US6769465B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structurally supported resilient tire
Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
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Filing: 2002-02-22
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Granted: 2004-08-03
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Expires: 2022-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A resilient tire that supports a load without internal air pressure includes a ground contacting tread portion and sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire. A reinforced annular band is disposed radially inward of the tread portion. The band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of said membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of said shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy B. Rhyne
- 👤 Kenneth W. DeMino
- 👤 Steven M. Cron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C17/00; B60C9/00; B60C9/18; B60C7/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10135; Y10T152/10171; Y10T152/1018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, wherein said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the shear modulus of said shear layer is at least 100:1 such that deforming said ground contacting tread portion by an externally applied load from substantially a circular shape to a flat shape maintains a substantially constant length of said membranes and relative displacement of said membranes occurs substantially by shear strain in said shear layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, wherein said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and wherein a ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the shear modulus of said shear layer is at least 100:1 such that deforming said ground contacting tread portion by an externally applied load from substantially a circular shape to a flat shape maintains a substantially constant length of said membranes and relative displacement of said membranes occurs substantially by shear strain in said shear layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the shear modulus of said shear layer is at least 500:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the longitudinal tensile modulus of one of said membranes to the shear modulus of said shear layer is at least 1000:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the counterdeflection stiffness per unit contact width is greater than 0.1 DaN/mm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein a product of said shear modulus of elasticity of said shear layer times a radial thickness of said shear layer is approximately equal to a product of a predetermined ground contact pressure times a predetermined radius radial position of the outermost extent of said tread portion second membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tire according to claim 5 wherein said shear layer has a radial thickness of at least 5 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tire according to claim 6 wherein said shear layer has a radial thickness of about 10 mm to about 20 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein said elastomeric shear layer has a shear modulus of elasticity of about 3 MPa to about 20 MPa.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein each of said at least first and second membranes further comprise layers of substantially inextensible cord reinforcements embedded in an elastomeric coating layer having a shear modulus of elasticity greater than or equal to at least the shear modulus of elasticity of said shear layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tire according to claim 9 wherein the cord reinforcements of said first and second membranes form an angle with the tire circumferential direction of between about 10° and 45°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein said second membrane has an arcuate transverse profile having a transverse radius of curvature less than a transverse radius of curvature of a radially outermost surface of said tread portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tire according to claim 11 wherein said radially outermost surface of said tread portion has a transverse radius of curvature of at least 1000 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tire according to claim 11 wherein said second membrane has a transverse radius of curvature of at least 500 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein said tread portion has at least one tread groove.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein said second membrane is undulated having an amplitude of undulation in the radial direction and a wavelength of undulation in the axial direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tire according to claim 15 wherein the amplitude of undulation of said second membrane is between about 20% and 50% of the maximum thickness of said shear layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tire according to claim 15 wherein said second membrane has a constant amplitude within the axial extent of said membrane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tire according to claim 15 wherein said second membrane has a wavelength of undulation between about 20% and 50% of the rolling tread width of said tread portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tire according to claim 15 wherein said tread portion has at least one groove having a tread depth of at least 120% of a nominal tread depth.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall portion has an effective radial stiffness in tension greater than an effective radial stiffness in compression.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tire according to claim 20 wherein said sidewall portions are substantially inextensible in tension and substantially without resistance to compressive buckling.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tire according to claim 20 wherein said sidewall portions are reinforced by substantially radial elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tire according to claim 20 where said sidewall portions are rectilinear in the tire meridian plane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tire according to claim 20 wherein said sidewall portion has a maximum thickness less than 10% of the radial section height of said tire.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein a ratio of said longitudinal stiffness of said annular band in the tire equatorial plane to an effective radial stiffness of said sidewall portion in tension is less than 100:1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
161 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and said second membrane is undulated having amplitude of undulation in the radial direction and a wavelength of undulation in the axial direction, whereby deforming said second membrane from substantially a circular shape to a flat shape by an externally applied load occurs without longitudinal buckling of said second membrane and maintains a substantially uniform ground contact pressure of said ground contacting tread portion throughout the length of the ground contacting region.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
161 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and said second membrane is undulated having amplitude of undulation in the radial direction and a wavelength of undulation in the axial direction, whereby deforming said second membrane from substantially a circular shape to a flat shape by an externally applied load occurs without longitudinal buckling of said second membrane and maintains a substantially uniform ground contact pressure of said ground contacting tread portion throughout the length of the ground contacting region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
158 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and a ratio of said longitudinal stiffness of said annular band in the tire equatorial plane to an effective radial stiffness of said sidewall portion in tension is less than 100:1, whereby rotation of said tire under applied load causes a circumferential expansion of said annular band and induces an additional tension in said sidewall portions and reduces the radial deflection of said tire relative to the non-rotating condition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
158 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and a ratio of said longitudinal stiffness of said annular band in the tire equatorial plane to an effective radial stiffness of said sidewall portion in tension is less than 100:1, whereby rotation of said tire under applied load causes a circumferential expansion of said annular band and induces an additional tension in said sidewall portions and reduces the radial deflection of said tire relative to the non-rotating condition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
156 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and said tread portion having, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and wherein said sidewall portions are substantially inextensible in tension and substantially without resistance to compressive buckling, whereby an externally applied load is supported substantially by tensile forces in said sidewall portion in the region of the tire out of contact with the ground and substantially without vertical load support due to the sidewall portion in the region in contact with the ground.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
156 words
A structurally supported resilient tire comprising a ground contacting tread portion, sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire, and said tread portion having, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, said band comprising an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and wherein said sidewall portions are substantially inextensible in tension and substantially without resistance to compressive buckling, whereby an externally applied load is supported substantially by tensile forces in said sidewall portion in the region of the tire out of contact with the ground and substantially without vertical load support due to the sidewall portion in the region in contact with the ground.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for making a structurally supported resilient tire with a reinforced annular band having an elastomeric shear layer between longitudinally stiff members, comprising the steps of: selecting a ground contact pressure and tire radius; multiplying the ground contact pressure by the tire radius to determine a shear layer factor; selecting a shear layer material having a shear modulus of elasticity and with a thickness so that the product of the shear modulus of elasticity times the thickness is equal to the shear layer factor; selecting membranes having a tensile modulus of elasticity at least 100 times the shear modulus of elasticity, and; assembling a ground contacting tread portion, said reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and sidewall portions extending to radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions for securing to a wheel.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for making a structurally supported resilient tire with a reinforced annular band having an elastomeric shear layer between longitudinally stiff members, comprising the steps of: selecting a ground contact pressure and tire radius; multiplying the ground contact pressure by the tire radius to determine a shear layer factor; selecting a shear layer material having a shear modulus of elasticity and with a thickness so that the product of the shear modulus of elasticity times the thickness is equal to the shear layer factor; selecting membranes having a tensile modulus of elasticity at least 100 times the shear modulus of elasticity, and; assembling a ground contacting tread portion, said reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of said tread portion, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of said elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of said elastomeric shear layer, and sidewall portions extending to radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions for securing to a wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-08-03 | 2008-02-02 | 2008-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-03 | 2012-02-02 | 2012-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-03 | 2016-02-02 | 2016-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |