Modular Non-Pneumatic Tire Assembly for Easy Rim Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-pneumatic tire assemblies are difficult to disassemble without causing damage to the rim or tire, leading to resource-intensive and costly recovery of non-reusable rims, especially as tire sizes increase.
Innovation Solution
A modular non-pneumatic tire and rim assembly featuring annular tire modules with inner and outer rings, support structures, and circumferential treads, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly by sliding modules onto a rim with a locking mechanism, and optionally using spacer rings for spacing and orientation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive is used to affix the tire to the rim, then the tire can be securely mounted, but the rim becomes difficult to remove without causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into multiple modular components (first annular tire module with first inner ring, first outer ring, first support structure, and first circumferential tread; second annular tire module with second inner ring, second outer ring, second support structure, and second circumferential tread) that can be independently assembled and disassembled from the rim, eliminating the need for adhesive and enabling easy rim removal without damage
Solution Approach 2:
The tire assembly transitions from a static adhesive-bonded structure to a dynamic modular structure where components can be easily assembled and disassembled. The modular design allows the tire modules to be slid onto and off the rim as needed, providing adaptability while maintaining secure mounting during use
2Reliability
If non-reusable rims are used in current tire designs, then the tire can be securely mounted, but resource consumption and cost increase when the tire reaches end of life
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tire into modular components that can be independently removed from the rim, the design enables rim reuse. The modular tire modules can be disassembled and reinstalled on the same rim multiple times, significantly reducing resource consumption and cost when the tire reaches end of life while maintaining secure mounting through the modular connection mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables recovery and reuse of the rim component. Instead of discarding the rim with the tire, the modular architecture allows the rim to be recovered, cleaned, and reused with new or refurbished tire modules, reducing resource consumption and environmental impact
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A modular non-pneumatic tire includes a first annular tire module and a second annular tire module coaxial with the first annular tire module. The first annular tire module includes a first inner ring, a first outer ring coaxial with the first inner ring, first support structure extending between the first inner ring and the first outer ring, and a first circumferential tread extending about the first outer ring. The second annular tire module includes a second inner ring, a second outer ring coaxial with the second inner ring, second support structure extending between the second inner ring and the second outer ring, and a second circumferential tread extending about the second outer ring. The first and second circumferential treads are asymmetrical. The first circumferential tread has a first orientation and the second circumferential tread has a second orientation that is different from the first orientation.