Reinforced Non-Pneumatic Tire Structure for Puncture-Free Load Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire technologies face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and performance without inflation, particularly in the event of punctures or underinflation, as they lack effective support structures that can sustain high speeds and extended use.
Innovation Solution
A non-pneumatic tire design featuring a reinforced support structure with U-shaped components and fillets, where U-shaped components are in direct contact with inner and outer rings, and reinforced with multiple layers of elastomeric material and reinforcement cords, forming a stable spoke structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tire construction is used, then the tire requires inflation to maintain structural integrity, but this creates vulnerability to punctures and underinflation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into discrete modular components including multiple inner rings, multiple outer rings, and multiple U-shaped components that can function independently. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain integrity even when individual components are damaged or removed, eliminating puncture vulnerability while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the pneumatic inflation system from the tire structure, replacing it with a solid mechanical support framework. By removing the air pressure dependency, the tire becomes immune to punctures and underinflation issues while maintaining structural integrity through the U-shaped components and rings.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-pneumatic tire structure is used, then inflation is not required, but the tire lacks sufficient support structure to sustain high speeds and extended use
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped components are constructed from composite materials combining elastomeric material with reinforcement cords embedded within the walls. This composite structure provides the necessary strength and rigidity to sustain high speeds and extended use while maintaining the non-pneumatic design that offers puncture resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement cords are embedded within the three-dimensional walls of the U-shaped components, adding structural strength in multiple dimensions. This dimensional reinforcement transforms the simple U-shaped form into a high-strength support structure capable of withstanding dynamic loads at high speeds.
3Ease of manufacture
If U-shaped components with single reinforcement layer are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but structural durability and load distribution are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement structure is segmented into multiple discrete layers within the U-shaped component walls, with each layer serving a specific structural function. This layered segmentation maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving durability and load distribution capabilities compared to a single reinforcement layer.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple layers of reinforcement cords are embedded within the elastomeric material of the U-shaped components, creating a multi-layer composite structure. This composite construction enhances structural durability and extends tire longevity while maintaining manufacturability through established composite material processing techniques.
4Strength
If multiple U-shaped components are arranged to extend laterally across the tire, then load distribution is improved, but the complexity of arranging and contacting components increases
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent U-shaped components are merged through direct contact between their walls, creating a continuous load-bearing structure. This merging eliminates gaps and simplifies the overall arrangement while improving load distribution across the tire width, as the components function as an integrated system rather than isolated elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped components are positioned and oriented to provide localized reinforcement where loads are most severe, with each component's geometry and reinforcement cord arrangement tailored to its specific position in the tire structure. This local optimization achieves effective load distribution without requiring complex arrangements of uniformly designed components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a non-pneumatic tire includes providing an inner ring of elastomeric material and an outer ring of elastomeric material, and arranging the inner ring and the outer ring such that the inner ring is substantially coaxial with the outer ring. The method further includes providing a plurality of sheets of reinforced elastomeric material and forming the plurality of sheets into a plurality of U-shaped sheets. The method also includes arranging the plurality of U-shaped sheets between the inner ring and the outer ring, and curing the inner ring, the outer ring, and the plurality of U-shaped sheets.