Interlocking Non-Pneumatic Tire Modules for Stable Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-pneumatic tires face issues with unstable mounting on wheels, susceptibility to misalignment, and difficulty in repairing due to lack of interconnection features, which leads to structural weakness and potential failure under continuous impact and pressure, especially in large vehicles and uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
The design of interlocking tire modules with a module body, upper and lower regions, and interlocking faces that securely attach to a wheel with bolt retention, providing a stable and interconnected structure that can be easily assembled and disassembled for module replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If non-pneumatic tires are strongly attached to the wheel during manufacturing, then the tire structure becomes stable, but repair becomes difficult requiring special equipment and skills
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into separate modular elements (pads) that can be independently removed and replaced. Each pad is a discrete component that can be detached from the wheel without requiring removal of the entire tire structure, enabling easy repair while maintaining stable mounting through standardized attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a fixed strong attachment to a dynamic removable attachment. The pads are designed with attachment features that provide stable mounting during operation but can be easily detached when repair is needed, allowing the system to adapt between these two states as required.
2Ease of repair
If separate tire elements are used to form an annular tire, then maintenance becomes easier, but the structure becomes weak and unstable under impact and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate pad elements are merged into a unified annular tire structure through interconnection features. The pads work together as an integrated system, distributing loads and forces across all elements to maintain structural strength while preserving the individual replaceability of each pad for ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Interconnection features are built into the pad design from the beginning, creating preliminary attachment mechanisms that provide structural stability under impact and pressure. These pre-integrated connection elements ensure that the separate pads function as a cohesive strong structure during operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If tire pads are fastened with bolts through apertures, then mounting is achieved, but the bolts protrude making them vulnerable to side impact
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is nested within the tire structure. The bolts or attachment features are positioned inside the annular space of the tire rather than protruding outward, protecting them from side impacts while maintaining secure mounting capability. The attachment system is concealed within the overall tire geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment features are repositioned from a radial orientation (protruding outward) to an axial or tangential orientation (aligned with the tire's rotational plane). This dimensional change moves the vulnerable bolt heads away from the side impact zone while maintaining effective fastening through the wheel.
4Ease of manufacture
If tire elements have no interconnection features, then manufacturing is simpler, but misalignment occurs and structural stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Interconnection features with asymmetric geometries are incorporated into the pad design, such as keyed slots or shaped attachment points that naturally guide proper alignment during assembly. The asymmetric features prevent misalignment by allowing installation in only the correct orientation, maintaining stability without complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-pneumatic tire having a plurality of individual modules is mounted on a wheel having with a plurality of depressed module mounting slots to form a wheel and tire assembly. Each module has a body with an opening in the middle that separates the upper region from the lower region. The lower region has an attachment hole for attaching the module to the mounting slot. The lower region of the module and the mounting slot are shaped accordingly to fit each other. The module has two arms, each having an interlocking face disposed at their ends. A full set of interconnected modules forms a complete annular tire. The wheel includes a plurality of depressed mounting slots with a wheel attachment hole disposed around the rim where the modules can be mounted. The rim includes flanges that bound the mounting slot on both sides preventing the modules from sliding sideways.