Run flat tire insert system

Abstract

A tire insert system for assembly into a continuous ring during its positioning within a tire, and is supported on a wheel web between the wheel flanges where the continuous tire insert ring is mounted to the wheel to support a tire load for a significant travel distance should that tire lose air. The tire insert segments each include an arcuate shaped outer portion that, when assembled end to end with other tire insert segments, form the insert ring, and each tire insert segment includes an anchor plate that is an arcuate section when assembled side by side with other anchor plates forms a flat disk having an open center portion, which anchor plate is secured to the tire insert on its top end and includes mounting holes formed in its lower portion for receiving bolt type fasteners fitted therethrough and through forward and rear wheel sections, sandwiching the anchor plates therebetween, forming the tire insert ring in the tire during a mounting of the tire between wheel flanges.

1 . A run flat tire insert system comprising, a plurality of tire insert segments that each include an elastomeric insert portion having an arch shaped outer surface whose undersurface is mounted to an anchor plate that extends at approximately a right angle downwardly from a bottom surface of said arcuate insert segments and includes aligned equal spaced holes formed therethrough, and which said tire insert segments are for fitting together, in end to end relationship, to form a continuous tire insert ring, with said anchor plates forming a disk that is open across its center and has spaced holes formed therethrough; a wheel consisting of front and rear sections for fitting together for coupling with fasteners, forming a wheel having opposing aligned flanges separated by a web and a wheel body having tire insert mounting holes for alignment with said tire insert anchor plates spaced holes, lug holes and a center opening; and said tire insert anchor plates are sandwiched between said wheel front and rear sections to receive fastener means for fitting through said wheel front and rear sections spaced holes and said assembled anchor portions disk spaced holes, joining said wheel front and rear sections and tire insert disk together.  
   
   
       2 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate insert segments are formed from urethane and a right angle section of each of the anchor plates is cast within each of said arcuate insert segments.  
   
   
       3 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the anchor plates are flat straight arcuate sections that are bent through approximately ninety degrees across a top portion and terminate at a curved lower end to form a flat disk with an open center area when fitted together end to end, and the anchor plates holes are spaced equal distances apart and are centered at like distances from said curved lower end.  
   
   
       4 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each arcuate tire insert segment has the same height and sectional dimensions whereby said arcuate tire insert segments, when mounted between the wheel front and rear sections will fit together end to end and form a continuous ring.  
   
   
       5 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each arcuate tire insert segment are flat across their tops and have outwardly tapering sides with a bottom surface that is contoured to fit closely onto the web of the wheel that is assembled from the wheel front and rear wheel sections.  
   
   
       6 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fastener means for coupling the wheel front and rear sections together with the anchor plates sandwiched therebetween are bolts having threaded ends each for receiving a nut turned there over.  
   
   
       7 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing distance between the top surface of the continuous ring formed by the tire insert segments and the undersurface of the tire tread is selected to be between one and two inches dependent upon tire size, design air pressure, and anticipated tire loading to provide a minimum tire side wall folding should a tire mounting the run flat tire insert system fail and the undersurface of the tread of said tire collapse onto said continuous ring surface.  
   
   
       8 . The run flat tire insert system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein, for a heavy duty transport tire aired to approximately one hundred fifty pounds and carrying a load of approximately seven thousand pounds the spacing distance between the continuous ring top surface and the tire surface under the tread is approximately one to two inches.