Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, curved, oriented, and comprised of varying thicknesses of material which facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a wheel and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load.

1 . A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load comprising:
 a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation;   a deformable generally annular outer ring; and   a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings and comprising at least one radial web element that is angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and at least one tangential web element that is generally transverse to the radial plane;   wherein at least one of the web elements has a first end comprising a first connection point, and a second end comprising a second connection point, the web element extending radially in a curved manner between the first and second ends;   wherein a substantial amount of said load is supported by a plurality of said web elements working in tension.   
     
     
         2 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the web elements gradually become thinner moving radially away from the center of the tire. 
     
     
         3 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web elements has various thicknesses along its length. 
     
     
         4 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tread carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of said outer ring, said tread carrying layer being sufficiently stiff to support said web elements working in tension. 
     
     
         5 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises a first plurality of generally polygonal openings having a first shape and a second plurality of generally polygonal openings having a second shape different from said first shape. 
     
     
         6 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings and at least one of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings are traversed when moving in any radially outward direction from said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings has a first inner boundary spaced at a first radial distance and each of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings has a second inner boundary spaced at a second, greater radial distance. 
     
     
         8 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 7  wherein at least one generally polygonal opening of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings is larger than at least one generally polygonal opening of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings. 
     
     
         9 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said inner ring at a given location with its first connection point. 
     
     
         10 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said outer ring at a given location with its second connection point. 
     
     
         11 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a connection point joins at least three web elements. 
     
     
         12 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein said inner ring has a first thickness, said outer ring has a second thickness, and said web elements have a third thickness, said third thickness being smaller than said first thickness or said second thickness. 
     
     
         13 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , further comprising web elements that extend in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings is radially oriented. 
     
     
         15 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings has at least 3 sides. 
     
     
         16 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings are generally hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         17 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of joined segments each having a width narrower than a width of said tire. 
     
     
         18 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 17  wherein a first joined segment is circumferentially offset from an adjoining segment. 
     
     
         19 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 17 , wherein a first joined segment has an interconnected web that is substantially similar to an interconnected web of a second joined segment. 
     
     
         20 . A non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a relatively radially inner layer of said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises alternating generally wedge-shaped openings.