Cyclically moveable ground-engaging structure

Abstract

Abstract A cyclically moveable ground-engaging structure such as a tyre. The tyre comprises a resiliently deformable body (11) having a inner surface (15) and two opposed lateral sides (23). A plurality of cavities (11) provided in the body, the cavities being in a first set (31) and a second set (32) on each of the two lateral sides of the body. Each cavity has one end thereof opening onto the respective side (23) of the body and is closed at the other end. The first set (31) of cavities on each side is disposed outwardly of the second set (32) of cavities on the same side in the direction away from the inner surface (15). The cavities (33) in the first set (31) on each side are offset in the direction of cyclical movement with respect to the cavities (34) in the second set (32) on the same side. The cavities (33) in the first set (31) on one side of the body are offset in the direction of cyclical movement with respect to the cavities (33) in the first set (31) on the other side of the body, and the cavities (34) in the second set (32) on one side of the body are offset in the direction of cyclical movement with respect to the cavities (34) in the second set (32) on the other side of the body. With this arrangement, the cavities (33, 34) on each side (23) of the body (11) are staggered in the direction of cyclical movement and so no one of the cavities (33, 34) is in alignment with any other one of the cavities in a direction normal to the direction of cyclical movement.

Inventors

• 👤 Graeme Alfred Chandler
• 👤 Gregory Richard Haydon
• 👤 Stephen Harwood
• 👤 Brian Frank Mangano

Bibliographic Details