WO2016046201A1

WO2016046201A1 - Rolling assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2016046201A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/071719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertrand Daval
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin; Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
Priority date: 2014-09-24
Filing date: 2015-09-22
Publication date: 2016-03-31
Also published as: FR3026054A1; FR3026054B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rolling assembly comprising a tyre(P) having two beads (B), a rim (J) and at least one adapter (A), said adapter ensuring the coupling between one of the beads and the rim, said rim having two rim seats, said adapter having an axially inner end intended to be mounted on the seat (31) of the rim and comprising an inner reinforcement element (23), an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcement element (20), a body connecting said outer end to said inner end in such a way as to form a single part and comprising at least one main reinforcement ply (21). The body comprises an annular seat reinforcement, and the rim is made from a material selected from aluminium and/or magnesium alloys, carbon fibre-based composites, glass fibres, aramid fibres, plant fibres, or from a complex compound comprising an elastomer and a complex made from resin and fibres.

Description

ROLLING ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to a rolling assembly formed mainly of a tire, a rim and an adapter.

[0002] The definitions used in the present invention are as follows:

"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 it,

"Circumferential direction": direction perpendicular to a radius and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire,

"Radial section": section along a plane which contains the axis of rotation of the tire,

"Equatorial plane": plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the middle of the tread

In the concern of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of motor vehicles, manufacturers want to reduce the weight of these vehicles but also the rolling resistance of their tires. The reduction of this rolling resistance can be achieved by increasing the outer diameter of the tires and therefore that of the wheels.

But this causes an increase in the mass of the wheel and therefore that of the vehicle.

Also a known solution is to use lighter materials than steel to form the rim, such as aluminum alloys. But such rims, if they are lighter and have a more airy visual aspect facilitating the release of heat from the brakes, are not sufficiently resistant to shocks, such as potholes and / or sidewalks.

Indeed, shocks caused on such rolling elements may cause the breaking of one or more components of the rolling element (pneumatic and / or j ante).

Also the need remains to have a lighter rolling assembly that the wheel sets whose rim is steel, and which has a better impact resistance due to better protection of the tire, while maintaining a high level of tire handling performance, in particular its ability to develop significant drift.

The invention therefore relates to a roller assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising:

a tire having two beads, a narrow rim whose width is at most equal to 50% of the maximum axial width of the tire inflated to its operating pressure, two adapters each ensuring the junction between one of the beads and the rim; said rim having two rim seats, said adapters each having: - an axially inner end intended to be mounted on the seat of the rim and comprising an inner reinforcing member, an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcing member, a body connecting said outer end with said inner end so as to form a unitary piece and comprising at least one main reinforcing armature providing the connection between said outer reinforcement and said inner reinforcement,

a substantially cylindrical adapter seat intended to receive one of said beads, said seat being situated at the axially outer end of said body,

an adapter bearing face substantially comprised in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, said bearing face being situated on the axially inner face of the axially outer end, said adapters being constituted by reinforced rubber mixtures and elastically deformable at least in the radial and axial directions.

The adapter is characterized in that the rim is made of a material selected from alloys of aluminum and / or magnesium, composite materials based on carbon fibers, glass fibers, fiberglass and fiberglass. aramid, of plant fibers, said fibers being comprised in a matrix based on thermosetting compounds or thermoplastic compounds, or in a complex compound comprising an elastomer and a complex based on resin and fibers selected from carbon fibers, fibers of glass, aramid fibers, vegetable fibers or from any combination of materials.

The assembly of the invention has the advantage of being simple constitution and assembly. The adapter of the assembly according to the invention also makes it possible, by increasing the clamping under the beads of the tire, to prevent its rotation on the adapter in strong lateral stress.

Finally, the adapter of the assembly according to the invention has the advantage of significantly reducing the level of mechanical forces to the chassis during a shock, and thus to reduce the mass of the vehicle. By elastically deformable adapter is to be understood in the radial and axial directions, an adapter allowing, in the radial direction, a clearance between the bead of the tire and the mounting rim of at least 5% of the deflected tire deflection. at the recommended load and pressure, and in the axial direction, an approximation of the bead of the rim of a value equal to at least 15 mm at zero pressure, said deformations being canceled if the constraints or forces causing them are removed; .

[0013] Preferably, the fiber-based composite materials comprise fibers having a length greater than or equal to 5 mm. The matrix based on thermosetting compounds is preferably chosen from epoxy resins, vinylester, unsaturated polyesters, cyanate ester, bismaleimide, acrylic resins, phenolic resins, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.

The matrix based on thermoplastic compounds is preferably chosen from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamides (PA), semi-aromatic polyamides, polyester (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate ( PBT), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEK), polyethersulfone (PSU), polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polyoxymethylene (POM) , polyphenylene oxide (PPO).

The narrow rim may be of different kinds: it may be constituted, as known per se, two wheel seats axially extended externally by two rim flanges directed radially outwardly and joined axially to the inside by a mounting groove. The presence of a mounting groove may prove to be unnecessary; the two seats can then be axially and radially extended inward by two radial disks joined by bolts. The two seats can also be extended axially and radially by two radial annular disks, axially spaced and allowing the attachment of a plateau-clamp bead that can complete the rim and may possibly serve as a support support of the tread in the case of a tire rolling at low pressure or zero, said plate being circumferentially composed of several independent parts. The mounting rim may also be of the rim type radially inwards directed rims, as described and shown in the document FR 2, 610, 872, the beads of the tire being housed on the seats thrilling from the inside.

The adapter between a tire bead and the narrow mounting rim mainly consists of a bead ensuring the attachment of the adapter to the rim, a main reinforcing armature for deformation at least in the two radial and axial directions, and creating the actual connection between the bead and a metal adapter reinforcement for receiving the tire bead. The constitution of the bead of the adapter is a function of the fastening system of the mounting rim, but mainly comprises a circumferential anchoring ring that can be a simple ring of rubber mixture reinforced or not, a rod or a stack of circumferentially oriented reinforcing elements. Around said anchoring ring and by turning over, or between the reinforcement elements of the ring and by clamping, is anchored the reinforcing reinforcement of the adapter. Said armature may be formed of the same constituents as those used for a known tire carcass reinforcement, that is to say formed of one or more plies of radial reinforcing elements or crossed from one ply to the next. making with the circumferential direction of the tire a given angle. Said reinforcing elements may be textile and / or metal and / or plastic, in the form of monofilaments and / or cables and / or blades.

The reinforcing armature of the adapter is joined to a metal adapter reinforcement. The term "adapter metal reinforcement" means an assembly formed of at least one rim seat, said seat possibly being extended axially to the outside by a rim flange, said rim being able to have a low height and a usual shape, particular curved at its end. The reinforcement adapter is embedded in a rubber mixture, and the edge of the reinforcing reinforcement of the adapter is anchored to said reinforcement either by superimposing radially on the outside, or by winding around the rim if it exists, the bead tire fitting to mount on said reinforcing armature of the adapter.

Preferably, the rolling assembly according to the invention comprises a first and a second adapter each having a body of different or identical length.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the examples and figures which follow and which are given by way of illustration, and in which: - Figure 1 shows schematically and in meridian section a first variant of the assembly according to the invention, Figure 2 schematically and in meridian section a second variant of the assembly according to the invention, Figure 3 shows schematically, seen in meridian section, a third variant of the assembly according to the invention, Figure 4 shows schematically, seen in meridian section, a fourth variant of the assembly of the invention.

FIG. 1 represents a rolling assembly which comprises a tire P (partially shown), an adapter A and a rim J. The design tire, itself unchanged in the invention, is formed of a tire strip. reinforced bearing by a crown reinforcement joined to two beads B on either side of an equatorial plane XX 'through two sidewalls 13. A carcass reinforcement 10 mainly reinforcing the sidewalls 13 is anchored in each bead B at least one rod, here of "braided" type 11 to form turn-ups 12, separated from the main carcass reinforcement part by quasi-triangular shaped profiles 15. It is important to note that the invention can be implemented with many types of tires, whether radial or diagonal carcass, or even with self-bearing sidewall type tires.

The aluminum rim J according to the invention comprises a groove 30, said assembly, and joining on both sides of the equatorial plane, two rim seats 31 whose frustoconical generatrices are with the axis of rotation a 5 ° angle, said seats being axially outward extended by rim flanges 32 whose radially outer edges are curved.

The particularity of the rim J is its axial width "1", said width being equal, in the case studied, to 45mm, and much less than 50% of the maximum axial width of the tire mounted and inflated to its recommended pressure .

Between the rim J and the bead B of the tire, is arranged an adapter A consisting mainly of an outer reinforcing element 20, joined to an axially inner end of the adapter 22 by a reinforcing reinforcement 21. The reinforcement 20 metal in the present example, but which could be of plastic material or of composite material, such as a resin reinforced by fibers of any kind, has a compression module equal to or substantially equal to its extension module. It is formed of an adapter seat 201 inclined with respect to the axis of rotation at an angle of 5 °, and extended axially and radially outwardly by a flange 202, the dimensions of said elements being normalized that this the height of the flange 202 or the axial width of the seat 201.

The walls of the reinforcement 20 are treated, for example brassed in the studied case of metal reinforcement, to allow proper adhesion with the rubber mixtures used in the main reinforcing armature 21 and with any additional reinforcement of the adapter A. The main frame 21 is formed of a sheet of polyamide aromatic textile cables, parallel to each other in the sheet and radial. Said sheet is, on the one hand, contiguous axially inside and radially on the outside to the walls of the metal reinforcement 20, and on the other hand, anchored in each axially inner adapter end 22 to an annular bead reinforcing element 23, such as a bead wire, to form a turn-up 24.

The main reinforcement 21 is completed by additional reinforcements: in the axially inner end 22, axially outside the main portion of the reinforcing ply 21 and its upturn 24, is disposed a first ply 26 bead reinforcement, formed of an aliphatic polyamide fabric formed of reinforcing elements, parallel to each other in each layer of fabric and crossed between them; on the side of the reinforcement 20 is disposed an additional reinforcement 25 formed of a fabric identical to the previous one formed of two layers of textile elements made of aliphatic polyamide, parallel to each other in each ply and crossed from one layer to the next, making with the circumferential direction at an angle of 45 °, said armature 25 partially covering the axially inner wall and then the upper end and the axially outer wall of the flange 202 and finally the radially inner wall of the seat 201 to have an edge attached to the main reinforcing ply 21, the edge whose end is distant from the equatorial plane by an amount less than the distance separating from said plane the axially inner end of the seat 201. The adapter A is completed, on the one hand, by a layer 27 of mixture a rubbery protective covering on the outside of the reinforcement 20, the radially inner face of the adapter and providing the connection with the hook of the mounting rim J surrounding the frames 21 and 26, and secondly, on its radially inner face intended to be in contact with the inflation gas of the assembly, by an inner layer 28 of mixture impervious to said gas.

The assembly shown in Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 by the following points: - The tire P has beads whose seats are inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the assembly of a angle equal to 20 °, and reinforced by rods of rectangular wire type; The mounting rim J has a mounting groove 30 facing the inside of the assembly, rim seats 31 inclined relative to the axis of rotation by an angle of 15 °, said seats 31 being extended axially to the outside and radially inwards by rim flanges 32 with curved edges, said rim receiving the axially inner ends of the adapter from the inside, and

The adapter consists of: a metal outer reinforcement 20, formed of a seat 201 inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the assembly, an angle equal to 15 ° and extended axially and radially to the outside by a flange 202, the other dimensions of said elements being normalized whether it is the height of the flange 202 or the axial width of the seat 201, o A main reinforcing armature 21 formed of two plies of textile cables 21 'and 21 "in polyester, parallel to each other in each of the plies but crossed from one ply 21 'to the next 21" making with the circumferential direction of the assembly an angle of 45 °, said plies being as previously on the one hand contiguous axially on the inside and radially on the outside of the pre-treated walls of the outer reinforcement 20, and on the other hand anchored in each axially inner end 22 of the adapter to an annular element 23 for reinforcing the end e axially inner, such as a rod, to form reversals 24 'and 24 "whose ends are axially offset relative to each other, o An additional reinforcement completing the main frame 21: the side outer reinforcement 20 is provided with an additional reinforcement 25 formed of the same fabric as previously of textile elements, said reinforcement 25 partially covering the axially inner wall and then the upper end and the axially outer wall of the flange 202 and finally partially the radially inner wall of the seat 201 to have an edge attached to the main reinforcing ply 21, whose end is distant from the equatorial plane by an amount less than the distance between said plane and the axially inner end of the seat 201, the adapter A is also completed, firstly by the layers of protective rubber mix 27, and secondly on its radially inner face by the inner layer 28 of impermeable mixture to said gas.

The assembly of Figure 3 differs from the assembly of Figure 1 by the constitution of the axially inner end 22 of the adapter A and the constitution of the attachment system of the axially inner end on the mounting rim J. The said system is indeed composed of two elements: the actual rim J and a bead clamp S. The rim J is formed of two usual flanges 32, radially extended inside and axially to the rim. interior by two 31-flat rim seats, themselves extended radially inwardly by two radial annular discs 33 having between them a certain axial spacing. In said spacing are housed the radially movable discs 41 of at least three parts 42 which, joined circumferentially, form the plateau of the bead clamp S, the axial width of the plate is sufficient to allow the clamping and jamming of the beads on the Rim seats 31. The plate 42 may also advantageously serve to support the tire tread of the assembly when said tire rolls at low pressure or even zero. As for the constitution of the axially inner end of adapter A, it is adapted with respect to its composition and shape to the attachment principle described above; in particular it is advantageous for the reinforcing ply 21 of the adapter to be anchored by winding around a rubber ring 23 with a high compression modulus but extending in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, on the side of the external adapter reinforcement 20 is provided an additional reinforcement 25 formed of a fabric identical to the former formed of two layers of aliphatic polyamide elements, parallel to each other in each sheet and crossed from one layer to the next in making with the circumferential direction an angle of 45 °, said frame 25 partially covering the axially inner wall and then the upper end then partially the axially outer wall of the flange 202 to have an end located at a radial distance approximately equal to the distance between said axis and the middle of said flange.

Figure 4 shows a last embodiment. The tire P is identical to that shown and used in the assembly according to Figure 2. The mounting rim J is a so-called multi-piece rim of which at least two parts are movable. Such a rim is the same type as the rims used for the assembly of certain tires "heavyweight" and "civil engineering". Said rim is mainly composed of a rim bottom 300 which can be flat, said rim bottom being extended on one side of the rim by a conical seat itself extended by a circle or rim flange, seat and flange being said fixed side (not shown). On the axially opposite side, a single movable piece 31, formed of a flange 302 and a conical ring 301, can be threaded onto the bottom of the rim after the bead 22 of the adapter A has itself been brought onto the background is crazy.

An O-ring 304, to seal the assembly, and a locking ring 303 to lock the assembly on the rim bottom, complete the piece 31. It is obvious that any axially inner end 22 of whatever it may be, can be mounted on such a rim. The example described relates to a preferred embodiment where the radial carcass reinforcement 21 of the adapter A, composed of a sheet of radial textile cords, and its upturn 24 are sandwiched between the frustoconical seat of the mobile ring 301. rim and a reinforcement ring 33 having a radially inner face itself frustoconical, the generatrix of said face forming with the axis of rotation the same angle as that made by the generatrix of the seat of the movable conical ring of the workpiece 31. The overturning 24 of carcass reinforcement 21 is obtained by winding said reinforcement around a circumferential ring 23 having a small cross-sectional area and a small diameter. resistance to tension, said ring 23 being used only to complete the locking of the carcass reinforcement between the two frustoconical surfaces of the ring 33 and the seat of the conical ring 301.

It is possible, particularly in the case of the use of such a rim, to connect the two left and right adapters by a rubber compound element simply vulcanized and / or reinforced while remaining elastic.

Example: Tests on sidewalk impact

This test consists of mounting a set mounted on a sidewalk at an angle of attack of 30 °. The choice of this angle is based on the fact that it constitutes a very penalizing stress for a tire. The test is carried out with two different sidewalk heights (90mm and 110mm). The test proceeds as follows. Several passages of the wheel are made at different speeds until the tire is punctured. The starting speed is 20km / h, then we increment the speed of 5km / h at each new passage.

A conventional set without adapter and with a conventional steel rim (control 1) is compared to an assembly provided with an adapter according to WO00 / 78565 (control 2), and to an assembly provided with an adapter and a composite rim according to the invention (invention). These sets are all of size 205 / 55R16 including a 6.5J16 rim. The results are collated in the following Table I and are given as a percentage:

Witness 1 Witness 2 Invention

Percentage of the 100> 150> 150 puncture speed

compared to the witness - sidewalk height

90mm

Level of effort of 100 50 40

vertical reach (Fz)

revived at the speed of

puncture

Condition of the tire-tire assembly -Pneu and wheel intact Tire, adapter and mounted following the wheel impact intact

- wheel including -Adapter

distorted marks

plastically

Table I

Results greater than 100 show improved behavior in the event of a side impact.

The test carried out on the sidewalk height of 90 mm results in the puncture of the control tire at a speed of 30 km / h, whereas the assembly according to the invention undergoes no damage at this same speed, even at a speed of 50 km. / h.

The test performed on the sidewalk height of 110mm results in the puncture of the control tire at a speed of 20km / h, while the assembly according to the invention undergoes no damage at this same speed, even at a speed of 50km. / h.

Claims

A rolling assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising:

a tire having two beads J, a narrow rim whose width is at most equal to 50% of the maximum axial width of the tire inflated to its operating pressure, two adapters each ensuring the junction between one of the beads and the rim said rim having two rim seats (31), said adapters each having: an axially inner end (22) to be mounted on the rim seat (31) and comprising an inner reinforcing member (23), an axially end outer member comprising an outer reinforcing member (20), said outer reinforcing member comprising a seat and a flange (202), a body connecting said outer end with said inner end (22) so as to form a unitary piece and comprising at least a main reinforcing armature providing the connection between said outer reinforcement (20) and said inner reinforcement (23),

a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (201) intended to receive one of said beads J, said seat being situated at the axially outer end of said body, an adapter support face (202) substantially comprised in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, said bearing face (202) being located on the axially inner face of the axially outer end, said adapters being consisting of rubber compounds reinforced and elastically deformable at least in both radial and axial directions, characterized in that the rim J is made of a material selected from aluminum alloys and / or magnesium, composite materials based on fibers of carbon, glass fibers, aramid fibers, vegetable fibers, said fibers being included in a matrix based on thermosetting compounds or thermoplastic compounds, or in a complex compound comprising an elastomer and a resin-based complex and fibers selected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, vegetable fibers, or from any combination of materials.

2 - rolling assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the composite materials based on fibers comprise fibers having a length greater than or equal to 5mm.

3 - rolling assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix based on thermosetting compounds is selected from epoxy resins, vinylester, unsaturated polyesters, cyanate ester, bismaleimide, acrylic resins, phenolic resins, polyurethanes and their combination.

4 - rolling assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix based on thermoplastic compounds is chosen from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamides (PA), semi-aromatic polyamides, polyester ( PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyethersulfone (PSU), polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyphenylenesulfide ( PPS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene oxide (PPO).