The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Michael Joseph Durr

Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala

Cheng-Hsiung Lin

Dale Roy Norton

Wesley Glen Sigler

Wesley Glenn Sigler

Philip Carl Van Riper

Christopher Paul Hunt

Christian Alfonso Lombardi

Christopher Dean Fenstermaker

Andrew James Miller

A nonpneumatic tire has at least one spoke loop structure connected to a shear band, wherein the spoke loop structure has a plurality of loops extending inward from the shear band, and wherein each loop is connected to a wheel. A method for forming the nonpneumatic tire includes the step of forming a base and loop subassembly by providing a base having a plurality of grooves, inserting a layer of elastomer strip into each groove and forming a loop between each of the grooves; and inserting the base and loop subassembly which has a plurality of flexible loops extending inward from a shearband so that the base is positioned adjacent the shear band; curing the base and loop subassembly formed from a strip of elastomeric material into the shearband; providing a wheel, and then connecting each loop to the wheel.

Non-pneumatic tire with a flexible looped spoke and method of forming

A wheel assembly for a tire includes a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, an annular first rim piece for engaging the tire, the first rim piece being secured to a first axial end of the circular hub member, an annular second rim piece for engaging the tire, the second rim piece being secured to an opposite second axial end of the circular hub member, a plurality of cylindrical bolts for engaging both the first rim piece and the second rim piece, the cylindrical bolts each engaging the first rim piece, the second rim piece, and a spoke structure of the tire; and a threaded tension bolt for varying a radial position of a first axial end of one of the cylindrical bolts relative to a first elongate opening of the first rim piece.

Wheel for a support structure

A wheel for an air maintenance tire system is provided. The air maintenance tire system includes at least one pump and a regulator. The wheel includes a body that is formed with an axially-extending wall, a pair of flanges, and a pair of bead mounting areas. Each bead mounting area is disposed axially inwardly proximate a respective one of the flanges. The axially-extending wall is formed with an AMT mounting channel. The AMT mounting channel extends circumferentially about the wheel approximately mid-way between the flanges and is defined by a first adjacent wall, a second adjacent wall, and a base. Mounting surfaces are formed in or adjacent the AMT mounting channel, so that the at least one pump is mounted in the AMT mounting channel radially inwardly of the bead mounting areas.

Wheel for an air maintenance tire system

An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity and a tire sidewall having an elongate sidewall groove formed therein and housing an elongate air tube. A connecting tube extends between the air tube and the valve stem, the connecting tube having an internal connecting air passageway for directing air forced along the air tube air passageway into the internal valve stem passageway as the tire rolls over a ground surface.

Air maintenance tire and valve assembly and method

A valve stem-based air maintenance tire assembly and method of operation is provided employing a tire mounted air pumping system, The assembly includes a rim-mounted pressure regulator positioned within a tire cavity opposite an inward end of a tire valve stem to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from a valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. An elongate valve stem shaft is mounted within the valve stem air passageway and reciprocally moves axially to close off and open the valve stem air passageway to create or close a pressurized air path into the tire cavity as needed.

Valve stem-based air maintenance tire and method

An air maintenance tire assembly and method of operation includes a pressurized air supply assembly for supplying pressurized air to a tire cavity through an elongate outward projecting, valve stem passageway. An elongate centrally disposed shaft within the valve stem reciprocally moves axially in the valve stem internal air passageway between a passageway-opening axial position and a passageway-closing axial position. A pressure regulator is provided to move the elongate shaft axially between the passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions responsive to a detected air pressure level within the tire cavity.

Valve stem-based pressure regulator system for an air maintenance tire and method

A tire support apparatus includes a support plate for receiving a tire includes an optional inflatable inner tube for insertion into the tire cavity, and an upper plate having a hole for receiving a support member, the upper plate further includes a ring having an inner lip that seats against the bead region of the tire and a radially outer surface that seats against the lower sidewall region of the tire T.

Growing community of inventors

Strongsville, OH, United States of America

Michael Joseph Durr