer (15) and inner (14) chambers. The chambers are interconnected by passages which preferentially allow flow from the outer chamber (15) to the inner chamber (14). The passages preferably include at least one passage (21) which permits flow in either direction between the chambers and at least one passage (22) which permits flow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber, but prevents or restricts reverse flow. The passages (22) may be fitted with flap valves (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: John Lawrence Fone