Spoke for non-pneumatic tire with adhesion deflector and reinforcing layer

Abstract

There is provided a spoke (12) for a non-pneumatic tire (10), the spoke having a nose portion (28) that engages a first plate (16) and a second plate (18). A first leg (20) is carried by the first plate and has a first concave surface (46) of the first leg and an adhesion deflector (48). There is a second leg (22) that is carried by the second plate. A reinforcing layer (24) engages the first concave surface of the first leg and the adhesion deflector.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application is a 35 U.S.C.§371 application of PCT / US2020 / 066546, titled "Spoke for Non - Pneumatic Tire with Adhesion Deflector and Reinforcement Layer", filed on December 22, 2020, and claims the benefit thereof. The entire content of PCT / US2020 / 066546 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The subject matter of the present invention relates to a spoke for a non - pneumatic tire that has an adhesion deflector and a reinforcement layer to increase the fatigue life of the spoke. More specifically, the present application relates to a reinforcement layer located on the foot of the spoke that engages the adhesion deflector, the concave surface, and in some cases the plate of the spoke to increase the strength of the spoke and extend its working life. Background Art

[0004] A non - pneumatic tire can be made of a series of spokes that are attached at one end to a wheel hub and at the other end to a shear beam. The tread of the tire is located on the outer surface of the shear band. The plurality of spokes can be V - shaped, having two legs, two feet, and a nose that is generally located in the middle. One of the feet is attached to the inner surface of the shear band, and the other foot is attached to the radially outer surface of the wheel hub. Any number of spokes can be provided around the perimeter of the non - pneumatic tire, and they will flex when they are subjected to the forces generated during rotation and driving. By applying force, the spokes may experience breakage, which may require replacement or repair of the spokes.

[0005] During the construction of the foot of the spoke, a tool radius is required at the heel portion of the foot, which is at the junction of the foot and the shear beam. This radius provides an opportunity for failure to occur at that location of the spoke. The shape of the heel portion also causes an excessive amount of adhesive to flow radially along the heel portion of the foot. The excessive adhesive at this location causes stress concentration, which results in premature failure of the spoke. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a complete and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including its best mode, for a person of ordinary skill in the art is set forth in the specification, wherein:

[0007] Figure 1 is a side view of a non - pneumatic tire.

[0008] Figure 2Side view of a spoke, a portion of a wheel hub, and a portion of a shear band of a non-pneumatic tire.

[0009] Figure 3 Is Figure 2 Front view of the spoke, which also shows a cross-sectional view through the tread, the shear band, and a portion of the wheel hub.

[0010] Figure 4 Front view of a reinforcing layer, showing the cords and their angular arrangement before the reinforcing layer is incorporated into the spoke.

[0011] Figure 5 Is Figure 2 The view indicated by line 5-5 in

[0012] Figure 6 Side view of a spoke, a portion of a wheel hub, and a portion of a shear band of a non-pneumatic tire according to another embodiment.

[0013] Figure 7 Side view of a spoke, a portion of a wheel hub, and a portion of a shear band of a non-pneumatic tire according to yet another embodiment.

[0014] The same or similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote the same or similar features. Detailed Description

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features shown or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a third embodiment. The invention is intended to include these and other modifications and variations.

[0016] The present invention provides a spoke 12 of a non-pneumatic tire 10, the spoke including a reinforcing layer 24 that is arranged to strengthen an attachment region of the spoke 12 to increase its fatigue life. The reinforcing layer 24 can be located on a concave surface 46 of a foot 20 of the spoke 12 and an adhesion deflector 48. The reinforcing layer 24 can extend along a portion but not all of a leg or plate 16 of the spoke 12. Placing the reinforcing layer 24 at this location on the spoke 12 strengthens a failure region that may occur due to fatigue of the spoke 12 to extend the life of the spoke 12 during normal operation. The location of the reinforcing layer 24 in the spoke 12 does not significantly affect the rolling resistance and strengthens a heel region of the foot 20, which can be the first part of the spoke 12 that experiences cracking after the expected life of the spoke 12 during use.

[0017] Figure 1The non-pneumatic tire 10 is shown. The non-pneumatic tire 10 has an axis 34 about which it rotates at its center, and a radial direction 30 extends from the axis 34. The tread 78 is located outside the shear band 38 and extends continuously around the non-pneumatic tire 10 in the circumferential direction 40. The shear band 38 is positioned inwardly from the tread 78 along the radial direction 30 and also extends 360 degrees around the axis 34 along the circumferential direction 40. A series of spokes 12 engage the shear band 38 and extend inwardly from the shear band 38 along the radial direction 30 to the hub 36 of the non-pneumatic tire 10. The spokes 12 can be adhered to the hub 36 by an adhesive (such as glue) to attach the spokes 12 to the hub 36. Any number of spokes 12 can be present, and their cross-sectional shape can be different from the shape shown. In some cases, there are 64 - 80 spokes 12 in the non-pneumatic tire 10. In some cases, there are 32 spokes 12 in the non-pneumatic tire 12. The hub 36 is positioned inwardly from the spokes 12 in the radial direction 30 and can be mounted on a vehicle's wheel. When the non-pneumatic tire 10 is resting on the ground and when the non-pneumatic tire 10 rotates during normal operation of the vehicle, the spokes 12 at the top of the non-pneumatic tire 10 are in a tensile state, and the spokes 12 at the bottom are in a compressive state.

[0018] An embodiment of the spoke 12 is shown in Figure 2 which Figure 2 is a side view of one of the spokes 12 and a portion of the hub 36 and a portion of the shear band 38. The spoke 12 is made of a plurality of components attached to each other, and these components can be made of rubber and other materials. The spoke 12 presents a V-shaped configuration and extends from the hub 36 to the shear band 38 in the radial direction 30. The spoke 12 includes a pair of legs which are referred to herein as the first plate 16 and the second plate 18. The plates 16 and 18 can be joined to each other or not, and in some embodiments, the plates 16 and 18 can be a single continuous piece where different sections of the continuous piece are designated as the first plate 16 and the second plate 18, or can be separate pieces as in Figure 2 which. The first feet 20 and the second feet 22 are located at the ends of the plates 16, 18. The nose 28 is located at the central body of the spoke 12 and has a cross-section of generally triangular shape. The spoke 12 can be assembled by taking a plurality of uncured components and assembling them together and then curing them by heat and pressure so that the components are attached to each other. Each of these components can contain different materials, or can have different amounts or the same amount of the same material. Rubber, fiberglass, urethane, polyurethane, and other materials can be present in the components used to assemble the spoke 12.

[0019] The components of the spoke 12 include a first plate 16 and a second plate 18 that form the legs of the spoke 12. The first plate 16 has a first foot 20 at one end that engages the first plate 16 and extends further in the radial direction 30 than the end of the first plate 16. The second plate 18 has a second foot 22 at one end that engages the second plate 18 and extends further inward in the radial direction 30 than the end of the second plate 18. A nose 28 is present on one side of the spoke 12 in the circumferential direction 40 and engages the first plate 16 and the second plate 18. To strengthen the spoke in the central section of the spoke 12, a protruding nose reinforcement 14 is provided that engages both the first plate 16 and the second plate 18. The protruding nose reinforcement 14 is located on the side of the plates 16, 18 opposite the nose 28 in the circumferential direction 40. The protruding nose reinforcement 14 engages the body 28 and the plates 16, 18, but in other embodiments, the protruding nose reinforcement 14 does not engage the body 28. The protruding nose reinforcement 14 extends along a portion of the length of the plates 16, 18 but terminates before engaging the feet 20, 22. The protruding nose reinforcement 14 need not be present in other embodiments, but if present, the protruding nose reinforcement is used to increase the strength of the spoke 12 near the nose 28. It should be understood that the shape and dimensions of the spoke 12 can vary according to different exemplary embodiments, and there can be multiple configurations of the spoke 12.

[0020] According to different exemplary embodiments, the first foot 20 can have different shapes. In Figure 2 the presented embodiment, the first foot 20 has an adhesive surface 50 that engages the radially inner surface of the shear band 38 and can be attached to the radially inner surface of the shear band by using an adhesive 52. A first concave surface 46 of the first foot is present on the front end 54 of the first foot 20. The first concave surface 46 of the first foot can extend all the way to the first plate 16 or can stop before the surface of the first foot 20 that engages the first plate 16. The shape of the surface 46 can provide strength and durability to the foot 20 in this area. The front end 54 also has an adhesion deflector 48 from which the first concave surface 46 of the first foot can extend. There are alternative embodiments where the adhesion deflector 48 is spaced from the first concave surface 46 of the first foot such that the first concave surface 46 of the first foot does not extend from the adhesion deflector 48, but other features of the foot 20 are located between the first concave surface 46 of the first foot and the adhesion deflector 48.

[0021] In addition to being located on the bonding surface 50, the adhesive 52 also engages the adhesion deflector 48 such that the adhesion deflector 48 is similarly attached to the shear band 38. The first leg 20 may be arranged such that the adhesion deflector 48 is integrally formed with the remainder of the first leg 20 and is not a separate piece. Thus, the bonding surface 50 and the surface of the adhesion deflector 48 that engages the shear band 38 can form a single uninterrupted surface. The adhesion deflector 48 eliminates the presence of a tool radius that would otherwise exist at the tip 54 at this location and relocates the excess adhesive 52 in the circumferential direction 40 from the high stress area. During assembly, the adhesive 52 used to attach the first leg 20 to the shear band 38 can be extruded between these elements to show Figure 2 the two beads shown in

[0022] The adhesion deflector 48 extends the surface of the first leg 20 that engages the shear band 38, and the presence of the adhesion deflector 48 eliminates the tool radius that would otherwise exist at the heel region of the leg 20. Eliminating the tool radius eliminates the positioning of the adhesive along the face of the heel and the formation of stress concentrations that can lead to cracking. The extension of the adhesion deflector 48 in the circumferential direction 40 moves the adhesive bead 52 beyond the high stress area to prevent cracking, as previously discussed.

[0023] The first leg 20 has a front tip 54 and a relatively disposed tail tip 58 in the circumferential direction 40. The second concave surface 56 of the first leg is located at the tail tip 58 and may extend from the first plate 16 or may be spaced apart from the first plate 16. The second concave surface 56 of the first leg may extend to the shear band 38 or may be spaced apart from the shear band 38, as Figure 2 shown, where the convex surface of the tail tip 58 engages the shear band 38. The radius of curvature of the second concave surface 56 of the first leg may be different from the radius of curvature of the first concave surface 46 of the first leg. The two concave surfaces 46, 56 may extend different lengths in the radial direction 30 such that the first concave surface 46 of the first leg extends a shorter length in the radial direction 30 than the second concave surface 56 of the first leg extends in the radial direction. The adhesive 52 does not contact the second concave surface 56 of the first leg. The first leg 20 engages the first plate 16 along a bonding surface that extends from the front tip 54 to the tail tip 58. Additionally, the bonding surface 50 and the adhesion deflector 48 extend from the front tip 54 to the tail tip 58.

[0024] As previously discussed, the incorporation of the adhesion deflector 48 moves the adhesive 52 away from the high stress area to prevent cracking. However, when displaced, a new weak point in the leg 20 is the rubber that makes up the leg 20, particularly the rubber at the first concave surface 46 of the first leg. In the presence of the adhesion deflector 48, the first leg 20 will first experience cracking at the first concave surface 46 of the first leg. Therefore, a means of strengthening this area of the first leg 20 should be provided to prevent, minimize, or delay this cracking.

[0025] To strengthen the first leg 20 at the front end 54, particularly at the first concave surface 46 of the first leg, a first reinforcing layer 24 is incorporated into the spoke 12. The first reinforcing layer 24 engages and adheres to the deflector 48, the first concave surface 46 of the first leg, and the first plate 16. The first reinforcing layer 24 stops before the nose 28 and does not engage the nose 28, the second plate 18, and the second leg 22. Additionally, when positioned within the spoke 12, the first reinforcing layer 24 does not engage the adhesive 52 and also does not engage the shear band 38. The first reinforcing layer 24 does not extend to the bonding surface 50 or the surface of the adhesive deflector 48 that engages the shear band 38. The first reinforcing layer 24 can engage and cover most of the front end 54 without engaging or covering any part of the trailing end 58. The first reinforcing layer 24 strengthens the first leg 20 and reduces cracking at the locations it covers and extends the working life of the spoke 12. In other embodiments, the first reinforcing layer 24 extends around the end of the adhesive deflector 48 such that it is positioned between the adhesive deflector 48 and the shear band 38. In this configuration, the first reinforcing layer 24 can engage the bonding surface 50 and the shear band 38, and the first reinforcing layer 24 can extend along a portion of the length of the bonding surface 50 but not along the entire bonding surface 50.

[0026] The second leg 22 can be arranged in the same manner as the first leg 20 or can be arranged in a different shape in other embodiments. In Figure 2 the embodiment, the second leg 22 is generally shaped in the same manner as the first leg 20. The second leg 22 has a concave bonding surface 68 opposite the convex bonding surface 50 that engages the convex radially outer end of the hub 36. An adhesive 70 can be used to attach the bonding surface 68 to the hub 36. The front end 72 of the second leg 22 faces in the same manner as the front end 54 in the circumferential direction 40. The front end 72 includes a first concave surface 64 of the second leg and a second adhesive deflector 66. The second adhesive deflector 66 is likewise used to space the adhesive 70 from the high stress areas of the second leg 22, and the adhesive 70 can secure both the bonding surface 68 and the bottom of the second adhesive deflector 66 to the hub 36.

[0027] The first concave surface 64 of the second leg may extend from the second adhesion deflector 66 and may terminate at the end of the front end 72 or may be spaced apart from the end of the front end 72. The dimensions, arrangement, and characteristics of the front end 72 may be the same as the dimensions, arrangement, and characteristics of the front end 54. The second leg 22 has a tail end 76 that is oppositely positioned to the front end 72 in the circumferential direction 40 and faces in the same manner as the tail end 58 in the circumferential direction 40. The second concave surface 74 of the second leg is located at the tail end 76 and may extend all the way to and engage with the second plate 18, or may stop before the second plate 18 and not engage with the second plate. The radius of curvature of the second concave surface 74 of the second leg may be different from the radius of curvature of the first concave surface 64 of the second leg. As Figure 2 shown, the second concave surface 74 of the second leg may extend all the way to the hub 36 or may stop before the hub 36. The two concave surfaces 64, 74 may extend different lengths along the radial direction 30 such that the length that the first concave surface 64 of the second leg extends along the radial direction 30 is shorter than the length that the second concave surface 74 of the second leg extends along the radial direction. There is no reinforcing layer at the front end 72 or at the second plate 18. In other embodiments, this may be reversed, where there is a reinforcing layer 24 at the second leg 22 at the hub 36, but there is no reinforcing layer 24 at the first leg 20 that engages the shear band 38.

[0028] The spoke 12 will deform during normal operation of the tire 10, but may remain generally V-shaped at all points during operation. In this regard, the plates 16, 18 are arranged in a generally V-shape, with the legs 20, 22 at the two ends. In use, the spoke 12 will deform such that the plates 16, 18 move closer to and farther away from each other as the tire 10 rotates, and the spoke 12 moves between tension and compression. The adhesives 52, 70 hold the legs 20, 22 in engagement with the hub 36 and the shear band 38. The reinforcing layer 24 strengthens the first leg 20 during the life of the spoke 12 such that breakage at the front end 54 is reduced or eliminated or delayed, such that the spoke 12 will last for a longer amount of time without experiencing such wear that would otherwise occur without the reinforcing layer 24.

[0029] Figure 3is a cross-sectional view taken through the tread 78, shear band 38, and hub 36 and shows a front view of the spoke 12. The tread 78 can be made of various materials and is located on top of the shear band 38 in the radial direction 30. The tread 78 can include any structure, such as grooves, siping, blocks, or ribs. The shear band 38 has a series of reinforcements that extend the entire length of the shear band 38 in the circumferential direction 40 and can also include other materials, such as rubber, that surround these reinforcements. The hub 36 can be made of metal or other materials. The spoke 12 and all of the variously described features of the spoke 12 can extend in the axial direction 32 the same amount as the shear band 38, tread 78, and hub 36 extend in the axial direction 32. When the spoke 12 is attached via adhesives 52, 70, one of the adhesives 52, 70 can be pushed outward in the axial direction 32 such that the adhesives 52, 70 are actually located more outward in the axial direction 32 than the shear band 38, tread 78, or hub 36. Accordingly, it should be understood that the reinforcing layer 24 extends in the axial direction 32 the same distance as the plates 16, 18, feet 20, 22, first foot first concave surface 46, adhesive deflector 48, and nose 28 extend in the axial direction.

[0030] Figure 4 is a front view of the reinforcing layer 24 before it is incorporated into the spoke 12. According to different embodiments, the reinforcing layer 24 can be made of one material or different materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing layer 24 is made of rubber with cords 42, 44 of nylon or polyester embedded therein. The cords 42, 44 can be joined to each other or can be spaced apart from each other. The cords 42, 44 can be embedded in the rubber of the reinforcing layer 24 such that no cords 42, 44 are present on the outer surface of the rubber that constitutes the reinforcing layer 24. The rubber of the reinforcing layer 24 can constitute all of the outer surfaces of the reinforcing layer 24, and the cords 42, 44 are shown in dashed lines and are not visible from the outside of the reinforcing layer 24. The cords 42, 44 can be made of nylon or polyester such that all of the cords 42, 44 are made of the same material, or such that some of the cords 42 are made of nylon and the remaining cords 44 are made of polyester. For example, all of the cords 42 can be made of nylon while all of the cords 44 are made of polyester. The cords 42, 44 are used to reinforce the reinforcing layer 24 and can be present in any number in other embodiments and can be absent in other embodiments of the spoke 12. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the reinforcing layer 24 can be a textile product.

[0031] The cords 42 differ from the cords 44 in that the cords 42 are arranged at a different angle relative to the cords 44. In this regard, all of the cords 42 are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other and not joined to each other, and all of the cords 44 are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other and not joined to each other. The radial direction 30 is at Figure 4shown, and the radial direction 30 will correspond to, for example, Figure 3 the radial direction 30 shown in Figure 4 such that the top edge of the reinforcing layer 24 in Figure 4 will be close to the shear band 38, and the bottom edge of the reinforcing layer 24 in Figure 4 will be at the first plate 16. The axial direction 32 is the Figure 3 horizontal line in

[0032] and corresponds to the axial direction 32 of the tire 10, since the reinforcing layer 24 will be positioned in the tire 10 such that the illustrated axial direction 32 will overlap with the Figure 4 axial direction 32 in Figure 4 As shown, using the radial direction 30 as a starting point, the first set of cords 42 is oriented at an angle 60 of positive 45 degrees with respect to the radial direction 30, which is a clockwise rotation of the cords 42 from the vertical radial direction 30. It is also known in trigonometry to measure the angle with respect to the X-axis, and in this regard, a second angle 60 is shown in

[0033] which is also a positive 45 degrees in the case where the cords 42 are rotated counterclockwise from the X-axis / axial direction 32. All the cords 42 can have the same angle 60.

[0034] The cords 44 are oriented at an angle 62 with respect to the radial direction 30, which is shown as a 45-degree rotation counterclockwise from the radial direction 30. Since the angle 62 is in the counterclockwise direction from the radial direction 30, it is designated as a negative angle, such that the angle 62 is negative 45 degrees. Another angle 62 with respect to the same cords 44 is also shown, but this additional angle 62 is measured from the horizontal line which is the axial direction 32, and is rotated clockwise from the horizontal line / axial direction 32, and is designated as a negative angle of negative 45 degrees. All the cords 44 can have an angle 62 of negative 45 degrees.

[0034] The resulting structure of the cords 42, 44 having their respective angles 60, 62 produces a structure in which the first set of cords 42 and the second set of cords 44 are oriented at an angle of 90 degrees to each other. The cords 42, 44 cross each other and may be joined to each other at these crossing points, or the cords 42, 44 may be completely disengaged from each other. When not joined, the cord 42 may be at one position in the thickness direction in the reinforcing layer 24, and the cord 44 is at a different position in the thickness direction in the reinforcing layer 24. When the reinforcing layer 24 is placed in the tire 10, the thickness direction of the reinforcing layer 24 may correspond to the circumferential direction 40 of the tire 10. Since the angle 60 is +45 degrees and the angle 62 is -45 degrees, the addition of the two angles 60, 62 results in a 90-degree difference between them. By orienting the cords 42, 44 at an angle with respect to each other, the strength of the reinforcing layer 24 is increased, and this increase in strength may be compressive and / or tensile. Although shown and described as being oriented at +45 degrees and -45 degrees, in other embodiments, the angles 60, 62 may have different magnitudes. For example, according to various embodiments in which one of the angles 60 is positive in direction and the other angle 62 is negative in direction, the angles 60, 62 may be 25 degrees, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, 55 degrees, 60 degrees, 25 degrees - 60 degrees, 30 degrees - 50 degrees, 40 degrees - 50 degrees, or up to 60 degrees. Additionally, there are alternative embodiments in which the angles 60 and 62 are 0 degrees such that all the cords 42, 44 are parallel to the radial direction. Although shown as having the cords 42, 44, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the reinforcing layer 24 need not have the cords 42, 44.

[0035] Figure 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 which shows the reinforcing layer 24 placed into the spoke 12. Due to the curvature of the first foot first concave surface 46 and the curvature of the end 54 of the first foot 20, the reinforcing layer 24 will similarly bend in the circumferential direction 40. Due to this curvature, at all positions of the placed reinforcing layer 24, the angles 60, 62 will not be at +45 degrees and -45 degrees with respect to the radial direction 30. Instead, the angles 60, 62 may have different magnitudes, but have the same magnitude and different directions from each other at the same position in the radial direction 30. This is also the case for the reinforcing layer 24 located on the first foot first concave surface 46. The portion of the reinforcing layer 24 located on the first plate 16 will include as previously in Figure 2 is a view taken along line 5-5 which shows the reinforcing layer 24 placed into the spoke 12. Figure 4 The reinforcing layer 24 will similarly bend in the circumferential direction 40 due to the curvature of the first foot first concave surface 46 and the curvature of the end 54 of the first foot 20. Due to this curvature, at all positions of the placed reinforcing layer 24, the angles 60, 62 will not be at +45 degrees and -45 degrees with respect to the radial direction 30. Instead, the angles 60, 62 may have different magnitudes, but have the same magnitude and different directions from each other at the same position in the radial direction 30. This is also the case for the reinforcing layer 24 located on the first foot first concave surface 46. The portion of the reinforcing layer 24 located on the first plate 16 will include as previously in Figure 4The angles 60, 62 of + / - 45 degrees as shown, where the cords 42, 44 are not distorted because the cords 42, 44 do not pass through the circumferential curvature at the first plate 16. Thus, depending on the position in the radial direction 30, the angles 60, 62 can be oriented differently at different positions of the reinforcing layer 24. As used in the claims, when the angles 60, 62 are described as having a particular size or orientation, this can be measured relative to the reinforcing layer 24 removed from the spoke 12 and laid flat as shown in Figure 4 or can be measured relative to the portion of the reinforcing layer 24 located on the plate 16. The use of the cords 42, 44 having angles 60, 62 of +45 degrees and -45 degrees within the rubber of the reinforcing layer 24 enables the foot 20 to withstand the compressive strain experienced in this portion of the tire 10 while also reinforcing the foot when the foot 20 is in tension. In this way, the reinforcing layer 24 prevents, minimizes or delays rupture of the first concave surface 46 of the first foot and potentially other parts of the first foot 20.

[0036] Figure 6 is a substitute embodiment similar to the spoke 12 disclosed in Figure 2 . However, the protruding nose reinforcement 14 is longer than the nose reinforcement in Figure 2 and extends along the plates 16, 18 all the way to the feet 20, 22 and engages the feet 20, 22. However, the protruding nose reinforcement 14 does not extend completely along the entire plates 16, 18 such that the first foot 20 engages both the first plate 16 and the protruding nose reinforcement 14 and the second foot 22 engages both the second plate 18 and the protruding nose reinforcement 14. The position of the protruding nose reinforcement 14 placed on the feet 20, 22 is such that the end of the protruding nose reinforcement 14 is moved away from the high stress area near the nose 28, thereby reducing, eliminating or delaying rupture at the end of the protruding nose reinforcement 14. The first reinforcing layer 24 is the same as Figure 2The embodiments are differently configured. The first reinforcing layer 24 covers and joins the entire first concave surface 46 and the tip 54 of the first leg, and also extends to and joins the first plate 16. The first reinforcing layer 24 also joins the adhesive deflector 48 and the adhesive 52. The first reinforcing layer 24 wraps around the tip of the adhesive deflector 48 and extends along the adhesive deflector 48 so as to be located between the adhesive deflector 48 and the shear band 38. The first reinforcing layer 24 thus forms part of or otherwise joins the adhesive surface 50. The first reinforcing layer 24 may be arranged with cords 42, 44 as described above. The spoke 12 also includes a second reinforcing layer 26 at the second leg 22 to reinforce the second leg 22 at that location, thereby preventing, reducing or delaying breakage at that location. The second reinforcing layer 26 joins the adhesive 70, the second adhesive deflector 66 and the entire first concave surface 64 of the second leg. The second reinforcing layer 26 wraps around the tip of the second adhesive deflector 66, and joins the hub 36, and is located between the hub 36 and the second adhesive deflector 66.

[0037] Figure 7 Another embodiment of the tire 10 and spoke 12 is shown, where the protruding nose reinforcement 14 is longer than that shown in Figure 6 such that it extends along the legs 20, 22 to be close to the front tips 54 and 72, but still stops before these front tips 54, 72 and does not coincide with the ends of the first plate 16 and the second plate 18. The protruding nose reinforcement 14 extends along their respective first plate 16 and second plate 18 for more than 50% of the length of the legs 20, 22. The extension of the protruding nose reinforcement 14 reduces, eliminates or delays breakage at the ends of the nose reinforcement 14 because they are spaced apart from the high stress region near the nose 28. The first reinforcing layer 24 joins the first plate 16, does not join the protruding nose reinforcement 14, joins the entire front tip 54, joins the adhesive 52, and has a length and sides that join the shear band 38. The first reinforcing layer 24 is not located between the adhesive deflector 48 and the shear band 38, and the adhesive deflector 48 is completely covered by the first reinforcing layer 24 and thus is located between the first reinforcing layer 24 and the shear band 38. The second reinforcing layer 26 joins the second plate 18, the entire front tip 72, the adhesive 70, and has a length that extends across and joins the hub 36. The second reinforcing layer 26 does not join the protruding nose reinforcement 14. The second reinforcing layer 26 is not located between the second adhesive deflector 66 and the hub 36. The two reinforcing layers 24, 26 may be arranged with cords 42, 44 as previously discussed, and both are used to reinforce the legs 20, 22 to prevent, minimize or delay breakage or other failures due to the use of the spoke 12.

[0038] The spoke 12 can be constructed by first forming the various elements that make up the spoke, such as plates 16, 18, feet 20, 22, protruding nose reinforcement 14, and reinforcement layers 24, 26. This can be done by forming a sheet from rubber with additives, if desired. If elements such as plates 16, 18 or reinforcement layers 24, 26 need to be formed, nylon or polyester cord can be placed down onto these sheets, and additional rubber sheets can be placed onto these cords to complete the assembly of the elements. Extrusion or any other suitable element forming method is possible. The formed elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 46 include uncured rubber or raw rubber, which may have a degree of tackiness that allows these formed elements to bond to each other in the uncured state. Thus, the spoke 12 can be assembled by bonding the elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 together in a shape similar to the final shape of the spoke 12. Next, the partially assembled and uncured spoke 12 can be placed into a mold where heat and pressure are applied for a sufficient length of time to cure the various elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 and form the final shape of the spoke 12, and to permanently attach these elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 to each other. The cured spoke 12 can be attached to the hub 36 and the shear band 38 using adhesives 52, 70 at a time point after the spoke 12 has cured.

[0039] Although the subject matter of the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments and methods thereof, it should be understood that, upon understanding the foregoing, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of modifications, variations, and equivalents of such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the present disclosure does not exclude including such obvious modifications, variations, and / or additions to the subject matter.

Claims

1. A spoke for a non-pneumatic tire, the spoke comprising: A nose; A first plate that engages the nose and extends from the nose; A second plate that engages the nose and extends from the nose; A first leg carried by the first plate, wherein the first leg has a first concave surface of the first leg, and wherein the first leg has an adhesion deflector; Wherein both the adhesion deflector and the first concave surface of the first leg are located at the front end of the first leg in the circumferential direction, wherein the first leg has a second concave surface of the first leg located at the tail end of the first leg in the circumferential direction, wherein the adhesion deflector extends in the circumferential direction such that the distance of the adhesion deflector from the second concave surface of the first leg in the circumferential direction is greater than the distance of the first concave surface of the first leg from the second concave surface of the first leg in the circumferential direction, and wherein the tail end of the first leg has a convex surface; A second leg carried by the second plate; And A reinforcing layer that engages the first concave surface of the first leg, wherein the reinforcing layer engages the adhesion deflector.

2. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer engages the first plate.

3. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the first leg has an adhesive surface configured to engage a shear band by an adhesive, and wherein the adhesion deflector is configured to engage the shear band by the adhesive, and wherein the adhesive surface is longer than the adhesion deflector in the circumferential direction.

4. The spoke according to claim 1, and wherein the first concave surface of the first leg extends from the adhesion deflector.

5. The spoke according to claim 1, and wherein the second concave surface of the first leg does not engage the reinforcing layer.

6. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the first leg is attached to a shear band by an adhesive, and wherein the reinforcing layer does not engage the shear band, and wherein the reinforcing layer does not engage the adhesive that attaches the first leg to the shear band.

7. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the first leg and the reinforcing layer are not entirely made of the same material.

8. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer has a plurality of cords, some of the cords being oriented at a positive 45-degree angle with respect to the radial direction, and other cords of the cords being oriented at a negative 45-degree angle with respect to the radial direction.

9. The spoke according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of cords are made of nylon.

10. The spoke according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of cords are made of polyester.

11. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer does not engage the nose, the second plate, and the second leg.

12. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion deflector is a first adhesion deflector, and wherein the reinforcing layer is a first reinforcing layer; Wherein the second leg has a first concave surface of the second leg, and wherein the second leg has a second adhesion deflector; and The spoke further includes a second reinforcing layer that engages a first concave surface of the second leg, wherein the second reinforcing layer engages the second adhesion deflector.

13. The spoke according to claim 12, the spoke further including a protruding nose reinforcement that engages the first leg and extends to and engages the second leg, wherein the protruding nose reinforcement engages the first plate and the second plate, and wherein the protruding nose reinforcement does not engage the first reinforcing layer and the second reinforcing layer.

14. The spoke according to claim 1, the spoke further including a protruding nose reinforcement that engages the first plate and the first leg and extends along the first plate and the first leg but stops before the reinforcing layer such that the protruding nose reinforcement does not engage the reinforcing layer; wherein the reinforcing layer extends around the adhesion deflector such that the reinforcing layer is located between the adhesion deflector and the shear band to which the first leg is attached.

15. The spoke according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer engages the shear band to which the first leg is attached, wherein the reinforcing layer is not located between the shear band and the adhesion deflector.

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