Pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube and expandable liner for a tube-type tire

Abstract

A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section. The outer liner has one or more O-ring seals projecting outwardly from the side walls thereof and a centering lip projecting downwardly from the side walls. The O-ring seals are moved into sealing engagement with the inside of the main tire section when the air chamber of the inner tube is inflated and the liner is expanded. The centering lips of the liner are seated upon the beadwell of the rim to cause the liner to be automatically centered over the inner tube.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A combination comprising:
 a tube-type tire to be mounted on a rim of a wheel, said tire including a main tire section that is adapted to extend circumferentially around the rim of the wheel and having an air chamber that is inflated with air to a first pressure,   an inner tube that is adapted to extend circumferentially around the rim of the wheel and having an air chamber that is inflated with air to a second pressure, the second pressure to which the air chamber of said inner tube is inflated being greater than the first pressure to which the air chamber of said main tire section is inflated and wherein the volume of the air chamber of said inner tube is smaller than the volume of the air chamber of said main tire section, the air chamber of said main tire section being sealed from the air chamber of said inner tube to prevent the respective first and second pressures thereof from reaching equilibrium, and   an expandable liner laying on and around said inner tube so as to separate said inner tube from the air chamber of said main tire section, said liner including a sealing surface that creates an air tight seal between the inside of said main tire section and the rim of the wheel in order to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim when said liner expands and is forced against the inside of said main tire section in response to the air chamber of said inner tube being inflated with air to the second pressure,   said expandable liner having continuous reinforcing cords running therethrough and connected to beads located at opposite sides of said liner, and said expandable liner also having a space extending between the opposite sides thereof such that said liner runs from the rim of the wheel and only partially around said inner tube.   
   
   
       25 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , wherein the second pressure to which the air chamber of said inner tube is inflated is at least twice the first air pressure to which the air chamber of said main tire section is inflated. 
   
   
       26 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , further comprising a valve stem extending through the rim to the air chamber of said inner tube by which air is supplied to said air chamber to inflate said inner tube. 
   
   
       27 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , wherein said expandable liner is manufactured from a resilient material so as to be capable of expanding in response to the air chamber of said inner tube being inflated with air, an expansion of said liner causing a corresponding increase in the size of said space which extends between the opposite sides of said liner. 
   
   
       28 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , wherein the sealing surface of said expandable liner includes at least one sealing ring extending outwardly therefrom and moving into sealing engagement with said main tire section when said liner expands and is forced against said main tire section in response to the air chamber of said inner tube being inflated with air to the second pressure. 
   
   
       29 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , wherein said expandable liner includes a centering lip projecting from each of the opposite sides thereof to be seated against the rim of the wheel, whereby said liner is centered over said inner tube in engagement therewith such that the sealing surface of said liner is forced against the interface of said main tire section with the rim of the wheel to prevent the air with which the air chamber of said main tire section is inflated from leaking past said interface. 
   
   
       30 . The combination recited in  claim 24 , further comprising a shield located inside the air chamber of said main tire section and lying against said expandable liner so as to establish a protective wall over said inner tube, whereby to prevent sharp objects within the air chamber of said main tire section from penetrating said liner and said inner tube. 
   
   
       31 . The combination recited in  claim 30 , further comprising a deflector projecting from said shield and into the air chamber of said main tire section whereby to deflect sharp objects within said air chamber away from said inner tube.