Non-pneumatic Tire Spoke Disk Shear Band Load Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pneumatic tires require air inflation, making them inefficient and prone to failure without pressure, while non-pneumatic tires lack the performance and load-carrying efficiency of their inflated counterparts.

Innovation Solution

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly featuring a top-loaded design with a shear band and spoke disks, where the shear band and upper spokes carry approximately 90-100% of the load, minimizing compressive load on lower spokes and allowing the shear band to bend for obstacle navigation, utilizing a trapezoidally shaped anchor system and pretensioned spokes for enhanced load distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pneumatic tire is used, then load carrying efficiency and comfort are improved, but the tire becomes useless after complete loss of inflation pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire usability after pressure lossVSAvoidinflation pressure requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the dependency on inflation pressure from the tire system. The tire is designed to function as a structurally supported tire without requiring air or fluid inflation, removing the vulnerable element (pressurized fluid) while maintaining load-carrying capability through the tire's structural design alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental operating parameter from pressurized fluid dependence to structural support. By designing the tire with specific structural characteristics (tire beads, sidewalls, tread structure) that provide inherent load-carrying capability, the system transitions from pneumatic pressure-based support to structure-based support

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a structurally supported tire is used to eliminate inflation pressure, then reliability is improved, but load carrying efficiency and performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation without inflation pressureVSAvoidload carrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by designing different regions of the tire with specific structural characteristics optimized for their functions. The tire beads, sidewalls, and tread areas are structured to provide localized load-carrying capabilities, with the overall structure distributing loads efficiently without requiring uniform pressurization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite material structures combining rigid and flexible elements. The tire incorporates materials and structural configurations that provide both the rigidity needed for load support and the flexibility required for comfort and obstacle navigation, achieving pneumatic-like performance through material and structural composition rather than pressurization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If a rigid structurally supported tire is used, then load carrying capacity is improved, but ride comfort and obstacle navigation capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload carrying capacityVSAvoidobstacle navigation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic characteristics to the structurally supported tire by allowing controlled deformation and flexing of tire components. The tire structure is designed to dynamically respond to road conditions, enabling obstacle navigation and maintaining ride comfort while preserving load-carrying capacity through adaptive structural response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3785932B1Non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly with integrated spoke structure
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO
  • EP3785932B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3785932B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3785932B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly (100) is disclosed. It comprises an outer annular ring or band (200) having a ground contacting tread portion (210) and a shear band (300), and one or more spoke disks (400). Each spoke disk (400) is connected to the shear band (300). Each spoke disk (400) has at least two spokes (410, 420, 430, 440). Each spoke extends between an outer ring (406) and an inner ring (403). Each of said one or more spoke disks (400) have a plurality of anchors (600) which extend radially inward of the inner ring (403) for mounting in aligned slots (700) of a wheel or rim (500).