Run flat device

An annular ring-shaped run flat device is used in tires to permit continued use of the tire even when the tire is operating at low pressure or is completely deflated. This device is comprised of a rigid section and a non-rigid section. The tire, when it collapses, due to a reduction in pressure, comes to rest on the surface of the non-rigid, resilient, impact resistant section. This device is easy to assemble, can be used with conventional multi-piece rims, is light weight, durable and capable of absorbing impact under both inflated and deflated conditions. The device can also be used as a positive and non-positive bead spacer to prevent dismounting of the tire beads when tire pressure drops.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 507,836 filed on June 23, 
1983, now abandoned. 
The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this 
application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the 
technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the 
accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. 
BACKGROND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new type of run flat device for 
pneumatic vehicle tires. 
Various run flat devices exist for pneumatic vehicle tires. Their general 
purpose is to provide a surface on which the inner surface of the portion 
of the tire beneath the tread can rest when air is purposely or 
accidentally removed either totally or to a great degree such that the 
pneumatic tire collapses totally or partially. The tire then can be run on 
the vehicle for a period of time until the vehicle operator is able to 
replace it with another tire. Such deflations could occur on a passenger 
tire on a street or highway, on an off-the-road vehicle that would come in 
contact with sharp and abrasive objects, and military vehicles whose tires 
might be punctured by a bullet or shrapnel. 
Many prior art devices have been inadequate because they were not strong 
enough to support a vehicle with a deflated tire or absorb impact when the 
tire was inflated, but came into contact with an irregular surface such as 
a chuck hole or a log, which would cause the inner surface of the tire, 
even though completely inflated, to come in contact with the run flat 
device. Other devices were not easy to assemble or required 
nonconventional rims. 
There has therefore been a need for a highly durable, light weight, impact 
resistant, heat resistant run flat device which was easy to assemble and 
which could be used on conventional rims. 
An object of an aspect of this invention is to provide a light weight, run 
flat device which can be used with conventional rims and is easy to 
assemble. An object of an aspect of this invention is to provide a durable 
run flat device which will absorb impact under inflated and uninflated 
conditions. An object of an aspect of this invention is to provide a run 
flat device which is relatively heat resistant. An object of an aspect of 
this invention is to provide a run flat device which is also a bead 
spacer. 
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided an 
annular ring shaped, run flat device comprising a radially outer ring 
which is non-rigid and flexible and a radially inner ring which is rigid. 
The outer ring provides the resilient load bearing surface while the inner 
ring is the load carrying member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In one embodiment of the present invention, the rigid non-flexible 
radially inner ring has a cross-section with an outer shape that can be 
rectangular or trapezoidal. 
The radially inner ring is substantially hollow so as to contribute to the 
light weight of the device. While the radially inner ring is substantially 
hollow, it can contain radial reinforcements. These radial reinforcements 
should be used sparingly so as to keep the weight of the device to a 
minimum. To further reduce the weight of the device openings can be 
present in the top side and/or lateral sides and/or bottom side of the 
radially inner ring. The number and size of the openings are limited only 
by the structural strength requirements of the device, i.e., to absorb the 
impacts experienced by the device either while the tire is inflated or 
under reduced or zero pressure. 
The hollow radially inner ring need not possess a bottom side. When it does 
not, it can be attached to the wheel rim through the bottom edges of its 
lateral sides, or radial reinforcements, if present, or in any other 
desired manner. 
The resilient non-rigid radially outer ring also has a rectangular or 
trapezoidal cross-section. Its radially inner surface should be no wider 
than the radially outer surface of the rigid ring. Preferably it is the 
same width. 
In one embodiment both the rigid and non-rigid rings have rectangular cross 
sections with the top side of the rigid portion being essestially the same 
width as the bottom side of the non-rigid portion. In another embodiment, 
both rings have trapezoidal cross sections with the wide bases being 
radially inward and the outer side of the rigid portion being essentially 
the same width as and centered on the inner side of the non-rigid portion. 
The outer ring can rely solely on the inherent resiliency of the material 
of which it is comprised for its overall resiliency and flexibility. 
However, it can also rely on its shape to enhance its resiliency and 
flexibility, e.g., by openings within the body thereof or grooving in its 
radially outer surface. 
For larger vehicles the radially outer surface of the non-rigid ring should 
contain less grooving and preferably no grooving at all. The non-rigid 
ring should also be of a lesser thickness for heavy vehicles. When used 
with lighter vehicles, the thickness and/or grooving can be increased, if 
desired. 
The outer surface of the non-rigid portion should be relatively flat or 
slightly rounded to more uniformly distribute the load over the contact 
area. 
In one embodiment, particularly where the device is used for a heavy 
vehicle, the radially outer ring has a rectangular cross section and a 
continuous, flat outer surface and the radially inner ring has a 
rectangular cross section and an opening therein which is essentially 
rectangular in shape. Preferably the inner ring has no bottom side. The 
radially inner ring would therefore have a squared U, i.e., squared 
horseshoe shape such as depicted in FIG. 2. 
The use of a flexible, resilient component having the load bearing surface, 
with a rigid load carrying member beneath it, results in a satisfactory 
run flat device. 
In one embodiment, the total section height of the run flat device from the 
rim base to the outer surface 8 of the resilient outer ring is 25 to 55 
percent, preferably 30 to 45 percent of the total section height of the 
tire in which it is positioned, the section height of the tire being 
one-half times the difference between the outer diameter of the tire and 
the nominal rim diameter. The total section height of the run flat device 
varies according to the loading requirements of the vehicle and tire and 
the type of service. For example, the total section height of the run flat 
device should preferably be 30 to 45 percent of the tire section height 
for large all terrain military vehicles, most preferably 30 to 35 percent. 
The rigid device may be made of any rigid material including metals. 
Examples of metals are steel, magnesium and aluminum. It can also be made 
from rigid plastics such as fiber reinforced composites. Magnesium and 
aluminum are particularly desirable because of their light weight. Plastic 
materials should be selected carefully with consideration being given to 
their high temperature properties, since heat build-up can occur during 
the use of this device. The top side and lateral sides of the rigid device 
as well as any supports can be and preferably are of a unit construction, 
but can be separate components. 
The entire device itself must be in at least two parts so as to be capable 
of being placed inside the tire. In this respect see 2 and 2' in FIG. 1. 
The non-rigid portion can be any material which will deflect upon impact 
but return to its original configuration when the impact is removed. 
Vulcanized elastomers are preferred materials, both natural and synthetic. 
The bottom surface of the non-rigid outer ring and radially outer surface 
of the rigid inner ring can be positioned against one another in any 
conventional manner, for example by fasteners or conventional 
metal-to-rubber adhesives or by having interlocking surfaces, so long as 
the two rings are rendered incapable of relative movement in any direction 
to each other. Mere friction contact is sufficient if great enough to 
prevent any significant relative movement between the two surfaces. 
Vulcanized elastomers which can be used in the non-rigid portion include 
conventional tread compounds. Elastomers which can be used include 
vulcanized polymers having a modulus of 5 to 16 (preferably 12 to 16) 
meganewtons, an elongation of 400 to 700 (preferably 400 to 500) percent, 
tensile of 14 to 30 (preferably 20 to 30) meganewtons, a Shore A hardness 
of 50 to 90 (preferably 60 to 70) and a resiliency, as measured by 
Goodyear Heally hot (100.degree. C.) rebound, of at least 30 percent, 
preferably at least 60 percent and most preferably at least 70 percent. 
Modulus, elongation and tensile are measured by ASTM D 412. Shore A 
measurements are made according to ASTM D 2240. Goodyear Heally rebound is 
measured by ASTM D 1054. 
Although not limited thereto, the following rubber composition can be used 
in the non-rigid portion after vulcanization thereof, for example for 25 
minutes at 150.degree. C. 
______________________________________ 
Ingredients Parts by Weight 
______________________________________ 
Natural Rubber 100 
HAF Black 50 
Processing Oil 10 
Amorphous Silica 20 
N--t-butyl-2- 1.5 
benzothiazylsulfenamide 
Waxes 1.0 
Antioxidant 1.5 
Antiozonant 1.5 
Zinc Oxide 3 
Sulfur 2 
______________________________________ 
A conventional manner of mounting this multi-piece device into a tire is 
described as follows. One piece (for purposes of this illustration a 
two-piece device will be considered) is placed inside the tire with the 
non-rigid portion facing the inside surface of the tire beneath the tread. 
The second piece is placed within the tire and then adhered or fastened at 
each of its ends to each of the ends of the other half of the device. 
This device is designed to be used only with a multi-piece rim, for example 
a two-piece rim that can simply be bolted together or a multi-piece rim 
using a removeable flange or flanges, an O ring and lock ring. 
The run flat device is mounted in such a fashion that it preferably will 
not rotate circumferentially around the rim when the vehicle is in motion. 
It can either be permanently affixed or loosely affixed, for example, 
mounting a radial support between two stoppers which are permanently 
affixed to the surface of the rim. The latter positioning would permit 
only slight circumferential movement. While lateral movement would occur 
in the latter situation, this is normally not a problem. 
Conventional lubricants or coolants normally used with other run flat 
devices, such as gels, should be used with the present device to lubricate 
the interface between the radially outer surface of the outer ring and the 
inner surface of the tire beneath the tread. 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device 1 within the scope of the present 
invention. The two halves of the device, 2 and 2', are fastened at points 
A and B. The inner rigid ring 4 is surrounded by the non-rigid ring 5. 
FIG. 2 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, the device 1 mounted within a 
tire 16 on a three-piece rim 9. The non-rigid portion 5 of the device is 
attached to the rigid portion 4 of the device at the topside of the rigid 
portion 4 by a conventional rubber/metal adhesive. The rigid portion of 
the device is comprised of two lateral sides 3,3' and a topside 6 which 
are integrally bound together as a unit construction. A radial support 7 
is also illustrated. When the tire collapses, the outer surface 8 of the 
non-rigid portion of the device comes in contact with the inner surface 17 
of the tire. It should be noted that this device is used only in tubeless 
pneumatic tires. The pneumatic tires, however, can be of either radial or 
bias construction or cast tires for any type of vehicle whether passenger, 
motorcycle, truck or off-the-road, including military vehicles. 
The rigid portion of the device is positioned on the base 10 of the 
three-piece rim 9, through the radial support, the lower edge of the 
radial support being positioned between two stops 8 and 8' (FIG. 3). 
After the device is positioned inside the tire, the rim base 10 is inserted 
through the bead opening of the tire until its permanent flange 19 rests 
near the bead of the tire. The tire is then positioned to shift the device 
toward the permanent flange side so as to permit the moveable flange 18 to 
be positioned axially toward the center line to expose the groove in the 
base, in which the O-ring 11 is to be snapped. The O-ring 11 is then 
positioned and the lock ring 12 then placed in the outer groove of the 
base. By using a cap screw 15, the lock plate 14 is positioned against the 
outer part of the flange and the tire inflated. 
The rigid portion 4 of the device can act as a non-positive bead spacer. 
Should the tire lose pressure and the beads tend to move away from the 
flange thereby creating the possibility of their demounting from the tire, 
it will first come in contact with one of the lateral sides of the rigid 
portion of the device thereby preventing the dismounting. 
In one embodiment the height of the rigid section of the device is 20 to 80 
percent of the height of the device. 
The device can also be used as a positive or non-positive bead spacer with 
a 2-piece rim. With other multi-piece rims such as 3-piece and 5-piece 
rims, the device can be used as a non-positive bead spacer. As guidelines, 
but not limitations, the width of the run flat device near its base should 
be approximately 0.75 to 1.0 inch less than the rim width minus two times 
the tire bead width for 3-piece rims and should be approximately 1.5 to 2 
inches less than the rim width minus two times the tire bead width for 
5-piece rim assemblies. 
This is necessary to permit the transverse positioning of the moveable 
flange 18, for example, for insertion of the O-ring 11 and lock ring 13. 
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a device within the scope 
of the present invention. The non-rigid section 5 is positioned on top of 
the rigid section 4. The rigid section 4 has a radial support 7 which is 
positioned between two stops 8,8' welded to the rim base 10. Two ends of 
the two halves of the device are shown as fastened by a cap screw 13. 
When a rim having a moveable flange is used, the device should be designed 
to permit the moveable flange to move without interference from the device 
when the device and tire are being mounted and the rim assembled. 
While fabric reinforcement can be used as reinforcement in the non-rigid 
portion of the device, e.g., to prevent growth due to centrifugal force, 
its use is not necessary. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer ring is a one-piece 
vulcanized elastomeric band which can be stretched around the outer 
perimeter of the multi-piece inner ring. 
Absolute measurements of resiliency herein are measured by Goodyear Heally 
hot (100.degree. C.) rebound (ASTM D 1054). 
When the outer ring is comprised of vulcanized elastomer, it is preferably 
non-porous. 
The inside diameter of the device is approximately equal to the nominal rim 
diameter of the rim on which it is to be mounted. 
While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for 
the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made 
therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.