WO2016039777A1

WO2016039777A1 - Semi-integrated sealing piece for tube-type tires

Info

Publication number: WO2016039777A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/055500
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cesar Enrique Zarak
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin; Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
Priority date: 2014-09-12
Filing date: 2014-09-12
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Also published as: CN106794707A; CN106794707B

Abstract

A vehicle tire assembly is provided along with a kit for installing or repairing a vehicle.

Description

SEMI-INTEGRATED SEALING PIECE FOR TUBE-TYPE TIRES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed invention is generally directed to tube-type tires that are rendered sealed to a multi-piece wheel but repairable by improved accessibility to inner tire surfaces.

BACKGROUND

The use of tube-type tires necessitates the use of both a tube and a sealing piece (or "flap") for containment of air pressure when such tires are mounted on corresponding multi-piece wheels (e.g., two- or three-piece wheels) that do not include an air-tight sealing component. The addition of tubes and flaps, besides adding weight and cost to the tire, are prone to rapid deflation upon puncture as well as increased added rolling resistance and temperature during use. Therefore, numerous solutions to convert a tube-type tire to run as a tubeless tire have been attempted, although many such solutions are permanent, or they remain complicated and therefore expensve to manufacture and maintain. Since it is well understood that a tire may be punctured, it is desirable to operate a vehicle on tires that can be removed easily, repaired normally and re-mounted readily to provide the air seal.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary tubeless solution disclosed by co-owned European Patent No. 1345783 ("EP1345783"), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

EPl 345783 discloses a tubeless tire assembly including a tubeless tire P and a sealing piece E for mounting on an operating rim J (shown in broken lines). Sealing piece E, which is arranged between rim J and tire P, includes three parts. Each of a pair of lateral end pieces 50 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1 ) assumes a frustoconical crown arranged, integrally, between a bead seat 42 and a rim seat 440. Between the lateral end pieces, there is a central part 51 that may have a thickness greater than that of the lateral parts. Central part 51 may have an orifice provided therein (not shown) to accommodate insertion of a standard valve. A groove 52 may be positioned substantially between central part 51 and one of lateral parts 51 to permit accurate positioning and easy cutting of sealing piece E without causing damage to the beads. Sealing piece E is therefore configured such that central part 51 is placed axially between both the beads and the lateral pieces. Thus, when the assembly is dismounted and the inner tire surface is examined, central part 51 is separated from lateral parts 50 by using an appropriate cutting tool, and lateral parts 50 remain on the tire after cutting. After cutting and removal of the part between the beads, a regular tube and sealing piece is still needed to re-inflate the tire.

A tube-to-tubeless solution is therefore demanded that enables dismount of the assembly and repair of the tire, particularly in regions of use where the tire is subjected to challenging road conditions (e.g., undulating terrain, emerging road infrastructure, etc.) that may incur tire damage. For such uses, additional accessibility may be demanded that ensures repeatable and ready re-mounting and re-inflation of repaired tubeless tires. Such repeatability should remain reliable and cost-effective, not needing the addition of a tube and/or flap.

SUMMARY

The presently disclosed invention provides a vehicle tire assembly having a wheel rim having opposed flanges with corresponding flange recesses defined therein. The assembly also includes a tubeless tire mountable in the wheel rim having opposed flanges, the tire having a sidewall and beads having corresponding seats receivable by the flange recesses. The tire has an inner tire surface. A sealing piece is disposed between the wheel rim and the bead seats, with the sealing piece having opposed extents delineating a predetermined length, an outer surface and an inner surface definining a predetermined thickness therebetween. The outer surface of the sealing piece is positionable adjacent the wheel rim when the tire is assembled, with the wheel rim and the inner surface of the sealing piece engaging at least a portion of the bead seats such that the sealing piece traverses from bead-to-bead and provides an effective air seal when assembly of the tire and the wheel rim is effected. A selected opposed extent of the sealing piece may be affixed to the tire along at least a portion of at least one bead seat so as to be integral therewith and a non-selected opposed extent of the sealing piece is positioned proximate a corresponding flange recess for engagement with an external bead wall.

In some embodiments of the presently disclosed assembly, at least a portion of the inner surface of the sealing piece engages at least a portion of at least one bead seat and at least a portion of the outer surface of the sealing piece engages at least a portion of at least one flange recess. In some embodiments, the selected opposed extent may be permanently secured to the tire by engagement thereof with at least one of a corresponding bead seat, at least a portion of a corresponding external bead wall and at least a portion of the inner tire surface. In some embodiments, the non-selected opposed extent may be removably secured to the tire upon inflation thereof.

The presently disclosed invention also provides a kit for tire installation or repair. The presently disclosed kit may include one or more vehicle tire assemblies as presently disclosed. In some kit embodiments, the sealing piece may be selected from a plurality of sealing pieces having a plurality of predetermined lengths and a plurality of predetermined thicknesses; the wheel rim may be selected from a plurality of wheel rims of various sizes; and the tire may be selected from a plurality of tire of various tire types and sizes. In some embodiments, one or more kits may include a plurality of pre-assembled vehicle tire assemblies as disclosed herein.

Other aspects of the presently disclosed invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and various advantages of the presently disclosed invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial-section through a prior art assembly formed by a tire, a sealing piece and a rim.

FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of an exemplary tire assembly employing a sealing piece as presently disclosed.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another exemplary tire assembly employing a sealing piece as presently disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the presently disclosed invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation and not by limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with one or more other embodiments to yield at least one further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Now referring to the figures, wherein like numbers represent like elements, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary tire assembly 100 wherein a tubeless tire 102 is mounted in a wheel rim 104 having opposed flanges 106, 108. Tire 102 includes a sidewall 110 and beads 112, 114 having corresponding bead seats 112a, 114a seated within flange recesses 106a, 108a. It is understood that a road or ground contacting portion of tire 102 includes at least a portion of a tire tread (not shown). An inner tire surface 116 is formed of a layer of rubber mix impermeable to inflation gases, which rubber mix may also form at least a portion of each bead seat 112a, 114a.

A sealing piece is provided in the form of a retractable sealing piece 120 disposed between rim 104 and bead seats 112a, 114a such that sealing piece 120 traverses from bead-to- bead. Sealing piece 120 includes opposed extents 120a, 120b delineating a predetermined sealing piece length, which length may be selected from a plurality of sealing piece lengths in concert with an amenable tire size. A sealing piece outer surface 122 and a sealing piece inner surface 124 define a predetermined sealing piece thickness t₁₂₀ therebetween, which thickness may be uniform along the predetrmined length or which thickness may vary along one or more portions thereof (as further discussed herein). In some embodiments, sealing piece thickness t₁₂₀ may be at or about 3mm in the vicinity of sealing piece extents 120a, 120b. In other embodiments, sealing piece thickness t₁₂₀ may be less than about 3mm in the vicinity of sealing piece extents 120a, 120b. In such embodiments, a corresponding amount of material may be optionally removed from bead seats 112a, 114a.

Sealing piece outer surface 122 is positionable adjacent a wheel rim support surface 104a, including flange recesses 106a, 108a, when tire 102 is assembled with rim 104. Sealing piece inner surface 124 contacts at least a portion of bead seats 112a, 114a such that a central sealing piece portion 126 provides an effective air seal when assembly of the tire and rim is effected. Sealing piece 120 may be fabricated from one or more amenable materials, including but not limited to EPDM, butyl and one or more rubber mixes selected on the basis of the performance needs of the tire and the associated fiscal costs of manufacture, purchase and maintenance. At least a portion of sealing piece inner surface 124 along sealing piece extents 120a, 120b contacts a corresponding bead seat 112a, 114a. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, a sealing piece extent 120a may be permanently attached to tire 102 along at least a portion of bead seat 112a so as to be integral therewith (although it is understood that such attachment may be effected along at least a portion of either bead seat). Attachment of sealing piece 120 with tire 102 may be effected by engagement of sealing piece extent 120a with one or more of bead seat 112a, at least a portion of an external bead wall 130 and at least a portion of inner tire surface 116. Permanent attachment may be effected by a full or partial cure. Attachment may be alternatively effected by use of a glue or epoxy along at least one of bead seats 112a, 114a and a corresponding sealing piece extent 120a, 120b. It is understood that other equivalent and complementary attachment means may be employed that are amenable to successful practice of the presently disclosed invention.

Opposed sealing piece extent 120b is desirably positioned so that a free extent 120b' thereof extends along a corresponding flange recess 108a for engagement with an external bead wall 130'. Opposed sealing piece extent 120b is not permanently secured to tire 102 yet is subject to pressure upon inflation thereof. Such inflation imparts pressure upon each bead 112, 114 such that each bead exerts a force upon corresponding portions of rim 104 engaged thereby (see arrows A of FIG. 2). As bead 114 presses opposed sealing piece extent 120b against flange 108a to produce an effective air seal, opposed sealing piece extent 120b remains removably attached so that inner tire surface 116 may be easily accessed for repairs. The sealing piece is thereafter readily re-attached to its corresponding bead, allowing re-mounting and re-inflation. Such configuration avoids production of an assembly wherein the tire lacks any contact with the wheel under the bead seat, and further ameliorates associated uniformity problems as well as slip between the tire and the rim. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments of the presently disclosed invention, both sealing piece extents remain removably attached (e.g., sealing piece extent 120a may not be permanently attached to tire 102 and may remain detachable in a manner similar to that effected at opposed sealing extent 120b).

An exemplary assembly 200 of a tire and a semi-integral sealing piece as disclosed herein is shown in FIG. 3. A sealing piece such as presently disclosed sealing piece 120 is disposed in an exemplary 10.00R20 tire 202 and thereafter mounted in a wheel 204 (although it is understood that the disclosures herein are amenable for use with a plurality of tire types and sizes for use on a variety of terrains). A slot 205 is optionally provided for integration of a standard air valve 207. Tire 202 may be inflated initially to about 20 psi to seat the beads such that sealing piece 120 engages the wheel flange, with an operational tire pressure of about 120 psi realized thereafter. In use, assembly 200 is readily mounted upon initial installation on a vehicle and readily re-mounted after a repair has been made. When such repair may be required (e.g., due to puncture or the like), tire 202 is removed from wheel 204 (and a rim thereof) and a sealing piece extent is simply retracted from an external bead wall to reveal an inner surface of tire 202. An opposed sealing piece extent remains integral with tire 202 as presently described herein, thereby preventing loss of the sealing piece. After repair is completed, the retractable sealing piece extent is replaced between the bead external wall and a corresponding flange recess. Tire 202 is re-inflated thereafter.

EXAMPLE

An exemplary assembly such as that shown in FIG. 3 was run with the integrated bead seal at 60 Kph, 3075 Kg and 8 bar inflation pressure for one week (10,080 Km). No failures were observed. In this configuration, the assembly is readily used with existing rims for both tube- type and tubeless tires.

The presently disclosed sealing piece is amenable for inclusion in one or more kits for installation or repair of a selected tire. Such kits may be provided with one or more assemblies as presently disclosed, which assemblies may be preassembled. Such kits may include one or more of at least one sealing piece selected from a plurality of sealing pieces having a plurality of predetermined lengths and a plurality of predetermined thicknesses; a wheel rim selected from a plurality of wheel rims of various sizes; and a tire selected from a plurality of tire of various tire types and sizes. In such configuration, a plurality of assemblies is rendered available for installation and operation, thereby enabling customization of the assemblies as needed.

The presently disclosed invention augments tubeless tire solutions by incorporating a low-cost sealing piece in the form of a retractable sealing piece that traverses from bead-to-bead to provide an effective air seal. Such performance is achieved by obviating expensive materials and wheel modifications while preserving the tire's intended function. It is understood that the present disclosures may be utilized in association with heavy duty truck or trailer tires and any other tire type, including but not limited to light truck, off -road, ATV, agricultural, bicycle, commercial, motorcycle and passenger vehicle tires.

Selected combinations of aspects of the disclosed technology correspond to a plurality of different embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that each of the exemplary embodiments presented and discussed herein should not insinuate limitations of the present subject matter. Features or steps illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in combination with aspects of another embodiment to yield yet further embodiments.

Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not expressly mentioned which perform the same or similar function.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm." Also, the dimensions and values disclosed herein are not limited to a specified unit of measurement. For example, dimensions expressed in English units are understood to include equivalent dimensions in metric and other units (e.g., a dimension disclosed as "1 inch" is intended to mean an equivalent dimension of "2.5 cm").

As used herein, the term "method" or "process" refers to one or more steps that may be performed in other ordering than shown without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed invention. As used herein, the term "method" or "process" may include one or more steps performed at least by one electronic or computer-based apparatus. Any sequence of steps is exemplary and is not intended to limit methods described herein to any particular sequence, nor is it intended to preclude adding steps, omitting steps, repeating steps, or performing steps simultaneously. As used herein, the term "method" or "process" may include one or more steps performed at least by one electronic or computer-based apparatus having a processor for executing instructions that carry out the steps.

The terms "a," "an," and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The terms "at least one" and "one or more" are used interchangeably. Ranges that are described as being "between a and b" are inclusive of the values for "a" and "b."

Every document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent or application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the disclosed apparatus have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes, additions and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, no limitation should be imposed on the scope of the presently disclosed invention, except as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A vehicle tire assembly, comprising:

a wheel rim having opposed flanges with corresponding flange recesses defined therein;

a tubeless tire mountable in the wheel rim having opposed flanges, the tire having a sidewall and beads having corresponding seats receivable by the flange recesses, and the tire further having an inner tire surface;

a sealing piece disposed between the wheel rim and the bead seats, with the sealing piece having opposed extents delineating a predetermined length, an outer surface and an inner surface definining a predetermined thickness therebetween, with the outer surface being positionable adjacent the wheel rim when the tire is assembled, with the wheel rim and the inner surface of the sealing piece engaging at least a portion of the bead seats such that the sealing piece traverses from bead-to-bead and provides an effective air seal when assembly of the tire and the wheel rim is effected;

wherein a selected opposed extent of the sealing piece is affixed to the tire along at least a portion of at least one bead seat so as to be integral therewith and a non-selected opposed extent of the sealing piece is positioned proximate a corresponding flange recess for engagement with an external bead wall.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the sealing piece engages at least a portion of at least one bead seat and at least a portion of the outer surface of the sealing piece engages at least a portion of at least one flange recess.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

the selected opposed extent is permanently secured to the tire by engagement thereof with at least one of a corresponding bead seat, at least a portion of a corresponding external bead wall and at least a portion of the inner tire surface; and

the non-selected opposed extent is removably secured to the tire upon inflation thereof.

4. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein securement of the selected opposed extent is effected by one of full or partial vulcanization, one or more epoxies and any equivalent and complementary means and combination thereof.

5. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing piece is selected from a plurality of sealing pieces having a plurality of predetermined lengths and a plurality of predetermined thicknesses.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein a predetermined thickness is selected from:

one or more predetermined thicknesses that are uniform along the predetrmined length of the sealing piece; and

one or more predetermined thicknesses that vary along at least a portion of the predetrmined length of the sealing piece.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the predetermined thickness is at or about 3mm along at least a portion of at least one opposed extent

8. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing piece is fabricated from at least one of EPDM, Butyl and one or more rubber mixes.

9. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherien at least one of the inner tire surface and at least a portion of each bead seat is formed of a layer of rubber mix impermeable to inflation gases.

10. A kit for tire installation or repair, the kit comprising:

one or more vehicle tire assemblies according to claim 1.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein:

the sealing piece is selected from a plurality of sealing pieces having a plurality of predetermined lengths and a plurality of predetermined thicknesses;

the wheel rim is selected from a plurality of wheel rims of various sizes, and the tire is selected from a plurality of tire of various tire types and sizes.

12. The kit of claim 10 or claim 11, comprising a plurality of pre-assembled vehicle tire assemblies.