Patent ID: 6390165
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B60C,B65D,Y10T

Abstract:
A pneumatic earthmover tire having an inflatable, multi-layered tire carcass with at least one ply layer and a pair of spaced apart bead wires, the ply layer including at least a first carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire and between the pair of bead wires; a pair of sidewall portions extending from the bead wires to the outer circumferential surface of the tire carcass; the first carcass ply embedded within the tire carcass and extending entirely about the circumference of the tire and having first and second turnup ends extending axially outwards and turned up about the bead wires; the tire characterized by:a removable tread belt assembly mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the inflatable tire carcass; and the outermost ends of the first and second turnup ends being located radially outward at a distance equal to between about 2 and 3 times the diameters of the bead wires as measured from the intersection of a first tangent line, which is tangent to the outer ends of the turnup ends of the carcass ply, and a line perpendicular to the first tangent line, which extends through the center of the bead wires to a line tangent to the most radially inward surface of the carcass ply where the carcass ply turnup portions loop around the wire beads; wherein the tire further includes: first apex (54/55), second apex (58/59), third apex (38/39), and fourth apex (62/64) elements disposed about each of the bead wires, the first apex elements being located adjacent and radially outward from each of the bead wires, the second apex elements being located adjacent and radially outwards from the first apex elements and between a section of the first carcass ply leading from the circumference of the tire carcass to the bead wires and a section of the first and second turnup ends of the carcass ply, the third apex elements being located axially between a barrier rubber layer and an innerliner and extending radially outward from the bead wires to approximately the middle of the sidewalls, and the fourth apex elements being located against the axially outer facing sides of the first and second turnup ends; and the tire is further characterized in that: the first apex element is constructed of a first elastomer that has at least 20% to about 50% greater modulus at 200% elongation than a second elastomer from which the second, third and fourth apex elements are constructed.