Patent EA-000542-B1 (EA)
Title: Tire core for solid tire
Inventor: FUKUNAGA MUNEYASI
IPC: B60C7/22
Filed: 1997-08-18
Abstract: 1. A solid tire core comprising an annular resilient member having an outer surface on which an inner surface of a tread fits and an inner surface on which a rim of a wheel fits, the annular resilient member comprising a void portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire core, the void portion being located and shaped to enhance resiliency of the tire core, the void portion being a circumferential groove formed along the ridge of the core, and the groove becoming wider toward the rim in the direction of a tire axis. 2. A solid tire core according to Claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove engages a projection formed on the inner surface of the tread. 3. A solid tire core comprising an annular resilient member having an outer surface on which an inner surface of a tread fits and an inner surface on which a rim of a wheel fits, the annular resilient member comprising a void portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire core, the void portion being located and shaped to enhance resiliency of the tire core, and the void portion being a slit extending circumferentially on the outer surface of the tire core. 4. A solid tire core comprising an annular resilient member having an outer surface on which an inner surface of a tread fits and an inner surface on which a rim of a wheel fits, the annular resilient member comprising a void portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire core, the void portion being located and shaped to enhance resiliency of the tire core, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed in the outer surface of the tire core to enhance resiliency thereof. 5. A solid tire core according to Claim 4, wherein the plurality of grooves become wider toward the outer surface of the tire core. 6. A solid tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, further comprising filler stuffed in the void portion. 7. A solid tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the tire core is separable into a plurality of core parts in the direction of the tire axis. 8. A solid tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, further comprising a wire mesh embedded therein for enhancing the stiffness of the tire core. 9. A solid tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, further comprising circumferentially spaced recesses or projections in or on the outer surface for securing the tread on the outer surface of the core. 10. A solid tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, comprising circumferentially spaced recesses or projections in or on the inner surface for securing the wheel on the inner surface of the core. 11. A solid tire comprising the tire core according to any of Claim 1, 3 or 4, and a tread having the inner surface, which fits on the outer surface of the tire core. 12. A solid tire comprising a tire core according to Claim 9, and a tread having recesses or projections formed in or on its inner surface to engage the corresponding recesses or the projection provided on the tire core so that the tire core be secured. 13. A method of producing a solid tire core DP=4 comprising an annular resilient member having an outer surface on which an inner surface of a tread fits and an inner surface on which a rim of a wheel fits, the annular resilient member comprising a void portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire core, the void portion being located and shaped to enhance resiliency of the tire core, the method comprising: a first step of preparing, as the parts of the tire core, i) a base portion corresponding to the inner portion of the tire core and ii) first and second resilient halves obtained by separating the outer portion other than the base portion along a plane crossing a rotational axis of the tire; a second step of placing the first resilient half and the base portion in a first mold having the shape corresponding to one half piece made by separating the tire core along a separating plane crossing a rotational axis of the tire; a third step of positioning, in the first mold, an intermediate mold of the shape corresponding to that of the void portion, the intermediate mold comprising a plurality of separate molds sectioned along a radial direction of the solid tire; a fourth step of placing the second resilient half on the first resilient half; a fifth step of positioning a second mold in the first mold and the intermediate mold where the first and second resilient halves and the base portion are placed, the second mold being of the shape corresponding to that of the remaining half of the tire core; a sixth step of vulcanizing the first and second resilient halves and the base portion placed in the first and second molds and the intermediate mold; and a seventh step of taking out the vulcanized tire core from the first and second molds and the intermediate molds. 14. A method of producing a solid tire core according to Claim 13, wherein the plurality of separate molds each comprise an engaging member for engaging an adjacent separate mold. 15. A method of producing a solid tire core comprising an annular resilient member having an outer surface on which an inner surface of a tread fits and an inner surface on which a rim of a wheel fits, the annular resilient member comprising a void portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire core, the void portion being located and shaped to enhance resiliency of the core, the method comprising: a first step of preparing, as the parts of the tire core, a base portion corresponding to the inner portion of the tire core and a resilient portion corresponding to the outer portion other than the base portion of the tire core; a second step of sandwiching and positioning the base portion between a first mold and a second mold in the axial direction of the tire, which molds form a molding space corresponding to at least a part of the base portion when mated together; a third step of placing the resilient portion on the base portion placed in the first and second molds; a fourth step of positioning a third mold and a fourth mold over the first and second molds where the base portion and the resilient portion are placed, the third and fourth molds making an annular hollow portion corresponding to the outer portion of the tire core when the molds are mated together and being separable along a plane extending along a rotational axis of the tire; a fifth step of vulcanizing the resilient portion and the base portion placed in the first to fourth molds; and a sixth step of taking out the vulcanized tire core from the first to fourth molds.