EP0836956A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A multiple link tyre belt
Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC
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Filing: 1997-07-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-07-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an improved tire design including a continuous annular band or a belt formed of a plurality of relatively flat rigid plates embedded in the rubber between the tread and body plies. The plates are curved to conform to the radius of the tire and are pivotally linked or otherwise pivotally connected together thereby creating a flexible annular belt that is extremely stiff in the in-plane or steering torsional direction due to the engagement of the side edges of the adjacent plates when experiencing an in-plane or steering torsional force but flexible in the radial direction due to the pivotal connection between the adjacent plates.
Inventors
- 👤 Neel K. Mani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C9/00; B60C9/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10135; Y10T152/10171; Y10T152/1018; Y10T152/10189; Y10T152/10198; Y10T152/10495; Y10T152/10765
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A pneumatic tire that is extremely stiff in the in-plane torsional
direction but flexible in the radial direction, said tire comprising: an annular carcass having at least one ply, the ply comprising a
plurality of elongated strands; a flexible annular belt comprised of a plurality of rigid plates, each
plate separated from and pivotally connected to an adjacent plate by a pivot
means; and, a rubber compound enveloping the carcass and flexible belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the pivot means is a flexible
connection of adjacent plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 2 wherein each plate is separated
from adjacent plates by a gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 3 wherein the pivot means comprises
a bead of a flexible compound filling said gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 3 wherein the pivot means comprises
an extension of the rubber compound into the gap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 2 wherein adjacent plates substantially
abut one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 6 wherein the pivot means comprises
at least one mechanical link.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 7 wherein each mechanical link is a
clip that pierces each of the adjacent plates thereby holding the adjacent plates
together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein each plate is separated
from adjacent plates by a gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 9 wherein the pivot means comprises
at least one swinging hinge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 9 wherein the pivot means comprises
at least two swinging hinges, said hinges each including a flange and a hollow
tube with the flanges connected to opposing adjacent plates such that an
elongated bar extends through all of the tubes and functions as a pivot point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 9 wherein the pivot means comprises
a tongue extending from one plate swivelably seated within a corresponding
groove formed within an adjacent plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 12 wherein the tongue comprises an
elongated cylinder transversely connected to one plate and the groove is an
elongated cylindrical slot cut in the adjacent plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 12 wherein the tongue is a ball and
the groove is a socket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the pivot means comprises
complementary concave and convex surfaces on adjacent plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 15 wherein the pivot means further
comprises means for maintaining engagement between the concave and
convex surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 16 wherein the maintaining contact
means comprises at least one wire woven through adjacent plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A pneumatic tire that is extremely stiff in the in-plane torsional
direction but flexible in the radial direction, said tire comprising: a carcass having at least one ply, the ply comprising a plurality of
elongated strands; a plurality of elongated, relatively flat plates aligned side-by-side
and hingedly connected to form an annular structure; and, a rubber compound enveloping the carcass and plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 18 wherein each plate is separated
from adjacent plates by a gap, and wherein the hinged connection comprises
a bead of a flexible compound filling said gap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 18 wherein the hinged connection
comprises at least one mechanical link that pierces each of the adjacent plates
thereby holding the adjacent plates together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 18 wherein the hinged connection
comprises at least two swinging hinges, said hinges each including a flange and
a hollow tube with the flanges connected to opposing adjacent plates such that
an elongated bar extends through all of the tubes and functions as a pivot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 18 wherein the plates are hingedly
connected together by a tongue extending from one plate swivelably seated
within a complementary groove formed within an adjacent plate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 18 wherein the plates are hingedly
connected together by complementary engageable corresponding concave and
convex surfaces formed on side edges of adjacent plates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pneumatic tire of claim 23 wherein the plates are hingedly
connected together by at least one wire woven through adjacent plates for
maintaining engagement between the concave and convex surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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