WO2009078041A1

WO2009078041A1 - Tire with a puncture protection strip

Info

Publication number: WO2009078041A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele De Carlo
Original assignee: Michele De Carlo
Priority date: 2007-12-14
Filing date: 2007-12-14
Publication date: 2009-06-25
Also published as: EP2219887A1

Abstract

Tyre for motor-vehicles provided with a device adapted to prevent punctures, comprising a rim (1), an inner tube (2) with relative valve (6), an external carcass (5) and characterised by a protection strip (4), interposed between said inner tube and said external carcass, which protects the inner tube against foreign bodies capable of causing a puncture of the same.

Description

TIRE WITH A PUNCTURE PROTECTION STRIP

DESCRIPTION

A tyre for motor-vehicles provided with a device adapted to prevent puncture during its use on and/or off the road forms the object of the present finding.

According to the prior art, there are various embodiments for similar products adapted for solving problems regarding the puncture of a tyre for motor- vehicles. Many tyre manufacturers have provided various solutions in the market, some of which have been the subject of previous patents.

For example, Pirelli developed a special rim which, with a higher rigid support with respect to the shoulder mounted at the centre of the same, allows the deflated tyre to lie on it. Said device allows avoiding the use of the classic "temporary use spare tyre". Dunlop developed a tyre with rigid shoulders which, following a puncture, allow the vehicle to resume the journey. Also Good Year developed a solution similar to the preceding one. Lastly, in the market there is a device which comprises a portable compressor and a container which, after reinflating the tyre by means of the air compressor, releases foam which seals, though for a short period of time, the puncture.

The great disadvantage of the applications already known consists of the fact that they are temporary solutions and which do not guarantee total safety when driving. As a matter of fact, all the solutions mentioned beforehand have serious limitations both in terms of maximum speed allowed (usually, well below 100 km/h), and maximum mileage life.

The finding object of the of the present invention solves the abovementioned technical drawbacks in that it is a tyre for motor-vehicles comprising a rim (1), an inner tube (2) with the relative side valve (6), an external carcass (5), and it is characterised by a protection strip (4), interposed between said inner tube and said external carcass, which protects the inner tube against foreign bodies capable of causing puncture to the same.

The object of the invention is that, after the tyre has been punctured, of allowing the vehicle to resume the journey in complete safety. The invention uses the principle of the double inner tube: after reinflating the punctured tyre, the vehicle may resume its journey without any limitations both in terms of performance and self-sufficiency.

These and other advantages shall be observed during the detailed description of the invention which shall specifically refer to drawing 1/1 in which there is an absolutely non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment (fig. 1).

With reference to fig. 1, the invention is a new tyre for motor- vehicles basically made up of a rim (1), an inner tube (2) with a side output valve (6), elements evidently known according to the prior art. In addition, the tyre is provided with a manual or automatic tyre inflating system. Said system can consist of a portable compressor (3) to be connected to the cigar lighter socket or of an airbag positioned in the internal part of the rim and connected to a pressure sensor (not shown in the figure). The invention is characterised by a protection strip (4), made of steel or carbon or any other material provided it is flexible and resistant at the same time, approximately 1 mm thick, with dimensions and shapes suitable to the dimensions of the tyre and such to allow its insertion between the inner tube and the carcass of the tyre.

The invention restores the initial state of the punctured tyre allowing the vehicle to resume its journey without limitations in terms of performance and in complete safety. The tyre is provided with a common metal rim (1), an inner tube (2) and said protection strip (4). The rim is of the type already used on vehicles and on which a hole shall be made on the inner part in order to be able to accommodate the valve (6) of the inner tube (2) which is positioned, inside the rim, in the central cavity of the same, thus avoiding blocking the main valve. The inner tube (2) is covered by a protection strip (4) which thus prevents contact between the external object, which has caused the puncture, and the inner tube (2). The latter is inflated by the compressor (3). After the inflation of the inner tube (2) performed by the compressor (3), the protection strip (4) is pushed towards the external part of the carcass of the tyre, through an "expansion" movement which will allow making the external object harmless.

The only innovative component of the invention is the protection strip (4) which, as already mentioned, can be made of steel, carbon or any other material provided it is flexible and resistant at the same time. The strip must be finished according to the dimensions suitable for the tyre it is intended to protect (for example tyre 135 Rl 3 - 11 cm wide and 165 cm long strip). After cutting the strip, a double machining operation shall be performed on the same:

• Creation of a semi-circle shape;

• Winding the strip on itself for the entire length such to be accomodated within the rim.

The invention, like other known solutiosn, has the objective of eliminating the use of the spare tyre. However, it also aims at ensuring resumption of the journey in a completely safe manner, restoring the performance of the vehicle both in terms of speed and non-limited distance. In addition, the invention intends allowing reparation of the puncture upon reaching destination thus avoiding additional unscheduled stops and undue wastage of time.

Claims

C L A I M S

1) Tyre for motor-vehicles provided with a device adapted for preventing punctures, comprising a rim (1), an inner tube (2) with relative valve (6), an external carcass (5), provided with- at least one manual or automatic system for reinflating the same (3), and characterised by a protection strip (4), interposed between said inner tube and said external carcass which protects the inner tube against foreign bodies capable of causing a puncture of the same.

2) Tyre according to claim 1 , characterised in that said strip has a thickness such to allow its insertion between the inner tube and external carcass of the tyre.

3) Tyre according to claim 2, characterised in that the thickness of the strip can be of any dimension with a preferential value of 1 mm.

4) Tyre according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the material of which said strip is made of is steel, carbon or any other flexible and resistant material.

5) Tyre according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dimensions and the shape of said strip depend on those of the tyre, in such a manner that the strip can always be accommodated within the carcass of the tyre. 6) Tyre according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said system for inflating the tyre can be a portable compressor (3) to be connected to the cigar lighter socket or an airbag located in the internal part of the rim and connected to a pressure sensor.

7) Tyre for motor-vehicles provided with a device adapted to prevent punctures, according to any of the preceding claims characterised by the descriptions and illustrations in the attached drawing, whose entirety and whose components can also be of different shapes and dimensions.