Non-Pneumatic Tire Rim Assembly With Spoke Ring Load Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pneumatic tires require air inflation, which leads to maintenance and pressure monitoring issues, and they become useless upon complete loss of inflation pressure, while existing non-pneumatic tires fail to match the performance and tread life of pneumatic tires.

Innovation Solution

A non-pneumatic tire and rim assembly featuring a spoke ring structure with an inner ring and outer tread ring, where the inner ring has retention nubs aligned with complementary grooves on the rim, and a plurality of spoke members connecting the inner and outer rings, formed from resilient elastomeric materials, providing a structurally supported tire with improved load-carrying efficiency and longer tread life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pneumatic tire is used, then load carrying efficiency and comfort are improved, but maintenance requirements and pressure monitoring issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload carrying efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the pneumatic inflation system from the tire structure, replacing it with a solid non-pneumatic tire that maintains load carrying efficiency through its structural design while removing all associated maintenance and pressure monitoring requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of tire inflation from pressurized air to solid elastomeric material, fundamentally altering how the tire carries loads while maintaining the necessary performance characteristics without requiring maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a structurally supported tire is used to eliminate air inflation, then maintenance is reduced, but load carrying efficiency and tread life are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance reductionVSAvoidload carrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite elastomeric materials with specific durometer ratings (60-90 Shore A) and incorporates reinforcing structures including circumferential ribs, radial grooves, and embedded cords to achieve both the maintenance-free operation and the load carrying efficiency comparable to pneumatic tires

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different local qualities within the tire structure, including varying durometer regions, reinforced sidewall areas, optimized tread patterns with specific groove configurations, and strategically placed reinforcement cords to simultaneously achieve maintenance reduction and improved load carrying efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution eliminates the need for air inflation, offers improved load-carrying efficiency and comfort, and extends tread life beyond that of conventional pneumatic tires of the same size, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

formed from resilient elastomeric materials, providing a structurally supported tire with improved load-carrying efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4105038B1Non-pneumatic tire and rim assembly
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO
  • EP4105038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4105038B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4105038B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly (10) is disclosed. It comprises a radially inner rim (40) and a radially outer rim (50) and a spoke ring structure (20) having a radially inner ring (22) that is mounted on a radially outer surface of the radially inner rim (40). The spoke ring structure (20) has a plurality of spoke members (62). A radially outer tread ring (30) is mounted on the radially outer circumference of the spoke ring structure (20). Also, a method of making said non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly (10) is disclosed wherein the non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly (10) or one or more parts thereof is formed by three-dimensional printing.