The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Steven Amos Edwards

Ceyhan Celik

George Michael Stoila

Michael James Hogan

Timothy Scott Miller

James Alfred Benzing, Ii

Daniel Ray Downing

Michael Stefan Skurich

Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala

Todd Andrew Bachochin

William Andrew Haydu

Frank Anthony Kmiecik

Michael Scott Deem

James Alfred Ii Benzing

Nate Edward Yensho

James Alfred Benzing Ii

A system cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes a plurality of elongate spacer members for maintaining corresponding a uniform cavity tension in the partially-cured tire assembly, each spacer member including a first longitudinal body member axially opposed to a second longitudinal body member, two cam bolts for adjusting a radial gap between the first longitudinal body member and the second longitudinal body member, and two springs each attached to the first body member and the second body member for maintaining a radial compressive force against the cam bolts; a first annular curing platen for securing spacer members relative to each other; and a second annular curing platen for securing spacer members relative to each other.

System for manufacturing a support structure

A tire and wheel assembly includes a tire, a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, the rim piece having a first annular ring flange for engaging the tire, a rim piece for engaging the hub member, a second annular ring flange for engaging the tire, and a plurality of cylindrical shafts for each axially engaging the first annular ring flange at one axial end of each of the shafts and the second annular ring flange at another opposite axial end of each of the shafts.

Tire/wheel assembly for a support structure

A system for curing a portion of a tire assembly includes: an axially placement shaft; a first actuator; a first retainer plate; a core on the axially placement shaft; a plurality of first inserts each axially and radially engaging a radially outer surface of the core with first ends of the first inserts axially engaging the first retainer plate; a plurality of second inserts each axially and radially engaging the radially outer surface of the core with first ends of the second inserts axially engaging the first retainer plate, each second insert disposed circumferentially between two of the plurality of first inserts; a second retainer plate; and a second actuator.

A wheel assembly for a tire includes a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, a first rim piece for engaging the hub member, a second rim piece for engaging the first rim piece, and a plurality of cylindrical sleeves for engaging both the first rim piece and the second rim piece. The first rim piece has cylindrical first shafts each engaging a first end of one of the sleeves. The second rim piece has cylindrical second shafts each engaging a second opposite end of one of the sleeves. An outer cylindrical surface of each sleeve engages a separate and distinct part the tire.

Wheel for a support structure

A tire assembly transfers rotation about an axis from an outer flexible ring to an inner central rim. The tire assembly includes a spoke structure extending radially between the inner central rim and the outer flexible ring. The spoke structure defines a plurality of radially extending closed cavities and an alternating plurality of radially extending inlet openings disposed concentrically about the axis and allowing the flexible ring to deflect under load. The closed cavities extend axially and circumferentially at a helical angle relative to the axis.

Non-pneumatic support structure

A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of elongate friction members for engaging a tire assembly, a plurality of first angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a first direction from the mounting plate, and a plurality of second angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from the mounting plate. Each elongate friction member is disposed axially between one of the first angular flanges and one of the second angular flanges.

A wheel assembly includes a plurality of discreet, axially extending curved friction plates for engaging a first side of a spoke structure of a tire assembly, a first annular rim piece for engaging a rotatable axle, and a second annular rim piece for engaging the first rim piece. The first rim piece and the second rim piece each have axially extending lugs for engaging opposite ends of the friction plates.

A system manufactures a tire assembly. The system includes a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub, a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the tire assembly about the core, the internal arcuate members being disposed in spaces between the extensions of the core, a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members in place relative to the core, and a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members to each other.

Method of manufacturing a non-pneumatic support structure

A system manufactures a tire assembly. The system includes a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub, a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the about the core, the internal arcuate members each being wrapped with a reinforcement layer, the internal arcuate members being disposed in spaces circumferentially between the extensions of the core, a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members in place relative to the core; and a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members to each other.

A wheel and tire assembly for a mobile vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes an inner central rim, a flexible ring mounted on the inner central rim, and a spoke structure extending between the inner central rim and the flexible ring. The spoke structure defines a plurality of cavities and alternating radially extending openings disposed concentrically about the inner central rim and allowing the flexible ring to deflect under load. The spoke structure further defines a plurality of triangular openings disposed at the flexible ring and between the cavities and the inlet openings.

A wheel assembly includes a first side plate having a first annular base, axially protruding first claw members projecting axially outward from the first annular base, axially protruding first hub mounts projecting axially outward from the first annular base, and axially protruding first spring mounts projecting axially outward from the first annular base; a hub member attached to the first side plate; and a tire assembly laid over the hub member such that spokes of the tire assembly are radially adjacent corresponding first claw members of the first side plate, a plurality of friction members and the first claw members sandwiching each of the spokes.

An adjustable rim includes a first annular ring rotatable about a first axis, the first ring having radially extending first linear slots circumferentially spaced about the first ring, a first annular adjustment hoop rotatable about the first axis, the first hoop having circumferentially and radially extending first arcuate slots spaced about the first hoop, a second annular ring rotatable about a second axis, the second ring having radially extending second linear slots circumferentially spaced about the second ring, a second annular adjustment hoop rotatable about the second axis, the second hoop having circumferentially and radially extending second arcuate slots spaced about the second hoop, and an axially extending arcuate member having a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end is circumferentially and radially aligned with a first linear slot of the first annular ring and a first arcuate slot of the first annular hoop. The first linear slot and the first arcuate slot interact to move part of the arcuate member in only a radial direction.

A wheel assembly includes a first rim piece for engaging a rotatable axle; and a second rim piece for engaging the rotatable axle. The first rim piece has axially extending curved friction plates for engaging a first side of a spoke structure of a tire. Axially outer ends of the friction plates engage axially extending lugs of the second rim piece to form a single split wheel assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

Steven Amos Edwards