Reusable Non-Pneumatic Tire Rim With Fastened Webbing Attachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current rim designs for non-pneumatic tires with support structures like honeycomb or webbing geometry require adhesives for attachment, making it impossible to reuse the rim without damaging it when the tire reaches its end of life, leading to increased costs as tire sizes grow.
Innovation Solution
A reusable rim assembly for non-pneumatic tires featuring a first and second rim component with lateral support structures secured through fasteners, allowing the rim to be inserted and removed without adhesives, utilizing fasteners to attach the rim components to the tire's webbing, enabling easy disassembly and reassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive is used to attach the rim to the non-pneumatic tire support structure, then the rim is securely fixed during tire operation, but the rim cannot be removed and reused when the tire reaches end of life
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into multiple discrete fasteners distributed around the rim assembly. Each fastener can be independently removed, allowing the rim to be completely detached from the tire support structure without damaging either component. This segmentation replaces the monolithic adhesive bond with modular mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical adhesive bonding system is replaced with a mechanical fastening system using fasteners that physically engage with the rim and support structure. This mechanical substitution allows for reversible attachment while maintaining secure fixation during operation, enabling rim reuse after tire replacement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive bonding is used for rim attachment, then the rim remains fixed during tire operation, but removing the rim destroys the rim structure
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into multiple discrete fasteners distributed around the rim assembly. Each fastener can be independently removed, allowing the rim to be completely detached from the tire support structure without damaging either component. This segmentation replaces the monolithic adhesive bond with modular mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical adhesive bonding system is replaced with a mechanical fastening system using fasteners that physically engage with the rim and support structure. This mechanical substitution allows for reversible attachment while maintaining secure fixation during operation, enabling rim reuse after tire replacement.
3Strength
If non-pneumatic tires become larger in size, then they provide better load support and coverage, but the cost of non-reusable tires increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rim assembly is designed to be recovered and reused after the non-pneumatic tire reaches end of life. The fastener system enables complete removal of the rim from the tire support structure without damage, allowing the expensive rim components to be reused on new tires. This recovers valuable materials and significantly reduces the effective cost per tire unit.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A rim assembly for a non-pneumatic tire has at least two rim components including: a first rim component having a first rim flange and a first lip, and a second rim component having a second rim flange and a second lip. The rim assembly further includes a plurality of lateral rim component support structures configured to extend through a plurality of openings of a tire support structure. The rim assembly also includes a first plurality of fasteners securing the plurality of lateral rim component support structures to the first rim flange, and a second plurality of fasteners securing the plurality of lateral rim component support structures to the second rim flange.