Patent ID: 8176957
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: B60C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load comprising: a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation; a deformable generally annular outer ring; and a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings and comprising a plurality of radial web elements that are angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and a plurality of distinct tangential web elements that are generally transverse to the radial plane; wherein at least one of the web elements has a first end comprising a first connection point, and a second end comprising a second connection point, the web element extending radially in a curved manner between the first and second ends; wherein a substantial amount of said load is supported by a plurality of said web elements working in tension, wherein, when an applied load is applied, a plurality of the radial web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while at least some of the radial web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region buckle and a plurality of the tangential web elements distribute the applied load through the flexible interconnected web.