Tire set and tire wheel assembly

Abstract

To provide a tire set including a non-pneumatic tire and a tire wheel assembly, which can improve riding comfort and NV performance by reducing lateral rigidness.SOLUTION: This tire set is one tire set comprising a plurality of non-pneumatic tires. All the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel. The sectional with of at least one of the non-pneumatic tires is 75 mm or smaller (alternatively, ratio of sectional width w of at least one of non-pneumatic tires to sum total W of sectional widths of all non-pneumatic tires is 0.5 or lower), and the sum total of the sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or smaller. The tire wheel assembly is assembled to a rim with all the non-pneumatic tires aligned in a width direction, and a space is provided between the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire set composed of non-pneumatic tires and a tire-wheel assembly of the non-pneumatic tire set and a wheel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a non-pneumatic tire is known which includes a ring member having a mounting body attached to an axle, an inner cylinder body externally mounted on the mounting body, and an outer cylinder body surrounding the inner cylinder body from the outer side in the tire radial direction, and a plurality of connecting members arranged along the tire circumferential direction between the inner cylinder body and the outer cylinder body and connecting the two cylinder bodies to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Conventionally, in non-pneumatic tires, the width and the like of the connecting members have been adjusted to design them to have a vertical spring equivalent to that of pneumatic tires.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, the connecting member is plate-shaped and has higher rigidity in the lateral direction (the width direction of the non-pneumatic tire) than that of pneumatic tires.

[0006] When the lateral rigidity is high, the riding comfort and NV performance (performance against noise and vibration) deteriorate.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tire set composed of non-pneumatic tires and a tire-wheel assembly capable of reducing the lateral rigidity and improving the riding comfort and NV performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The gist configuration of the present invention is as follows. (1) A set of tires composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires, all of the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel, at least one of the non-pneumatic tires among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires has a cross-sectional width of 75 mm or less, A tire set, characterized in that the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more.

[0009] (2) A set of tires composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires, all of the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel, the ratio of the cross-sectional width w of at least one of the non-pneumatic tires among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires to the sum W of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 0.5 or less, A tire set, characterized in that the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more. (3) The non-pneumatic tire is an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder from the outside in the tire radial direction, an elastically deformable connecting member connecting the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to each other, and a tread disposed on the outer side in the radial direction of the outer cylinder, and the tire set according to (1) or (2) above.

[0010] (4) A tire-wheel assembly formed by assembling the non-pneumatic tire according to (1) or (2) above to a rim portion of a wheel, a plurality of the non-pneumatic tires are arranged side by side in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion, A tire-wheel assembly, in which an interval is provided between the non-pneumatic tires adjacent in the width direction.

[0011] (5) A tire-wheel assembly, wherein the non-pneumatic tire according to (3) is assembled to a rim portion of a wheel, a plurality of the non-pneumatic tires are arranged side by side in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion, a tire-wheel assembly, wherein a space is provided between the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[0012] (6) The tire-wheel assembly according to (4) or (5), wherein the space extends continuously in the radial direction.

[0013] (7) The tire-wheel assembly according to (6), wherein the space gradually increases from the outside in the radial direction toward the inside.

[0014] (8) The tire-wheel assembly according to (5), or (6) or (7) dependent on (5), wherein, in a cross-sectional view in the width direction, the connecting member has an inverted trapezoidal shape.

[0015] (9) The tire-wheel assembly according to (4) or (5), having a gap between the treads of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[0016] (10) The tire-wheel assembly according to (5), or any one of (6) to (9) dependent on (5), wherein the connecting members of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction are arranged with a phase difference in the circumferential direction.

[0017] (11) The wheel has a plurality of rim portions divided in the width direction, a tire-wheel assembly according to any one of (4) to (10), wherein each of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires has a double-wheel structure attached to each of the plurality of rim portions.

[0018] (12) The tire-wheel assembly according to any one of (4) to (10), wherein a part of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction are fixed by a fixing member.

[0019] (13) The fixed member is an insert ring, and the tire-wheel assembly according to (12).

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire set and a tire-wheel assembly composed of non-pneumatic tires that can reduce lateral rigidity and improve riding comfort and NV performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified and described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] <Non-pneumatic tire set> FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a non-pneumatic tire (hereinafter, the “non-pneumatic tire” is also simply referred to as a “tire”, and the “non-pneumatic tire set” is also simply referred to as a “tire set”) constituting a non-pneumatic tire set according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this tire 1 includes an inner cylindrical body 2, an outer cylindrical body 3 surrounding the inner cylindrical body 2 from the outside in the tire radial direction, an elastically deformable connecting member 4 connecting the inner cylindrical body 2 and the outer cylindrical body 3 to each other, and a tread 5 disposed on the outside in the radial direction of the outer cylindrical body 3.

[0024] FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing a conventional non-pneumatic tire. As described above, the conventional non-pneumatic tire 91 had high lateral rigidity. FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing a non-pneumatic tire set according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when two non-pneumatic tires are arranged side by side in the width direction, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view when two non-pneumatic tires are arranged side by side in the width direction.

[0025] The non-pneumatic tire set of the present embodiment consists of a set of a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) non-pneumatic tires 1. The number of tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets may be three or more. As will be described later, all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel 10.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional width (the maximum width when viewed in the cross-section in the tire width direction) of at least one non-pneumatic tire 1 among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 75 mm or less. It is also possible that the cross-sectional widths of two or more non-pneumatic tires 1 among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 are 75 mm or less, and it is also possible that the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 are 75 mm or less. On the other hand, it is preferable that the cross-sectional width of at least one non-pneumatic tire 1 among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 is 20 mm or more. It is preferable that the ratio of the cross-sectional width w of at least one non-pneumatic tire among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires to the total sum W of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 0.2 or more and 0.5 or less.

[0027] In this embodiment, the total sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 100 mm or more. It is more preferable that the total sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 120 mm or more. On the other hand, it is preferable that the total sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 150 mm or less.

[0028] The outer diameter of the non-pneumatic tire 1 is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 505 to 565 mm. The non-pneumatic tire of the present disclosure is preferably used for non-pneumatic tires for passenger cars, particularly for applications such as small mobility.

[0029] <Tire-wheel assembly> FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a tire-wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a tire-wheel assembly according to another example. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a tire-wheel assembly according to another example.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the tire-wheel assembly of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part of the tire-wheel assembly of FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the tire-wheel assembly of FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a main part of the tire-wheel assembly of FIG. 7.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, the tire-wheel assembly 100 of the present embodiment is formed by assembling the tire set of the above-described embodiment to the rim portion 11 of the wheel 10. That is, all (two in the illustrated example) of the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting the tire set are arranged side by side in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion 11. An interval 20 is provided between the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the interval 20 extends continuously in the radial direction. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interval 20 can extend while increasing gradually from the outside in the radial direction toward the inside.

[0033] In the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, in a cross-sectional view in the width direction, the connecting member 4 has an inverted trapezoidal shape. Here, the "inverted" of the "inverted trapezoid" means that when the outside in the radial direction is the upper side as shown in the drawing, the upper side is longer than the lower side. However, in the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member 4 can be various and is not limited to this example.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, this tire-wheel assembly has a gap 21 between the treads 5 of the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction. In the illustrated example, since the interval 20 extends up to the position of the tread 5, the gap 21 and the interval 20 are integrated. The width of the gap 21 is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 8 mm to 12 mm. The depth of the space in which the interval 20 and the gap 21 are integrated is preferably about the same as the radial length of the connecting member 4. For applications such as small mobility, it is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 80 to 120 mm. Since this interval 20 and the gap 21 function as grooves in the tread 5, according to the interval 20 and the gap 21 having the above depth (for example, deeper compared to a pneumatic tire), the drainage performance of the tire can be improved.

[0035] In this embodiment, the connecting members 4 of the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction are arranged with a phase difference in the circumferential direction. In other words, in a state where the non-pneumatic tires 1 are arranged side by side in the width direction, when viewed from the axial direction (width direction), the connecting member 4 of the front non-pneumatic tire 1 is located between the circumferences of the two connecting members 4 of the rear non-pneumatic tire 1.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows an example of a double-wheel structure. In this example, the wheel 10 has a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) rim parts 11 divided in the width direction and a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) disks 12 divided in the width direction. The divided disks 12 are attached to the axle in a state of being in close contact with each other. Each of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 is attached to each of the plurality of rim parts 11.

[0037] Figures 6 to 11 show examples of double tire structures (however, the number of non-pneumatic tires 1 may be three or more, so it is not limited to "double"). In these examples, parts of adjacent non-pneumatic tires 1 in the width direction are fixed by fixing members 13 and 14. Then, the plurality of fixed non-pneumatic tires 1 are attached to a (single) rim portion 11. In the illustrated example, the fixing members 13 and 14 are insert rings. The insert rings are not particularly limited, but can be made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0038] In the examples shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, the insert ring has a T-shaped cross section.

[0039] In the examples shown in FIGS. 7, 10, and 11, the insert ring has an I-shaped cross section.

[0040] Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the non-pneumatic tire set and the tire-wheel assembly of the present embodiment will be described. First, regarding the tire set, the tire set of the present embodiment is a set of tires composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1, and all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel 10. Among the plurality of non-pneumatic tires, the cross-sectional width of at least one non-pneumatic tire 1 is 75 mm or less, and the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 is 100 mm or more. In this way, by attaching all the non-pneumatic tires 1 whose total cross-sectional width is 100 mm or more to one wheel 10, it is a structure suitable for supporting a predetermined load such as a passenger car. On the other hand, instead of using only one non-pneumatic tire with a large cross-sectional width, by using a set of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 whose cross-sectional width of at least one non-pneumatic tire 1 is 75 mm or less, the lateral rigidity (of the whole composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1) can be reduced compared to the case of using only one non-pneumatic tire with a large cross-sectional width, and the riding comfort and NV performance can be improved. At this time, the durability and handling stability can be hardly reduced. As described above, according to the tire set of the present embodiment, when all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting the tire set are used by being attached to one wheel 10, the lateral rigidity can be reduced, and the riding comfort and NV performance can be improved.

[0041] Next, the tire-wheel assembly 100 of the present embodiment is formed by assembling the tire set of the above-described embodiment to the rim portion 11 of the wheel 10. All the non-pneumatic tires 1 are arranged in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion 11, and an interval 20 is provided between the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction. According to the tire-wheel assembly 100 of the present embodiment, similar to the description of the action and effect of the tire set, by using a set of non-pneumatic tires 1 in which the cross-sectional width of at least one non-pneumatic tire 1 is 75 mm or less, and by providing an interval 20 between the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction, the lateral rigidity (of the whole composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1) can be reduced, and the riding comfort and NV performance can be improved. At this time, the durability and handling stability can be hardly reduced. Further, as described above, it is also a structure suitable for supporting a predetermined load such as a passenger car. As described above, according to the tire-wheel assembly of the present embodiment, the lateral rigidity can be reduced, and the riding comfort and NV performance can be improved.

[0042] Here, in the tire-wheel assembly, it is preferable that the interval 20 extends continuously in the radial direction. This is to more surely exhibit the effect of reducing the lateral rigidity.

[0043] Further, in the tire-wheel assembly, it is preferable that the interval 20 gradually increases from the radially outer side toward the inner side. This is because the width on the tread side can be made wider with respect to the rim side to secure the grounding area. Further, in a cross-sectional view in the width direction, it is preferable that the connecting member 4 has an inverted trapezoidal shape. This is because the width on the tread side can be made wider with respect to the rim side to secure the grounding area.

[0044] In addition, in the tire-wheel assembly, it is preferable to have a gap 21 between the treads 5 of the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction. This is because the drainage performance can be improved.

[0045] Further, in the tire-wheel assembly, it is preferable that the connecting members 4 of the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction are arranged with a phase difference in the circumferential direction. This is because the NV performance can be further improved by canceling out the axial force fluctuations caused by the connecting members 4 between the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction.

[0046] Also, in the tire-wheel assembly, the wheel 10 preferably has a plurality of rim portions 11 divided in the width direction, and each of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 has a double-wheel structure attached to each of the plurality of rim portions 11. Alternatively, it is also preferable to have a structure in which a part of the non-pneumatic tires 1 adjacent in the width direction are fixed by fixing members 13 and 14 and attached to one rim portion 11 (in the case of two non-pneumatic tires 1, a double-tire structure).

[0047] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments at all. For example, in the above embodiments, the cross-sectional widths of the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets are the same, but they may be different. In this case, it is advantageous for handling stability and the like to position the non-pneumatic tire 1 with the larger cross-sectional width on the outside when the vehicle is mounted, but it is also possible to position the non-pneumatic tire 1 with the larger cross-sectional width on the inside when the vehicle is mounted. In addition, various modifications and changes are possible.

[0048] In other embodiments, a set of tire sets composed of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires, wherein all the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire sets are configured to be attached to one wheel, and the ratio of the cross-sectional width w of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires to the total cross-sectional width W of all the non-pneumatic tires is 0.5 or less, and the total cross-sectional width of all the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more. According to other embodiments, by using a set in which the ratio of the cross-sectional width w of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires is 0.5 or less, the lateral rigidity (of the whole composed of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1) can be reduced compared to the case where only one non-pneumatic tire with a large cross-sectional width is used, and the riding comfort and NV performance can be improved. Further, since the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more, when all the non-pneumatic tires 1 in which the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 is 100 mm or more are attached to one wheel 10, it is a structure suitable for supporting a predetermined load such as a passenger car. On the other hand, it is preferable that the ratio is 0.2 or more.

[0049] In other embodiments, it is preferable that the cross-sectional width (the maximum width when viewed in the cross-section in the tire width direction) of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 75 mm or less. It is also possible that the cross-sectional widths of two or more of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 are 75 mm or less, and it is also possible that the cross-sectional widths of all of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 are 75 mm or less. On the other hand, it is preferable that the cross-sectional width of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires 1 is 20 mm or more.

[0050] Also in other embodiments, the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 100 mm or more. More preferably, the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 120 mm or more. On the other hand, it is preferable that the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all the non-pneumatic tires 1 constituting a set of tire sets is 150 mm or less.

[0051] Also in other embodiments, the outer diameter of the non-pneumatic tire 1 is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 505 to 565 mm. The non-pneumatic tire of the present disclosure is preferably used as a non-pneumatic tire for a passenger car, particularly for applications such as small mobility.

[0052] The tire-wheel assembly of the present disclosure can be formed by assembling the non-pneumatic tire assembly of the above other embodiments to the rim portion of the wheel. The configuration in the tire-wheel assembly when assembling the tire assembly of other embodiments, such as the interval, the gap portion, the fixing member, etc., can be the same as that of the above-described embodiments.

Explanation of Signs

[0053] 1: Non-pneumatic tire, 2: Inner cylinder, 3: Outer cylinder, 4: Connecting member, 5: Tread, 10: Wheel, 11: Rim portion, 12: Disk, 13: Fixing member, 14: Fixing member, 20: Interval, 21: Gap portion, 91: Non-pneumatic tire, 100: Tire-wheel assembly

Claims

1. A set of tires consisting of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires, wherein all of the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel, wherein the cross-sectional width of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires is 75 mm or less, and the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all of the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more. A tire set characterized by this.

2. A set of tires consisting of a plurality of non-pneumatic tires, wherein all of the non-pneumatic tires constituting the tire set are configured to be attached to one wheel, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional width w of at least one of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires to the sum W of the cross-sectional widths of all of the non-pneumatic tires is 0.5 or less, and the sum of the cross-sectional widths of all of the non-pneumatic tires is 100 mm or more. A tire set characterized by this.

3. The non-pneumatic tire includes an inner cylindrical body, an outer cylindrical body that surrounds the inner cylindrical body from the outside in the tire radial direction, an elastically deformable connecting member that connects the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to each other, and a tread disposed on the outer side in the radial direction of the outer cylindrical body. The tire set according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A tire-wheel assembly obtained by assembling the tire set according to claim 1 or 2 to a rim portion of the wheel, wherein all of the non-pneumatic tires are arranged in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion, and a space is provided between the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction. A tire-wheel assembly.

5. A tire-wheel assembly obtained by assembling the tire set according to claim 3 to a rim portion of the wheel, wherein all of the non-pneumatic tires are arranged in the width direction and assembled to the rim portion, and a space is provided between the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction. A tire-wheel assembly.

6. The space continuously extends in the radial direction. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 4.

7. The space gradually increases from the outside in the radial direction toward the inside. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 6.

8. In a cross-sectional view in the width direction, the connecting member has an inverted trapezoidal shape. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 5.

9. There is a gap between the treads of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent to each other in the width direction. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 4.

10. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the connecting members of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent in the width direction are arranged with a phase difference in the circumferential direction.

11. The wheel has a plurality of rim portions divided in the width direction, The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of non-pneumatic tires has a double-wheel structure attached to each of the plurality of rim portions.

12. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 4, wherein a part of the non-pneumatic tires adjacent in the width direction are fixed by a fixing member.

13. The tire-wheel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the fixing member is an insert ring.

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