Tire assembly with circumferential shape memory alloy structure

Abstract

A tire assembly includes a tread portion, a rim, and at least a first band assembly between the tread portion and the rim. The first belt assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface and a first bead member having an outer surface. The first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly and the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly. The first belt assembly further includes a plurality of fiber reinforcement members. Each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extends around an outer surface of the first SMA element and an outer surface of the first bead member to form a first belt assembly.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 946,402, filed September 16, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 244,928, filed September 16, 2021. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 435,016, filed December 23, 2022. All of the applications listed above are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to shape memory alloys ("SMA") and, more particularly, to SMAs combined with polymer structures for use in various applications. Background Art

[0004] Prior art has primarily focused on combining steel with vulcanized rubber (e.g., for tires). The bonding of steel to rubber is a common but specialized process that involves coating the steel with brass and vulcanizing the rubber in the presence of sulfur-containing compounds to form a unique chemical bond that relies on a strong bond between the steel and the brass. U.S. Patent No. 4,391,318 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. European Patent No. EP2576212B1 is also incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are metals with unique properties compared to other metals. SMAs exhibit pseudo-elasticity, which allows for recoverable strains orders of magnitude greater than steel. The unique chemical and material properties of SMAs, such as nickel-titanium alloy ("Nitinol"), provide them with advantages such as high elasticity and strength. SMAs have lower stiffness than steel, which is typically used for reinforcement in similar applications, and therefore can be exploited for their elastic properties. Therefore, it is desirable to exploit the advantages offered by the material properties of SMAs to improve upon existing technologies.

[0006] The background description disclosed anywhere in this patent application contains information that may be helpful in understanding the present invention. However, it does not mean that any information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, nor does it mean that any publication explicitly or implicitly cited is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a tire assembly is provided that includes a tread portion, a rim, and at least a first belt assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim. The tread portion may generally be the outer periphery of the tire assembly, while the rim or rim portion may generally be the inner periphery. One or more belt assemblies are positioned therebetween. The first belt assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface and a first bead member having an outer surface. The first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, and the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly. The first belt assembly also includes a plurality of fiber reinforcement members. Each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first belt assembly.

[0008] The present invention includes the use of SMAs in combination with polymers to create structures that combine elasticity and strength, and the bonding, encapsulation, and wrapping of SMA elements in polymers. SMA structures are combined with polymers to create structures that combine high elasticity and strength without the need for pneumatic elements (pressurized air in the case of tires). In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a toroidal SMA structure that is encapsulated in polyurethane or other polymers that are bonded to a rubber tread to create an airless tire with properties similar to pneumatic tires.

[0009] The preferred embodiment is embodied in an SMA assembly. The SMA assembly includes an SMA structure. The SMA structure is encased in a polymer. The SMA structure includes an SMA element.

[0010] This embodiment and other embodiments may optionally include the following: The SMA element may include at least one of the following: NiTi, Ag-Cd, Au-Cd, Cu-Al-Ni, Cu-Sn, Cu-Zn, Fe-Pt, Mn-Cu, Fe-Mn-Si, Co-Ni-Al, Co-Ni-Ga, Ni-Fe-Ga, Ti-Nb, β-Ti alloy, or a ternary or quaternary alloy of the SMA element's material. The SMA element may be a wire, sheet, spring, or foam.

[0011] The SMA element may be a plurality of SMA elements. The SMA elements may be mechanically combined. The plurality of SMA elements may include a plurality of springs interwoven with one another. The plurality of SMA elements may include springs and wires. The springs and wires may be interwoven with one another. The plurality of SMA elements may be arranged to form a spiral or toroidal shape.

[0012] The polymer can be natural rubber, synthetic rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, nylon, acrylic, or one of other thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers. The polymer can be 3D printed onto the SMA structure.

[0013] The SMA assembly may also include an outer, nearly monomolecular, microporous metal coating that may be disposed on the SMA element. The coating may be selected from at least one of the following: zirconium, cerium, lanthanum, nickel, cobalt, tin, titanium, zinc, copper, brass, and plated bronze. The SMA assembly may also include a second coating configured to be disposed on the SMA element. The second coating may comprise one or more materials that are the same as the outer coating, or one or more materials that are different from the outer coating. The SMA assembly may also include a benzotriazole or other corrosion inhibitor configured to be applied to the SMA element.

[0014] The SMA element may be an SMA wire. The SMA wire may serve as the core of a drawn filling tube. The drawn filling tube may include a jacket material. The jacket material may include a metal or a polymer. The SMA element may be bonded to a polymer using a vulcanized adhesive, a solvent-based adhesive, a water-based adhesive, or an epoxy resin. The polymer may be bonded to a first polymer connected to a second polymer. The first polymer and the second polymer may be different materials.

[0015] The SMA assembly may also include a prepolymer or resin. The prepolymer or resin may be applied to the SMA element via a preform mold and a curing process. The curing process may include rotational molding, spin casting, spin casting, injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, expanded bead foam molding, or extruded foam molding.

[0016] Another preferred embodiment is embodied in a tire assembly. The tire assembly includes a body defined by an SMA structure. The SMA structure includes SMA elements. The tire assembly also includes a polymer layer. The polymer layer is configured to surround the body.

[0017] Another preferred embodiment is embodied in an SMA assembly. The SMA assembly includes an SMA structure. The SMA structure includes a first spring and a second spring interwoven with each other. The diameter of the first spring is greater than the diameter of the second spring. The SMA is in a toroidal shape. The SMA assembly also includes a polymer layer configured to surround the SMA structure.

[0018] It is noted that the tire assembly of the present invention has improved load-bearing capacity and service life compared to conventional pneumatic tires and steel spring tires. The present invention enables non-pneumatic superelastic tires to achieve excellent load-bearing capacity, vehicle integration, manufacturability and tire performance.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the SMA element or wire can be configured as a circumferentially wound SMA element positioned within the tire tread wall. The SMA element can be attached or secured to the tire rim / bead via reinforcements (e.g., fiber-reinforced polyester), cords, strands, etc. This attachment helps limit the outer diameter growth of the SMA element during loading, thereby creating a semi-rigid body to distribute the load around the tire.

[0020] Compared with traditional pneumatic tires and steel spring tires, the present invention improves load-bearing capacity and service life. The present invention enables non-pneumatic superelastic tires to achieve excellent load-bearing capacity, vehicle integration, manufacturability and tire performance.

[0021] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the SMA elements or wires may be configured as or as a radially reinforced spring configuration. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the SMA elements or wires may be configured as circumferentially wound or disposed SMA elements within the tire tread wall.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the SMA element is attached or secured to the tire rim or bead via a reinforcement (e.g., fiber-reinforced polyester) extending between the SMA element and the tire rim and / or bead. This attachment helps limit the outer diameter growth of the SMA element during loading, thereby creating a semi-rigid body to distribute the load around the tire.

[0023] It should be understood that "circumferentially extending" or similar language does not necessarily mean that the component extends around the outer perimeter of the entire tire assembly, but rather that the component extends generally circularly around the tire assembly (e.g., in the rolling direction), such as Figure 12 Best shown. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tire assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 The isolation SMA according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a tire assembly;

[0026] Figure 3 The first SMA element is isolated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a tire assembly;

[0027] Figure 4 The second SMA element is isolated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a tire assembly;

[0028] Figure 5 According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 An enlarged view of the SMA of the tire assembly;

[0029] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a tire assembly showing an SMA encapsulated in a polymer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 yes Figure 1A cross-sectional view of a tire assembly showing an SMA encapsulated in a multilayer polymer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention Figure 7 a side view of a tire assembly;

[0032] Figure 9 is a cutaway perspective view of an SMA element underlying a layer of jacket material according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a partially cutaway tire assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 a perspective view of a portion of a tire assembly having a cross-sectional portion;

[0035] Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a tire assembly;

[0036] Figure 13 yes Figure 11 an elevational cross-sectional view of a portion of the tire assembly shown;

[0037] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of ribbon assemblies including two SMA elements and showing only features along a cut line of the ribbon assemblies;

[0038] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a belt assembly;

[0039] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of ribbon assemblies including three SMA elements and showing only features along a cut line of the ribbon assembly;

[0040] Figure 17 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a tire assembly showing a belt assembly including a wrap; and

[0041] Figure 18 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a tire assembly showing a belt assembly having a bias ply arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following description and drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. Many specific details are described to provide a comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure. However, in some cases, in order to avoid confusing the description, some well-known or conventional details are not described. References to one or an embodiment in this disclosure may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment; and, such references are intended to refer to at least one of the embodiments. If a component is not shown in the figures, this provides support for a negative limitation in the claims stating that the component "does not exist." However, the above statement is not limiting, and in another embodiment, the missing component may be included in the claimed embodiment.

[0043] References in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "a preferred embodiment," or any other phrase referring to the word "embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, and also mean that any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in any embodiment, omitted from, or excluded from any embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Furthermore, various features are described herein that may be present in some embodiments but not in other embodiments, and may be omitted from any embodiment. Furthermore, any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein may be optional. Similarly, various requirements are described that may be requirements in some embodiments but not in others. Where appropriate, any feature discussed herein with respect to one aspect or embodiment of the present invention may also be applied to another aspect or embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, where appropriate, any feature discussed herein with respect to one aspect or embodiment of the present invention may be optional and / or omitted with respect to that aspect or embodiment of the present invention, or any other aspect or embodiment of the present invention discussed or disclosed herein.

[0044] The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meaning in the art, in the context of this disclosure, and in the specific context in which each term is used. Certain terms used to describe the present disclosure are discussed below or elsewhere in the specification to provide practitioners with additional guidance regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example, using italics and / or quotation marks: the use of highlighting does not affect the scope and meaning of the terms; in the same context, the scope and meaning of a term remain the same regardless of whether it is highlighted.

[0045] It should be understood that the same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Therefore, alternative language and synonyms may be used for one or more of the terms discussed herein. Whether a term is detailed or discussed herein is not of particular significance. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. Listing one or more synonyms does not preclude the use of other synonyms. Examples used anywhere in this specification, including examples of any term discussed herein, are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments given in this specification.

[0046] The following lists examples of instruments, devices, methods and related results according to embodiments of the present disclosure, but are not intended to further limit the scope of the present disclosure. Please note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for the convenience of the reader, but this should in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. In the event of any conflict, this document, including definitions, will prevail.

[0047] It should be understood that terms such as "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "side," "short," "long," "upper," "lower," "rearward," "forward," and "lower" used herein are merely for convenience of description and refer to the orientation of components as shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.

[0048] The accompanying drawings generally point to a tire assembly 10. In some embodiments, the tire assembly 10 may alternatively be characterized as an SMA assembly, which may be used for other purposes where air or pneumatic pressure is otherwise used within a polymer structure. Because the tire assembly 10 operates without the need for air or pneumatic pressure, it is advantageous for use in rough terrain where conventional tires are prone to blowouts, as well as in environments where air is scarce or non-existent (e.g., space, other planets, satellites, etc.). In addition to enhanced durability, the tire assembly 10 advantageously provides lower rolling resistance than pneumatic tires, which contributes to higher fuel efficiency for vehicles. The use of an SMA assembly as the tire assembly 10 is merely illustrative and not limiting. In a preferred embodiment, the SMA tire assembly 10 generally includes a toroidal SMA structure 12 encapsulated in a polymer member or structure 14 (e.g., polyurethane) and then coupled to a polymer tread 16. It should be understood that the SMA structure 12 may also have other closed or open shapes, such as tubular, spherical, spiral, etc.

[0049] Figure 1is a perspective view of a tire assembly 10. The tire assembly 10 may be shaped and sized for a variety of uses, including but not limited to automobiles, bicycles, airplanes, motorcycles, and scooters. The tire assembly 10 may have a concave or recessed inner surface 11. The recess or recess in the inner surface 11 may allow the tire assembly 10 to mate with a wheel or rim 18 and then be attached to a vehicle. The tire assembly 10 may include an SMA structure 12 and a polymer member 14. The SMA structure 12 may be formed in a substantially rectangular manner. Figure 1 Shown in FIG. 1 is a spring toroidal body that is wrapped with a polymer (eg, rubber) tread 16 to form an airless tire.

[0050] The SMA structure 12 may include SMA elements. The SMA elements may collectively form the SMA structure. In some examples, the SMA elements may be identical in size, shape, and / or material properties. In some examples, the SMA elements may differ in size, shape, and / or material properties. For example, the SMA elements may be wires, springs, sheets, fibers, foams, and the like. The SMA elements may include one or more of the following: NiTi, Ag-Cd, Au-Cd, Cu-Al-Ni, Cu-Sn, Cu-Zn, Fe-Pt, Mn-Cu, Fe-Mn-Si, Co-Ni-Al, Co-Ni-Ga, Ni-Fe-Ga, Ti-Nb, β-Ti alloys, or ternary or quaternary alloys of the materials of the SMA elements. The SMA elements may be attached together to form the SMA structure 12. For example, the SMA elements may be interwoven with each other.

[0051] A polymer tread 16 may be disposed on the SMA structure 12. The polymer tread 16 may wrap around the outer surface 13 of the SMA structure 12. The polymer tread 16 may be rubber and / or other materials having properties similar to rubber. The polymer tread 16 may have protrusions, bumps, threads, grooves, channels, cavities, etc. to provide additional traction.

[0052] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the SMA structure 12. The SMA structure 12 includes a first spring 20 and a second spring 22. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first spring 20 . Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of interwoven second springs 22. In some examples, the first springs 20 and / or the second springs 22 may be replaced with wires, sheets, fibers, or foams. Figure 2 , the second spring 22 can be braided or wound around the first spring 20 along the length of the first spring 20 in the direction of arrow 24. There can be multiple second springs 22 braided or wound around the first spring 20. The second springs 22 can also be braided or wound around each other. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the SMA structure 12 showing the connection between the first spring 20 and the second spring 22. Referring again to Figure 2, the first spring 20 may have a first diameter 26. The second spring 22 may have a second diameter 28. The first diameter 26 may be larger than the second diameter 28. The second spring 22 may be disposed around the entire first diameter 26. Figure 2 As shown, the second spring 22 connected to the first spring 20 keeps the pitch 30 of the first spring 20 constant. Before assembling the first spring 20 and the second spring 22 together, the pitch 30 can be changed to make the tire assembly 10 (see Figure 1 ) harder or softer.

[0053] In some examples, the SMA structure 12 may include or have an outer thin, nearly or nearly monomolecular, microporous metal coating selected from at least one of the following: zirconium, cerium, lanthanum, nickel, cobalt, tin, titanium, zinc, copper, brass, and / or plated bronze. In some examples, a second coating (composed of any of the aforementioned materials) may be applied using the same or a different metal. In some examples, benzotriazole or other corrosion inhibitors may be applied to the SMA structure 12.

[0054] In some examples, a prepolymer or resin may be applied to the SMA structure 12 using a preform mold and a curing process. In some examples, the curing process may include rotational molding, spin casting, spin casting, injection molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, thermoforming, expanded bead foam molding, or extruded foam molding.

[0055] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tire assembly 10 showing the SMA structure 12 encapsulated in the polymer member 14. The polymer member 14 can be disposed between the first spring 20 and the second spring 22 such that the first diameter 26 (see FIG. Figure 2 ) The space defined by the outer surface of the housing 14 remains hollow. Any polymer is within the scope of the present invention. For example, the polymer member 14 can be one of the following: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, nylon, acrylic resin or other thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers.

[0056] In some examples, the polymer member 14 can be 3D printed or additively manufactured to the SMA structure 12. In some examples, the SMA structure 12 can be coupled to the polymer member 14 using a vulcanized adhesive, a solvent-based adhesive, a water-based adhesive, or an epoxy. For example, The SMA structure 12 and the polymer member 14 are joined together.

[0057] Figure 7is a cross-sectional view of tire assembly 10 showing SMA structure 12 encapsulated by polymer member 14 and polymer tread 16. Polymer tread 16 can provide additional reinforcement to tire assembly 10. Polymer tread 16 can be directly bonded to polymer member 14. The polymer material or materials of polymer member 14 can be different from the material of polymer tread 16. Note that polymer tread 16 can completely cover polymer member 14 and SMA structure 12.

[0058] Figure 8 FIG is a side view of the tire assembly 10. Figure 8 As shown, the polymer tread 16 may partially cover the polymer member 14 and the SMA structure 12. In some examples, the polymer tread 16 may not surround the polymer member 14 and the SMA structure 12 at or near the mating surfaces of the rim 18 and the tire assembly 10. As an example, Figure 8 A bicycle rim is shown.

[0059] Figure 9 The SMA wire 32 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the SMA wire 32 located below the sheath material 34 on one side. The SMA wire 32 can replace the first spring 20 (see Figure 5 ) and / or the second spring 22 (see Figure 5 ) is used to form an SMA structure. The SMA wire 32 can be used as the core of the drawn filling tube 36. The drawn filling tube 36 can include a jacket material 34. The jacket material 34 can be metal or polymer. In some examples, the jacket material 34 can be combined with the polymer member 14 (see Figure 8 ) and / or polymer tread 16 (see Figure 8 In some examples, the jacket material 34 can be the same as the material of the SMA wire 32.

[0060] Figure 10-17 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in which a tire assembly 50 includes or incorporates SMA elements 52 that are configured in a circumferentially extending configuration and have attachments (e.g., semi-rigid attachments) to the rim and / or bead or bead member. The tire assembly 50 can be used with any type of vehicle, but is preferably used with bicycles, motor vehicles, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the tire assembly is used with existing hardware (e.g., rims, etc.), however, this is not a limitation of the present invention.

[0061] like Figure 11-12As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the tire assembly 50 may include a plurality of interrelated and interacting components, including a circumferential SMA element 52 (which may have any cross-sectional shape), a polymer member or polymer ply member 54 containing fibers 56 as reinforcement therein (referred to as fiber reinforcement 56), one or more strips 60, a tire bead or bead member 58, and a tread 16. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer member 54 is constructed as a belt having fiber reinforcement 56 therein and may be referred to herein as a fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53. The fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53, together with the outer circumferential SMA element 52 and the inner circumferential bead member 58, may be referred to herein as a ply or belt assembly 55. The SMA element 52 may be tubular, shaped, and welded. However, this is not a limitation of the present invention. The SMA element may include any cross-sectional shape, such as tubular ( Figure 12 ), U-shaped ( Figure 13 ), semicircular, I-beam, non-hollow circular or any other desired shape. The fiber reinforcements may be SMA elements, Kevlar, nylon, polyester fibers or similar materials or cords and these fiber reinforcements may be known in the tire industry and embedded in a polymer 54 (similar to polymer 14) which may be rubber, polyurethane, polymer, etc. None of the materials discussed herein limit the invention. The tire beads 58 may be a series of circumferentially extending welded tubes made of a metal such as steel, aluminum, titanium or SMA. The bead member 58 may also be a solid wire, cable or may be of any cross-sectional shape. The tube may receive or be disposed in individual circumferentially extending grooves, multiple grooves or a single groove 64 located in the inner surface of the rim 18 (see Figure 13 )middle. Figure 13 The U-shaped structure shown may facilitate the manufacture of the SMA element 52 (or bead member) because it is easier (and less expensive) to use SMA sheets that can be rolled into a U-shaped cross-section rather than making an entire tube.

[0062] like Figure 11 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, a tire assembly 50 includes a tread member or tread portion 16, a rim 18, and at least a first belt assembly 55 positioned between the tread portion 16 and the rim 18. The belt assembly 55 includes at least a first SMA element 52 having an outer surface 52a and can extend circumferentially around the tire assembly 55, as shown. Figure 12. The belt assembly 55 may also include at least a first bead member 58 having an outer surface 58 and extending circumferentially around the tire assembly 50. In another embodiment, an inner portion of the belt assembly 55 is secured to the rim 18 or other component as opposed to being wrapped or extended around the bead. The tire assembly 50 may also include a plurality of fiber reinforcements or fiber reinforcement members 56. The fiber reinforcement members 56 may extend around the outer surface of the first SMA element 52 and the outer surface of the first bead member 58 to at least partially form the belt assembly 55. In embodiments where each fiber reinforcement member 56 extends around one or more SMA elements 52 and the bead member 58, the belt assembly 55 is formed by the fiber reinforcement members 56, the one or more SMA elements 52 and the bead member 58 (and omitting the polymer). Preferably, the entire set of multiple fiber reinforcement members 56 extends circumferentially around the tire assembly. In other words, each individual fiber reinforcement member 36 extends around at least one SMA element 52 and at least one bead member. However, the individual fiber reinforcement members 56 are positioned adjacent to each other around the circumference, as shown. Figure 11 As shown, wherein fiber reinforcement members 56 are positioned adjacent to each other.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of fiber reinforcement members 56 are disposed on, embedded in, wrapped around, or otherwise associated with the polymer ply member 54 to collectively form a fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 that extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element 52 and the outer surface of the first bead member 58. Figure 11 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the fiber reinforced polymer component 53 can take the form of a tubular structure that extends circumferentially around the tire component. The tubular structure does not have to be circular, but can be any closed structure, such as Figure 11 or Figure 13-16 In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 17 As shown, instead of a continuous circumferential tube, the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 can be formed by a wrap that externally surrounds one or more SMA elements 52 and internally surrounds one or more bead members 58. Referring to the edge 62 of the wrap, it is shown that the wrap spirals externally around the one or more SMA elements 52 and internally around the one or more bead members 58. Thus, the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly can include a wound spiral configuration that extends circumferentially around the tire assembly. The wrap includes the fiber reinforcement members or cords therein and can be, for example, a 1-inch wide strip that is initially cut in coil form and wound around the one or more SMA elements and the one or more bead members during manufacturing.

[0064] Figure 10 A partially cutaway tire assembly 50 is shown. Figure 10Also shown is a tire assembly 50 having sidewalls 17. To facilitate illustration of the interior portions of the tire assembly, the sidewalls are omitted from the other views. However, it should be understood that the tire portion of the tire assembly (e.g., the rubber of the tire) can include an exterior portion (including or being the tread portion 16) and first and second sidewalls 17 that surround or contain an SMA assembly 19 (including one or more laterally adjacent belt assemblies 55). It should be understood that the tread portion does not necessarily include an actual tread disposed thereon, but is referred to herein as the tread portion because it is the portion of the tire that comes into contact with the ground or road. The SMA can include a belt, casing, housing, or structure surrounding it to hold all of its components (e.g., the belt assembly 55) together. Figure 11 and Figure 13-16 A close up view of the fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 and the belt assembly 55 is shown. Figure 11 , a fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 (which includes fiber reinforcement 56 embedded in polymer 54) extends around SMA elements 52 at an outer end (located at or near the outer periphery of the tire assembly) and around bead members 58 at an inner end (located at or near the inner periphery of the tire assembly), thereby forming a belt assembly 55. Figure 12 The SMA element 52 and the bead member 58 are shown extending circumferentially around the tire assembly 50. Figure 11 As shown, the fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 extends around the OD of the SMA element 52 and the bead member 58. Figure 13 The individual fiber reinforcements 56 within the fiber reinforced polymer component 53 can be clearly seen from the top.

[0065] Figure 11 and 13 An exemplary embodiment is shown that includes twelve belt assemblies 55 that are laterally configured to partially form the tire assembly 50. However, this is merely exemplary and any number of belt assemblies 55 is within the scope of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 extends vertically from the bead member 58 to a vertically adjacent SMA element 52 or tube. In another embodiment, the fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 may extend diagonally or at an angle from the bead member 58 to a non-vertically adjacent SMA element 52. For example, when viewing Figure 13When the tire is rotated in a straight line, the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 associated with the leftmost bead member 58 can extend upward to the right at an angle and extend or wrap around the second SMA element from the left or any other non-vertically adjacent SMA element. This arrangement can help address lateral forces in the tire assembly when the vehicle is cornering. In another embodiment, the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 can wrap around one or more bead members 58 at the ID and extend around one or more SMA elements 52 at the OD. Different configurations of the belt assembly 55, including any number of bead members 58 and any number of SMA elements 52 at any angle, are within the scope of the present invention.

[0066] Further explanation involves more than one SMA element, Figure 14 A belt assembly 55 is shown that includes two SMA elements 52 toward the exterior of the tire assembly (near the tread) and one bead member 58 toward the interior of the tire assembly (near the rim). Figure 15 The layering is exaggerated to show the fiber reinforcement member 56 located inside the polymer member 54 and extending around the outer surfaces 52a and 58a of the first and second SMA elements 52 and the bead member 58. Figure 15 As shown, the fiber reinforced polymer assembly may include an extension portion 53a that extends inwardly and between the first and second SMA elements 52 to prevent the SMA elements from rubbing together. Figure 16 A belt assembly 55 is shown that includes three SMA elements 52 toward the exterior of the tire assembly (near the tread) and one bead member 58 toward the interior of the tire assembly (near the rim). In this arrangement, a portion of the fiber reinforced polymer component 53 extends upward from the bead member 58 at an angle that provides a lateral force component that assists in cornering, etc. Thus, if the tire assembly were bisected longitudinally by a plane (e.g., a plane extending up and down relative to the ground), both the left and right sides of the fiber reinforced polymer component 53 would extend upward at an angle that is non-parallel to the plane. This provides a lateral or horizontal component to the tension provided by the fiber reinforced polymer component 53. Note that in Figure 14 and 16 , details of many components, including the SMA element 52, the belt 60, the fiber reinforced polymer component 53, and the bead member 58 located behind the cut line, are not shown and have been omitted to avoid complicating the drawing.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the polymer 54 in the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 is adhered to the outer surface of one or more bead members 58 and the SMA element 52 to form a belt assembly. In addition, the fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 can be cured so that adjacent fiber-reinforced polymer assemblies 53 are adhered or otherwise secured together. The fiber reinforcement 56 can be spiraled around the one or more bead members 58 and the SMA element 52 (located within the polymer strips, belts, or plies) over 360° of the tire assembly.

[0068] It should be understood that each fiber reinforced polymer assembly 53 may include multiple layers or plies, each having positioned therein a fiber reinforcement member 56. Furthermore, within any ply or polymer, the fiber reinforcement members 56 or cords may extend or run at an angle, as opposed to the radial extension shown in most of the figures. Figure 18 Two sets of fiber reinforcement members 56 are shown extending at opposite angles to each other (e.g., one at 45 degrees and the other at 45 degrees). These oppositely extending fiber reinforcement members 56 may be located in the same polymer layer or may be located in separate plies (e.g., one ply or layer having cords at plus 30 degrees and the other ply or layer having cords at minus 30 degrees, which may be referred to as a bias ply). The fiber reinforcement members 56 may extend radially ( Figure 11 ) or extend at any angle up to 90 degrees (it extends essentially circumferentially).

[0069] In use, the present invention includes an outer ring formed by circumferentially wound SMA elements 52 that are designed to engage when the tire assembly 50 is loaded. In use, the SMA elements 52 are designed to absorb most of the load. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that SMA elements utilize a unique combination of strength, recoverability, and rebound energy to enhance tire performance.

[0070] Another component of the present invention is a fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53, which is used to establish a rigid attachment between the SMA element 52 and the tire bead member or component 58 and / or rim 18. During loading, the SMA element 52 deflects to create a tire footprint. The diameter of the remaining SMA elements attempts to increase to accommodate the shortened cord length in the tire footprint section. The fiber-reinforced polymer assembly 53 limits outer diameter growth to the tire bead member or component 58 and / or rim 18 via the semi-rigid fiber reinforcement 56 wrapped around the SMA element 52. This effectively distributes the load across the entire belt assembly 55, rather than just the SMA elements at the tire footprint, resulting in efficient utilization of SMA material and improved tire performance. When the axle is loaded, the SMA elements located at or near the outer diameter (OD) of the tire assembly deflect to create a tire footprint. Because the tire footprint's cord length results in a shorter circumference, the circumferential tube formed by the SMA elements attempts to grow radially outward and / or outside the tire footprint. The reinforcing fibers 56 extending between and attaching the rim / bead and the SMA elements limit OD growth, thus forming a semi-rigid body similar to a pneumatic tire.

[0071] One or more tire belts 60 are used to support the performance of the tire assembly by utilizing increased lateral strength. The tire belts help maintain the ideal tire shape during use. However, one or more tire belts can be omitted. The tire bead member 58 allows the tire to remain seated on the rim, similar to its intended purpose in a conventional pneumatic tire. However, since a tight seal (as in a tubeless pneumatic tire) is not required, additional modifications can be made to the tire bead.

[0072] The tread 16 acts with a similar purpose to a conventional pneumatic tire. This is the section of the tire that contacts the road. The tread is used to ensure good contact and allow water to drain in adverse weather conditions.

[0073] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, "including", "comprising", etc. should be understood to be inclusive and not exclusive or exhaustive; that is, to mean "including but not limited to". As used herein, the terms "connected", "coupled" or any variations thereof mean any direct or indirect connection or connection between two or more elements; the connection or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. In addition, when used in this application, the words "herein", "above", "below" or words of similar meaning shall refer to the entire application and not to any particular part of the application. Where the context permits, words used in the singular or plural in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments above may also include the plural or singular, respectively. When referring to a list of two or more items, the word "or" covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any item in the list, all items in the list, and any combination of items in the list.

[0074] The above detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it intended to limit the teachings to the precise forms disclosed above. Although specific embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various equivalent modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, any specific numbers mentioned herein are merely examples: alternative embodiments may employ different values, measurements, or ranges.

[0075] Although the operations of any method are shown or described herein in a particular order (whether expressly or implicitly), the order of operations of each method may be adjusted so that certain operations may be performed in a reverse order, or certain operations may be performed at least partially simultaneously with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of different operations may be performed in an intermittent and / or alternating manner.

[0076] The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the above-described system. The elements and actions of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Any measurements or dimensions described or used herein are merely exemplary and are not limitations of the present invention. Other measurements or dimensions are within the scope of the present invention.

[0077] All patents, applications, and other references mentioned above, including any references that may be listed in the accompanying application documents, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the present disclosure may be modified, if necessary, to adopt the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references mentioned above to provide further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0078] These and other modifications may be made to the present disclosure in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments described above. Although the foregoing description describes certain embodiments of the present disclosure and describes the expected best mode, no matter how detailed the foregoing description appears in text, these teachings can be put into practice in a variety of ways. The details of the system may vary greatly in their implementation details, but are still encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As described above, specific terms used in describing certain features or aspects of the present disclosure should not be understood to imply that the term is redefined herein to be limited to any specific characteristic, feature, or aspect of the disclosure associated with the term. In general, unless the detailed description of the preferred embodiments described above expressly defines these terms, the terms used in the following claims should not be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Therefore, the actual scope of the present disclosure covers not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of implementing or realizing the present disclosure according to the claims.

[0079] Although certain aspects of the disclosure are presented in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the disclosure being embodied in any number of claim forms. For example, although only one aspect of the disclosure may be claimed under 35 USC §112, is formulated as a "means-plus-function" claim, but other aspects may also be embodied as "means-plus-function" claims, or in other forms, such as on a computer-readable medium. (Any attempt to The claims processed will all contain the phrase "means for..."). Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application, in order to employ such additional claim forms for other aspects of the present disclosure.

[0080] Therefore, although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that all terms used herein are descriptive and not limiting, and that one skilled in the art can make many changes, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tire assembly comprising: Tread part, rims, and At least a first belt assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim, wherein the first belt assembly comprises a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, and A plurality of fiber reinforcement members, wherein each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first belt assembly.

2. The tire assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of fiber reinforcement members extends circumferentially around the tire assembly.

3. The tire assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of fiber reinforcement members are disposed in a first polymer member to form a fiber reinforced polymer assembly, wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member.

4. The tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The fiber reinforced polymer component includes a tubular construction extending circumferentially around the tire component.

5. The tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The fiber reinforced polymer component includes a wound helical configuration extending circumferentially around the tire component.

6. The tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The fiber reinforced polymer component includes first and second polymer components, wherein the first polymer component includes a first group of fiber reinforcement components arranged therein, wherein the second polymer component includes a second group of fiber reinforcement components arranged therein, wherein the first group of fiber reinforcement components extend along a first direction, wherein the second group of fiber reinforcement components extend along a second direction, and wherein the first direction is non-parallel to the second direction.

7. The tire assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The belt assembly includes a second SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the second SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element, and the outer surface of the first bead member.

8. The tire assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The first SMA element is positioned laterally adjacent to the second SMA element.

9. The tire assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The fiber reinforced polymer assembly includes an extension portion extending inwardly and between the first SMA element and the second SMA element.

10. The tire assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least a second belt assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim and positioned laterally adjacent to the first belt assembly, wherein The second belt assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, and A plurality of fiber reinforcement members, wherein each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first belt assembly.

11. The tire assembly of claim 1 , wherein: An inner portion of the first strap assembly is positioned in a groove associated with the rim.

12. A tire assembly comprising: Tread part, rims, and At least a first belt assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim, wherein the first belt assembly comprises a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, a second SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the second SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly and is positioned laterally adjacent to the first SMA element, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, and a first fiber-reinforced polymer component comprising a plurality of fiber-reinforced members disposed in a polymer member, wherein the first fiber-reinforced polymer component extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element, and the outer surface of the first bead member, wherein the first fiber-reinforced polymer component extends circumferentially around the tire assembly.

13. The tire assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least a second belt assembly positioned between the tread member and the rim and positioned laterally adjacent to the first belt assembly, wherein The second belt assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially around the tire assembly, and a first fiber-reinforced polymer component comprising a plurality of fiber-reinforced members disposed in a polymer member, wherein the first fiber-reinforced polymer component extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element, and the outer surface of the first bead member, wherein the first fiber-reinforced polymer component extends circumferentially around the tire assembly.

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