Wheel assemblies with non-pneumatic tires

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes an inner circumferential ring and an outer circumferential ring defining an annular space and a cylindrical space inside the inner circumferential ring. A plurality of partitions connect the circumferential rings within the annular space. A ground-contacting tread is located on the outer circumferential ring. A rim, including a plurality of pieces, is located within the cylindrical space. The non-pneumatic tire assembly further includes a hub that is removably connected to the rim.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-pneumatic tire assembly, said non-pneumatic tire assembly comprising:
 a non-pneumatic tire, said non-pneumatic tire comprising:
 an inner circumferential ring and an outer circumferential ring defining an annular space between said circumferential rings and a cylindrical space inside said inner circumferential ring; 
 a plurality of partitions within said annular space, wherein said partitions connect said circumferential rings; 
 a ground-contacting tread located on said outer circumferential ring; 
   a rim, said rim comprises a plurality of pieces, and said rim is located within said cylindrical space; and   a hub, said hub is removably connected to said rim.   
     
     
         2 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hub is sandwiched between said two pieces of said rim. 
     
     
         3 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said rim further comprises a ridge and a valley, and said hub further comprises a lug,
 wherein said ridge from one of said two pieces of said rim is aligned with said ridge from the other of said two pieces of said rim to form a cavity between said two pieces of said rim,   wherein said lug is configured to interact with said cavity in order to limit rotation of said hub relative to said rim.   
     
     
         4 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said rim further comprises a circumferential surface, and said rim defines a cavity on said circumferential surface configured to interact with structure on said non-pneumatic tire to enable transfer of rotational motion from said rim to said non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         5 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said hub defines a non-circular aperture configured to interact with an associated wheel axle. 
     
     
         6 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said two pieces of said rim snap into place to capture said non-pneumatic tire and said hub. 
     
     
         7 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener, wherein said fastener attaches one of said two pieces of said rim to the other of said two pieces of said rim, thereby securing the entire non-pneumatic tire assembly together. 
     
     
         8 . The non-pneumatic tire assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a first width of said rim is shorter than a second width of said non-pneumatic tire thereby enabling application of axial force to said non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         9 . A non-pneumatic tire, said non-pneumatic tire comprising:
 an inner circumferential ring and an outer circumferential ring defining an annular space between said circumferential rings and a cylindrical space inside said inner circumferential ring;   a plurality of partitions within said annular space, wherein said partitions connect said circumferential rings; and   a ground-contacting tread located on said outer circumferential ring.   
     
     
         10 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said partitions are non-radial. 
     
     
         11 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said partitions have a generalized shape selected from the group consisting of a wishbone, an “O,” a “V,” a “U,” a circle, an oval, and combinations thereof that repeats around said annular space. 
     
     
         12 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said partitions have an ogive or hypocycloid shape that repeats around said annular space. 
     
     
         13 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said partitions define arcuate sides that extend in an axial direction relative to the edges of said circumferential rings. 
     
     
         14 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said ground-contacting tread comprises a plurality of ridges extending axially across an exterior surface of said outer circumferential ring. 
     
     
         15 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 14 , wherein each ridge of said plurality of ridges includes a height dimension and a width dimension, wherein an aspect ratio of each ridge comprises a ratio of the height dimension to the width dimension, said aspect ratio of each ridge of said plurality of ridges is between about 1:1 to about 2:1 
     
     
         16 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of ridges comprise a peaked elevation at about the axial center point of the plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         17 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of ridges comprise a single ridge portion on one axial side of said outer circumferential ring and a split ridge portion on the other axial side of said outer circumferential ring. 
     
     
         18 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 17 , wherein said adjacent ridges of said plurality of ridges can alternate orientation such that said split ridge portion of one of said plurality of ridges is located on an in-board side of said non-pneumatic tire while said split ridge portion of an adjacent ridge of said plurality of ridges is located on an out-board side of said non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         19 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein said inner circumferential ring defines a textured profile on an interior surface to enable cooperation with a rim such that rotational motion of said rim urges rotational motion of said non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         20 . The non-pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of generally arcuate sections are assembled to form said non-pneumatic tire.