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Title:
METHOD FOR ATTACHING SPOKES TO A HUB USING A CAGE FOR A NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/200971
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes a spoke/cage assembly that has a cage and a plurality of spokes. Adhesive is applied to the spoke/cage assembly and/or a hub, and the spoke/cage assembly is positioned around the outer surface of the hub to cause the adhesive to be located between the outer surface of the hub and the spoke/cage assembly. Force is applied to urge the spoke/cage assembly and the outer surface of the hub together, and the spoke/cage assembly and spokes are attached to the hub.

Inventors:
GUREVICH LEON (US)
RIVERS ERIC (US)
WILSON BRIAN (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2018/029819
Publication Date:
November 01, 2018
Filing Date:
April 27, 2018
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
CIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSENMENTS MICHELIN (FR)
GUREVICH LEON (US)
RIVERS ERIC (US)
WILSON BRIAN (US)
International Classes:
B60B1/04; B60B9/26
Domestic Patent References:
WO2010012091A12010-02-04
Foreign References:
EP1879755A12008-01-23
US20110272254A12011-11-10
US6286572B12001-09-11
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PIEROTTI, Neal, P. et al. (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire comprising the steps of:

providing a spoke/cage assembly that has a cage and a plurality of spokes providing a hub, wherein the hub has an outer surface;

applying adhesive to at least one of the outer surface of the hub and the spoke/cage assembly;

positioning the spoke/cage assembly around the outer surface of the hub so that the adhesive is located between the outer surface of the hub and the spoke/cage assembly; and applying force to urge the spoke/cage assembly and the outer surface of the hub together.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein providing a spoke/cage assembly comprising:

providing a cage for spoke retention, wherein the cage has a plurality of slots for spoke insertion;

providing a plurality of spokes, wherein each one of the spokes has a spoke end attachment;

inserting the spoke end attachments of the spokes into the slots to form the spoke/cage assembly.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the adhesive is applied to the spoke/cage assembly, wherein the adhesive engages the spoke end attachments and the cage.

4. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1-3, further comprising:

providing a holding fixture;

providing a first retaining clip;

providing a second retaining clip;

wherein positioning the spoke/cage assembly around the outer surface of the hub comprising:

attaching the spoke/cage assembly to the holding fixture with the first retaining clip; rotating the holding fixture to cause the spoke/cage assembly to be wound onto the outer surface of the hub after attachment by the first retaining clip; and

attaching the spoke/cage assembly to the holding fixture with the second retaining clip after the winding of the spoke/cage assembly onto the outer surface of the hub.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the hub is rigidly attached to the holding fixture and rotates with the holding fixture as the spoke/cage assembly is wound onto the outer surface of the hub.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 or 5, further comprising:

removing the first retaining clip from the spoke/cage assembly and from the holding fixture;

removing the second retaining clip from the spoke/cage assembly and from the holding fixture.

7. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1-6, further comprising:

providing a bladder retaining ring;

positioning the hub, the adhesive, and the spoke/cage assembly within the bladder retaining ring; and

wherein the applying force comprising actuation of a bladder of the bladder retaining ring to urge the spoke/cage assembly against the outer surface of the hub to spread the adhesive throughout an interface of the hub outer surface and the spoke/cage assembly.

8. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1-7, further comprising placement of the hub, adhesive, and the spoke/cage assembly into an oven wherein the adhesive is cured.

9. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spoke end attachments have terminal ends that are inserted into the slots, wherein the spoke end attachments each have at least one spoke end attachment slot, wherein the at least one spoke end attachment slot receives therein an edge of the cage when the terminal end is inserted into the slot.

10. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the cage is made of metal.

11. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cage extends in a linear or arc shape when the inserting of the spoke end attachments of the spokes into the slots takes place.

12. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the inserting comprising sequentially inserting the spoke end attachments one at a time into the slots of the cage such that the spoke end attachments are all not simultaneously inserted into the slots of the cage.

13. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1-12, wherein the spokes have V- shaped cross-sectional profiles when viewed in a radial plane, and further comprising attaching a shear band onto the spokes, wherein the shear band has tread located thereon.

14. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spoke end attachment has a dove tail cross-sectional shape when viewed in a radial plane, wherein the cage has a complimentary dove tail cross-sectional shape when viewed in a radial plane that receives the spoke end attachment.

15. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the inserting the spoke end attachments into the slots creates a mechanical attachment between the spoke end attachments and the cage.

Description:
METHOD FOR ATTACHING SPOKES TO A HUB USING A CAGE FOR A NON- PNEUMATIC TIRE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a claim priority to PCT application number

PCT/US 17/30071 filed on April 28, 2017 and titled "Method for Attaching Spokes to a Hub Using a Cage for a Non-Pneumatic Tire", the entire contents of which are

incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The subject matter of the present invention relates to an attachment design for use in the production of non-pneumatic tires. More particularly, the present application involves a method that utilizes a cage that holds the ends of spokes that are then subsequently affixed to the outer surface of a hub during the assembly of a non-pneumatic tire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Non-pneumatic tires are those that do not require fluid pressure to function.

These tires have a hub that is mounted onto a vehicle, and a series of spokes that extend radially outward from the hub. The spokes can be attached to a shear band that itself has tire tread of the tire attached to it outward in the radial direction. The spokes can be arranged and manufactured in a number of ways, and any number of spokes can be present. However, when large numbers of spokes are used manufacturing problems arise. The large numbers of spokes require the spokes be positioned close to one another, and in these instances the spokes cannot be easily or cost effectively formed with the hub as part of a complete assembly. For a non-pneumatic tire to be constructed in a uniform manner, the circumferential and lateral precision of location of the spokes should be within 0.2 millimeters. Further, variations in spokes, such as their sizes and geometries, need to be taken into account in any tire assembly process, and the joint forming the hub and spoke attachment must last the life of the tire. Still further, as different versions of the spokes and hubs of non-pneumatic tires are possible, a manufacturing process that can achieve joint assembly of these different tire variations would be beneficial. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0005] Fig . 1 is a side view of a non-pneumatic tire.

[0006] Fig . 2 is a partial perspective view of a cage.

[0007] Fig . 3 is a partial perspective view of an alternate cage.

[0008] Fig . 4 is a perspective view of a spoke that has a spoke end attachment.

[0009] Fig . 5 is a side view in cross-section of the formation of a spoke/cage assembly.

[0010] Fig . 6 is a partial perspective view of the spoke/cage assembly with adhesive disposed thereon.

[0011] Fig. 7 is a side view of a spoke/cage assembly being rolled onto a hub.

[0012] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the spoke/cage assembly rolled onto the hub and attached with retaining clips to a holding fixture.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the spoke/cage assembly inserted into a bladder retaining ring in which compressive pressures are applied to the spoke/cage assembly.

[0014] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the spoke cage assembly in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment.

[0015] The use of identical or similar reference numerals in different figures denotes identical or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

[0017] A method of formation of a non-pneumatic tire 12 is provided that discloses a way of attaching the spokes 28 of a non-pneumatic tire 12 to the hub 26 of the non- pneumatic tire 12. A cage 14 is provided into which the spokes 28 are mechanically attached or otherwise secured to form a spoke/cage assembly 18. Adhesive 10 is applied to this connection and to the underside of the spoke/cage assembly 18, and this subassembly is then rolled or otherwise positioned onto the hub 26. In some instances, the hub 26 can be rotated and the spoke/cage assembly 18 and adhesive 10 are wound thereon. Once positioned, compressive forces may be applied to the spoke/cage assembly 18 inward in the radial direction 20 to apply pressure to the connection between the spoke/cage assembly 18 and the hub 26. Heat can be applied if desired, and the combination of heat and pressure may function to cure the adhesive 10 to cause the spoke/cage assembly 18 to be attached to the hub 26 through a combination of both mechanical interaction and adhesive 10. The shear band 62 and tread 98 may be subsequently attached to the hub 26/spoke/cage assembly 18 to complete formation of the non-pneumatic tire 12.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a non-pneumatic tire 12. The non-pneumatic tire 12 has an axis 102 at its center, and the radial direction 20 extends from the axis 102. Tread 98 is located on the outer exterior of a shear band 62 and extends all the way around the non- pneumatic tire 12 in the circumferential direction 22. The shear band 62 is located inward in the radial direction 20 from the tread 98 and likewise extends 360 degrees around the axis 102 in the circumferential direction 22. A series of spokes 28 engage the shear band 62 and extend inward in the radial direction 20 from the shear band 62 to a hub 26 of the non-pneumatic tire 12. Any number of spokes 28 can be present, and their cross-sectional shape can be different from that shown. In some instances, between 64-80 spokes 28 are present in the non-pneumatic tire 12. The hub 26 is located inward from the spokes 28 in the radial direction 20 and can be mounted onto a wheel of the vehicle. The spokes 28 at the top of the non-pneumatic tire 12 are in tension, and the spokes 28 at the bottom are in compression as the non-pneumatic tire 12 rests on the ground 100 and as the non- pneumatic tire 12 turns in normal operation of the vehicle under load.

[0019] One design of the cage 14 is illustrated with reference to Fig. 2. The cage

14 may be metal in some instances and can be of a flexibility and formation that allows it to be arc shaped. Applied forces to the cage 14 may cause it to straighten out to no longer be arc shaped, and thus the cage 14 exhibits some degree of flexibility. The cage 14 has a series of depressions or slots or other features that receive the spokes 28 that are separated from one another along the length of the cage 14. The cage 14 shown can be made longer in other instances for receiving any number of spokes 28. The cage 14 is a base, and it is to be understood that the provision of the slots and the articulated profile of the cage 14 is only one exemplary embodiment. The cage 14 can take many forms in other exemplary embodiments. As such, it is to be understood that as used herein the term cage is broad enough to cover the term base, and these terms are interchangeable with one another. The cage 14 can be more specifically designed in certain exemplary embodiments.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows an alternative design of the cage 14 that is again disclosed as having an arc shape. The cage 14 may be made of metal and may be flexible enough so that it can be compressed into a linear shape from the illustrated arc shape. The cage 14 has a series of slots 16 that extend length wise across the majority of the width of the cage 14. In some instances the slots 16 extend less than the entire width and are not open on either end and are spaced from either end in the width direction. The design of the cage 14 in the areas between the slots 16 is different than the portions of the cage 14 into which the slots 16 are disposed.

[0021] The spokes 28 may be provided so that they have features that interact with the cage 14 to result in some degree of mechanical connection between the spokes 28 and the cage 14. For instance, an example of a spoke 28 is shown in Fig. 4 that has a cross- section that is V-shaped and that has a spoke end attachment 30. The spoke end attachment 30 may be molded into the spoke 28 when the spoke 28 is molded. The spoke end attachment 30 is designed to be received by the cage 14 and has a pair of spoke end attachment slots 44 that open away from one another. The pair of spoke end attachment slots 44 extend the entire width of the spoke 28, but could extend for a length that is less than the entire width of spoke 28. A terminal end 42 of the spoke end attachment 30 is also a terminal end of the spoke 28. The terminal end 42 has a flat face, or in some instances may be almost flat, and extends across the entire width of the spoke end attachment 30. In this regard the terminal end 42 may not vary in shape or geometry across the entire width of the spoke 28. The opposite terminal end of the spoke 28 can likewise be flat, or almost flat, and may be configured for engagement and attachment with the shear band 62.

Although shown and described as featuring a spoke end attachment 30 molded into the spoke 28, it is to be understood that this feature is not necessary in other exemplary embodiments. For example, the spoke 28 can be molded directly on the cage 14, and in these instances its not necessary to adhere or otherwise mechanically attach these two pieces 28, 14 to one another. The spoke 28 could be formed onto the cage 14 through injection molding the spokes 28 onto the cage 14.

[0022] The cage 14 can have projections 54 spaced from one another that receive the pair of spoke end attachment slots 44. The spoke 28 can have a leading edge inserted into the spoke end attachment slots 44 and then slide along the width of the cage 14 to cause the projections 54 to be inserted into the entire widths of the spoke end attachment slots 44. Alternatively, the spokes 28 can simply be pressed down onto the cage 14 to engage these components to one another. The material making up the spoke 28 and/or the cage 14 can have some degree of give so that the fit between the projections 54 and the spoke end attachment slots 44 is a tight fit that affords some holding power. In this manner, the connection between the cage 14 and the spoke 28 includes a mechanical connection. Adhesive 10 could be added to this mechanical connection to further enhance the attachment between the spoke 28 and cage 14.

[0023] Fig. 5 shows the spoke of Fig. 4 inserted into the cage 14 to form a spoke/cage assembly 18. The slots 16 are spaced from the ends of the cage 14 in the width direction. A machine can push or otherwise insert the spoke end attachment 30 into the slots 16 so that the projections 54 of the cage 14 are forced into the spoke end attachment slots 44. The machine can continue pushing or moving the spoke 28 until the entire spoke end attachment 30 is inserted into the slot 16. The spokes 28 could be pulled onto 54, or engaged thereto in any variety of manners. The spokes 28 can be inserted one by one into the slots 16. In this regard, the cage 14 can be moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 and each spoke 28 can be inserted into a slot 16 in sequential order until all of the slots 16 are filled with spokes 28. Other insertion schemes are possible, such as simultaneous insertion of all of the spokes 28 into all of the slots 16, and the spokes 28 can be inserted into the slots 16 in any manner in accordance with other exemplary

embodiments. The cage 14 may be initially arc shaped as previously discussed, but may be flattened out into a linear shape via the inserting machine when the spokes 28 are inserted. However, in other embodiments the cage 14 is not flattened. The length and width of the spoke/cage assembly 18 may be the sized to match the outer surface 24 of the hub 26 both in the circumferential direction 22 and in the width wise direction.

[0024] The cage 14 has sections that include the slots 16 that are disposed between sections of the cage 14 that do not include the slots 16. The sections including the slots 16 are offset in the radial direction 20, when placed onto the hub 26, from those that do not include the slots 16 and a void is present below the sections that include the slots 16. The spoke end attachment 30 fills the void, in some instances the entire void and in other instances less than the entire void, and the terminal end 42 is located at the bottom of the cage 14. The terminal end 42 may be flush with the very bottom of the cage 14 so that the bottom surface of the cage 14 is at the same location in the radial direction 20 as the terminal end 42. Alternatively, the terminal end 42 may be located some distance away from the very bottom of the cage 14 in the radial direction 20. If the very bottom of the cage 14 is remote from and not in contact with the hub 26, the spokes 28 could be disposed through the cage 14 and engage the hub 26. This arrangement causes pressure between the hub 26 and the spoke cage assembly 18 to be made through the spoke 28. In Fig. 5, the terminal end 42 is shown as being flush with the very bottom of the cage 14 so that the very bottom surface of the cage 14 is at the same position in the height direction as the terminal end 42. The spoke end attachment 30 may not fill the entire void present in the cage 14, or may in fact fill the entire void defined by the cage 14.

[0025] Although shown as having projections 54 and spoke end attachment slots

44, it is to be understood that these features are not always present. For example, the spoke end attachment 30 could be press fit into the slots 16 in other versions of the design with the elements 54 and 44 completely missing. The spoke end attachment 30 could have interlocking features that are received by complimentary features of the cage 14 in yet other variations. Alternatively, the spoke end attachment 30 could have a dove tail shape that is received within a similarly shaped slot 16. Fig. 10 shows an alternate embodiment in which the spoke end attachment 30 has a dove-tail shape that is complimentary with a receiving section of the cage 14 such that the elements 54, 44 are completely missing. In yet other variations, each spoke end attachment 30 could have but a single spoke end attachment slot 44 for receipt into but a single projection 54, instead of the pairs of spoke end attachment slots 44 and the pairs of projections 54, in order to achieve mechanical attachment of the spokes 28 and the cage 14. As such, various ways of engagement between the spoke end attachment 30 and the cage 14 are possible. The cage 14 may provide a larger surface area for adhesion due to the larger internal surface area created by attaching the spokes 28 and cage 14 together.

[0026] Adhesive 10 may be applied at the same time as, or at a time after the formation of the spoke/cage assembly 18. Fig. 6 shows the adhesive 10 applied to the spoke/cage assembly 18. The adhesive 10 is applied so that it fills the portion of the void formed by the cage 14 that is not filled by the spoke end attachment 30 after insertion of the spoke end attachment 30 and engages the cage 14 and the spoke 28. The adhesive 10 may be forced into the areas between the spoke end attachment 30 and the cage 14, such as between the projections 54 and the spoke end attachment slots 44. As such, in other instances the adhesive 10 is located at all places between the cage 14 and the spoke end attachment 30. The adhesive 10 can flow between the spoke end attachment 30 and the cage 14 to help bond the spoke end attachment 30 to the cage 14. The adhesive 10 is not located on the terminal end 42. The resulting spoke/cage assembly 18 will have an inner surface that is not completely covered by adhesive 10, although some of it is covered by adhesive 10, as the terminal ends 42 will be exposed and uncovered with adhesive 10. Alternatively, the terminal ends 42 may likewise be covered with adhesive 10 so that the entire inner surface of the spoke/cage assembly 18 is covered with adhesive 10. In these instances, adhesive 10 is the only think visible at the inner end of the spoke cage assembly 18 of Fig. 6 such that the adhesive 10 covers the inner radial ends completely of the spokes 28 and the cage 14. One of the voids in Fig. 6 is shown without having adhesive 10 disposed therein for sake of clarity and contrast, but it is to be understood that this void may also be filled with adhesive 10 during construction of the non-pneumatic tire 12. The adhesive 10 can be any type of adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive 10 is rubber. The adhesive 10 may have a high volume in some embodiments. The adhesive 10 could in some exemplary embodiments be cyanoacrylate glue, rubber cement that is made from elastic polymers, cushion gum, vulcanizing cement, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane adhesives (TPU), or any other type of substance capable of adhering the hub 26 to the spoke/cage assembly 18 or other portions of the tire 12.

[0027] After application of the adhesive 10 to the spoke/cage assembly 18, the spoke/cage assembly 18 with applied adhesive 10 is placed onto the hub 26. Fig. 7 shows one embodiment of positioning the spoke/cage assembly 18 around the outer surface 24 of the hub 26. The hub 26 is attached to a holding fixture 32 that is capable of rotating 360 degrees in the circumferential direction 56. The circumferential direction 56 is the same as the circumferential direction 22 of the tire as the hub 26 is coaxial with the axis of the holding fixture 32. The leading spoke 28 may be fixed to the holding fixture 32 by a first retaining clip 34. The holding fixture 32 has a first receiving feature 50 that receives the first retaining clip 34. In some instances, the first receiving feature 50 may be a pair of openings. In other instances, the first receiving feature 50 may be a pair of semi-circular shaped openings. The body of the spoke 28 is located between the prongs of the first retaining clip 34, and when the prongs are inserted into the first receiving feature 50 the leading spoke 28 is thus retained to the holding fixture 32. The inner surface of the spoke/cage assembly 18 with the adhesive 10 is positioned onto the outer surface 24 of the hub 26. The holding fixture 32 is rotated, in the clockwise direction in Fig. 7, and the spoke/cage assembly 18 is drawn onto the outer surface 24 so that the adhesive 10 on the spoke/cage assembly 18 is in contact with the outer surface 24. In other versions of the assembly method, the adhesive 10 could instead be first applied to the outer surface 24 and the spoke/cage assembly 18 without adhesive 10 is placed onto the outer surface 24 and into engagement with the adhesive 10. In still further exemplary embodiments, both the outer surface 24 and the spoke/cage assembly 18 include adhesive 10 when the spoke/cage assembly 18 is positioned onto the hub 26.

[0028] The flexibility of the spoke/cage assembly 18 allows it to be fed in a linear direction for winding onto the hub 26. Once placed onto the hub 26, the entire spoke/cage assembly 18 can be located 360 degrees around and on the outer surface 24 with the adhesive 10 between and contacting the spoke/cage assembly 18 and the outer surface 24. The last spoke 28 to be positioned onto the hub 26 may be fixed in place via a second retaining clip 36. After winding of the holding fixture 32 is complete, a second receiving feature 52 is included in the holding fixture 32 and is configured in the same manner as the first receiving feature 50. This configuration could be an opening, or a pair of openings, or a pair of semi-circular shaped apertures 52. The second retaining clip 36 has a pair of prongs that are disposed within the semi-circular shaped apertures of the second receiving feature 52 with the body of the last spoke 28 therebetween to function to hold the back end of the spoke/cage assembly 18 onto the hub 26. Fig. 8 shows the second retaining clip 36 attached to the holding fixture 32 and holding the end of the spoke/cage assembly 18 to the hub 26. The holding fixture 32 may rest on a turntable 48 that rotates to cause the hub 26 to rotate and the spoke/cage assembly 18 to be drawn thereon. The first retaining clip 34 may be attached to the leading spoke 28, and the second retaining clip 36 may be attached to the tailing spoke 28, in which the retaining clips 34, 36 are adjacent one another and clip onto adjacent spokes 28 in the spoke/cage assembly 18.

[0029] When attached to the outer surface 24, the terminal end 42 may directly contact the outer surface 24 with no adhesive 10 therebetween, and portions of the cage 14 may likewise directly engage the outer surface 24 with no adhesive 10 therebetween. Adhesive 10 may engage both the outer surface 24, the cage 14, and the spoke end attachment 30. In other versions, depending upon the configuration of the parts adhesive 10 may engage the entire inner surface of the spoke/cage assembly 18 so that no portion of the cage 14 or spokes 28 directly engage the outer surface 24, but instead adhesive 10 is located at all points between the spoke/cage assembly 18 and outer surface 24 and engage them along all the points of contact.

[0030] Although described as being wound onto the hub 26, the spoke/cage assembly 18 may be positioned onto the hub 26 in a variety of manners in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. For instance, the spoke/cage assembly 18 may be stationary and the hub 26 could be rotated and moved to cause the hub 26 to be positioned onto the spoke/cage assembly 18. Alternatively, the spoke/cage assembly 18 could be provided in a circular shape and the hub 26 could be inserted therein. In this design, the hub 26 is first positioned into the spoke/cage assembly 18 so the adhesive 10 is between the spoke/cage assembly 18 and the hub 26, and then force is applied to move the spoke/cage assembly 18 into engagement with the outer surface 24 of the hub 26.

[0031] All of the spokes 28 can be inserted into the cage 14 before the first spoke

28 or any portion of the cage 14 is positioned onto the hub 26. In other embodiments, the cage 14 with some of the attached spokes 28 may be positioned onto the hub 26 and wound while at the same time tailing spokes 28 are inserted into the tailing portions of the cage 14 that are then subsequently wound onto the hub 26.

[0032] After securement of the second retaining clip 36 to hold the spoke/cage assembly 18 to the hub 26, the assembly of Fig. 8 may be inserted into a bladder retaining ring 38 as shown for example in Fig. 9. The assembly of Fig. 8 may be moved over to and inserted into the bladder retaining ring 38, or the bladder retaining ring 38 can be itself moved over to the Fig. 8 assembly and lowered or moved thereon. Once the bladder retaining ring 38 is positioned radially outward from the spoke/cage assembly 18, the first and second retaining clips 34, 36 may be removed from the holding fixture 32. The bladder retaining ring 38 has a bladder 40 that can be inflated and deflated. Inflation causes the bladder 40 to move inward in the radial direction 20, and the bladder 40 may extend 360 degrees around the axis 102. A single bladder 40 or multiple bladders 40 are present in the bladder retaining ring 38 and are spaced from one another along the bladder retaining ring 38 in the longitudinal/axial direction of the axis 102. The bladder 40 need not extend 360 degrees around the axis 102, and any number of bladders 40 and type of design may be provided. As illustrated, three inflation ports are present, and there are three bladders 40 spaced form one another in the longitudinal/axial direction of axis 102 and extend 360 degrees around the axis 102. Fluid may be applied to the three ports to cause all three bladders 40 to inflate, or fluid can be provided to only one or two ports to cause inflation of only one or two of the bladders 40 when applying pressure to the spoke/cage assembly 18. The bladder 40 can be actuated by air, steam, or any other fluid to cause inflation and radially inward movement.

[0033] The bladder retaining ring 38 can have one or more bladders with an inner surface 46 that contacts the outer radial end of the spokes 28 of the spoke/cage assembly 18. This contact may occur once the retaining clips 34, 36 are removed and the spokes 28 are free to move outward in the radial direction 20 since they are no longer being constrained. Alternatively, the spokes 28 may not move outward in the radial direction 20 when the retaining clips 34, 36 are removed and the contact occurs once the bladder 40 is actuated and the inner surface 46 of the bladder 40, which in this case is the inner surface 46 of the bladder retaining ring 38, engages the outer radial ends of the spokes 28.

[0034] Actuation of the bladder 40 causes force to be imparted onto the outer radial ends of the spokes 28 to cause the spoke/cage assembly 18 to be urged against the outer surface 24 of the hub 26. The adhesive 10 has pressure applied to it by the force of the bladder 40 so that it fills voids between the cage 14, spoke end attachment 30, and the outer surface 24. The application of this pressure may cause the adhesive 10 to be evenly spread throughout the spoke 28, cage 14, and hub 26 interface. The assembly of Fig. 9 may be placed into an oven, or heating elements may be included within the bladder retaining ring 38 to cause heat to be transferred into the connection between the spoke/cage assembly 18 and the hub 26 to cause the adhesive 10 to be cured via the combination of heat and pressure applied for an amount of time. In other embodiments, the adhesive 10 may be cured without the use of heat, and in these instances no heating of the adhesive 10 occurs and it may cure through the application of pressure over time. Although described as using bladders 40, it is to be understood that the forces applied to the adhesive 10 can be initiated by other means. For example, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, mechanical linkages, motors, or other types of actuators may be used to create the force urging the spoke/cage assembly 18 and the hub 26 together. Still further, although described as being applied to the spoke/cage assembly 18 for subsequent transfer to the hub 26, in other embodiments the force may first be applied to the hub 26 to cause it to expand outward in the radial direction 20 to cause compression of the adhesive 10 against the inner surface of the spoke/cage assembly 18.

[0035] Once the desired amount of pressure and heat have been applied with the intent to cure the adhesive 10, the attached hub 26 and spoke/cage assembly 18 may be removed from the bladder retaining ring 38. The fluid acting on the bladder 40 to inflate the bladder 40 may be evacuated and the bladder 40 can move outward in the radial direction 20. In some instances, a vacuum can be applied through the port of the bladder retaining ring 38 to cause the bladder 40 to retract and remove pressure from the spokes 28. The spoke/cage assembly 18 with the attached hub 26 may then be lifted out of or otherwise removed from the bladder retaining ring 38. A shear band 62 may next be attached to the spokes 28 of the spoke/cage assembly 18, and tread 98 can be likewise attached if it is not already attached to the shear band 62 when the shear band 62 is incorporated. The shear band 62 may be attached after the hub 26 and the spoke/cage assembly 18 are attached to one another. The assembly process of the hub 26 and the spokes 28 results in the spokes 28 being properly positioned in the circumferential direction 22 and in the longitudinal/axial direction that extends parallel to the axis 102. This positioning may be within plus or minus 0.2 millimeters to achieve uniformity of the assembly. The assembly process may account for variation in spoke 28 geometry and may result in an attached hub 26 and spokes 28, through the cage 14 assembly, that lasts for the life of the non-pneumatic tire 12. The assembly utilizes an attachment method that includes a combination of mechanical and adhesive 10 attachment of the hub 26 to the spokes 28. The spokes 28 are adhered to the hub 26 and to cage 14, and the cage 14 itself is adhered directly to the hub 26 so that some redundancy is built into the hub 26 and spoke 28 assembly.

[0036] While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments and methods thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.