FR3056445A3 - MONO-ADAPTER FOR MOUNTED ASSEMBLY WITH REPERAGE LAYER - Google Patents

Abstract

Adapter (A) for a wheel assembly comprising a tire (P), a rim (J) having a rim groove (8), said adapter providing the connection between each bead (B) and each rim seat, said adapter having a body (11) connecting the two outer axial ends (9) so as to form a unitary piece comprising at least one reinforcing reinforcement (17) main comprising reinforcements (35) parallel to each other and coated with a calendering rubber, a layer (30) of elastomer composition of different color of the black, being arranged as desired: - instead of the calendering gum coating the reinforcements (35) of each sheet, or - instead of the calender gum coating the reinforcements ( 35) and disposed only on the outer periphery of the reinforcing plies, or - on the outside of the calendering rubber.

Description

Mono-adapter for mounted assembly with identification layer TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an adapter for a roller assembly formed mainly of a tire and a rim, and a roller assembly comprising said adapter.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The adapter and the roller assembly of the invention are preferably used in the field of tires for light vehicles, such as tourism and pickup truck, but still for heavy goods vehicles, for civil and agricultural tires.

The definitions used in the present invention are described below: - "axial direction": direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire, - "radial direction": direction intersecting the axis of rotation of the tire and perpendicular to this one, - "radially inner to": means "whose radial distance measured from the axis of rotation of the tire is closer to the axis of rotation", - "radially outside of": means "whose distance Radial measured from the axis of rotation of the tire is farther from the axis of rotation ", -" circumferential direction ": direction perpendicular to a radius and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire, -" radial ": section along a plane which contains the axis of rotation of the tire, -" equatorial plane ": plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and which passes through the middle of the tread, "Assembled assembly": an assembly comprising a tire, a steel or aluminum rim and the adapter according to the invention.

In the application WO02 / 068223, it is already known to insert between the rim and the beads of a tire a flexible shell of polymeric material intended to ensure the junction between each bead of the tire and the seats of the rim through to metal hooks arranged at each end of the ferrule. Due to its elastic deformability in the radial direction in the central part, the ferrule thus maintains, after inflation, a maximum pressure between the rim and the ferrule.

A rolling assembly, equipped with an adapter as described in the aforementioned documents, provides the main functions of a conventional roller assembly, wherein the tire is mounted directly on its recommended rim.

The inventors have found that the adapters, because they are generally not in direct contact with the ground, have a longer life generally greater than the tires mounted on it. Moreover, most tire users, or failing that, vehicle maintenance centers, and in particular tires, are regularly required to control tire wear. The wear indicators on the tread are provided for this purpose. It is thus relatively easy to determine whether a tire needs to be changed. Conversely, the adapters do not have equivalent means to indicate to the user whether the life is exhausted or not.

To overcome these disadvantages, the invention provides different technical means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Firstly, a first object of the invention is to provide an adapter to indicate to the user whether the life comes to an end.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter to indicate to the user that a damage that may affect the structure has occurred and that intervention is recommended.

To do this, the invention provides an adapter A for a roller assembly having an axis of rotation, said assembly comprising a tire P having two beads B, a rim J having two rim flanges, a rim groove disposed between two rim seats, said rim having a total width W between each axially outer end of said two rim seats, said adapter providing the junction between each bead B and each rim seat, said adapter having: two axially outer ends each comprising a seat adapter and an adapter support face substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a body connecting said two outer axial ends so as to form a unitary piece and comprising at least one main reinforcement armature , the main reinforcing armature comprising at least a first and a second reinforcing ply disposed radially relative to each other, said reinforcing plies each comprising reinforcements parallel to each other and coated with elastomeric composition, called calendering rubber; and a face intended to be in contact with each rim seat and with the rim groove, and arranged radially inside, said adapter having a total axial width L between each adapter seat, the ratio W / L being greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 60%, and said body comprising a blocking element intended to wedge said adapter in the rim groove, a layer of elastomer composition of a color different from black, also called rubber of color, being arranged as desired: - instead of the calendering rubber coating the reinforcements of each sheet, or - instead of the calender rubber coating the reinforcements and arranged only on the outer periphery of the reinforcing plies, or - outside of the calendering gum.

The color gum form a locating area to easily and quickly make visible any damage or premature wear caused to the adapter. In addition, the registration area is located in close proximity to structurally important components for the adapter. Thus, any superficial or shallow damage (ie the vast majority of damage due to current shocks) does not release the tracking area. The user is therefore warned only when the situation is likely to require a maintenance intervention, repair or even change the adapter.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the color gum comprises titanium oxide, kaolin, chalk or a mixture thereof.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the color gum comprises TPE, such as SIS, SBS.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the color gum is in the form of a layer covering a plurality of reinforcements.

Alternatively, the color gum is in the form of individual coating of each of the reinforcing cables.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the color gum comprises a first color in the form of a layer covering a plurality of reinforcing son and at least a second color distinct from the first, in the form of individual coating of each of the reinforcements son. This embodiment makes it possible to obtain progressive alert levels, depending on the criticality of the damage. The three colors are advantageously easily distinguishable.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the color gum (30, 32) is located only on a portion of the adapter. This arrangement makes it possible to target the marking area (s) on the areas of the adapter subject to shocks against sidewalks and other types of very frequent shocks, or areas with more wear by gratings with pavements or by pneumatic wear. extender.

For example, the color gum is disposed at least at the contact between the adapter and the tire. In this case the damage will be clearly visible when changing the tire and will require action on the adapter, such as replacing it with a new adapter.

Advantageously, the registration area is placed at least at the outer surface of the adapter, in particular at the outer reinforcement.

According to another embodiment, the color gum is placed at least at the seat of the adapter.

The invention also provides a mounted assembly comprising an adapter as previously described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

All the details of implementation are given in the description which follows, supplemented by Figures 1 to 4, presented solely for purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which: Figure 1 is a radial section of an example adapter mounted on a roller assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a portion of an adapter alone in enlarged view; FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C and 3D represent examples of adapters according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a section of a portion of another embodiment of adapter according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in Figure 1, the general reference adapter A, substantially linear in shape, comprises two axially opposite outer ends 9 each comprising an adapter seat 23 and a substantially corresponding adapter support face 21. included in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a tire. A body 11 connects the two ends 9 so as to form a unitary piece.

A face 16 which may be delimited by surface markers and located radially inside the adapter A, is intended to be in contact with a rim groove 8 and the rim seats 7a and 7b.

The body 11 comprises in its middle part a locking element 10 having a total axial length equal to 25% of the width L for a passenger vehicle wheel width 7.5 inches, or 190.5 mm. The locking element 10 is advantageously made of rubber which has a modulus preferably between 10 and 60 MPa.

The radially outer ends 9 each comprise an outer reinforcing element 15, also called rod, consisting for example of a glass-resin composite material.

As shown in Figure 1, the adapter A is disposed on a rim J partially shown. This rim comprises two rim seats 7a and 7b separated by a rim groove 8.

[0028] Figure 1 shows a mounted assembly comprising a rim J W width on which is inserted the adapter A and on which is inserted a conventional tire P through its beads B.

The assembly of this assembly is carried out in a conventional manner and known by forcing the adapter on the rim so that the locking element 10 is inserted into the groove 8. The beads B of the tire are then each arranged on a seat 23 of the adapter. The assembled assembly is then put under its nominal pressure. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the locking element 10 is disposed in the middle part of the rim. Other arrangements (not shown) provide an arrangement offset from the median axis.

The tire P comprises a tread (not referenced) extended radially inwardly by two sides 1, themselves extended radially inwardly by two beads B. In each bead B, the carcass reinforcement 2 wraps around a circumferential reinforcing element or bead wire 3, to form a reversal 4 separated from the carcass reinforcement 2 by a filling element 5.

FIG. 2 represents a radial section of a portion of an adapter, without the median zone, and without the locking element 10. This adapter comprises an axially outer end 9 comprising an external reinforcing element 15, a body 11 comprising a main reinforcing armature 17. The main reinforcing armature 17 wraps around the reinforcing element 15. At the body 11, the forward and return portions of said reinforcing layer thus form a stack substantially radial of at least two reinforcing plies 18 and 19. These reinforcement plies 18 and 19 each comprise reinforcements 35 coated with elastomer composition, called calendering rubber 31.

According to various embodiments, the reinforcements of the zone 17 are radial, or angled. For example, the angles of these reinforcements are preferably between + 30 ° and -30 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction. The reinforcements are textile cables made of PET, polyamide, rayon, aramid.

The body 11 further comprises an adapter seat 23 intended to come into contact with a tire bead.

The main reinforcement armature 17 is enveloped by a color layer 30 different from black, made of elastomeric material. This layer 30 is itself embedded in an outer layer 20 of elastomeric material, preferably black. The color layer 30 forms a registration layer because of its color distinct from the outer layers of protection. The layer 30 may be for example red, or blue, or green, or yellow, or orange, or other color easily visible by a user.

In another embodiment, the distinction of the registration layer is obtained by inverting the colors, so that the adapter has an outer layer 20 of red color, or blue, or green, or yellow, or orange , or other color easily visible by a user, and an internal black registration layer, or of a color other than that of the outer layer 20.

Figure 3A schematically illustrates an example of a radially outer portion of an adapter on which a tire is arranged. The enlarged view of the figure makes it possible to clearly visualize the interface between the two elements. In addition, the main reinforcing armature 17 comprising a plurality of reinforcements 35 substantially parallel to each other is observed. This frame is enveloped by a layer of color different from black, itself covered with an outer layer 20, preferably black. In this embodiment, the layer 30 covers the calendering rubber 31 of the reinforcing armature 17.

Figures 3B and 3C illustrate alternative embodiments with respect to the arrangement in connection with Figure 3A. In the arrangement of FIG. 3B, the reinforcing armature 17 and the color layer 30 form only one and the same element. The distinctive color characteristics previously described in relation to the registration layer 30 are incorporated in the present invention. armature 17, the color layer being arranged in place of the calendering rubber 31 coating the reinforcements 35 of the plies 18 and 19. In other words, in this embodiment, the color layer 30 serves as a calendering rubber.

In the arrangement of Figure 3C, the color layer 30 replaces the calendering rubber only on the outer periphery of the reinforcing plies 18 and 19. This embodiment is also illustrated in cross section in Figure 3D.

Figure 4 further illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the reinforcements 35 of the reinforcing armature 17 are each coated with an individual coating 32 of different color from black. This embodiment, forming multiple locating zones (as many zones as reinforcement son) very localized, allows to target the damage that is revealed. In addition, this approach avoids nuisance alerts due to superficial damage.

When the registration area 30 or 32 is integrated in a black adapter, it is made in a distinct shade of black, so as to be clearly visible when it is vented due to damage to the As an alternative, the outer layer 20 is made from a tinted elastomeric composition (other than black) and the registration area (layer 30 or coating 32) is of another color, or black.

Another embodiment provides a dual tracking zone. In this embodiment, a color layer 30 as previously described in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C is provided with a first color. At least a second registration area, consisting of individual coatings 32, as previously described in connection with Figure 4, is also provided, with a second color, distinct from the first. This hybrid embodiment makes it possible to generate two levels of alert or warning. A first level of alert is given when a damage releases a portion of the color layer 30. A second, more critical alert level is given when a damage releases one or more individual coats 32. This embodiment is particularly suitable for adapters intended for use in harsh or aggressive environments and makes it possible to know the actual state of the adapter and to take the required measures in due course.

As a variant of the various embodiments previously described, the registration area is located only on a portion of the adapter. For example, a registration area is advantageously provided in the area intended to be visible from outside the vehicle once the adapter and the tire mounted. It is indeed in this zone, and more particularly in the axially outer zone, that the risks of damage are the most important. This variant can be implemented in relation with one or more registration layers as previously described, or in relation to coatings 32 as described in connection with FIG. 4, or in connection with the hybrid mode involving both one or more layers 30 and coatings 32 of different colors, as previously described.

Reference numbers used in the figures

Adapter

bead

Rim

Pneumatic

Flank

Carcass

Rod

Turning Filling element i rim seat • Rim seat

Rim groove

Axially outer adapter end i Adapter locking element Adapter body 'Adapter reinforcement element i Contact face with the rim

Main reinforcement armature i First web of the main reinforcement armature i Second web of the main reinforcement armature i Outer layer Support surface i Adapter seat i Color layer different from black

Calendering rubber: Individual coating of different color from black> Substantially parallel reinforcements

Claims (10)

An adapter (A) for a roller assembly having an axis of rotation, said assembly comprising a tire (P) having two beads (B), a rim (J) having two rim flanges (8), a rim groove (8). ) disposed between two rim seats (7a, 7b), said rim having a total width W between each axially outer end of said two rim seats, said adapter providing the junction between each bead (B) and each rim seat, said adapter having: two axially outer ends (9) each comprising an adapter seat (23) and an adapter bearing face (21) substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a body (11) ) connecting said two outer axial ends (9) so as to form a unitary piece and comprising at least one main reinforcing armature (17), the main reinforcing armature (17) comprising at least one first (18) and one second (19) reinforcing plies arranged radially with respect to each other, said reinforcing plies (18, 19) each comprising reinforcements (35) parallel to each other and coated with an elastomeric composition, called a calendering rubber (31); a face (16) intended to be in contact with each rim seat (7a, 7b) and with the rim groove (8), and disposed radially on the inside, said adapter having a total axial width L between each adapter seat (23), the W / L ratio being greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 60%, and said body (11) comprising a locking element (10) for wedging said adapter in the throat rim (8), - characterized in that a layer (30) of elastomer composition of a different color from black, also called color gum, is arranged to choose: - instead of the calendering gum (31) coating the reinforcements (35) of each layer, or - instead of calabash ndrage (31) coating the reinforcements (35) and disposed only on the outer periphery of the reinforcing plies, or - on the outside of the calendering rubber (31). 2. An adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the color gum (30) comprises titanium oxide, kaolin, chalk or a mixture thereof. 3. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the color gum (30) comprises TPE, such as SIS, SBS. 4. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the color gum (30) is in the form of a layer covering a plurality of reinforcements (35). 5. Adapter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the color gum (30) is in the form of individual coating (32) of each of the cables (35) reinforcements. 6. An adapter according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the color gum (30) comprises a first color in the form of a layer (30) covering a plurality of son (35) reinforcement and at least one second color distinct from the first, in the form of individual coating (32) of each of the son (35) reinforcements. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the color gum (30, 32) is located only on a portion of the adapter. Adapter according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the colored rubber (30, 32) is arranged at least at the seat (23) of the adapter. Adapter according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the colored rubber (30, 32) is arranged at least at the contact between the adapter and the tire. 11. Mounted assembly characterized in that it comprises an adapter according to one of claims 1 to 10.