Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Joshua D Summers

Jaehyung Ju

John C Ziegert

Georges M Fadel

Ashwin Michaelraj

Avinash Kolla

Luke A Berglind

Prabhu Shankar

A shear layer for a shear band that is used in a tire is provided that has multiple cells having a chiral configuration. The chiral configuration may be hexagonal or tetrachiral or have other configurations.

Chiral honeycomb meso-structures for shear flexure

A design method for optimizing the shear layer of a shear band for use in a tire is provided. The shear layer has a honeycomb configuration and the design method optimizes the dimensions of the honeycomb.

Method to design honeycombs for a shear flexible structure

The present invention provides an improved shear band for use in non-pneumatic tires, pneumatic tires, and other technologies. The improved shear band is uniquely constructed of honeycomb shaped units that can replace the elastomeric continuum materials such as natural or synthetic rubber or polyurethane that are typically used. In particular, honeycomb structures made of high modulus materials such as metals or polycarbonates are used that provide the desired shear strains and shear modulus when subjected to stress. When used in tire construction, improvements in rolling resistance can be obtained because of less mass being deformed and reduced hysteresis provided by these materials. The resulting mass of the shear band is greatly reduced if using low density materials. Higher density materials can be used (such as metals) without increasing mass while utilizing their characteristic low energy loss.

Honeycomb structures for high shear flexure

A shear layer for a shear band that is used in a tire is provided that has multiple cells or units having an auxetic configuration and that are constructed from aluminum or titanium alloys. The cells may have an angle of &#x2212;10&#xb0;.

Growing community of inventors

Clemson, SC, United States of America

Joshua D Summers