Utilizing Additional Noninflatable Supports Which Become Load Supporting In Emergency Patents (Class 152/520)
  • Patent number: 7347241
    Abstract: A run-flat support system and method for installing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the run-flat support system includes a torque assembly removably coupled to a split wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel. A plurality of support segments are adapted for attachment to the torque assembly in order to support the pneumatic tired wheel in a flat condition such as an under-inflated condition or deflated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: William W. Gardetto
  • Patent number: 7337814
    Abstract: A runflat tire system comprises a pneumatic tire, a wheel rim on which the pneumatic tire is mounted, and a support ring made of an elastic material and disposed in a cavity surrounded by an inner surface of the rim and an inner surface of the tire mounted thereon, wherein the support ring comprises an annular body extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and being provided with a plurality of recesses each opening at the cavity, and at least two sound reflectors each being attached to the recess and including an outer surface made of a non-porous material so as to reflect sound in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishida, Yurie Tanami, Yasuhiro Kubota, Masatoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7313864
    Abstract: A run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. The support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body having an undulated supporting annular surface. A simple, effective method for producing one such annular body, according to which a rectangular blank which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements, and cut open between the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: ISE Innomotive Systems Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob E. Lowen, Meinolf Koch, Ralf Kulmann, Christian Reuber, Lutz Maiwald
  • Publication number: 20070284025
    Abstract: A tire insert attachment apparatus includes a pin attached to a first part of the insert and extending into a second part of the insert to engage an actuator that draws the bolt into the second part. The actuator includes a tool engagement head that transmits rotational motion of a tool to a translator via a converter, the converter transforming the rotational motion of the head into linear motion imparted on the translator. The translator can be a rack and pinion setup or can be a thread arrangement. Preferably, the head rotates a worm, which rotates a pinion that has threads formed on an inner surface and engaging mating threads on the pin, the pin taking the form of a bolt, such as an eyebolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Charles Tabone, Larry Stuck, Gerard Tavin, Paul Ardovini
  • Publication number: 20070272336
    Abstract: Provided is an annular supporter for a run-flat tire which comprises a supporting part and a leg part and which can support a load in run-flat running, wherein the leg part comprises a rubber composition comprising a rubber component which contains 60 mass parts or more of a conjugate diene base rubber such as isoprene rubber or natural rubber per 100 mass parts of the rubber component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Hatakeyama, Tomohiro Kusano
  • Patent number: 7287566
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a rim, a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim of the wheel and a run-flat support member disposed in the cavity of the pneumatic tire. The run-flat support member includes an annular shell and elastic rings. The annular shell has a support surface located radially outward and two leg portions formed radially inward in a straddling state. The elastic rings support the leg portions on the rim. The annular shell is configured such that an annular cavity portion surrounded by the run-flat support member and the pneumatic tire has a cross-sectional area that varies in the circumferential direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Naito, Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 7287564
    Abstract: A safety support designed to be inserted by a translation operation around a rim bearing in which the radially inner surface of the base of the support contains a plurality of protuberances radially arranged internally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Pompier, Jean-Jacques Drieux, Jean-Charles Lacour
  • Publication number: 20070245562
    Abstract: A vehicle rim, of revolution, intended for mounting a tire and an annular bearing support capable of supporting a tread of the tire in the event of a loss of inflation pressure from the tire, this rim comprising (i) a first and a second rim seat, each of the rim seats being intended to receive a bead of the tire, each of the rim seats having a generatrix the axially inner end of which is on a circle of diameter DI greater than the diameter DE of the circle on which the axially outer end is located, the first rim seat being delimited axially to the inside by a protrusion the external diameter DS of which is greater than the mean diameter DP of the supporting bearing surface; (ii) a supporting bearing surface formed of at least one substantially cylindrical surface of revolution of mean diameter DP extending axially between the two seats and intended to be in close contact with the bearing support; and (iii) a circumferential groove located axially between the supporting bearing surface and the first rim seat,
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Malevergne
  • Patent number: 7264031
    Abstract: In this safety support comprising a segmented ring (6), whose segments (6a, . . . , 6f) are connected by linking means (9), at least one of the linking means (9) comprising at least one male element (26) and at least one female portion (27) suitable for fitting one inside the other by a relative movement of two segments in the circumferential direction of the ring, the at least one linking means (9) also comprises a lever mechanism (28) comprising at least two link arms (29, 31) of different lengths articulated on one another and each at one respective end of the two segments so that the lever mechanism acts so as to bring the two segments closer to one another when the male element (26) is partially engaged in the female portion (27) and when an articulation (38) common to two link arms of the lever mechanism (28) is moved substantially radially relative to the center (C) of the ring (6) in response to an axial movement of the ring relative to the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Techniques S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Clouet
  • Patent number: 7261134
    Abstract: A wheel rim assembly is disclosed to include a wheel rim body holding a tire, a plurality of smoothly arched frame bars connected to one another around the periphery of the wheel rim body by plugging a plug at one frame bar into a plughole at another frame bar and hanging a hanger at one frame bar on a locating block at another frame bar, a plurality of retaining members respectively fastened to the frame bars to enhance the connection between each two adjacent frame bars, and an annular cushion holding the frame bars and the retaining members on the inside around the wheel rim body for supporting the wheel in case the wheel is damaged accidentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Yueh Nu Chen
  • Patent number: 7258403
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a demountable tire rim assembly having a spare inner wheel which permits running during the run flat condition. The demountable tire rim includes two complementary annular parts provided with reciprocal threaded coupling members on the perimeter of the annular parts which include threaded and non-threaded sectors which are structurally arranged to secure the annular parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: José Santiago Rolla
  • Patent number: 7252126
    Abstract: A device, such as a safety support, comprising a body and a base, in which the base comprises at least one zone of resistance which is essentially circumferentially inextensible and is mechanically coupled to the body, and at least one centering zone which is mechanically joined to the resistance zone by connections with low tensile rigidity and so to be mechanically uncoupled from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Sebastien Drap
  • Patent number: 7249622
    Abstract: A tire is manufactured on standard tire building equipment and cured in standard curing presses. The tire tread has at least one deep circumferentially extending groove. Within the groove is a separately assembled ring. The ring may be fitted into the deep groove after vulcanization of the tire. For very wide tires, two grooves with two external rings may be used or more than two grooves and beads, depending upon the tire width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: John Kolbjoern Roedseth
  • Patent number: 7243694
    Abstract: A run-flat support ring, which is a component mounted upon a rim inside a tire to extend the distance the tire may travel at reduced or zero inflation pressure, is provided having one or more features that improve the process of mounting the support ring onto a rim and better tolerate variations, within manufacturing tolerances, in the respective diameters of the rim and the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S. A.
    Inventor: Damon Christenbury
  • Patent number: 7237589
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a rim having a substantially cylindrical bearing surface having at least one depression therein, and an annular run-flat support mounted on the bearing surface. The radially inner surface of the support further comprising a protuberance to engage the depression in the rim, and wherein a radially innermost base portion of the support includes a plurality of substantially circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements. The reinforcement elements are axially spaced apart, and the reinforcement elements are absent in an axial portion of the base portion radially outward of the protuberance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technigue S.A.
    Inventors: Damon Christenbury, Jeffery Zawisza
  • Patent number: 7234496
    Abstract: A safety insert designed to be mounted in an assembly comprising a tire and a rim of a vehicle and device for detecting the bearing of the tire on an insert, so that the insert generates signals oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire and rim assembly and so that the device detects and analyzes the vibrating signals of the chassis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Arnaud Dufournier, Francois Hottebart
  • Patent number: 7216683
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a runflat device for a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle and an assembly incorporating said device. A device of the invention comprises an asymmetrical one-piece type rim comprising a drop center with two lateral walls and a tire cover mounted on the rim, the device being designed to be mounted in the drop center and comprising: a support ring divided into independent ring sectors having two lateral faces; and an annular clamping belt adapted to be mounted on and to bear on a radially inner bearing zone of one lateral face of the ring to wedge each ring sector in the drop center; and in which the device is such that the belt comprises means for exerting a lateral clamping force and a radial clamping force on the bearing zone so that said belt clamps said ring sectors against one of said lateral walls and against said drop center, bearing on the other lateral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Florence Ratet, Nicolas Menant, Olivier Heuze
  • Patent number: 7201197
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly includes a wheel having a rim, a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim of the wheel and a run-flat support member, the pneumatic tire having a tread surface and a hollow space, the tread surface having circumferential grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the tire, the run-flat support member being disposed in the hollow space of the pneumatic tire and having an annular shell and elastic rings, the annular shell comprising a support surface formed radially outward having a convexly curved surface portion with an annular apical line or face and two leg portions formed radially inward, the elastic rings supporting the two leg portions on the rim. The apical line or apical face of the convexly curved surface portion is offset in a direction of a center axis of rotation of the wheel so as not to be located in a position corresponding to the circumferential grooves when viewed from a radial direction of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima, Mitsuo Ikeda, Tsuyoshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7198085
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly, wherein bent parts (4f) bent outward are formed at the leg end parts of an annular shell (4), an inclination angle (?1) of a line segment L1 extending from the axially outer end (P3) of the bent part (4f) through the apex (P1) of a hump (1f) on a rim relative to a direction perpendicular to a tire axis is set to within ±5° in a cross section orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the annular shell (4), the area (4s) of the annular shell equal to the height (B) of at least 35% of the height (A) from the radially inner end of the annular shell is formed linearly, the inclination angle (?2) of an extension line (L2) along the inner surface of the linear area (4s) relative to the direction perpendicular to the tire axis is 15 to 30° in axial inner side, and the extension line (L2) passes between the apex (P1) of the hump (1h) and the toe tip (P2) of a tire bead part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Harikae, Eiichi Iida
  • Patent number: 7191811
    Abstract: A run-flat tire-wheel assembly having, in an inside cavity of the tire/rim, a run-flat support formed by a ring-shaped metal shell and rubber elastic members or a ring-shaped metal shell and rubber elastic members composed of a rubber composition containing 100 parts by weight of a peroxide cross-linkable rubber and 1 to 30 parts by weight of a peroxide cross-linking agent, wherein the contact surfaces of the ring-shaped metal shell with the rubber elastic members are subjected to an electrolytic polymerization with 6-mono- or di-allylamino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithiol or its mono- or di-salt, whereby the bondability between the ring-shaped metal shell and rubber elastic members is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hotaka, Yasuhiro Ishikawa, Osamu Ozawa, Ryotaro Suefuji
  • Patent number: 7188648
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a rim, a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim and a run-flat support member. The pneumatic tire includes a cavity, and the run-flat support member is disposed in the cavity of the pneumatic tire. The run-flat support member includes an annular shell and elastic rings. The annular shell has a support surface located radially outward and two leg portions formed radially inward. The elastic rings support the leg portions on the rim. The leg portions of the annular shell are detachably attached to the elastic rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Mori, Mitsuo Kurebayashi
  • Patent number: 7188649
    Abstract: A runflat tire system comprises a pneumatic tire, a wheel rim on which the pneumatic tire is mounted, and a support ring made of elastic material and disposed in a cavity surrounded by an inner surface of the rim and an inner surface of the tire mounted thereon, wherein the support ring comprises an annular body extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and provided with a plurality of hollows opening at the cavity, and at least one noise damper made of sponge material having apparent density of 0.1 g/cm3 or less and disposed in the hollow such that the noise damper does not protrude into the cavity from an inlet surface of the hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishida, Masatoshi Tanaka, Yurie Tanami
  • Patent number: 7178569
    Abstract: A support ring for a runflat tire system which comprises an annular body made of an elastic material having a radially inner circumferential surface which fits to a mounting portion of a wheel rim when mounted thereon, and a radially outer circumferential surface which comes into contact with the inside of the tread portion of a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim when the tire is deflated and loaded, wherein the outer circumferential surface is wider in the axial width than the inner circumferential surface, and in a cross section including the central axis of the support ring, the outline of the annular body is substantially a trapezoidal shape of which two parallel long and short sides are the outer and inner circumferential surfaces, respectively, and the remaining two sides are inclined at acute angles with respect to the long side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishida, Masatoshi Tanaka, Yurie Tanami
  • Patent number: 7129279
    Abstract: A polyurethane-polymer composition suitable for preparing a lightweight tire support includes at least one isocyanate, at least one polyol, and at least one chain extender. A polyurethane-polymer composition can also include an additive such as a catalyst, a filler, a surfactant, a colorant, and a mold-release agent. A lightweight tire support can be prepared from a polyurethane-polymer composition by, for example, reaction injection molding. Such a tire support desirably has temperature stability and load-bearing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan K. Schrock, Ralph D. Priester, Jr., Wayne R. Willkom, Robert E. O'Neill, Martin C. Cornell, Christopher P. Christenson
  • Patent number: 7117911
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a runflat capability provided with a crescent shaped reinforcing rubber layer at the side part thereof, wherein an inner layer is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing (A) at least one thermoplastic resin having an air permeation coefficient of 100×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less and a Young's modulus of more than 500 MPa and (B) at least one elastomer ingredient having an air permeation coefficient of 50×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or more and a Young's modulus of 500 MPa or less in amounts of at least 30% by weight based upon the total polymer ingredients and having an air permeation coefficient of 100×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Kazuto Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7104301
    Abstract: The innermost carcass ply of a runflat tire (50) having a radial carcass ply is a discontinuous ply (52) that includes two portions (52a, 52b) each disposed within one of the sidewalls (43, 45). In one embodiment, each of the two discontinuous ply portions is composed of two layers (64, 66) of cross-biased cords (65, 67) which are disposed between the two wedge inserts (58b, 59b) in each sidewall. In another embodiment, the two portions (72a, 72b) of the discontinuous ply (72) are composed of wavy metal cords. In a third embodiment, a runflat tire incorporating either embodiment of the discontinuous ply (92a, 92b) is built using the locked, tie-in construction for the carcass ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Koeune, Jean-Claude Lahure, Xavier Fraipont
  • Patent number: 7104302
    Abstract: A run-flat support ring, which is a component mounted upon a rim inside a tire to extend the distance the tire may travel at reduced or zero inflation pressure, is provided having an internal fin design that improves the rolling resistance of the support ring without sacrificing the overall load bearing and handling characteristics. Certain embodiments may also include one or more features that improve the process of mounting the support ring onto a rim and better tolerate variations, within manufacturing tolerances, in the respective diameters of the rim and the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Damon L. Christenbury, Steven A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7100654
    Abstract: A safety support for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel within a tire includes a substantially toroidal hollow annular body and a filling of elastically deformable expanded material. The annular body includes a convex radially outer surface, two axially opposite side surfaces, and devices for associating the annular body to the rim. The annular body is made of a rigid and substantially non-extensible material and is elastically deformable under load for absorbing stresses imparted to the tire in case of pressure loss by the tire. Each side surface is connected to the radially outer surface by respective first axially opposite connecting portions. A safety system for the vehicle wheel includes a tire and the safety support. The vehicle wheel includes the tire, the safety support, and the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Daniele Lorenzetti, Mario Secchi
  • Patent number: 7096907
    Abstract: A run-flat support ring, which is a component mounted upon a rim inside a tire to extend the distance the tire may travel at reduced or zero inflation pressure, is provided having an integrated shelf design that enhances the handling characteristics of the support ring under run-flat conditions and may also lower the overall mass of the support ring in certain applications. In addition, the support ring has one or more features that improve the process of mounting the support ring onto a rim and better tolerate variations, within manufacturing tolerances, in the respective diameters of the rim and the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Damon L. Christenbury, Steven A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7066225
    Abstract: The invention is a runflat insert comprising an outer contacting portion for contacting the interior surface of the tire during deflated operation; a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the outer contacting portion comprising an elastomeric shear layer, a membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer; a sidewall portion extending radially inward from the contacting portion for connecting the annular band to a base member fitted around the wheel rim for securing the insert to the rim; and a carcass layer adhered to the annular band and extending radially inward from the annular band and anchored in the base member. The elastomeric shear comprises a dienic composition that includes a metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a peroxide curative agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Rhyne, Steven M. Cron, Kenneth W. Demino, Michael D. Grah
  • Patent number: 7055565
    Abstract: A runflat tire system which comprises a wheel rim, a pneumatic tire and a support ring is disclosed. The support ring comprises a radially inner annular portion, a radially outer annular portion, and a supporting wall extending from the inner annular portion to the outer annular portion, wherein the supporting wall comprises a main wall extending continuously in the circumferential direction in a trapezoidal waveform, and axial walls extending axially outwardly from the main wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishida, Masatoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7044180
    Abstract: A run-flat insert 200 for enabling a vehicle to run for limited duration on a deflated tire 20, is mounted in an assembly comprising a pneumatic tire 20 and a wheel rim 10, and said insert is mounted inside the tire and secured to the wheel rim. The insert 200 has improved characteristics in load carrying, vehicle handling, mass, and shock transmission. Such a run-flat insert 200 comprises an outer, reinforced annular band 220 that is coupled with a sidewall portion 230 having little resistance to compressive loads, and the sidewall portion 230 tell mates in a base member 240 fitted around the wheel rim 10 for securing the insert 200 to the rim 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Rhyne, Kenneth W. Demino, Steven M. Cron
  • Patent number: 7040367
    Abstract: A lubricant for a run-flat tire system includes a water soluble, or water-miscible carrier, a thickener, and a surfactant. The thickener hereof retains its rheological properties and is not subject to permanent thinning shear. The base fluid is, preferably, a water-soluble polyhydroxyl or other polyhydric compound and the thickener is preferably a clay. When admixed with a surfactant and, optionally, a lubricity agent, the lubricant exhibits long term stability and (is resistant to heat buildup.) prevents the buildup of heat in the tire assembly when the tire is in the run flat condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Edward B. Kollin
  • Patent number: 7036543
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly, wherein a run-flat support body comprising an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a support surface and an inner peripheral side formed in fork-shaped open legs and elastic rings supporting the end parts of the fork-shaped open legs on a rim is inserted into the hollow part of a pneumatic tire, bent parts are formed at the end parts of the annular shell where the annular shell is connected to the elastic rings, the shape of the elastic ring in a cross section orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the elastic ring is formed into a barrel shape having bulged both side faces, the maximum thickness (A) of the elastic ring in a cross section swelling from a tangential line (L1) extending from the apex (P1) of a hump on the rim so as to abut on the axial inner end (P3) of the bent part is 3 to 6 mm, and the maximum thickness (B) thereof swelling from a tangential line (L2) extending from an intersection (P2) between a line segment (L3) parallel with a tire axis through t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7007732
    Abstract: The present invention is a pneumatic tire and wheel assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprising a wheel having a wheel rim, a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim, where the pneumatic tire has an interior cavity, an annular insert mounted on the wheel rim and inside the interior cavity of the tire, and a lubricant comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of stearic acid, sodium oleate, sodium palmitate, polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, and mixtures thereof, and a substance selected from the group consisting of paraffin oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, rapseed oil, tricresyl phosphate and naphthalenic oil and mixtures thereof. When the assembly is used with the tire in deflated condition, the normally solid lubricant liquefies, and thereby facilitates relative movement of the interior surface of the tire contacting the annular insert and the annular insert. In one embodiment of the invention, the insert comprises rubber or polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Rodney R. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6997223
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mounting structure of a tire monitoring device, in which communication failures due to a conductive support core member can be prevented. The tire monitoring device which transmits information of the inside of a tire by using radio waves is mounted on a conductive support core member which is placed within the cavity of a pneumatic tire and is formed in a hollow structure over a peripheral portion of a rim. At this time, the tire monitoring device is disposed on a sidewall of the support core member or in a channel on a load support surface of the support core member, and a transmission antenna of the tire monitoring device is disposed outside of the support core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Naito
  • Patent number: 6989065
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary run flat tire (RFT) reinforcement using filament material that is formed into a relatively rigid shape. The reinforcement is insertable into a mold for an RFT support and can maintain the needed structural rigidity for such insertion. Further, the invention provides an RFT support that is molded and includes the RFT reinforcement. The invention also provides a wheel assembly including a tire, a rim, and an RFT support between the rim and the tire, where the support includes the RFT reinforcement. The RFT support can have a colored indicator formed or subsequently applied thereto to indicate one or more attributes of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Rick L. Tabor, Patricio Jimenez, Jr., Wayne R. Wilkomm, Ralph D. Priester, Jr., Marty C. Cornell, Chris P. Christenson, Kimberly F. Bennett, Peder E. Danielsen, Jeffery D. Zawisza
  • Patent number: 6983774
    Abstract: A tire reinforcing arrangement includes an outer tire having two hooked flanges at two sides, two annular spare tires bilaterally set inside the outer tire, each annular spare tire being formed of a plurality of spare tire blocks that are fastened to one another by links and screw bolts, each spare tire block having two mounting through holes, a top locating groove adapted to receive the hooked flanges of the outer tire, an embossed bottom wall, and two projecting portions diagonally disposed at two ends, and stretchers respectively stopped between the annular spare tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6983780
    Abstract: The present inventions are a run-flat tire and a tire/wheel assembly in which the workability of the tire-to-rim fit has been improved while including a core-type run-flat support member. The tire/wheel assembly is formed by fitting a pneumatic tire into a wheel rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire, in which the circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the tire and leg portions along each end of the support surface, and the elastic rings are attached to the leg portions of the circular shell. Meanwhile, stages extending in a tire circumferential direction are formed on the inner walls of a pair of right and left beads in the pneumatic tire, and the elastic rings are locked into the stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6955202
    Abstract: An auxiliary wheel rim for use in a vehicle wheel for enabling the car driver to drive the car to the repair shop safely upon explosion of the tire is disclosed to include a plurality of first rim element, a second rim element, a third rim element, a plurality of links respectively fastened to the lugs of the first, second and third rim elements with pins to connect the first rim elements in series between the second rim element and the third rim element; and screw bolt fastened to the second and third rim elements to connect the linked first, second and third rim elements into the desired annular auxiliary wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Yueh Nu Chen
  • Patent number: 6932131
    Abstract: A tire reinforcing arrangement includes a tire and two auxiliary tires mounted inside the tire for supporting the tire in shape for running on the road when the tire is broken, each auxiliary tire being formed of a plurality of hollow auxiliary tire elements, a plurality of smoothly arched connecting plates fastened to the auxiliary tire elements at two sides with screw bolts to connect the auxiliary tire elements into a series of linked auxiliary tire elements, and two U-bars fastened together with a screw bolt and a pin and connected to the series of linked auxiliary tire elements with screw bolts and pins to join the ends of the series of linked auxiliary tire elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6932130
    Abstract: A run flat tire wheel assembly having a flat run support formed by a ring-shaped metal shell and rubbery elastic members in a tire rim cavity, said tire wheel assembly improving bondability between the ring-shaped metal shell and rubbery elastic members by making said rubbery elastic member from a rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber, 40 to 90 parts by weight of carbon black, 3 to 8 parts by weight of sulfur, 0.1 to 1 part by weight of an organic acid cobalt salt in terms of content of cobalt element, 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a phenylene-diamine-based antiaging agent, and 1 to 6 parts by weight of a resol-type alkylphenol resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hotaka, Yasuhiro Ishikawa, Osamu Ozawa, Ryotaro Suefuji
  • Patent number: 6926052
    Abstract: A vehicle tire is constructed to include a main tire member, the main tire member having two inward lips, and two annular supplementary tire members respectively fastened to the inward lips of the main tire member and adapted to support the main tire member in shape when damaged accidentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6918979
    Abstract: A tire, and an apparatus and method for forming a tire. The tire may either be a tubed or tubeless tire, and is filled with a mixture of virgin rubber and small rubber pieces. Preferably, a machine grinds the core of used flatproofed tires, or pieces thereof, into a finely communicated pulverulent. The pulverent is mixed with liquid virgin flatproofing material, such as a polyurethane. An injector introduces this mixture, into the core of a tire, typically through a valve. The core of the tire is preferably substantially filled with this mixture. The injector may take the form of one or more elongated screws and the mixing may occur as the ground rubber is being conveyed by the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: PC Industries
    Inventor: Charles A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6915824
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member is disposed in a cavity of a pneumatic tire fitted to a rim. The run-flat support member includes a circular shell, in which an outer circumferential side thereof is a support surface and an inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and left and right elastic rings which support the two leg portions on the rim. The elastic rings have different rigidities from each other so that the elastic ring receiving a larger load during run-flat traveling has a higher rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6901980
    Abstract: Disclosed are a tire/wheel assembly and a run-flat support member which are designed to be lightened without losing durability during run-flat traveling. The tire/wheel assembly is constituted as follows: a pneumatic tire is fit to a wheel rim; and the run-flat support member constituted of a circular shell and elastic rings is inserted into a cavity of the pneumatic tire. The circular shell has a support surface thereof extended toward the periphery of the pneumatic tire and leg portions along each side of the support surface. The elastic rings support the leg portions of the circular shell on the rim. In the tire/wheel assembly, contact portions and noncontact portions for the circular shell are alternately formed on the elastic rings in a shell circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Iida, Shinya Harikae
  • Patent number: 6892777
    Abstract: Mounting rim designed to form a rolling assembly with a tire and an inflatable and inflated tread bearing support, and comprising on each side of the equatorial plane a rim seat inclined outwards and extended axially outwards by a projection or hump, characterized in that it comprises, axially towards the inside between each rim seat for the tire beads and the equatorial plane XX?, at least one truncated conical seat inclined inwards and designed to receive a bead of a tire tread bearing support. The rolling assembly is used either with a bearing support in the form of a toric membrane inflated hard which retains its shape and pressure if the tire is punctured, or with a bearing support in the form of a membrane that can expand in the event of a tire puncture and entirely fill the internal cavity of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Patent number: 6880596
    Abstract: A support ring for vehicle tires is disclosed. The support ring is to be mounted on a tire wheel for support of the underside of the tire when the tire is operated at underinflated conditions. The support ring has a base, a cap, and a series of supporting arches extending between the base and the cap. The highest point of the arch contacts the support ring cap. During load, the arch flexes and transmits the load force along the arch sides and to the base of the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Anthony Dennis Adams
  • Patent number: 6872272
    Abstract: A vehicle tire fabrication method in which a raw tire tube is adhered with two annular hook members and two annular rubber packing members one the inside and an airtight sealing layer and a combination outer tire wall layer on the outside, and then the raw tire thus obtained is put in a vulcanizing mold and vulcanized into a finished vehicle tire, and then the annular rubber packing members are removed from the finished vehicle tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6863102
    Abstract: A tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member is inserted into a cavity of a pneumatic tire, the run-flat support member including a circular shell in which the outer circumferential side thereof is used as a support surface and the inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and elastic rings supporting the ends of the two leg portions on a rim. Protruding portions are provided, respectively projecting sideways on both sides of the circular shell, and the protruding portions come to contact with an inner surface of a bead of the pneumatic tire during run-flat traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Atsushi Tanno, Masatoshi Kuwajima