JP3980456B2 - Tire / wheel assembly and run-flat support - Google Patents

Description

表１から、本発明のタイヤ／ホイール組立体は、耐久性を改善できることがわかる。
【００４３】
【発明の効果】
上述したように本発明は、ランフラット用支持体とリムとの間に形成された第１室部とランフラット用支持体と空気入りタイヤの内面との間に形成された第２室部とをそれぞれ独立して密閉可能にしたので、ランフラット走行時における耐久性を向上することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態からなるタイヤ／ホイール組立体の要部を示す子午線断面図である。
【図２】図１の弁の一例を示し、（ａ）は開状態を示す断面説明図、（ｂ）は閉状態を示す断面説明図である。
【図３】本発明の他の実施形態からなるタイヤ／ホイール組立体の要部を示す子午線断面図である。
【図４】本発明の他の実施形態からなるランフラット用支持体の要部断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１（ホイールの）リム ２ 空気入りタイヤ
２Ａ 空洞部 ２ａ 内面
３ ランフラット用支持体 ４ 環状シェル
５ 弾性リング ６ 支持面
７ 脚部 ８ 空気供給孔
９ 弁 １０，１１ バルブ
１３ 空気透過部 Ｘ 第１室部
Ｙ 第２室部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support, and more particularly, to a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support used for the tire / wheel assembly that are improved in durability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many technologies have been proposed in response to market demands that enable emergency running even when a pneumatic tire punctures while the vehicle is running. Among these many proposals, a support is mounted on the rim inside the cavity of a rim-assembled pneumatic tire, and run flat running is enabled by supporting a punctured tire by the support. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
The run-flat support body includes an annular shell having an open leg structure in which an outer peripheral side is a support surface and an inner peripheral side is opened, and elastic rings are attached to both leg portions. And is supported on the rim. This run-flat support has the advantage that it can be used without disruption to the market because it can be used as is without any special modifications to existing wheels / rims.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-297226 [Patent Document 2]
JP-T-2001-519279 gazette
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a tire / wheel assembly equipped with such a run-flat support body has a space formed between the run-flat support body and the rim and the run-flat support to fill the tire with air. The space formed between the body and the inner surface of the pneumatic tire is in communication with the space. Therefore, when the tire is punctured and run-flat running, the internal pressure in both space portions becomes zero. As a result, the grounding portion of the elastic ring of the run-flat support body is greatly bent at the time of grounding, and the bending is repeatedly generated. As a result, breakage is likely to occur particularly at the connecting portion between the annular shell and the elastic ring, which hinders improvement in durability.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support that can improve durability.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The tire / wheel assembly of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an annular shell having a support portion on an outer peripheral side and a bifurcated inner peripheral side in a hollow portion of a pneumatic tire mounted on a rim of a wheel. In a tire / wheel assembly in which a run-flat support body including left and right elastic rings for supporting a leg portion opened in a bifurcated shape on a rim is disposed, the run-flat support body and the rim are interposed between the run-flat support body and the rim. The first chamber portion formed, the second flat portion formed between the run-flat support and the inner surface of the pneumatic tire can be independently sealed, and the first chamber portion can be sealed to the rim. A valve for supplying air to the run-flat support body, and at least one air supply hole for supplying air from the first chamber to the second chamber is formed in the run-flat support, and the first chamber is formed in the air supply hole. The pressure inside the unit is at the specified air pressure. Wherein characterized in that a valve for closing the air supply holes upon.
In another tire / wheel assembly of the present invention, an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a support surface and an inner peripheral side opened in a bifurcated manner in a cavity of a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim, In a tire / wheel assembly in which a run-flat support body composed of left and right elastic rings that support leg portions opened in a bifurcated shape is supported on the rim, formed between the run-flat support body and the rim. The first chamber portion, the run-flat support body, and the second chamber portion formed between the inner surfaces of the pneumatic tires can be independently sealed, and the rim is connected to the first chamber portion. A valve for supplying air and a valve for supplying air to the second chamber are provided.
[0008]
The run-flat support body of the present invention includes an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a support surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg, and left and right elastic rings for supporting the bifurcated leg portion on a rim. When the run-flat support body is provided with an air supply hole for supplying air, and the run-flat support body is disposed in a cavity of a pneumatic tire attached to a rim, the run-flat support body and the The air supply hole is provided with a valve for closing the air supply hole when the pressure in the first chamber formed between the rim reaches a predetermined air pressure.
[0009]
Further, another run-flat support body of the present invention supports an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a support surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg and a leg portion having the bifurcated leg on a rim. An air supply hole for supplying air is provided in a run-flat support body composed of left and right elastic rings, and the air supply hole can communicate with a dedicated valve provided in a rim on which the run-flat support body is mounted. It is characterized by.
[0010]
According to the present invention described above, when the tire is punctured and run flat, the internal pressure in the second chamber becomes zero, but the internal pressure in the first chamber can maintain the filled air pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress large repeated deformation that occurs in the elastic ring at the time of grounding. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of breakage at the connection portion between the annular shell and the elastic ring, so that durability can be improved.
[0011]
In addition, since the annular shell is held by internal pressure during run flat running, the rigidity of the run flat support can be ensured even if the elastic ring is thinned, so that the run flat support can be reduced in weight.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the run-flat support is formed as an annular body that is inserted into the cavity of the pneumatic tire. The run-flat support body is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow portion so that the outer diameter maintains a constant distance from the inner surface of the hollow portion of the pneumatic tire, and the inner diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the bead portion of the pneumatic tire. Dimension is formed. The run-flat support body is assembled to a wheel together with the pneumatic tire while being inserted inside the pneumatic tire, thereby forming a tire / wheel assembly. If the pneumatic tire is punctured while the tire / wheel assembly is mounted on a vehicle, the punctured and crushed tire is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the run-flat support body. Enable.
[0013]
The run-flat support body includes an annular shell and an elastic ring as main parts.
[0014]
The annular shell forms a continuous support surface to support a tire that is punctured on the outer peripheral side (outer diameter side), and the inner peripheral side (inner diameter side) has a bifurcated shape with the left and right side walls as legs. Yes. The support surface on the outer peripheral side is formed so that the shape in a cross section orthogonal to the circumferential direction becomes a convex curved surface on the outer diameter side. The number of the convex curved surfaces arranged in the tire axial direction may be only one, but preferably two or more are arranged. By forming the support surface in such a manner that two or more convex curved surfaces are arranged in this manner, the contact portion of the support surface with respect to the tire inner surface (hollow portion inner surface) is dispersed to two or more to reduce local wear on the tire inner surface. In addition, it is possible to extend the running distance that enables run-flat running.
[0015]
The elastic rings are respectively attached to the ends of both leg portions that are bifurcated on the inner diameter side of the annular shell, and support the annular shell by abutting on the left and right rim seats. This elastic ring is made of rubber or elastic resin, and reduces the impact and vibration received by the annular shell from the punctured tire, and also prevents the rim seat from slipping to stably support the annular shell.
[0016]
Since the run-flat support must support the vehicle weight via the punctured tire, the annular shell is made of a rigid material. A metal, resin, or the like is used as the constituent material. Among these, steel, aluminum, etc. can be illustrated as a metal. Further, the resin may be either a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include nylon and polyester, and examples of the thermosetting resin include an epoxy resin and an unsaturated polyester resin. The resin may be used alone, or may be used as a fiber reinforced resin by blending reinforcing fibers.
[0017]
The elastic ring may be composed of any rubber or elastic resin as long as it can stably support the annular shell. For example, the rubber may be natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, etc. And a foamed resin such as polyurethane foam.
[0018]
The run-flat support used in the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention is based on the above-described configuration.
[0019]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a meridian cross-sectional view showing the main part of a tire / wheel assembly (wheel) according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a rim on the outer periphery of the wheel, 2 is a pneumatic tire, and 3 is a run-flat support. It is. The rim 1, the pneumatic tire 2, and the run-flat support body 3 are formed in an annular shape coaxially with a rotation axis of a wheel (not shown) as a center, and run flat in the hollow portion 2 A of the pneumatic tire 2 mounted on the rim 1. The support body 3 is arranged.
[0021]
The run-flat support 3 includes an annular shell 4 formed of a rigid material such as metal or resin, and left and right elastic rings 5 and 5 formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastic resin.
[0022]
The annular shell 4 forms a support surface 6 having two convex curved surfaces 6a, 6a having a radius of curvature on the outer peripheral side in the shell width direction. The support surface 6 is a pneumatic tire 2 when the pneumatic tire 2 is normal. Although it is spaced apart from the inner surface 2a, it supports a collapsed tire when punctured. Further, the inner circumferential side of the annular shell 4 has both side walls opened into two legs as leg portions 7 and 7, respectively, and elastic rings 5 and 5 are attached to the inner circumferential side thereof.
[0023]
The elastic rings 5 and 5 are fitted and pressure-bonded to the rim sheets 1 s and 1 s of the rim 1, the first chamber portion X formed between the run-flat support 3 and the rim 1, and the run-flat support 3 The second chamber portion Y formed between the inner surface 2a of the pneumatic tire 2 can be independently sealed.
[0024]
The annular shell 4 is formed with at least one air supply hole 8 for supplying the air supplied into the first chamber portion X to the second chamber portion Y, and the first chamber portion X is formed in the air supply hole 8. A valve 9 is provided for closing the air supply hole 8 when the internal pressure reaches a predetermined air pressure. The rim 1 is provided with a valve 10 for supplying air to the first chamber portion X.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the valve 9 has a piston 9c having an H-shaped cross section slidably disposed along the axis O direction of the cylindrical body 9a in a space 9b inside the cylindrical body 9a with one end closed. It is installed. The cylindrical body 9a is formed with through holes 9d and 9e communicating with the space portion 9b, and one through hole 9d communicates with the first chamber portion X. The other through-hole 9e communicates with the second chamber portion Y, and the air supplied from the valve 10 to the first chamber portion X passes through the through-hole 9d, the space portion 9b, and the through-hole 9e, and the second chamber portion. Y can be supplied.
[0026]
An elastic member 9g made of a spring is interposed between the piston 9c and one end 9f of the cylindrical body 9a, and the piston 9c is always urged to the other end side of the cylindrical body 9a, as shown in FIG. As shown, the air supplied to the first chamber portion X can be supplied to the second chamber portion Y through the through hole 9d, the space portion 9b, and the through hole 9e.
[0027]
A stopper 9h constantly biased in the protruding direction by a spring 9i is embedded in the inner peripheral surface on the other end side of the cylindrical body 9a so as to be able to appear and retract. As the air pressure in the second chamber portion Y gradually increases, the piston 9c moves to one end side, and when the air pressure in the second chamber portion Y reaches a predetermined pressure, the piston 9c is moved to the first position as shown in FIG. The through hole 9e communicating with the two chambers Y is closed. At the same time, the stopper 9h protrudes to lock the piston 9c in a state where the through-hole 9e is closed, so that the first chamber portion X and the second chamber portion Y are individually sealed.
[0028]
Needless to say, the valve 9 is not limited to the above-described valve, and may have other modes as long as it has a similar function. Preferably, a valve equipped with a pressure adjustment mechanism such as a spring / screw mechanism is preferably used so that the valve closing pressure can be set arbitrarily. The pressure for closing the valve 9 is preferably adjusted within a range of 1.0 to 1.5 times the desired air pressure.
[0029]
The run-flat support 3 configured as described above is inserted into the pneumatic tire 2 when the rim is assembled, and the elastic rings 5 and 5 are connected to the rim seat of the rim 1 together with the bead portions 2b and 2b of the pneumatic tire 2. 1s and 1s are fitted and mounted simultaneously.
[0030]
According to the above-described present invention, it is formed between the first chamber portion X formed between the run-flat support 3 and the rim 1, the run-flat support 3 and the inner surface 2 a of the pneumatic tire 2. Since the second chamber portion Y can be sealed independently, the internal pressure of the second chamber portion Y becomes zero when the tire is punctured and run flat, but the first chamber portion X Maintains the filled air pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the bending of the ground contact portion of the elastic ring 5 of the run-flat support body 3 at the time of ground contact, and a large bend does not repeatedly occur as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of breakage at the connection portion between the annular shell 4 and the elastic rings 5 and 5 and improve the durability. Further, since the rigidity of the run-flat support 3 can be ensured even if the elastic ring 5 is thinned, the run-flat support 3 can be reduced in weight.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows another example of the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the valve 9 described above, a dedicated valve 11 is provided on the rim 1 on which the run-flat support 3 is mounted, and the air provided between the valve 11 and the convex curved surfaces 6a and 6a of the annular shell 4 is provided. The supply hole 8 can be connected by a pipe 12 so that air can be supplied to the first chamber portion X and the second chamber portion Y having a sealed structure through the valves 10 and 11, respectively. Even with the tire / wheel assembly having such a configuration, the same effects as described above can be obtained.
[0032]
In the present invention, the air pressure in the first chamber portion X is preferably higher than the air pressure in the second chamber portion Y. Preferably, the air pressure is 1.1 to 1.5 times the air pressure of the second chamber, and thereby, the load applied to the annular shell 4 during the run-flat running can be dispersed and the durability can be further improved. .
[0033]
When the air pressure in the first chamber portion X is set higher than the air pressure in the second chamber portion Y, the above-described run-flat support 3 is provided in the first chamber portion X as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may have the air permeation | transmission part 13 which can permeate | transmit this air to the 2nd chamber part Y. FIG.
[0034]
In FIG. 4, an air permeable portion 13 is provided in the through hole 14 formed in the leg portion 7 of the annular shell 4. The air permeable portion 13 has a permeable portion 13X in which one rubber layer 13b that can transmit substantially the same amount of air as the air leaking from the tire is disposed on both sides of the wire mesh support 13a. However, the through hole 14 is fitted to the leg 7 around the through hole 14 via the ring body 13Y.
[0035]
Although the amount of air in the second chamber Y is extremely small, it continues to leak out through the tire, so that the air pressure in the second chamber Y gradually decreases as the tire is used. Therefore, by providing the air permeable portion 13 that can transmit substantially the same amount of air as the air leaking from the tire in this way, the air pressure in the second chamber Y can be always maintained at the working pressure during normal traveling. it can.
[0036]
As the rubber used for the rubber layer 13b, any rubber may be used as long as air can permeate. For example, a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) having a large gas permeability coefficient and easy thickness adjustment. ), Silicon rubber and the like, and those having a small compression set include natural rubber (NR), isoprene rubber (IR), chloroprene rubber (CR), nitrile rubber (NBR) and the like. By appropriately determining the thickness of the rubber layer 13b and the area of the permeable portion according to the gas permeability coefficient of the rubber to be used, the amount of leakage at the permeable portion 13X is adjusted to be substantially the same as the air leaking from the tire.
[0037]
Although the air permeable portion 13 is provided in the annular shell 4 in FIG. 4, it may be provided in the elastic ring 5 instead. Moreover, the air permeation | transmission part 13 should just be provided in at least 1 place of the support body 3 for run flats, and also if the permeation | transmission part 13X can permeate | transmit air, it will not be limited to the structure mentioned above.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, the case where the support surface 6 of the annular shell 4 has the two convex curved surfaces 6a and 6a has been exemplified, but the number of the convex curved surfaces is not limited to two, but one or three. It may be the above.
[0039]
【Example】
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is such that the tire size is 205 / 55R16, the rim size is 16 × 6 1 / 2JJ, the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion are sealed, and the air supply hole of the annular shell is provided with a valve. The tire / wheel assembly (Example) of the present invention and the conventional tire / wheel assembly (conventional example) in which the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion are connected to each other were produced.
[0040]
When each of these test tire / wheel assemblies was subjected to a durability evaluation test by the measurement method shown below, the results shown in Table 1 were obtained.
Durability When each test tire / wheel assembly is mounted on the front right wheel of a 2.5 liter front-wheel drive vehicle with the air pressure of 0 kPa in the second chamber and running on the test course at 90 km / h The distance which became impossible was measured, and the result was evaluated by an index value with a conventional tire / wheel assembly as 100. The greater this value, the better the durability.
[0041]
In addition to the front right wheel, tires and rims of the same size as above were used, and the air pressure was 200 kPa. The air pressure in the first chamber of the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention is 250 kPa.
[0042]
[Table 1]

From Table 1, it can be seen that the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention can improve durability.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention includes a first chamber formed between the run-flat support and the rim, and a second chamber formed between the run-flat support and the inner surface of the pneumatic tire. Since each can be sealed independently, durability during run-flat running can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a meridian cross-sectional view showing a main part of a tire / wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows an example of the valve of FIG. 1, in which (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an open state, and (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a closed state.
FIG. 3 is a meridian cross-sectional view showing a main part of a tire / wheel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a run-flat support body according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (Wheel) rim 2 Pneumatic tire 2A Hollow part 2a Inner surface 3 Run-flat support body 4 Annular shell 5 Elastic ring 6 Support surface 7 Leg part 8 Air supply hole 9 Valve 10, 11 Valve 13 Air permeation part X 1st Chamber Y Second chamber

Claims (9)

A hollow portion of a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim supports an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a supporting surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg and a leg portion having the bifurcated leg on the rim. In a tire / wheel assembly in which a run-flat support body including left and right elastic rings is disposed, a first chamber portion formed between the run-flat support body and the rim, and the run-flat support body, The second flat portion formed between the inner surface of the pneumatic tire can be independently sealed , and a valve for supplying air to the first chamber portion is provided on the rim. Forming at least one air supply hole for supplying air from the first chamber to the second chamber, and supplying the air when the pressure in the first chamber reaches a predetermined air pressure in the air supply hole. tire provided with a valve for closing the hole / Eel assembly. The tire / wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the air supply hole is provided in the annular shell . A hollow portion of a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim supports an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a supporting surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg and a leg portion having the bifurcated leg on the rim. In a tire / wheel assembly in which a run-flat support body including left and right elastic rings is disposed, a first chamber portion formed between the run-flat support body and the rim, and the run-flat support body, The second chamber portion formed between the inner surface of the pneumatic tire can be independently sealed, and a valve for supplying air to the first chamber portion to the rim and air to the second chamber portion. Tire / wheel assembly with each valve to supply . The tire / wheel assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the air pressure in the first chamber is higher than the air pressure in the second chamber . The tire / wheel assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the air pressure in the first chamber is 1.1 to 1.5 times higher than the air pressure in the second chamber . The tire / wheel assembly according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the run-flat support body is provided with an air permeable portion through which air can pass between the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion . Air is applied to the run-flat support comprising an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a supporting surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg and left and right elastic rings for supporting the bifurcated leg on the rim. A pressure in the first chamber formed between the run-flat support body and the rim when the supply hole is provided and the run-flat support body is disposed in the cavity of the pneumatic tire mounted on the rim. A run-flat support body provided with a valve for closing the air supply hole when the air pressure reaches a predetermined air pressure. Air is applied to a run-flat support body comprising an annular shell having an outer peripheral side as a supporting surface and an inner peripheral side having a bifurcated leg and left and right elastic rings for supporting the bifurcated leg portion on the rim. A run-flat support body provided with a supply hole, the air supply hole being connectable to a dedicated valve provided on a rim on which the run-flat support body is mounted . The run-flat support body according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an air-permeable portion is provided on the run-flat support body.

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