Irrigation Tire

Abstract

A non directional pneumatic tire is provided for an agricultural irrigation system. The tire includes first and second side walls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber. A non directional tread pattern is defined on the tire and includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions are arranged in first and second rows extending from the first and second side walls toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternate with each other and there is a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with or overlaps another.

1 . A non-directional pneumatic tire for supporting an agricultural irrigation system, comprising:
 first and second sidewalls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber;   a non-directional tread pattern defined on the tire and including a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire; and   the longitudinal protrusions being arranged in a first row extending from the first sidewall toward and across an equatorial plane of the tire and a second row extending from the second sidewall toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire, the longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternating with each other and there being a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with another;   wherein each longitudinal protrusion includes a contact surface that increases in circumferential width from its respective sidewall toward the equatorial plane of the tire and tapers to an axially inner end; and   wherein the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion has substantially straight edges between its respective sidewall and the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         2 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the axially inner end of each longitudinal protrusion is rounded.   
     
     
         3 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion continuously increases in circumferential width all the way from its respective sidewall to the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         4 . The tire of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the taper to the axially inner end of each longitudinal protrusion begins substantially at the equatorial plane.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion circumferentially eccentrically tapers to the axially inner end.   
     
     
         7 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion circumferentially symmetrically tapers to the axially inner end.   
     
     
         8 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion continuously increases in circumferential width past the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         9 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion continuously increases in circumferential width to a location short of the equatorial plane of the tire, and then decreases in circumferential width to and past the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         10 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the tread pattern has a relatively low rubber to void ratio over a tire width of less than about 20%. 
     
     
         11 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the tread pattern has a rubber to void ratio over a tire width in the range of from about 16% to about 20%. 
     
     
         12 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein an aspect ratio of the tire defined as tire section height divided by tire section width is no greater than about 90%, thereby providing a relatively wide tire. 
     
     
         13 . The tire of  claim 1 , having a tire section width of at least 10 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The tire of  claim 13 , having an outside diameter of at least 40 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The tire of  claim 1 , having a tread pitch in the range of 10 to 25, the tread pitch being defined as the number of longitudinal protrusions in one of said first and second rows. 
     
     
         16 . The tire of  claim 15 , wherein the tread pitch is in the range of 15 to 21. 
     
     
         17 . The tire of  claim 15 , wherein an outside diameter of the tire is at least about 40 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the radially outer wall has an inner tread defined thereon between the longitudinal protrusions; and   each longitudinal protrusion includes a protrusion side, each protrusion side including a first taper surface extending from the contact surface and a second taper surface extending from the first taper surface to the inner tread.   
     
     
         19 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the tire comprises rubber and an anti-weathering agent, the anti-weathering agent comprising at least 8 parts per hundred parts of the rubber. 
     
     
         20 . The tire of  claim 19 , wherein the anti-weathering agent comprises 8-18 parts per hundred parts of the rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The tire of  claim 19 , wherein the anti-weathering agent is selected from the group consisting of wax, an anti oxidant, resin, an anti ozonant and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tread pattern further includes a circumferential protrusion spanning the equatorial plane, each of the longitudinal protrusions having a terminal end portion overlying the circumferential protrusion.   
     
     
         23 . The tire of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the terminal end portion of each longitudinal protrusion is enlarged circumferentially.   
     
     
         24 . A non-directional pneumatic tire for supporting an agricultural irrigation system, comprising:
 first and second sidewalls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber; and   a non-directional tread pattern defined on the tire and including two rows of alternating circumferentially spaced circumferentially eccentric lugs, each lug including a contact surface that increases in circumferential width from its respective sidewall toward the equatorial plane of the tire and then tapers to a rounded end.   
     
     
         25 . The tire of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion continuously increases in circumferential width all the way from its respective sidewall to the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         26 . The tire of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the taper to the rounded end of each longitudinal protrusion begins substantially at the equatorial plane.   
     
     
         27 . The tire of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion has substantially straight edges between its respective sidewall and the equatorial plane of the tire.   
     
     
         28 . The tire of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the contact surface of each longitudinal protrusion circumferentially eccentrically tapers to the rounded end.