Method and Apparatus For Controlling Debris From An Exploding Tire

Abstract

A tire cage is disclosed for containing the debris from a tire explosion. The cage includes a lightweight energy absorbing material for protecting structural members of the cage from tire explosion damage so that the cage is reusable. The energy absorbing material may be a metallic foam or other open celled structured material that is able to absorb large amounts of kinetic energy by permanently deforming. The cage is particularly effective in containing explosions of large equipment tires 6 to 12 feet in diameter and having a stored kinetic energy in a range of approximately 900 kilojoules to 1500 kilojoules.

1 . A method of controlling debris from an exploding tire, comprising: 
 providing the tire within an interior of an enclosure, said enclosure having at least one rigid member;    moving a lid of said enclosure from an open position to a closed position, so that in said closed position said enclosure at least substantially prevents debris from the tire from exiting the interior when a tire explosion occurs;    wherein when the debris is projected toward the rigid member, at least part of the debris's kinetic energy is absorbed by permanent deformation of an energy absorbing material; and    replacing said deformed energy absorbing material after the tire explosion so that said enclosure is operable for containing another tire explosion;    wherein said energy absorbing material is capable of absorbing at least 900 kilojoules of kinetic energy imparted to the energy absorbing material by the debris.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid member includes at least one metal beam of said enclosure.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing material includes a metallic open celled material.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said metallic open celled material includes one of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said debris includes portions of a split rim of the tire.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of replacing includes: 
 removing crushed portions of the energy absorbing material; and    replacing said crushed portions with additional portions of the energy absorbing material without replacing said rigid member.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of moving includes at least one of the following: 
 (a) releasing a safety component that holds the lid in an open position;    (b) closing the lid about the tire; and    (c) locking the lid in the closed position.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least said locking step is performed, and further including preventing a deflation or inflation of the tire before said locking step is performed.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , where at least said releasing step is performed, and said releasing step includes unlocking a hinge for the lid.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including raising a pedestal within said enclosure for supporting the tire thereon.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including preventing a deflation or inflation of the tire before the tire is enclosed in a predetermined configuration of the enclosure.