Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire and hub assembly includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation, a deformable outer ring, and a flexible web extending between the inner ring and the deformable outer ring. The assembly further includes a hollow, metal cylinder coupled to the inner ring. The hollow, metal cylinder has a flanged portion extending towards an interior portion of the hollow, metal cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a tire and hub assembly comprising:
 providing a hollow cylinder;   placing the hollow cylinder in a mold; and   connecting an inner ring of a non-pneumatic tire to the hollow cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mold is an injection mold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting of the inner ring of the non-pneumatic tire to the hollow cylinder includes injecting flowable material into the injection mold to form the inner ring of the non-pneumatic tire about the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising injecting additional flowable material into the injection mold to form an interconnected web and an outer ring. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mold is a vulcanization mold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the connecting of the inner ring of the non-pneumatic tire to the hollow cylinder includes providing a green non-pneumatic tire and placing the green non-pneumatic tire in the mold about the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising placing a material between the hollow cylinder and the green non-pneumatic tire, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a sheet of fabric, a sheet of polymeric material, an adhesive, and a cement. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising curing the green non-pneumatic tire in the vulcanization mold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting a pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder such that each of the pair of wheel components are substantially coaxial with the hollow cylinder,
 wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder includes attaching a first face of a first wheel component to a first side of a flanged portion of the hollow cylinder, and   wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder further includes attaching a second face of a second wheel component to a second side of the flanged portion of the hollow cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . A method of making a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising:
 providing a hollow cylinder having an outer surface;   placing the hollow cylinder in an injection mold;   injecting a flowable material into the injection mold, thereby forming an inner ring about the outer surface of the hollow cylinder; and   connecting a pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder such that each of the pair of wheel components are substantially coaxial with the hollow cylinder,
 wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder includes attaching a first face of a first wheel component to a first side of a flanged portion of the hollow cylinder, and 
 wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder further includes attaching a second face of a second wheel component to a second side of the flanged portion of the hollow cylinder. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the pair of wheel components is a wheel plate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising injecting additional flowable material into the injection mold to form an outer ring and support structure extending between the inner ring and the outer ring. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is an interconnected web. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is a plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly comprising:
 providing a hollow cylinder having an outer surface;   providing a green non-pneumatic tire;   placing the hollow cylinder in a vulcanization mold;   placing the green non-pneumatic tire in the vulcanization mold about the hollow cylinder; and   connecting a pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder such that each of the pair of wheel components are substantially coaxial with the hollow cylinder,
 wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder includes attaching a first face of a first wheel component to a first side of a flanged portion of the hollow cylinder, and 
 wherein the connecting of the pair of wheel components to the hollow cylinder further includes attaching a second face of a second wheel component to a second side of the flanged portion of the hollow cylinder. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the pair of wheel components is a wheel plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing a material between the hollow cylinder and the green non-pneumatic tire, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a sheet of fabric, a sheet of polymeric material, an adhesive, and a cement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising curing the green non-pneumatic tire in the vulcanization mold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the green non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and support structure extending between the inner ring and the outer ring. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing a tread layer about the outer ring of the green non-pneumatic tire.