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 - 20 . (canceled)