A flexible wheel of a snap-in modular composite elastic support

Abstract

The application discloses a flexible wheel of a buckle type modular composite material elastic support body, which comprises a rubber tread, a plurality of bases, outer sides of the bases being fixedly connected to inner sides of the rubber tread, and the plurality of bases being uniformly arranged along the circumference of the inner sides of the rubber tread, a plurality of spoke monomers corresponding to the bases one by one, two ends of the spoke monomers being respectively provided with first connecting plates and second connecting plates, wherein the first connecting plates are detachably connected to the inner sides of the bases, a center rim, an outer circumferential surface of the center rim being uniformly provided with a plurality of first grooves along the circumference, the first grooves being provided one by one with the spoke monomers, wherein the second connecting plates are detachably embedded in the first grooves, a plurality of buckles being arranged alternately with the plurality of spoke monomers, the buckles being detachably connected to the center rim, and the second connecting plates of two adjacent spoke monomers being fixed in the first grooves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of non-pneumatic tire technology, and specifically relates to a flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support. Background Technology

[0002] Tires are the only automotive component that directly contacts the road surface. They bear loads while also providing cushioning and shock absorption, ensuring a smooth ride and comfortable passenger experience, and providing the necessary forces in all directions. With increasingly demanding performance requirements from various engineering fields, pneumatic tires have gained widespread adoption. Compared to traditional pneumatic tires, pneumatic tires offer advantages such as higher safety, greater adaptability, higher strength, and better environmental performance.

[0003] Existing non-pneumatic tires made of polymer materials typically employ a process that combines one-piece spoke molding with vulcanization of the outer tread rubber. This process is complex and the cost of machining and manufacturing the molds is high. Once the structural form is determined, the load-bearing stiffness cannot be changed throughout the entire service life, resulting in low road adaptability and passability. This severely limits the application scenarios and needs, and the tires are difficult to repair after damage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support, which sets the rubber tread, spoke units and rim as a detachable modular structure; it facilitates the repair of non-pneumatic tires and can adjust the load-bearing stiffness of non-pneumatic tires by changing the assembly combination of different types of spoke units.

[0005] The technical solution provided by this invention is as follows:

[0006] A flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support includes:

[0007] Rubber tread;

[0008] Multiple bases; the outer side of the bases is fixedly connected to the inner side of the rubber tread, and the multiple bases are evenly arranged circumferentially along the inner side of the rubber tread.

[0009] Multiple spoke units are provided, each corresponding to a base, and each spoke unit has a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate at both ends.

[0010] The first connecting plate is detachably connected to the inner side of the base;

[0011] The center rim has a plurality of first grooves evenly arranged along the circumferential direction on its outer circumferential surface, and the first grooves are arranged one-to-one with the spoke units;

[0012] The second connecting plate is detachably embedded in the first groove;

[0013] Multiple buckles are arranged alternately with the multiple spoke units; the buckles are detachably connected to the center rim and fix the second connecting plates of two adjacent spoke units in the first groove.

[0014] Preferably, the base includes:

[0015] The first base plate is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the first base plate is the same as the arc curvature of the inner side of the rubber tread.

[0016] The second base plate is spaced apart from the first base plate; the side of the second base plate facing the first base plate is an arc surface, and the arc curvature of the arc surface is the same as that of the first base plate; the other side of the second base plate is a flat surface.

[0017] The first base plate and the second base plate are connected by a connecting beam, so that the connection between the first base plate and the second base plate forms an "I" shaped structure.

[0018] A protruding ridge is fixedly connected to the planar side of the second base plate and is disposed near the edge of the second base plate, forming a second groove on the upper part of the second base plate with the protruding ridge as the sidewall;

[0019] The first connecting plate is detachably embedded in the second groove;

[0020] A cover plate, which is detachably connected to the protruding ridge, secures the first connecting plate in the second groove.

[0021] Preferably, the first base plate is embedded in the rubber tread using an integrated rubber casting method.

[0022] Preferably, the cover plate includes two pairs of cover plate units, which are mirror-symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second base plate in the circumferential direction along the rubber tread; two cover plate units in each pair are mirror-symmetrically arranged in the width direction along the rubber tread.

[0023] The convex rib has protruding connecting portions extending to the outer side of the second base plate at both ends along the width direction of the rubber tread; one end of the cover plate unit has a groove portion that matches the protruding connecting portion, and the groove portion is matched and engaged with the protruding connecting portion; the other end of the cover plate unit is detachably connected to its mating cover plate unit.

[0024] Preferably, the cover plate unit further includes:

[0025] A connecting part is fixedly disposed on the top of the cover plate unit and is disposed near one end of the cover plate; the connecting part is provided with a threaded hole, and the connecting parts of the two mating cover plate units are connected by bolts;

[0026] The groove is located at the bottom of the cover plate unit and is disposed near the other end of the cover plate unit;

[0027] A baffle is disposed on one side of the cover plate unit, and the inner side of the baffle abuts against the outer side of the protruding ridge.

[0028] Preferably, the outer end face of the protruding connector is sloped.

[0029] Preferably, the first groove is an arc-shaped groove, and the arc curvature of the first groove is the same as the arc curvature of the outer surface of the center rim; the second connecting plate is an arc-shaped plate, and the shape of the second connecting plate matches the shape of the first groove.

[0030] Preferably, the first connecting plate is a flat plate, and the shape of the first connecting plate matches the shape of the second groove.

[0031] Preferably, the buckle includes:

[0032] The main body and two connecting lugs; the main body is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the main body is the same as the arc curvature of the outer circumferential surface of the central rim;

[0033] The two connecting lugs are located on both sides of the central rim, and the connecting lugs are provided with threaded holes and are connected to the central rim by bolts.

[0034] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0035] The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support provided by this invention adopts a modular design concept, dividing the wheel into a central rim module, a support module, and an outer wheel module according to different functions. Furthermore, the wheel is divided into several modules along the circumference of the hub, allowing for the combination and matching of different performance spoke module structures. This achieves the purpose of changing the vertical load-bearing stiffness of non-pneumatic tires, improving road adaptability and passability. When maintenance is required, the corresponding modules can be quickly disassembled and installed, making the operation convenient and fast, reducing maintenance time and costs. It also reduces the volume of the required casting mold, lowering the economic and time costs of mold design and processing, and improving production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the flexible wheel with the snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support body described in this invention.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a side view of the flexible wheel of the snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support body described in this invention.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber tread described in this invention.

[0039] Figure 4 This is an isometric view of the spoke unit described in this invention.

[0040] Figure 5 This is a side view of the spoke unit described in this invention.

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the central rim described in this invention.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the buckle described in this invention.

[0043] Figure 8 This is a side view of the buckle described in this invention.

[0044] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the spoke unit whose main body is a flat plate, as described in this invention.

[0045] Figure 10 This is a structural schematic diagram of the base (excluding the cover plate) described in this invention.

[0046] Figure 11 This is a front view of the base (excluding the cover plate) described in this invention.

[0047] Figure 12 This is a side view of the base (excluding the cover plate) described in this invention.

[0048] Figure 13 This is an isometric view of the cover plate unit described in this invention.

[0049] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the end face of the cover plate unit described in this invention.

[0050] Figure 15 This is a side view of the cover plate unit described in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0052] like Figure 1-15As shown, the present invention provides a flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support, which mainly includes: a rubber tread 110, a base 120, a spoke unit 130, a center rim 140, and a snap-fit ​​150.

[0053] The rubber tread 110 is generally circular in shape, and its outer surface has a pattern to increase friction with the road surface; the specific pattern can be set according to actual needs. Multiple bases 120 are evenly arranged circumferentially along the inner surface of the rubber tread 110, and the outer sides of the bases 120 are fixedly connected to the inner side of the rubber tread 110. Multiple spoke units 130 are arranged one-to-one with the bases 120, and each spoke unit 130 has a first connecting plate 131 and a second connecting plate 132 at both ends; wherein the first connecting plate 131 is detachably connected to the inner side of the base 120.

[0054] The outer circumferential surface of the center rim 140 is uniformly provided with a plurality of first grooves 141 along the circumferential direction, and the first grooves 141 are provided one-to-one with the spoke units 130; wherein the second connecting plate 132 of the spoke unit 130 is detachably embedded in the first groove 141. A plurality of buckles 150 are arranged alternately with a plurality of spoke units 130; the buckles 150 are detachably connected to the center rim 140, and fix the second connecting plates 132 of two adjacent spoke units 130 in the corresponding first grooves 141.

[0055] like Figure 6-8 As shown, as a preferred embodiment, the first groove 141 is an arc-shaped groove, and the arc curvature of the first groove 141 is the same as the arc curvature of the outer surface of the center rim 140; the second connecting plate 132 is an arc-shaped plate, and the shape (size) of the second connecting plate 132 matches the shape (size) of the first groove 141.

[0056] The buckle 150 includes a main body 151 and two connecting lugs 152. The main body 151 is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the main body 151 is the same as the arc curvature of the outer circumferential surface of the center rim 140. The two connecting lugs 152 are fixedly connected to both ends of the main body 151 and are located on both sides of the center rim 140. The connecting lugs 152 have threaded holes 152a, and corresponding through holes 142 are provided on both sides of the center rim 140. The connecting lugs 152 are bolted to the center rim 140. This allows the buckle 150 to press and fix the second connecting plate 132 in the first groove 141.

[0057] In this embodiment, the main body of the spoke unit 130 is an arc-shaped plate, and the main body, together with the first connecting plate 131 and the second connecting plate 132, forms an overall shape resembling the letter "I". The main body of the spoke unit 130 can also be configured as a flat plate (e.g., ...). Figure 9(as shown) or other shapes. In other embodiments, each wheel may contain the same type of spoke unit 130 or two or more different types of spoke units 130 to meet different stiffness requirements. If two or more different types of spoke units 130 are provided on a wheel, the combined structure of the spoke units 130 needs to be centrally symmetrical to ensure the uniformity of wheel stiffness. Preferably, the number of spoke units 130 is at least 15.

[0058] like Figure 10-15 As shown, in this embodiment, the base 120 includes: a first base plate 121, a second base plate 122, a connecting beam 123, a protruding rib 124, and a cover plate. The first base plate 121 is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the first base plate 121 is the same as the arc curvature of the inner side of the rubber tread 110. The second base plate 122 is spaced apart from the first base plate 121; the side of the second base plate 122 facing the first base plate 121 is an arc surface, and the arc curvature of the arc surface is the same as the arc curvature of the first base plate 121, while the other side of the second base plate 122 is a flat surface. The first base plate 121 and the second base plate 122 are connected by the connecting beam 123, so that the connecting body of the first base plate 121 and the second base plate 122 forms an "I" shaped structure. The protruding rib 124 is fixedly connected to the planar side of the second base plate 122 and is disposed near the edge of the second base plate 122. The protruding rib 124 forms a second groove 125 with the protruding rib 124 as the sidewall on the planar side of the second base plate 122. The first connecting plate 131 is detachably embedded in the second groove 125. The first base plate 121, the second base plate 122, the connecting beam 123, and the protruding rib 124 are integrally formed structures.

[0059] As a preferred embodiment, the first base plate 121 is embedded in the rubber tread 110 using an integrated rubber casting method to improve the fixing effect between the base 120 and the tread 110. The tread rubber uses vulcanized hard rubber to form a shear band between two layers of steel wire skeleton, while the outer tread pattern uses flexible rubber. During vulcanization, the embedded steel wire skeleton is pre-formed into the hard rubber and vulcanized together with the tire rubber material. The spokes are made using a rubber or polyurethane casting process, where molten liquid polyurethane is poured into a pre-made mold for forming. The required embedded steel wire reinforcement layer can be pre-fixed in the mold, allowing it to be integrally formed with the spokes. The tread clip 150 and the base 120 (including the cover plate) are made of aluminum alloy, but can also be cast from other metal materials depending on performance requirements.

[0060] The cover plate is detachably connected to the protruding rib 124, which fixes (presses) the first connecting plate 131 in the second groove 125.

[0061] In this embodiment, the cover plate includes two pairs of cover plate units 126, which are mirror-symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second base plate 122 (i.e., located on both sides of the same spoke unit 130) along the circumferential direction of the rubber tread 110. Two cover plate units 126 in each pair are mirror-symmetrically arranged along the width direction of the rubber tread 110 (perpendicular to the circular cross-section of the wheel). The ridge 124 has protruding connecting portions 124a extending to the outer side of the second base plate 122 at both ends along the width direction of the rubber tread 110. One end of the cover plate unit 126 has a groove 126a that matches the protruding connecting portion 124a, and the groove 126a engages with the protruding connecting portion 124a of the ridge 124. The other end of the cover plate unit 126 is detachably connected to its paired cover plate unit, thereby fixing the first connecting plate 131.

[0062] As a preferred embodiment, the cover plate unit 126 further includes: a connecting portion 126b, which is fixedly disposed on the top of the cover plate unit 126 and located near one end of the cover plate unit. The connecting portion 126b is triangular in shape and has a threaded hole 126c extending along the width direction of the wheel. The connecting portions 126b of two paired cover plate units 126 abut against each other and are connected by bolts passing through the threaded hole 126c. A recessed portion 126a is located at the bottom of the cover plate unit 126 and located near the other end of the cover plate unit 126 (the end away from the connecting portion 126b). A baffle 126d is disposed on one side of the cover plate unit 126, with the inner surface of the baffle 126d abutting against the outer surface of the protruding ridge 124. The baffles 126d of each pair of cover plate units 126 are mated, precisely blocking one side of the protruding ridge 124.

[0063] As a preferred embodiment, two slots 127 are provided at both ends of the protruding ridge. Correspondingly, each cover plate unit 126 is provided with a locking block 126e on the opposite side of the baffle 126d. The locking blocks 126e are locked in the slots 127 one by one, thereby further defining the position of the cover plate unit 126.

[0064] As a further preferred embodiment, the outer end face of the protruding connecting portion 124a is sloped (the angle between it and the planar side of the second base plate 122 is acute), and the end face of the corresponding groove portion 126a is a slope that matches (is parallel to) the outer end face of the protruding connecting portion 124a, so that the protruding connecting portion 124a is better fixed in the groove portion 126a.

[0065] As a preferred embodiment, the first connecting plate 131 is a flat plate, which abuts against the bottom surface of the second groove 125 (i.e., the flat side of the second base plate 122), and the shape (size) of the first connecting plate 131 matches the shape (size) of the second groove 125; thereby ensuring a better connection between the first connecting plate 131 and the base 120.

[0066] The structure using a snap-fit ​​and base combination reduces interference between different components, preventing collisions between spokes or connecting structures during wheel movement. Secondly, the snap-fit ​​and base combination reduces the use of bolts, and the simple geometry of the structure lowers processing costs and difficulty. Finally, the large contact area between the base and the spoke plane ensures even stress distribution on the spokes, preventing stress concentration and giving the wheel good load-bearing capacity and strong stability.

[0067] Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrations shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite material elastic support, characterized in that, include: Rubber tread; Multiple bases; the outer side of the bases is fixedly connected to the inner side of the rubber tread, and the multiple bases are evenly arranged circumferentially along the inner side of the rubber tread. Multiple spoke units are provided, each corresponding to a base. Each spoke unit has a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate at both ends. The first connecting plate is detachably connected to the inside of the base. The center rim has a plurality of first grooves evenly arranged along the circumferential direction on its outer circumferential surface, and the first grooves are arranged one-to-one with the spoke units; wherein, the second connecting plate is detachably embedded in the first groove; Multiple buckles are alternately arranged with the multiple spoke units; the buckles are detachably connected to the center rim and fix the second connecting plates of two adjacent spoke units in the first groove; The base includes: The first base plate is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the first base plate is the same as the arc curvature of the inner side of the rubber tread. The second base plate is spaced apart from the first base plate; the side of the second base plate facing the first base plate is an arc surface, and the arc curvature of the arc surface is the same as that of the first base plate, and the other side of the second base plate is a plane; wherein, the first base plate and the second base plate are connected by a connecting beam, so that the connecting body of the first base plate and the second base plate forms an "I" shaped structure; A protruding ridge is fixedly connected to the planar side of the second base plate and is disposed near the edge of the second base plate, forming a second groove on the upper part of the second base plate with the protruding ridge as the sidewall; wherein, the first connecting plate is detachably embedded in the second groove; A cover plate, detachably connected to the protruding ridge, secures the first connecting plate in the second groove; The cover plate includes two pairs of cover plate units, which are mirror-symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second base plate in the circumferential direction along the rubber tread; two cover plate units in each pair are mirror-symmetrically arranged in the width direction along the rubber tread. The convex rib has protruding connecting portions extending to the outer side of the second base plate at both ends along the width direction of the rubber tread; one end of the cover plate unit has a groove portion that matches the protruding connecting portion, and the groove portion is matched and engaged with the protruding connecting portion; the other end of the cover plate unit is detachably connected to its mating cover plate unit.

2. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first base plate is embedded in the rubber tread using an integrated rubber casting method.

3. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate unit also includes: A connecting part is fixedly disposed on the top of the cover plate unit and is disposed near one end of the cover plate; the connecting part is provided with a threaded hole, and the connecting parts of the two mating cover plate units are connected by bolts; The groove is located at the bottom of the cover plate unit and is disposed near the other end of the cover plate unit; A baffle is disposed on one side of the cover plate unit, and the inner side of the baffle abuts against the outer side of the protruding ridge.

4. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The outer end face of the protruding connector is sloped.

5. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first groove is an arc-shaped groove, and the arc curvature of the first groove is the same as the arc curvature of the outer surface of the center rim; the second connecting plate is an arc-shaped plate, and the shape of the second connecting plate matches the shape of the first groove.

6. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first connecting plate is a flat plate, and the shape of the first connecting plate matches the shape of the second groove.

7. The flexible wheel with a snap-fit ​​modular composite elastic support according to claim 6, characterized in that the snap-fit... include: The main body and two connecting lugs; the main body is an arc-shaped plate, and the arc curvature of the main body is the same as the arc curvature of the outer circumferential surface of the central rim; The two connecting lugs are located on both sides of the central rim, and the connecting lugs are provided with threaded holes and are connected to the central rim by bolts.

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