System for non-pneumatic support of a vehicle

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer.

1 . A method for constructing a non-pneumatic tire comprises the steps of:
 sliding a carcass ply structure into engagement with a bladder;   seating a first circular bead of the carcass ply structure onto a mold;   partially inflating the bladder to form a bulged carcass ply structure;   pouring an elastomer into the mold;   seating a second circular bead of the carcass ply structure onto a mold cap;   closing the mold with the mold cap for enclosing the elastomer;   fully inflating the bladder for facilitating engagement of the elastomer with the carcass ply structure;   curing the elastomer; and   removing the combined carcass ply structure/elastomer which now defines the non-pneumatic tire.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the carcass ply structure comprises a plurality of springs, each spring extending from the first circular bead to the second circular bead. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each spring comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion interconnecting the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each spring is interwoven with an adjacent spring on a first side of the spring and further is interwoven with an adjacent spring on a second opposite side of the spring thereby forming a toroidal carcass ply structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the elastomer is urethane. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  further including the step of relocating the self-contained mold/mold cap subsequent to said closing step. 
     
     
         7 . A non-pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of springs, each spring comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion, each spring being interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire, the toroidal structure being at least partially coated with an elastomer such that the toroidal structure forms an anisotropic structure having different mechanical properties in the circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire and the radial direction of the non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         8 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the springs are secured to an annular rim of a wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in  claim 8  wherein both the first and second end portions of each spring are secured to the annular rim. 
     
     
         10 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the toroidal structure defines a first ply for the non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising a second toroidal structure having an interwoven toroidal structure with a plurality of springs, the second toroidal structure overlapping the first toroidal structure. 
     
     
         13 . The non-pneumatic tire as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the second toroidal structure is at least partially coated with the elastomer. 
     
     
         14 . A system for constructing a non-pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of springs, each spring comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion, each spring being interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal carcass ply structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire, the toroidal carcass ply structure being at least partially coated with an elastomer cured to adhere to the toroidal carcass ply structure such that the toroidal carcass ply structure structure forms an anisotropic structure having different mechanical properties in the circumferential direction of the non-pneumatic tire and the radial direction of the non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the toroidal carcass ply structure is brought into engagement with a bladder. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the toroidal carcass ply structure further includes two circular beads for seating the toroidal carcass ply structure to a mold structure during curing of the elastomer. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the elastomer comprises a two-part polyurethane for chemically curing the elastomer onto the toroidal carcass ply structure at ambient temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the cured elastomer forms a tread portion for generating traction of the non-pneumatic tire over varied contact surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  further including a segmented mold for curing the elastomer to the toroidal carcass ply structure.