Non-pneumatic vehicle tire

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle featuring a body of elastic material and having a circumferentially-extending crown portion featuring a running surface and circumferentially-extending sidewalls joined to the crown portion. The side walls terminate in circumferentially-extending beads which are adapted to engage the rim of a vehicle wheel. A number of radially-extending and circumferentially-spaced compound-curve springs made of a composite material are at least partially embedded within the crown portion and the sidewalls. The curved springs have ends terminating within the beads of the tire body. A circumferentially-extending belt constructed of a high-strength and low stretch material is positioned radially outside of the compound-curve springs.

1 . A non-pneumatic tire for a vehicle comprising:
 a. a body made of an elastic material and having a circumferentially-extending crown portion featuring a running surface and circumferentially-extending first and second sidewalls joined to said crown portion, said circumferentially-extending first and second side walls terminating in circumferentially-extending first and second beads, respectively, said first and second beads adapted to engage a rim of a vehicle wheel; and   b. a plurality of radially-extending and circumferentially-spaced springs constructed of a composite material at least partially embedded within said crown portion and said first and second sidewalls of the tire body, each of said composite springs having a first end terminating within the first bead of the tire body and a second end terminating within the second bead of the tire body.   
   
   
       2 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 1  further comprising a circumferentially-extending belt constructed of a high-strength and low stretch material positioned radially outside of the plurality of curved springs so as to surround them. 
   
   
       3 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 2  wherein said belt is constructed of steel. 
   
   
       4 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 2  wherein said belt is constructed of fiber-reinforced fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 1  wherein the composite material of the springs is a thermoplastic matrix and glass fiber reinforcement composite. 
   
   
       6 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 1  wherein the composite material is a thermoset matrix with a reinforcement material selected from a group consisting of glass, KEVLAR/TWARON, ZYLON, carbon fiber or SPECTRA/DYNEEMA or fused quartz. 
   
   
       7 . The non-pneumatic tire of  claim 1  further comprising a circumferentially-extending snubber made of an elastic material adapted to engage the rim of the vehicle wheel so as to be enclosed by the body of the tire.