A RESILIENT VEHICLE TYRE COMPONENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a component for a vehicle tyre and to a tyre including such a component.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Trackless vehicles require resilience from their ground engaging wheels which is almost universally provided by means of tyres fitted to the wheels. Most of these tyres are gas inflated tyres referred to as "pneumatic tyres". Many developments have been directed to avoid the necessity for inflation and to provide products which are referred to as "run flat" tyres.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tyre component and a tyre including such a component which does not require inflation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a vehicle tyre component comprising a band of stiffly resilient material shaped to conform with the interior of a hollow

tyre having a tread, side walls and inner peripheral wheel rim engaging beads with the free ends of the bands rigidly braced apart.

Further features of the invention provide for the tyre to be an inflatable tyre and for the components to be fitted in side by side relationship within a tyre to provide a tyre lined with separate components.

Still further features of this invention provide for the band to be made of spring steel plate or other material providing characteristics chosen to provide the desired resilience to meet the work load to which the tyre is to be put and for the bracing to be provided by a bracket secured between the ends of the band. The brackets extend outwardly from the ends of the band to support the tyre bead.

The invention also provides for the brackets to include a pair of rigid end clips separated by a rigid bracing member which may be of right angle cross-section and for the band to be externally coated with a layer of rubber. The bracing member and end clips may be made from aluminum.

It will be appreciated that the tyre component may be made of other materials chosen to meet the requirements of the different parts of the component defined above. For example suitable reinforced synthetic resin materials such as glass reinforced nylon, carbon fibre and materials known commercially as "Vectron" and "Visconite" will have the desirable light weight, strength and be flexible with the necessary rigidity to enable the tyre lined with the components to function satisfactorily as motor vehicle tyre.

It will be appreciated that motor vehicle tyres include a wide range of products for various purposes. The term "stiffly resilient" is used in this specification to include the various degrees of stiffness and resilience required to meet these different purposes by different tyres encompassed by the present invention.

Still further features of this invention provide for the components to be bonded to the inner wall of the tyres and for the bonding material to be anchored in holes provided through the components in the area shaped to contact the tyre wall forming the support for the tyre tread.

Also the tyres to be lined with the defined components may be existing normally pneumatic tyres, new or used, or carcasses prepared for retreading. Alternatively the tyres may be purpose made for an end product according to the invention.

These and other features of this invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof described below with reference to the accompany drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of part of a tyre with a component fitted therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As illustrated the rubber tyre (1 ) has a tread section (2) side walls (3) and beads (4) shaped to engage a vehicle wheel rim. The rubber may be natural or synthetic and may be substituted by other materials providing the necessary physical characteristics to meet the work load requirements of the tyre.

In particular the tyre may be an existing type of pneumatic tyre.

Fitted within the tyre (1 ) is a series of components in a side by side relationship located to provide a resilient load supporting lining to the inner surface of the tyre.

Each component consists of a band (5) of stiffly resilient material coated on its operatively outside surface with a layer (6) of rubber or other material bondable to the inner wall of the tyre. The band (5) is shaped to conform with the shape of part of the inner surface of the tyre with the exception of the tyre bead (4). The ends (7) of the band (5) are braced apart and held in fixed spaced relationship by brackets (8). Preferably the layer (6) is secured to the band (5) through holes 6.1 in the band (5) spaced across the width of the tyre tread.

Each bracket (8) has end clips (9) which may be formed from extruded aluminum section. The section has a stepped construction with the two ends (10) and (1 1 ) separated by a part (12) which contacts and supports the tyre bead (4).

The end (10) forming the outer part of the clip (9) has its outer surface provided with a protective layer (13) and its inner surface embedded in the end of one bead (4) of the tyre (1 ).

The other end (11 ) of the clip (9) extends inwardly between the tyre beads (4) and engages an end of the band (5). The end (1 1 ) is bent back on itself over the end of the band (5) to secure the bracing between the beads (4).

Between the two clips (9) extends an angle sectioned bracing member (14) secured at each end to one of the clips (9). The free ends of the angle sectioned member (14) are secured to the ends (11 ) of the clips (9).

Each component is independently compressible to stiffly resiliently flex the bands (5) as the tyre (1 ) is required to flex under load in use.

In use the layers (13) and (6) on the clip part parts (1 1 ) and outer surface of the band (5) engages firmly with the wheel rim and inner surface of the tyre and

maintain the series of components as a lining of the tyre (1 ). Spacing of the sides of adjacent bands allows relative flexing between adjacent bands.

It is to be noted that the embedding of the parts (10) of the clips (9) provides a volume (15) of flexible material enabling the tyre to be fitted and retained firmly on a wheel rim (not shown). Alternatively the tyre may be fitted to a suitable split rim assembly where the tyre beads will be clamped between relatively moveable components of the rim.

Under load conditions during the driving of a vehicle fitted with tyres lined as above described, the tyre can flex in a manner similar to that of a normal pneumatic tyre. Should the tread of the tyre be damaged or a hole be formed through the wall the resilience of the tyre and consequently the suspension of the vehicle will be unaffected.

When the tread surface of the tyre is worn it can be retreaded in a similar manner to that used for standard pneumatic tyres. This is indicated in the drawing showing the tread 20 which can be removed to provide a new surface onto which a prepared strip of tread can be vulcanized or adhesively secured

It will be appreciated that bracing of the components ensures the components remain securely positioned during use and their manufacture from lightweight materials avoids the tyres becoming excessively heavy.

Ventilation holes through the vehicle wheel rims will if necessary provide adequate ventilation of the interior of the tyre preventing unacceptable build up of temperature in the tyres during use.

Various modifications can be made to the components and carcass and component-tyre combination without departing from the scope of the invention. Normal experimentation and design changes by those skilled in the art will enable tyres to meet a wide range of uses to be provided by this invention.