Non-Pneumatic Tire Mounting with Serviceable Inner Liner Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-pneumatic tire designs face challenges in securely and serviceably mounting to wheels due to material differences between polymeric spokes and wheels, often relying on adhesives which may not provide a reliable or removable connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a non-pneumatic tire with an inner liner and spokes that have flanges wider than the spokes, allowing for mounting on a wheel rim with retention flanges, circumferential grooves, and fastening mechanisms like bands, threaded fasteners, or locking rings to ensure secure and removable attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If adhesives are used to bond polymeric spokes to the wheel, then the connection between different materials is achieved, but the reliability and removability of the connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesives) with a mechanical fastening system. The inner liner incorporates fastening elements such as hooks, eyes, or interlocking features that mechanically attach to corresponding features on the wheel rim, providing a reliable and removable connection without requiring adhesives.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner liner acts as an intermediary component between the polymeric spokes and the wheel rim. It provides a standardized mechanical attachment interface that bridges the material differences between the spokes and the metal wheel, enabling reliable connection through mechanical means rather than direct adhesive bonding.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesives are used to bond polymeric spokes to the wheel, then material compatibility is achieved, but the ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tire assembly is segmented into separable components: the non-pneumatic tire (with polymeric spokes) and the wheel rim. The inner liner provides a mechanical interface that allows these segments to be easily assembled and disassembled, enabling simple repair and replacement operations without permanent adhesive bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system transitions from a static permanent bond (adhesive) to a dynamic reversible connection. The mechanical fasteners allow the tire to be repeatedly attached and detached from the wheel rim, facilitating easy repair, maintenance, and replacement while maintaining material compatibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric spokes are used instead of compressed gas, then the non-pneumatic structure is achieved, but the serviceability of mounting to wheels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner serves as a mediator between the non-pneumatic tire structure and the wheel rim. It incorporates standardized mechanical attachment features that simplify the mounting operation, allowing the structurally intact non-pneumatic tire to be easily serviceably mounted to conventional wheels without compromising the polymeric spoke construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire and wheel assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire and a wheel. The non-pneumatic tire incudes a tread, an inner liner, and a plurality of spokes extending between and coupling the tread to the inner liner. The plurality of spokes have a first width and the inner liner has a second width greater than the first width such that a pair of inner liner flanges extend beyond the plurality of spokes in an axial direction. The wheel includes a rim and the inner liner is configured to be mounted on the rim with the pair of inner liner flanges fastened to the rim such that the non-pneumatic tire is serviceably mounted on the wheel.