JPH04176719A - Pneumatic tyre with road surface pad of turning type - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To widely disperse load in a tire for a golf cart or the like by providing plural ground engagement pads along the whole circumference of the tire to be movable within a limit angle around a radial direction axis of it to move at the time of grounding, and restore at the time of removal from the ground. CONSTITUTION: Ground engagement pads 14 each composed of elastic material such as rubber to be wide at a center part 16 and tapered toward end parts 17 to be width-reduced are disposed along the whole range of an outer circumference of a tire 12 having an air expansion tube 13. Each pad 14 is installed and fixed to a spindle 13 implanted on a tire 12 through a rubber block 31 having a rectangular opening part 32 to be movable within a specified limited angle. The ground engagement pad 14 thus moves within a limited angle range at the time of grounding, and restores to its original condition as it is removed from the ground. Load dispersion can thus be achieved while having advantages of an air cushion type tire.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is generally applicable to grass-covered ground such as golf fairways or other soft surfaces for the purpose of widely distributing supporting loads. Concerning wheels for machines requiring wide-sided tires. In particular, the present invention
Related to wheels for use on golf carts, mowers and other mobile equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a pneumatic tire for mounting on a wheel hub has a plurality of ground-engaging pads disposed around the entire circumference of the tire, each pad having a is capable of at least a limited degree of angular movement about a radial axis in relation to which the tire is capable of at least a limited degree of angular movement in relation to any pad currently in contact with the underlying ground. There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of rotating within a range and having means for returning the pad to its position before its angular movement once the pad has moved out of contact with the ground. ing.

The tire is mounted on a conventional wheel hub, which is preferably equipped with a conventional tube to inflate the tire to the proper pressure.

The foregoing describes, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

〔Example〕

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts, reference is now made to the drawings, which are generally designated 10 in accordance with the present invention.
The wheels and tires numbered are shown. Wheel 10 includes a rigid hub 11 on which a pneumatic tire 12 is mounted. The tire 12 includes a conventional inflatable tube 13. When inflated, this tube pressurizes the tire to the appropriate pressure. A plurality of ground engaging pads 14 are disposed around the tire and are connected to the circumferential portion 15 of the tire 120. Each pad, made of a resilient material such as rubber, is approximately 14 inches wide and approximately 5 inches long in the direction of rotation of the tire. As shown, the pads 14 are slightly spaced apart and taper from their widest central portions 16 to their ends 17.

The pads 14 are connected around the tire 12 by means of coupling to allow each pad at least a limited degree of angular movement about a notional radial axis in relation to the tire 12, as described below. connected. This coupling means includes a single spindle 13 passing through an opening 19 in the tire 12.

The spindle 18 has a plate member 20 secured to its end 21 which engages the inner surface 22 of the tire to position the spindle 18 in position.

A rubber washer 23 is fixed on the outer surface 24 of the tire in the area of the opening 19. A locking plate 25 is attached to the spindle 18 adjacent to the rubber washer 23, and a locking nut 26 is threadedly engaged with a thread 27 provided on the spindle 18 to securely lock the spindle 18 to the tire 12. .

A nylon support plate 28 surrounds the locking nut 26.
The inner diameter of the opening 29 in this support plate 28, in which the locking nut 26 is mounted and receiving the locking nut 26 therein, is larger than the outer diameter of the locking nut 26. The support plate 28 is therefore free to rotate around the locking nut 26.

The ground engaging pad 14 consists of a base plate 30 to which a rubber block 31 having a square opening 32 is fixed. The base plate 30 has a circular opening 33 through which the shoulder portion 34 of the spindle 18 is inserted.
is engaged. The inner diameter of this opening 33 is the spindle 1
8, so that the pad 14 is free to rotate in relation to the spindle 18.

The free end 35 of the spindle is square shaped and the pad 14 carries a square retaining block 36 which is held in place by a suitable snap ring secured to the spindle 18 as shown. It is fixed on the spindle 18 using a screwdriver.

As shown, the retaining block 36 is attached to the spindle 18 in the area of a square opening 32 in the rubber block 31. The diameter of the holding block 36 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 32.

It will therefore be appreciated that the spindle 18 serves only for the purpose of connecting the pad 14 to the tire 12.

When the wheel 10 is carrying some weight, the pad 14 is pressed against the nylon plate 28, which in turn
supports the weight transferred to the tire 12 by being pressed against the outer surface 24 of the tire 12 .

When the tire 12 is rotated in relation to which of the pads 14 is in contact with the ground, the pads remain stationary and the spindle 1 including the retaining block 36
8 and tire 12 will rotate a predetermined angular distance of approximately 4° to 15°. As retaining block 36 rotates, it engages and compresses the wall of rubber block 31 defining opening 32. The rubber block 31 in the area of the opening 32 is therefore compressed;
The relative angular movement of the tire will be determined by the resilience of the rubber block 31 and the time the pad 14 remains in contact with the ground. Once pad 14 is on the ground? Once moved out of contact, the resiliency of the rubber block 31 causes the pad 14 to return to its normal position. As previously mentioned, pad 14 is tapered to facilitate relative rotation of the pads.

Instead of using rubber blocks 31, telescopic springs (not shown) may be used, one fixed to one side of each pad 14, with the other end of each spring attached to the wheel. It is fixed to the hub 11. Thus, the pad can return to its previous position.

As shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5, the present invention distributes the weight over a wider area of the pad 14, which is a much larger area than that of a standard tire. - Provides a wheel and tire structure that can significantly reduce the pressure density. The p,s,i, (pounds per square inch) pressure exerted by the pad against the ground is much less than the pressure exerted by conventional wide-surface tires. Similarly, this wheel can rotate without damage to the ground because the pad 14 remains stationary on the ground while the wheel itself rotates. Damage to the ground caused by wheels rotating on sloped ground is likewise reduced. This is because the pad 14 will always remain flat on the ground as shown in FIG.

The present invention also maintains the pneumatic tire advantages of pneumatic tires.

In another embodiment of the invention, the entire circumference of the tire is covered, for example, by a monoblock sleeve made of flexible rubber, which is attached to each base plate 30 by known means, for example by vulcanization. There is. In order to obtain the necessary benefits from each pad,
The rubber sleeve has several spaced slots with the spacing between adjacent pairs of slots forming a recess for one pad.

This arrangement provides a continuous central rubber section with the necessary flexibility for smooth rotation of the wheel during driving.

Rather than the coupling means shown in FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention provides a pneumatic tire having a flexible rubber mounting protruding from and integral with the ground engaging surface. is provided. The ground engaging pad is attached to a rubber mounting. Such a flexible mounting allows the wheel hub to rotate at the point of contact with the ground and return the pad to its pre-angular position as soon as it leaves the ground pressure. Similarly, a rubber block, such as an automobile engine mounting block, can be secured to a tire with the mounting block similarly secured to the base plate of the pad.

All of the novelty and advantages of the present invention may be retained by having the pneumatic tire and pad combination manufactured as a single unit rubber molding. This eliminates the need for a mechanical linkage between the pad and the tire. The inherent flexibility of the rubber allows the pads to twist to the required degree, thus making it more susceptible to mechanical means of returning the pad to its pre-angular position after each pad has rolled away from contact with the ground. The need disappears. The flexibility of the relatively small area of the pad in direct contact with the tire surface allows the hub of the wheel to rotate without causing the pad to slide at the point of contact with the ground when taking up the weight of the machine. It is also possible to mold (or insert) fibers or other known reinforcing materials with the tire to strengthen the large cross-sectional area of each pad.

Other advantages of the wheels according to the invention are that there is no possibility of tire wear or punctures;
The pads can be changed without letting the air out of the tire, the pad size can be selected to match the wheel size, and the tires can be tubeless or tube tires.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel equipped with a tire according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of FIG. 1. 3 is a partial plan view of one of the pads shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 and 5 are schematic illustrations of one pad of the wheel of FIG. 1 in contact with the ground. 10...wheel (wheel), 12...pneumatic tire,
13... Inflatable tube, 14... Ground engaging pad, 16... Widest central portion, 17... End, 18... Spindle, 19... Opening.
2G... Plate member, 21... Spindle end, 23... Rubber washer, 24... Outer surface of tire, 25... Locking plate, 26... Locking nut, 27... screw thread,
28... Support plate, 30... Base plate, 31... Rubber block, 32... Square opening, 33... Circular opening, 35... Spindle free end, 36... Holding block. FIGLIRE I n Procedural amendment (method) January 23, 1991 Toshi Uematsu, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office1, Indication of case: Patent Application No. 302843 of 19902, Name of invention: Swivel type pneumatic tire with road surface pad3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant name: Tew Rogers McLaren 4, agent address: 8-10 Toranomon-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105 (4 others>``-'' 6, details subject to amendment) (completely missing) 7. Engraved copy of the detailed description of the amendment (no change in content) 8. Engraved detailed list of attached documents 1 copy

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pneumatic tire for mounting on a wheel hub, having a plurality of ground-engaging pads disposed around the entire circumference of the tire, each pad having a radius relative to the tire. A tire capable of at least a limited degree of angular movement about a directional axis;
capable of rotating by said limited angle in relation to any pad currently in contact with the ground, and for returning each pad to its unmoved position once the pad has been moved out of contact with the ground; A pneumatic tire characterized in that it includes a means. 2. Pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with connecting means for connecting each pad around the periphery of the tire. 3. The coupling means includes a spindle projecting through an opening in the tire, the spindle having a plate member fixed to one end thereof, the plate member being connected to the tire. 3. A pneumatic tire according to claim 2, characterized in that the other end of the spindle is a free end and is connected to a ground-engaging pad. 4. Pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that each ground-engaging pad includes a base plate on which a resilient block material is fixed. 5. A pneumatic tire according to claim 3, characterized in that a support plate is attached to the spindle between the outer surface of the tire and a ground-engaging pad. 6. The free end of the spindle projects through an opening in the base plate into a recess in the elastic block, and a retaining member is fixed on the free end of the spindle. , a pneumatic tire according to claim 4. 7. When the tire rotates, the holding member of the pad that comes into contact with the ground compresses the elastic block, and when the pad moves to a state where it does not contact the ground, the pad is compressed due to the inherent rebound resilience of the elastic block. 7. A pneumatic tire according to claim 6, characterized in that the pneumatic tire engages with an elastic block so as to return to its normal position. 8. The ground engaging pads are spaced slightly apart;
2. A pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that it tapers from its widest central part towards its ends.