WO2020194513A1

WO2020194513A1 - A rolling assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2020194513A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/012896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenji Fukuda
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
Priority date: 2019-03-26
Filing date: 2019-03-26
Publication date: 2020-10-01

Abstract

Present invention provides a rolling assembly comprising a rim having two rim seats being axially outwardly extended by rim flanges, two adapters and a tire having two beads, each the adapter providing the connection between one of the beads and the rim, the adapter comprising an axially inner end that is adapted to be mounted on one of the rim seats, the rolling assembly creating an inner cavity surrounded by the rim, the tire and the adapters, the two adapters are connected via at least one ply in the inner cavity at a connecting point on each the two adapters, the at least one ply comprising a plurality of cords extending substantially parallel from one another, the rolling assembly creates a second inner cavity in the inner cavity surrounded by the rim, the two adapters and the at least one ply, in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, a distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is at least equal to 35mm longer than a distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation.

Description

A ROLLING ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a rim for a vehicle including a seat for receiving a tire bead is radially floating. The invention relates in particular systems containing flexible adapter inserted between a tire bead and a rim.

A tire, a rim, an adapter, referred to in the present invention, objects are usually described by a representation in a meridian plane, that is to say a plane containing a rotation axis (an axis of rotation) of the tire. All these products (a tire, a rim and an adapter) are objects having geometry of revolution relative to their rotation axis.

A tire currently used these days mainly comprises a tread intended to provide contact with ground, this tread generally being reinforced by a crown reinforcement which is positioned radially inward of the tread. The crown reinforcement is able to give the crown the rigidities, in the three dimensions, which needs for the running of the tire. The crown reinforcement also limits the radial expansion of a carcass reinforcement, generally made up of one or more plies of radial reinforcing elements. When the tire is mounted so as to become functional, it contains an inflation gas, inflated to a nominal pressure. The carcass reinforcement, during the use of the tire within reasonable limits, deforms both statically and when running. The carcass reinforcement is generally anchored in each bead to a reinforcing ring. The beads provide contact with the seat and flange of the rim on which the tire is mounted.

Transmission of mechanical load between the tire and the rim, which load is the result of the inflation, compression and running of the tire, and sealing of this tire are provided by the distribution and the magnitude of the forces of contact between the bead and the rim seats and rim flanges. Good tire behavior both from the standpoint of endurance and from the standpoint of the properties conferred on the vehicle equipped with it, and a good mounting rim quality/price ratio have led to the adoption of a ratio of rim width to maximum axial tire width of around 0.7. It is known that this ratio is merely a compromise and that a certain number of tire properties, for example road holding are improved by the use of a rim allowing a higher ratio; conversely, other properties can be improved, of course at the expense of the former properties, by mounting on a narrow rim, namely by having a ratio, as defined hereinabove, of around 0.40 or less.

WO00/078565A1 discloses a rolling assembly having an elastic adapter inserted between a rim and beads of a tire. This adapter is elastically deformable in the radial and axial directions. Such an adapter makes it possible to separate that part of the rolling assembly that can be considered to actually act as a tire from that part of the rolling assembly that can be considered to act as a rim.

WO2015/091620A1 discloses an adapter for a rolling assembly comprising a tire and a rim, the adapter providing a connection between the rim and a bead of the tire, the adapter comprising an axially inner end comprising an inner reinforcer element, an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcer element, a body connecting the outer end and the inner end as to form a single piece and comprising at least one main reinforcement for reducing level of mechanical forces towards chassis in an event of an impact while maintaining a very good ability to withstand curb impact.

WO2017/191417A1 discloses an adapter for a rolling assembly comprising a tire and a rim, the adapter providing a connection between the rim and a bead of the tire, the adapter having a smaller gap in diameter between an axially inner end and an axially outer end of the adapter for better productivity of the adapter.

These solutions improve interior noise performance by shifting tire vibration mode frequency lower. However with these solutions steering improvement is not yet satisfactory while maintaining, even improving interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

An as yet unpublished patent applications JP2018-222839 and JP2018-222840 disclose an adapter for a rolling assembly comprising a tire and a rim, the adapter providing a connection between the rim and a bead of the tire, two adapters being connected via solid material or a ply in an inner cavity for improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

However with the solutions described in these documents, it is difficult to mount a tire onto the adapters due to a mean connecting the adapters. Moreover with such the solutions, there is no flexibility of the adapters connected via the mean connecting the adapters in relation with a rim width; a set of adapters connected via the mean connecting the adapters matches to only one size of the rim.

WO00/078565 WO2015/091620 WO2017/191417

Therefore, there is a need for a rolling assembly which improves ability to mount a tire onto adapters and flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width, while still improving steering of a vehicle simultaneously with satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

Definitions:

A “radial direction/orientation” is a direction/orientation perpendicular to rotation axis of the tire. This direction/orientation corresponds to thickness orientation of the tread.

An “axial direction/orientation” is a direction/orientation parallel to rotation axis of the tire.

A “circumferential direction/orientation” is a direction/orientation which is tangential to any circle centered on rotation axis. This direction/orientation is perpendicular to both the axial direction/orientation and the radial direction/orientation.

An “inflation state” is a state in which a rolling assembly is inflated to its nominal pressure corresponding to a tire dimension in the rolling assembly as defined in tire standards such as ETRTO, JATMA or TRA.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a rolling assembly comprising a tire, a rim and two adapters, such the rolling assembly can provide improvement on steering of a vehicle simultaneously with satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

The present invention provides a rolling assembly having a rotation axis and comprising a rim having two rim seats being axially outwardly extended by rim flanges, two adapters and a tire having two beads, each the adapter providing the connection between one of the beads and the rim, the adapter comprising an axially inner end that is adapted to be mounted on one of the rim seats, an axially outer end that is adapted to receive one of the beads and an adapter body connecting the axially inner end and the axially outer end as to form a single piece, the rolling assembly creating an inner cavity surrounded by the rim, the tire and the adapters, the two adapters are connected via at least one ply in the inner cavity at a connecting point on each the two adapters, the at least one ply comprising a plurality of cords extending substantially parallel from one another, the rolling assembly creates a second inner cavity in the inner cavity surrounded by the rim, the two adapters and the at least one ply, in a sectional view on a plane containing an rotation axis, a distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is at least equal to 35mm longer than a distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation.

This arrangement provides improvement on mounting ability of a tire onto adapters and flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width, simultaneously with improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

Since the adapter providing the connection between one of the beads and the rim, the adapter can deform at least in radial and in axial directions, thus it is possible to improve comfort and ability to withstand curb impact. The adapter also makes it possible to improve interior noise performance by shifting vibration mode frequency lower.

Since the two adapters are connected via at least one ply in the inner cavity at the connecting point on each the two adapters, the ply limits anti-phase flexibility between two adapters when the rolling assembly in particular the tire is twisted by steering input while securing in-phase flexibility of the adapters, it is possible to improve steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the at least one ply is in the inner cavity, the ply would not interfere with any objects inward of the rim for example brake systems or suspension arms.

Since the at least one ply comprising the plurality of cords extending substantially parallel from one another, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters connected via the ply as rigidity of the ply increases, resulting improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the rolling assembly creates the second inner cavity in the inner cavity surrounded by the rim, the two adapters and the at least one ply, such the second inner cavity may be able to act as an emergency security chamber when the inner cavity lost its internal pressure, thus safety of the rolling assembly can be increased.

Since the distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is at least equal to 35mm longer than the distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing an rotation axis, the at least one ply is able to deform sufficiently to radially inward orientation for securing a space required to mount the tire onto the adapters, thus mounting ability of the tire onto adapters is improved. Also at the same time, the two adapters connected via at least one ply becomes capable to be mounted on a rim having a width of at least plus/minus half an inch thanks to the longer distance of the ply, it is possible to increase flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width.

If the distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is less than 35mm longer compare with the distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, there is a risk that the rolling assembly cannot secure a space required to mount the tire onto the adapters, and also there is a risk that two adapters connected via at least one ply matches only one designated rim width. By setting the distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is at least equal to 35mm longer than the distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, it is possible to secure the space required to mount the tire onto the adapters for improving mounting ability of the tire onto adapters, and to increase flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width.

According to ETRTO Standards Manual 2019, a rim for passenger cars, LCVs and trailer should have minimum well depth of 17.3mm radially relative to a bead seat. Thus 35mm extra length of the at least one ply is minimum and is enough to secure the space for mounting a tire onto the adapters.

In another preferred embodiment, the distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity is at most equal to 30% longer than the distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation in the sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis.

If this distance is more than 30%, there is a risk that the at least one ply touches with the tire in the inner cavity during normal usage of the rolling assembly resulting degradation of rolling assembly’s endurance performance. By setting this distance between two connecting points along with the at least one ply facing to the second inner cavity at most equal to 30% longer than the distance between two connecting points along with axial orientation in the sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, it is possible to improve mounting ability of a tire onto adapters and flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width, simultaneously with improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact, without degrading rolling assembly’s endurance performance.

In another preferred embodiment, the inner cavity and the second inner cavity communicate each other through at least one valve provided with the at least one ply.

According to this arrangement, it is possible to inflate the rolling assembly easily without having different valves and valve holes for the inner cavity and for the second inner cavity.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one valve is a valve capable to setup different pressure between the inner cavity and the second inner cavity.

According to this arrangement, it is possible to increase safety of the rolling assembly as the second inner cavity can act as a regulator when slow decrease of an inflation pressure at inner cavity occurs by setting higher inflation pressure for the second inner cavity than that of the inner cavity.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one ply is at least one pair of plies, and the plurality of cords of each the ply of the at least one pair of plies extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one ply to another ply.

According to this arrangement, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters connected via the ply without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

In another preferred embodiment, the plurality of cords of each the ply of the at least one pair of plies extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one ply to another ply.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one ply comprises two sets of plurality of cords, and the plurality of cords extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one set of plurality of cords to another set of plurality of cords.

According to this arrangement, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters connected via the ply without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation thanks to smaller radial distance between two sets of plurality of cords, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

In another preferred embodiment, the plurality of cords extends different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one set of plurality of cords to another set of plurality of cords.

According to the arrangements described above, it is possible to provide improvement on mounting ability of the tire onto adapters and flexibility of adapters in relation with the rim width, simultaneously with improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention arise from the description made hereafter in reference to the annexed drawings which show, as nonrestrictive examples, the embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below referring to the drawings.

A rolling assembly 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to Figs 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1.

The rolling assembly 1 is a rolling assembly having a rotation axis XX’, and comprising a rim 2 having two rim seats 21 being axially outwardly extended by rim flanges 22, two adapters 3 and a tire 4 having two beads 41, each the adapter 3 providing the connection between one of the bead 41 and the rim 2. In this Fig. 1, the rolling assembly 1 is in an inflation state.

The adapter 3 comprising an axially inner end 31 that is adapted to be mounted on one of the rim seats 21, an axially outer end 32 that is adapted to receive one of the beads 41 and an adapter body 33 connecting the axially inner end 31 and the axially outer end 32 as to form a single piece.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rolling assembly 1 creating an inner cavity 11 surrounded by the rim 2, the tire 4 and the adapters 3. The two adapters 3 are connected via at least one ply 5 in the inner cavity 11 at a connecting point 34 on each the two adapters 3. The ply 5 is arranged as to along with radially outward of the adapters 3 for securing a tension of the ply 5.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rolling assembly 1 creates a second inner cavity 12 in the inner cavity 11 surrounded by the rim 2, the two adapters 3 and the at least one ply 5. In a sectional view on a plane containing an rotation axis, a distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 facing to the second inner cavity 12 is set at least equal to 35mm longer than a distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation. The distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 facing to the second inner cavity 12 is set also at most equal to 30% longer than the distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation in the sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ply 5 is fixed to the adapter body 33 of the adapter 3, and extending outwardly below the beads 41 of the tire 4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the ply 5 comprises two sets of plurality of cords 52, the plurality of cords 52 extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one set of plurality of cords to another set of plurality of cords. Within each the set of plurality of cords 52, the cords 52 are extending substantially parallel from one another. The plurality of cords 52 extends different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one set of plurality of cords 52 to another set of plurality of cords 52.

Since the adapter 3 providing the connection between one of the beads 41 and the rim 2, the adapter 3 can deform at least in radial and in axial directions, thus it is possible to improve comfort and ability to withstand curb impact. The adapter 3 also makes it possible to improve interior noise performance by shifting vibration mode frequency lower.

Since the two adapters 3 are connected via at least one ply 5 in the inner cavity 11 at the connecting point 34 on each the two adapters 3, the ply 5 limits anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 3 when the rolling assembly 1 in particular the tire 4 is twisted by steering input while securing in-phase flexibility of the adapters 3, it is possible to improve steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the at least one ply 5 is in the inner cavity 11, the ply 5 would not interfere with any objects inward of the rim 2 for example brake systems or suspension arms.

Since the at least one ply 5 comprising the plurality of cords 52 extending substantially parallel from one another, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 3 connected via the ply 5 as rigidity of the ply 5 increases, resulting improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the rolling assembly 1 creates the second inner cavity 12 in the inner cavity 11 surrounded by the rim 2, the two adapters 3 and the at least one ply 5, such the second inner cavity 12 may be able to act as an emergency security chamber when the inner cavity 11 lost its internal pressure, thus safety of the rolling assembly 1 can be increased.

Since the distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 facing to the second inner cavity 12 is at least equal to 35mm longer than the distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing an rotation axis, the at least one ply 5 is able to deform sufficiently to radially inward orientation for securing a space required to mount the tire 4 onto the adapters 3, thus mounting ability of the tire 4 onto adapters 3 is improved. Also at the same time, the two adapters 3 connected via at least one ply 5 becomes capable to be mounted on a rim 2 having a width of at least plus/minus half an inch thanks to the longer distance of the ply 5, it is possible to increase flexibility of adapters in relation with a rim width.

If the distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 facing to the second inner cavity 12 is less than 35mm longer compare with the distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, there is a risk that the rolling assembly 1 cannot secure a space required to mount the tire 4 onto the adapters 3, and also there is a risk that two adapters 3 connected via at least one ply 5 matches only one designated rim width. By setting the distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 facing to the second inner cavity 12 is at least equal to 35mm longer than the distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, it is possible to secure the space required to mount the tire 4 onto the adapters 3 for improving mounting ability of the tire 4 onto adapters 3, and to increase flexibility of adapters 3 in relation with a rim width.

Since the distance between two connecting points 34 along with the at least one ply 5 acing to the second inner cavity 12 is at most equal to 30% longer than the distance between two connecting points 34 along with axial orientation in the sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, it is possible to improve mounting ability of a tire 4 onto adapters 3 and flexibility of adapters 3 in relation with a rim width, simultaneously with improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining satisfactory interior noise performance and/or ability to withstand curb impact, without degrading rolling assembly’s endurance performance.

If this distance is more than 30%, there is a risk that the at least one ply 5 touches with the tire 4 in the inner cavity 11 during normal usage of the rolling assembly 1 resulting degradation of rolling assembly’s endurance performance.

Since the at least one ply 5 comprises two sets of plurality of cords 52 , and the plurality of cords 52 extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one set of plurality of cords 52 to another set of plurality of cords 52, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 3 connected via the ply 5 without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation thanks to smaller radial distance between two sets of plurality of cords 52, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the plurality of cords 52 extends different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one set of plurality of cords 52 to another set of plurality of cords 52, it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 3 connected via the ply 5 without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation thanks to smaller radial distance between two sets of plurality of cords 52, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Example of the ply 5 is, for example, thermoplastic material as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyamide, Kevlar (trademark), polycarbonate, poly-ether-ether-ketone, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoset material as epoxy, phenolic, polyester, ebonite, metal material as steel, brass, and composite material with reinforcements as carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, PET, nylon, vegetal fiber in a form of cord, cable, short fiber, wire, woven fabric or nonwoven fabric, folded into or laminated by other material as elastomeric material such as rubber. A structure of such cord, cable, short fiber, wire, woven fabric or nonwoven fabric may be monofilament, multifilament or multi-component filament.

Shearing modulus of the ply 5 is preferably more than or equal to 167 MPa.

The ply 5 may be fixed to the adapter 3 via any means such as an adhesive, a fastener, a hook. The ply 5 may be constructed as a single piece with the adapter 3 or with the adapters 3. In such the case the ply 5 may be covered by the same material constituting the adapter 3.

The rim 2 is preferably made of a material selected from steel or alloys of aluminum and/or magnesium, composite materials based on carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, plant fiber, the said fibers being contained within a matrix based on thermosetting or thermoplastic compounds, or from a complex composite comprising an elastomer and a complex based on resin and fibers selected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, plant fibers or any combinations of these materials.

The matrix based on thermosetting compounds is selected from epoxy resins, vinylester, unsaturated polyesters, ester cyanate, bismaleimide, acrylic resins, phenolic resins, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.

The matrix based on thermoplastic compounds is selected from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamides (PA), semiaromatic polyamides, polyester (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyethersulphone (PSU), polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide (P1), polyamidelmide (PAl), polyphenylenesulphide (PPS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene oxide (PPO).

The adapter 3 may be any kind being elastically deformable in the two, radial and axial, directions known to those skilled in the art. The adapter 3 may include an adapter bead (not shown) in the inner end 31 of the adapter 3 intended to catch the adapter 3 on top of the rim flange 22 of the rim 2, as being done conventionally by the bead 41 of the tire 4. The outer end 32 of the adapter 3 which accepts the bead 41 of the tire 4 in exactly the same way as the top of the rim flange 22 of the rim 2 conventionally does. The outer end 32 of the adapter 3 may also include an adapter bead (not shown), which may be the same or different with the adapter bead included in the inner end 31 of the adapter 3.

The adapter 3 may be made of elastomers such as rubbers that can be crosslinked by chemical vulcanization reactions by sulphur bridges, by carbon-carbon bonds created by the action of peroxides or of ionizing radiation, by other specific atom chains of the elastomer module, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) in which the elastically deformable part forms a network between rather non-deformable "hard" regions, the cohesion of which is the product of physical connections (crystallites or amorphous regions above their glass transition temperature), non-thermoplastic elastomers and thermoset resins. The adapter 3 may also include a plurality of reinforcement along the inner end 31, adapter body 33 and the outer end 32, which may be made of metal (for example steel) cords or textile cords (for example rayon, aramid, polyethylene, nylon, glass fiber, carbon fiber, basalt fiber, PEN or PVA).

A rolling assembly 61 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The construction of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment other than the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, thus description will be made referring to Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, two adapters 63 are connected via at least one ply 65 in an inner cavity 611, and the rolling assembly 61 creates a second inner cavity 612 in the inner cavity 611 surrounded by a rim 62, the two adapters 63 and the at least one ply 65.

As shown in Fig. 3, the two adapters 63 are connected via at least one ply 65 in the inner cavity 611 at a connecting point on each the two adapters 63, the at least one ply 65 is not extending outwardly below a bead 641 of a tire 64.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner cavity 611 and the second inner cavity 612 communicate each other through at least one valve 6 provided with the at least one ply 65. The at least one valve 6 is a valve capable to setup different pressure between the inner cavity 611 and the second inner cavity 612.

Since the inner cavity 611 and the second inner cavity 612 communicate each other through at least one valve 6 provided with the at least one ply 65, it is possible to inflate the rolling assembly 61 easily without having different valves and valve holes for the inner cavity 611 and for the second inner cavity 612.

Since the at least one valve 6 is a valve capable to setup different pressure between the inner cavity 611 and the second inner cavity 612, it is possible to increase safety of the rolling assembly 61 as the second inner cavity 612 can act as a regulator when slow decrease of an inflation pressure at inner cavity 611 occurs by setting higher inflation pressure for the second inner cavity 612 than that of the inner cavity 611.

The rolling assembly 61 may be provided with multiple valves 6 with the at least one ply 65.

A rolling assembly 71 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a rolling assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The construction of this third embodiment is similar to that of the first and the second embodiments other than the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, thus description will be made referring to Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 4, two adapters 73 are connected via at least one ply 75 which is at least one pair of plies 51 (51a & 51b) in an inner cavity 711 as to be stacked in radial orientation from one another and extending substantially parallel from one another, the adapters 73 including an axially inner end 731 and an adapter body 733. One of a ply 75 (51b) of the pair of plies 51 is extending outwardly below beads 741 of a tire 74, and another ply 75 (51a) of the pair of plies 51 is not extending outwardly below beads 741 of the tire 74. Each ply 75 of the pair of plies 51 comprises a plurality of cords (not shown) extending substantially parallel from one another. The cords of each the ply 75 of the pair of plies 51 extends different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one ply 75 (51a) to another ply 75 (51b) in symmetrical manner (not shown).

Since the at least one ply 75 is at least one pair of plies 51, and the plurality of cords of each the ply 75 of the at least one pair of plies 51 extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one ply 75 (51a) to another ply 75 (51b), it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 73 connected via the ply 75 without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

Since the plurality of cords of each the ply 75 of the at least one pair of plies 51 extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one ply 75 (51a) to another ply 75 (51b), it is possible to limit efficiently anti-phase flexibility between two adapters 73 connected via the ply 75 without generating imbalance force in particular in axial orientation, resulting further improvement on steering of a vehicle while maintaining improvement on comfort, ability to withstand curb impact and interior noise performance.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and represented and various modifications can be made there without leaving its framework.

1, 61, 71 rolling assembly
11, 611, 711 inner cavity
12, 612, 712 second inner cavity
2, 62, 72 rim
21, 621, 721 rim seat
22, 622, 722 rim flange
3, 63, 73 adapter
31, 621, 731 inner end of adapter
32, 632, 732 outer end of adapter
33, 633, 733 adapter body
4, 64, 74 tire
41, 641, 741 bead
5, 65, 75 ply
51 pair of plies
52 plurality of cords
6 valve

Claims

A rolling assembly (1) having a rotation axis and comprising a rim (2) having two rim seats (21) being axially outwardly extended by rim flanges (22), two adapters (3) and a tire (4) having two beads (41), each the adapter (3) providing the connection between one of the beads (41) and the rim (2), the adapter (3) comprising an axially inner end (31) that is adapted to be mounted on one of the rim seats (21), an axially outer end (32) that is adapted to receive one of the beads (41) and an adapter body (33) connecting the axially inner end (31) and the axially outer end (32) as to form a single piece, the rolling assembly (1) creating an inner cavity (11) surrounded by the rim (2), the tire (4) and the adapters (3), the two adapters (3) are connected via at least one ply (5) in the inner cavity (11) at a connecting point (34) on each the two adapters (3), the at least one ply (5) comprising a plurality of cords (52) extending substantially parallel from one another,
the rolling assembly (1) being characterized in that the rolling assembly (1) creates a second inner cavity (12) in the inner cavity (11) surrounded by the rim (2), the two adapters (3) and the at least one ply (5), and in that in a sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis, a distance between two connecting points (34) along with the at least one ply (5) facing to the second inner cavity (12) is at least equal to 35mm longer than a distance between two connecting points (34) along with axial orientation.
The rolling assembly (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the distance between two connecting points (34) along with the at least one ply (5) facing to the second inner cavity (12) is at most equal to 30% longer than the distance between two connecting points (34) along with axial orientation in the sectional view on a plane containing a rotation axis.
The rolling assembly (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the inner cavity (11) and the second inner cavity (12) communicate each other through at least one valve (6) provided with the at least one ply (5).
The rolling assembly (1) according Claim 3, wherein the at least one valve (6) is a valve capable to setup different pressure between the inner cavity (11) and the second inner cavity (12).
The rolling assembly (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one ply (5) is at least one pair of plies (51), and wherein the plurality of cords (52) of each the ply (5) of the at least one pair of plies (51) extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one ply (5) to another ply (5).
The rolling assembly (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the plurality of cords (52) of each the ply (5) of the at least one pair of plies (51) extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one ply (5) to another ply (5).
The rolling assembly (1) according to any one of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one ply (5) comprises two sets of plurality of cords (52), and wherein the plurality of cords (52) extend different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation from one set of plurality of cords (52) to another set of plurality of cords (52).
The rolling assembly (1) according to Claim 7, wherein the plurality of cords (52) extends different diagonal orientation to circumferential orientation symmetrically from one set of plurality of cords (52) to another set of plurality of cords (52).