DE2600418A1 - ELASTIC DEVICE IN THE FORM OF A WHEEL, TIRE OR A WHEEL-LIKE SUPPORT - Google Patents

Description

MANITZ, FINSTERWALD & CRÄMKOW

Munich, January 8, 1976 D 2144

DUNLOP LIMITED

Dunlop House, Ryder Street, St. James's

London S.W.1

Elastic device in the form of a wheel, tire or a wheel-like support

The invention relates to an elastic device in the form of a wheel, tire or a wheel-like support which can serve as an elastic load-bearing arrangement, which is suitable for damping loads that occur between the center of the device and its outer circumference are transferred. In the preferred embodiments, the invention obtained an elastic wheel or an elastic tire by which shock loads are damped can, if the wheel or the tire moves over uneven terrain, but of sufficient strength has as a carrier of a load which acts on an axle supporting the wheel or tire.

609029/0275

Most previous proposals for the construction of an elastic wheel call for a rigid rim with a Hub is connected by elastic spokes so that the rim remains circular under load while the Hub is shifted from its central position in the rim. This arrangement is unsatisfactory in many respects and in particular, an elastic wheel of this type is unsuitable for a vehicle wheel or the like in which the grip on the road surface is important and at which a torque is applied to the wheel either when accelerating or must be exercised when braking, because in order to achieve an operating behavior from an elastic wheel, which is equivalent to a rigid wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, a local flattening of the Outer circumference of the wheel in contact with the road surface must take place.

It is therefore the object of the invention to develop an elastic wheel or an elastic tire that on the one hand can even absorb high loads without excessive change in shape and on the other hand a non-circular shape takes even with comparatively low loads. The ability of the wheel or tire, one not Assuming a circular shape enables a better distribution of forces within the wheel or tire.

Another disadvantage with certain previous proposals for resilient wheels is that the amount the change in shape is proportional to the load, so that with a sufficient load the wheel through total Change in shape is no longer made operational. One embodiment of the invention is based on a resilient wheel or an elastic tire directed, which is only deformable up to a certain amount, in which the latter

609829/0271

- 3 State the wheel or tire can still be turned.

Further problems that arise with the previous proposed solutions are complexity and difficulties in of manufacture, so that it is a further object of the invention to develop an elastic wheel that is simple and Can be manufactured economically by molding at least most of the wheel in a single injection molding and molding process Fusion bonding process is established after can be carried out by the process described in British Patents 1,408,557 and 1,408,558.

Has an elastic device according to the invention in the form of a wheel, a tire or a wheel-like support a radially inner part, an annular outer peripheral or rim part and spokes extending from extend the radially inner part to the outer peripheral part, wherein they are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction are located and the components of the device made of a deformable but incompressible material, or from a flexible, but essentially inextensible material, which the latter has a higher resistance to Has change in shape than the incompressible material, the components made of the two materials on top of each other adjacent surfaces are united with one another.

The materials mentioned are preferably rubber or synthetic rubber, and a plastic and the components can be united with each other by fusion bonding. The wheel or the support can thereby be produced be that one of these materials is injected into a mold, the preformed component or the preformed Contains components made of the other material.

The outer circumferential or rim part preferably has one

809829/02 ?!

such deformation resistance that the shape of the part is changed by the application of an upsetting pressure, which acts between the radially inner part and a point on the periphery of said part. Preferably that is mentioned Part circular in the unloaded state and may assume a non-circular shape and locally be flattened against the ground when a sufficient load is applied to an axis which is the radially inner Part penetrates.

The radially inner part and the spokes can be molded from one piece of plastic, a radially outer one Part of the length of each spoke extends in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral or rim portion to this and between the mentioned part of each spoke and the outer circumference or rim part is in the between two shaped acute angles a body made of rubber or synthetic rubber arranged over with the spoke the mentioned part is adhesively connected and firmly connected to the outer circumference or rim part, the Arrangement is made so that the mentioned part of each spoke towards the radially inner part or away from this springs to accommodate a change in shape of the column, which is the result of a load being applied to it, and the energy, those in the body adhering to each spoke as a result of the change in shape of the body caused by it is stored, has the tendency to return the spoke to its relaxed shape.

In this design, the outer peripheral part is preferably an annular body made of rubber or synthetic rubber, and each body is an integrally formed, radially inwardly directed projection of the annular body. Preferably, the spokes have flat opposing surfaces in the circumferential direction of the

809829 / Om

Device with one of which the body is fusion bond Has. Preferably the spokes are curved in the same circumferential direction and the root parts of the spokes, via which they are connected to the radially inner part, are inclined to the radii of the radially inner part, that each spoke in the relaxed state is essentially uniformly curved over its radial extent.

In another embodiment of the invention, each Spoke the shape of a body of rubber or synthetic rubber running on its opposite circumferential sides from a flexible, but substantially inextensible, enclosure associated with the radially inner portion is connected, each body being adhesively connected to the associated enclosure via abutting surfaces. The device has a flexible rim which connects the radially outer ends of the spokes to one another, each body being completely surrounded by the associated enclosure or by the associated enclosure, the radially inner part and the rim, the radially inner part, the enclosures and the rim being a one-piece Molded piece are made of a flexible plastic that has been produced by a single injection molding process.

Each body is preferably hollow and ring-shaped, the opening of the body extending axially to the device. Each enclosure is in the form of two arcuate strips of flexible plastic material extending between the radially inner portion and the rim extend in inverse relationship, each along its length is adhesively connected to the corresponding peripheral side of the associated body. The device is preferred with a tire made of solid rubber or synthetic rubber, which is connected to the radially outer side of the outer circumference

609829/0275

or rim part is adhesively connected.

The device can be in the form of a wheel, the radially inner part of which is formed by a hub, or the device may take the form of a tire, the radially inner part of which is formed by an annular body that surrounds a wheel or a hub.

The following are preferred embodiments of the invention explained in more detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, namely show:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an elastic wheel;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment an elastic wheel according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in section along the line III-III in Fig. 2 and

4 and 5 similar sectional views in radial planes tires according to the invention, each of which is similar to the wheel of FIGS.

The wheel 10 shown in Fig. 1 has a central part 11 made of plastic and an outer peripheral part in the form of a Ring body 12 made of rubber or synthetic rubber. The plastic and rubber materials are chosen so that they are compatible with one another for the purpose of the amalgamation bond, and preferably made from the materials those mentioned in British Patents 1,408,557 and 1,408. The middle part 11 has a hub 13.

609829/0275

extending radially from the spokes 15, the hub and the spokes being producible by a single injection molding process. In an opening 14 for receiving an axle (not shown) is provided in the center of the hub 13.

The spokes 15 are all in the same circumferential direction bent and stand with the hub 13 at their inner parts 16 at suitable angles to the radii of the hub 13 in Connection so that each spoke 15 is continuous and even is curved over its full length. The free end portions 17 of the spokes therefore all extend in the same circumferential direction of the wheel and each is the rubber or synthetic rubber of the outer peripheral part 12 of the wheel and has a fusion bond with it as in the aforementioned British patents described.

The extends between the opposing surfaces of each adjacent pair of spokes 15 Outer peripheral part 12 of the wheel radially inward to form suspension parts 18 between the spokes 15. Each Suspension member 18 extends radially towards the interior of the wheel closer to a convex surface of a spoke 15 as adjacent to the concave surface of the other spoke of the same pair, so that in the case of each spoke 15 one larger amount of rubber or synthetic rubber fusion bond on its convex side than on its concave side.

When a load is applied to the wheel by inserting an axle into opening 14, the Spokes 15 between the opening 14 and the bottom tend to have a smaller radius than shown

609829/0275

bend, whereby the associated suspension parts 18 are subjected to pressure. The deformation resistance of the The wheel is therefore formed both by the relatively stiff spokes 15 and by the pressure of the suspension parts 18.

Since the material of the outer circumference is partially 12 incomplete and as a result of their resistance to stretching, the flattening of the part 12 acts against the ground and the displacement the hub 13 in the direction of this to the effect that a compensating deflection of all spokes 15 from their relaxed positions, as shown. If the wheel 10 is oval or elliptical in shape Assumes load, at least the spokes 15 are less curved under the stretching forces, which tend to straighten these spokes in the radial direction of the wheel. The resulting stretching of the springs 18, which are adhesively connected to the spokes counteract the mentioned inclination and when the load is removed the stretched springs 18 tend to straighten the spokes 15 in their shown curved shape bring back. The rubber springs 18 therefore act on any change in shape of the spokes 15 with which they are adhesively connected are, contrary to and regardless of whether the spring deflection of the associated spoke 15 is a compressive or tensile stress is caused, each spring 18 stores energy to return the spoke to the shape shown.

The material from which the hub 13 and the spokes 15 are formed is more rigid and has a higher resistance to deformation than the rubber or synthetic rubber of the outer peripheral part 12. The spokes 15 have a certain inherent elasticity and are used to change the shape of the wheel to provide elastic resistance. The inherent automatic resilience of each spoke 15 is through the

609829/0275

Spring 18 made of rubber or synthetic rubber reinforced, the fusion bond along part of the length of the Has spoke.

It follows that free spaces must be provided between the spokes, as shown, in which the incompressible The material of the springs 18 can deform under compressive stress.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the hub 13 and the spokes 15 are connected molded from plastic as a single component, although of course the hub 13 and the spokes 15 from other materials can be produced and subsequently attached to the hub. The spokes 15 can consist of one any suitable resilient material with which the rubber springs 18 can be adhesively connected, for example made of spring metal. The springs 18 made of rubber or synthetic rubber are preferably fused to the spokes 15, however, the use of a different binding technique, for example the use of suitable adhesives, can be made within the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention that the radially outer ends of the spokes 15 by a flexible Annular bodies (not shown) made of a material other than rubber or synthetic rubber are joined together can. This ring body can take the form of a Felgeais plastic or metal either in the outer peripheral part 12 of the wheel can be embedded or replace it. Such a rim can in turn by a Be surrounded by solid rubber tires or a pneumatic tire. If the outer peripheral part 12 is omitted, the with

609829/0275

the spokes 15 adhesively connected rubber springs also adhesively connected to a flexible rim element that the connects radially outer ends of the spokes 15 to one another.

The wheel 30 shown in Fig. 2 and 3 has a hub 20 from which the spokes 21 extend radially and are in the Circumferential direction are at a distance from each other. These spokes at their radially outer ends by a rim

22 are connected to one another, are each formed by an annular body 23 made of rubber, the opening 24 of which extends parallel to the axis of the wheel, which body

23 by an enclosure 25 made of the same material as that the hub 20 and the rim 22 and consisting of one piece with these is surrounded. Each enclosure 25 has the Form of two arc-shaped strips of material in inverse proportion to one another, which form the associated body 23 surround. A solid rubber tire or a tire made of synthetic rubber 26 surrounds the rim 22 and is radial with it outer circumference adhesively connected.

According to the invention are at least the rim 22 and the Umschlies-. Sungen 25 made of a flexible, practically inextensible material, expediently made of a flexible plastic material, so that the rim 22 may deform to a non-circular shape when a load is placed on the wheel via an axle (not shown) which is inserted through a central bore 27 of the hub 20 is applied. This means that the Rim 22 and tire 26 in contact with a road surface flatten out to provide good road grip obtain.

According to the invention, the bodies 23 are also full of the enclosures 25, with which they can

809829 / 027S

lying surfaces are adhesively connected. The effect of this arrangement is that the change in shape of the elastic body 23 is limited to the possible change in shape of the enclosures 25, which are practically inextensible are. When a spoke 21 is sufficiently deformed so that the opening 24 of its rubber body 23 closes, no further change in shape of the body 23 is possible, since it is incompressible and full of the associated inextensible Enclosure 25 is included. Shear forces between the bodies 23 and the enclosures 25 are due to the fact diminished that the bodies are fully enclosed. Furthermore, due to the special design of the depicted Wheel a torque exerted between the hub 20 and the rim 22 in one direction or the other same effect on each spoke 21.

If desired, the axial ends of each tubular body 23 can be closed and the space within the Body can be inflated with air or another gas at superatmospheric pressure to make a pneumatic Achieve elasticity.

The shape of the wheel shown in Fig.2 and 3 is suitable to produce the hub 20, the enclosures 25 and the rim 22 as a one-piece plastic article in the injection molding process in a single fuel process, for example according to the method described in British patent applications 4066/75 and 4063/75, in which the rubber bodies 23 are brought into a Spritζform and the hub 20, the enclosures 25 and the rim 22 produced by injection molding in the mold and at the same time in fusion connection with the rubber bodies 23 are brought.

609829 / 027S

The tire 26 can be inserted into the injection mold and at be fused into the rim 22 in the same operation.

The rubber bodies 23 are very suitable for the use of the injection molding process, since they each have a smooth circular shape Have the outer circumference without re-entrant areas, slots or the like into which plastic material penetrates could and could be closed by the brought plastic material.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views in radial planes of other tire designs which are associated with the wheel 30 of FIGS are similar, so that like parts have been used like reference numerals with the suffix "a" or "b".

The tire 40 shown in Figure 4 has a number of tubular shapes Rubber body 23a, which are surrounded by a rim 22a made of plastic material. An enclosure (not shown) of plastic material extends on each circumferential side of each body 23a between the rim 22a and a annular radially inner part 20a of the tire 40 which replaces the hub 20 of the wheel according to FIGS. The rim 22a is surrounded by a solid rubber outer tire 26a and adhesively connected to this.

The tire 40 is injection molded essentially as described in British patent applications 4066/75 and 4063/75 described method produced. The outer tire 26a and the rubber body 23a are in an injection mold brought and injected plastic material into the injection mold to make the rim 22a, the enclosures (not shown) for to form the bodies 23a and the radially inner part 20a.

609829/0275

Furthermore, the radially outer or in the injection mold ümfangteil 31 brought a sheet metal wheel disk 32, which has an axially directed flange part 33. The disk 32 is welded to a hub 34 so that the arrangement 32, 34 of the wheel and the tire 40 are rotatably supported by bearings on an axle 36 in a conventional manner can be.

In that the radially inner part 20a of the tire is formed around the wheel disc 32 formed with a flange is, the tire 40 is firmly anchored to the wheel.

Another tire embodiment 50 is shown in FIG. 5, which is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except that the annular radially inner portion 20 is made of plastics material is formed independently of the associated wheel, which latter has a disk 37 made of sheet metal, which is provided with bolt holes, as shown at 38, which serve to attach the wheel to a hub in the motor vehicle conventional way to attach. The radially inner ring body 20b of the tire 50 is shaped so that it has ribs 39 and 41 which extend axially from its inner periphery. With the outer circumference of the disc 37 a channel 42 made of sheet metal is welded, the sides 43 and 44 of which are flanged over the ribs 39 and 41, to attach the tire 50 to the wheel.

In the design shown in Fig. 5, the tire is first molded by injection molding and then with the The wheel is assembled by curling the trough 42 over the ribs of the radially inner portion of the tire.

The preceding description of two wheel shapes and two tire shapes is also applicable to other rollable or rotatable ones

609S29 / 0275

or damping arrangements apply. The design described can also be used for elastic bearings or stationary supports. A load bearing axle or shaft that is rotatably or fixedly arranged in the hub of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, with reference to a support of any shape are stored in that the outer peripheral part or tire is replaced or fitted.

Claims ι

609829/0275

Claims (1)

Claims 1. Elastic device in the form of a wheel, a tire or a wheel-like support, with an annular Outer circumference or rim part and spokes extending from the radially inner part to the outer circumference part extend and are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, characterized in that the device (10, 30, 40, 50) components (12, 18, 23, 26) made of a deformable but incompressible Material and components (13, 15, 20, 25, 22) made of a flexible but practically inextensible material has, which has a higher resistance to deformation than the incompressible material, wherein the components (15, 18, 23, 25) made of the two materials are combined with one another on the adjacent surfaces. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the materials rubber or synthetic rubber and a Are plastic material. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the components are bonded to one another by fusion are united. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that this by injecting the one material into an injection mold, which the preformed component or the preformed components (12, 23, 26) of the other material has been made. 5. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer circumference or rim part (12, 22) has such a deformation resistance that the shape of this part (12, 22) by exercising a compressive force is changed between the radially inner part (13, 20) and a point on the circumference of the mentioned part (12, 22) acts. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said part (12, 22) in the relaxed state is circular and non-circular in shape and locally flattened out against the ground can when a sufficient load acts on an axis which penetrates the radially inner part (13, 20). Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially inner part and the Spokes (13, 25) are molded from plastic in one piece and that a radially outer part of the length of each Spoke (15) in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential or rim part (12) and extends to this and that between said part of each spoke (15) 609829/0275 7600418 and the outer circumference or rim part (12) in the a body (18) made of rubber or synthetic rubber is provided between the two shaped acute angles is, which is adhesively connected to the spoke (15) via the mentioned part and to the outer circumference or rim part (12) consists of one piece, the arrangement being such that the mentioned part of each Spoke (15) to the radially inner part (13) springs through or springs away in order to change the shape of the support (10) which is the result of the application of a load to it, and the energy contained in the Body (18) which is adhesively connected to each spoke (15) as a result of a corresponding deformation of the body (18) is stored, which strives to return the spoke (15) to its relaxed state . 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer peripheral part (12) is an annular body made of rubber or synthetic rubber and each body (18) by one formed on the ring body radially inward projection is formed. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the spokes (15) flat opposite Have surfaces that are in the circumferential direction of the device (10) to one of which the respective body (18) has a fusion bond. 10. Device according to claims 7-9, characterized by 609829/0275 shows that the spokes (15) are curved in the same circumferential direction and the root parts of the Spokes (15), via which they are connected to the radially inner part (13), opposite radii of the radial inner part (13) are inclined so that each spoke (15) in the relaxed state over its full radial Extension is essentially uniformly curved, 11. Device according to claims 7-10, characterized in that the free end parts of the spokes (15) in the material of the outer circumference or rim part (12) is embedded. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that that the material of the outer peripheral or rim part (12) is between each two adjacent Spokes (15) adjacent the convex spoke surface extending radially inward and with the latter fusion bond Has. 13. Device according to claims 1-6, characterized in that each spoke (21) has the shape of a body (23) made of rubber or synthetic rubber, which on its opposite peripheral sides by a flexible, however, substantially inextensible enclosure (25) is confined to the radially inner portion (20) is connected, each body (23) with the associated enclosure (25) via adjoining 609829/0275 lowing surfaces is adhesively connected. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by a flexible rim (22) which connects the radially outer ends of the spokes (21) to one another, wherein each body (23) is completely surrounded by the associated enclosure (25) or by the associated enclosure (25), the radially inner part (20) and the rim (22). 15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that that the radially inner part (20), the enclosures (25) and the rim (22) is a one-piece molded piece from a Form flexible plastic material that has been produced in a single injection molding process. 16. Device according to claims 13 to 15, characterized in that that each body (23) is hollow and annular and the opening (24) of the body is in the axial direction the device extends. 17. Device according to claims 13 to 16, characterized in that that each enclosure (25) is in the form of two curved strips of flexible plastic material has, between the radially inner part (20) and the rim (22) in mutually inverse relationship extend, each along its length with 609829/0275 7600418 a corresponding peripheral side of the associated body (23) is adhesively connected. 18. Device according to claims 13-17, characterized in that that a solid rubber tire (26) made of rubber or synthetic rubber adheres to the radially outer Side of the outer circumference or rim part (26) is connected. 19. Device according to the preceding claims in the form of a wheel, characterized in that the radially inner part (13, 20) is a hub made of plastic material. 20. Device according to claims 1-18 in the form of a layer, characterized in that the radially inner Part (20a, 20b) is an annular body made of plastic material, which has a hub (32, 37) of a more rigid material surrounds and can be attached to this. 21. A tire according to claim 20, characterized in that the material of the radially inner part (20a) around one radially outer flange part (33) of the hub (32) has been formed around. 609829/0275