WO2004054822A1

WO2004054822A1 - Wheel and tubeless tire assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2004054822A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002739
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Gi Hong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-13
Filing date: 2003-12-12
Publication date: 2004-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2005-06-13
Also published as: AU2003303054A1

Abstract

Provided is a wheel and tubeless tire assembly including a wheel having rim portions, a tubeless tire being combined with the wheel; and auxiliary tire means installed within the tubeless tire and having a reinforcing element with a s diameter greater than that of an outer circumferential surface of the wheel, and a plurality of pressure elements supported by the reinforcing element and placed between the outer circumferential surface of the wheel, for pressing the reinforcing element in a radial direction by a compressed air injected thereinto.

Description

WHEEL AND TUBELESS TIRE ASSEMBLY

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tubeless tire, and more particularly, to an improved tubeless tire adapted to prevent the rim of a wheel from contacting the road surface in case of a tire puncture or damage.

Background Art

In general, tires are mounted on wheels of an automobile to support the load of the automobile and transmit a driving force of an engine and a braking force of a brake to a road surface. In addition, tires absorb impact from the road surface during driving and perform functions of setting travel direction and steering. To perform such functions, tubeless tires requiring no inner tube are typically used. A tubeless tire includes a tread portion that comes into contact with the road, a shoulder portion placed on a side of the tread portion, for emitting heat, a bead that supports the edge of a carcass against a pneumatic pressure and holds the tire onto the wheel rim, and a wall portion that protects a carcass from the tread portion to the bead. The performance and shape of the tubeless tire varies according to the materials and construction of carcass, belt or bead assembled inside the tire.

Even if the tire is elaborately designed in consideration of various driving conditions, while a vehicle is traveling at high speed, the tire may be damaged in a case where it is punctured or a severe impact is applied thereto due to any projection on the road surface. Then, the wheel rim comes into contact with the ground, thus breaking the balance among the rolling radii of automotive tires, which may leads to a serious traffic accident.

Taking this into account, in order to keep the balance of an automobile even in a case where a puncture or damage occurs to an outer tire, an inner tire having a relatively small diameter, into which a pressurized air is injected, is separately installed.

In order to separately install an inner tire into an outer tire, as described above, however, it is necessary for a wheel to have a double structure for the purpose of supporting beads of the inner and outer tires. To this end, the bead of the inner tire is mounted into the outer tire and a check valve is installed onto the inner tire for supplying air into the outer tire. However, this approach has a problem that, when the outer tire is damaged, the inner tire fails to completely perform its proper functions due to air being discharged through the check valve on the inner tire.

Furthermore, in order to prevent imbalance among tires, which maybe caused in the event of a tire puncture, there has been proposed a method of filling the tire with a foaming agent for defining very small spaces within the tire. However, this approach undesirably reduces tire elasticity and preparation of such a foaming agent is quite complicated.

Disclosure of the Invention

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a wheel and tubeless tire assembly which can prevent a loss of steering control of a tire due to a rapid decrease in the diameter of the tire when punctured and can prevent occurrences of a serious accident.

The present invention also provides a wheel and tubeless tire assembly which can reduce rupture of a tubeless tire when the tire runs into any projection on a road surface.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a wheel and tubeless tire assembly comprises: a wheel having rim portions; a tubeless tire combined with the wheel; and auxiliary tire means installed within the tubeless tire and having a reinforcing element and a plurality of pressure elements, the reinforcing element having a diameter greater than that of an outer circumferential surface of the wheel, and the plurality of pressure elements supported by the reinforcing element and placed between the outer circumferential surface of the wheel and the reinforcing element, for pressing the reinforcing element in a radial direction by a compressed air injected thereinto.

According to the present invention, the pressure elements may further include a connecting pipe for connecting inner spaces together, and wrinkles may be formed on the outer circumferential surface such that the pressure elements expand or contract according to variations in internal pressure. At least one of the pressure elements may further include a pressure control valve for controlling compressed air to be exhausted to the tubeless tire when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. The reinforcing element and the pressure elements are preferably made of a composite resin.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a wheel and tubeless tire assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the wheel and tubeless tire assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary tire according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main portion of the auxiliary tire of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing pressure elements and connecting portions for connecting the pressure elements with together;

FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing an air supply valve according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the operation of the auxiliary tire when a tubeless tire is punctured or damaged.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention FIG. 1 shows a wheel and tubeless tire assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted on an automobile to prevent a tire puncture or damage due to a projection on the road during driving.

Referring to the drawing, the wheel and tubeless tire assembly 10 includes a wheel 100 having rim portions 101 and a tubeless tire 200 combined with the wheel 100. An auxiliary tire 20 is incorporated into the wheel and tubeless tire assembly 100, the auxiliary tire 20 installed in the tubeless tire 200 along an outer circumferential surface of the wheel 100 between the rim portions 101 to prevent a sharp reduction in the diameter of the tubeless tire 200 and to prevent a damage of the tubeless tire 200 due to a compression force beyond an elasticity limit of the tubeless tire 200.

The wheel 100 may have various structures according to the structure of supporting beads 201 of tires at both sides and the load that can be supported by the tires. However, the wheel 100 preferably has a structure in which an outer circumferential surface of the wheel between the rim portions 101 is smooth, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The auxiliary tire 20 is installed in the tubeless tire 200 mounted on the wheel 100 along the outer circumferential surface 102 of the wheel 100 between the rim portions 101 . As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the auxiliary tire 20 includes a reinforcing element 21 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface 102 and less than an inner diameter of the tubeless tire 200, and a plurality of pressure elements 22 for pressing the reinforcing element 21 in a radial direction by a compressed air injected thereinto, the plurality of pressure elements 22 each being supported by the reinforcing element 21 and installed between the outer circumferential surface 102 of the wheel 100 and reinforcing element 21.

A width W1 of the reinforcing element 21 that is a band on an endless track, is substantially equal to or greater than a width W2 of the outer circumferential surface 102 of the wheel 100. Preferably, the reinforcing element 21 is substantially inelastic so that the center of rotation of the outer circumferential surface 102 of the wheel 100 is coaxially positioned with that of the reinforcing element 21 when the pressure elements 22 expand. Each of the pressure elements 22 is disposed between the outer circumferential surface 102 of the wheel 100 and the reinforcing element 21 to exert pressure on the reinforcing element 21 in a radial direction and supporting the same, thus allowing one side of the pressure element 22 to be supported. Each pressure element 22 includes a body 23 having an inner space 23a through which air is injected. Wrinkles are formed in the body 23 so that the body 23 can expand or contract depending on the pressure of highly pressurized air injected into the inner space 23a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pressure elements 22 are alternately arranged in a plurality of rows along an inner circumferential surface of the reinforcing element 21.

Each of the pressure elements 22 has a connecting portion 24 with a communication path 24a so that the inner spaces 23a communicate with one another. Inner space connection in the pressure elements 22 is not limited by this embodiment. Rather, any structure is permitted so long as the structure is designed so as to be able to connect the inner spaces 23a with one another. For instance, the pressure element 22 may have the communication path 24a or connection pipe inside or outside the reinforcing element 21 , which allows the pressure within the inner spaces 23a to be maintained at a uniform level.

As shown in FIG. 5, at least one of the pressure elements 22 further includes a pressure control valve 25 designed to exhaust compressed air from the pressure element 22 into the tubeless tire 200 when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. A check valve is preferably used as the pressure control valve 25. The check valve sets the pressure in such a manner that the pressure may not be released outside when the load of an automobile is applied to an auxiliary tire means due to damage of the tubeless tire. The reinforcing element 21 and the pressure element 23 may be formed of a relatively lightweight composite resin, such as poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), but not limited thereto. Rather, rubber may also be used.

On the wheel 100 are formed a first air injection valve 30 for supplying highly pressurized air to the at least one of the pressure elements 22 and a second air injection valve 40 for supplying compressed air into the tubeless tire 200. In order to supply the compressed air to the tubeless tire 200 and the pressure elements 22, as illustrated in FIG. 6, there may be provided an air injection valve 50, a connecting pipe 51 that connects the air injection valve 50 with the pressure elements 22, and an ejector 52 placed on the air injection valve 50 for supplying compressed air into the tubeless tire 200. Here, the ejector 52 is preferably constructed such that its ejection pressure is higher than a supply pressure created by supplying air through the connecting pipe 51. Furthermore, it is preferable to form an air inlet 53 on the edge of the reinforcing element 21 or outside the pressure element 22 in such a manner that the compressed air introduced through the ejector 52 is smoothly supplied into the tubeless tire 200.

The operation of the aforementioned wheel and tubeless tire assembly 10 according to the present invention will now be described. First, to properly mount the auxiliary tire 20 on the wheel 100, the wheel

100 is combined with the auxiliary tire 20 in a state in which the tubeless tire 200 is combined with the wheel 100. In other words, the pressure elements 22 supported by the reinforcing element 21 are combined with the wheel 100 between the rim portions 101 in a state in which the pressure elements 22 are not filled with compressed air so they are positioned between the reinforcing element 21 and the outer circumferential surface of the wheel 100. Then, the pressure elements 22 and the wheel 100 are combined with each other in such a manner that the beads 201 are supported on the rim portions 101 of the wheel 100. In such a state, compressed air is supplied to the tubeless tire 200 and the pressure elements 22 by the first and second air injection valves 30 and 40 or the single air injection valve 50. Once the compressed air is injected into the pressure elements 22, the respective pressure elements 22 that are connected together by the connecting portion 24, are inflated between the outer circumferential surface of the wheel 100 and the reinforcing element 21 to press the reinforcing element 21 in a radial direction, thereby forming a single auxiliary tire. During the above-described procedure, if the pressure of the pressure element 22 exceeds that of the tubeless tire 200, excessive pressure of the pressure element 22 is then supplied to the tubeless tire 200 through the pressure control valve 25, so that apressure equilibrium is kept between the tubeless tire 200 and the pressure elements 22.

As described above, if the compressed air is supplied to the tubeless tire 200 and the respective pressure elements 22, the load of an automobile that is traveling normally is imposed on the tubeless tire 200 but is not imposed on the auxiliary tire positioned inside.

In this state, if the tubeless tire 200 is punctured, the tubeless tire 200 is ruptured, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the load of the automobile is applied to the auxiliary tire 20. Since the reinforcing element 21 has a predetermined diameter, it is possible to prevent the automobile from overturning or losing its steering control, due to a sharp reduction in the diameter of the tubeless tire 200, which results from a puncture or damage of the tubeless tire 200. In particular, in the event of a puncture or damage of the tubeless tire 200, a contact between the rim portions 101 of the wheel 100and a road surface, and a damage of the tubeless tire 200, which may be caused when a wall portion or a tread portion of the tubeless tire 200 is inserted between the rim portions 101 and the road surface, can be fundamentally prevented.

Meanwhile, in a case where the tubeless tire 200 runs into a projection on the road while an automobile travels at high speed, the tubeless tire 200 may be extremely compressed, and destroyed when it exceeds an elasticity limit. However, since auxiliary tire means is incorporated into the tubeless tire 200, it is possible for the auxiliary tire 20 to support the tubeless tire 200 within the destruction limit, thereby preventing damage of the tubeless tire 200.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and many other variations and modifications and other uses within the range of equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the wheel and tubeless tire assembly according to the present invention can relieve impacts applied to a tubeless tire during rolling and can prevent the tubeless tire from being separated from rim portions of the wheel in the event of a tire puncture. Furthermore, the rim portions of the wheel can be prevented from directly contacting a road surface, thereby preventing an automobile from overturning or losing its steering control, and eventually avoiding a disastrous traffic accident. The wheel and tubeless assembly according to the present invention can be applied to various industrial applications, including aircraft and motorcycles as well as automobiles.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel and tubeless tire assembly comprising: a wheel having rim portions; a tubeless tire being combined with the wheel; and auxiliary tire means installed within the tubeless tire and having a reinforcing element with a diameter greater than that of an outer circumferential surface of the wheel, and a plurality of pressure elements supported by the reinforcing element and placed between the outer circumferential surface of the wheel, for pressing the reinforcing element in a radial direction by a compressed air injected thereinto.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the pressure elements further includes a communication path for connecting inner spaces together.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein wrinkles are formed on the outer circumferential surface such that the pressure elements expand or contract according to variations in the internal pressure.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing elements and the pressure elements are made of a composite resin.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure control valve installed on at least one of the pressure elements, the pressure control valve for controlling compressed air to be exhausted to the tubeless tire when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure elements supported by the reinforcing elements are arranged alternately with one another in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the reinforcing elements.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first air injection valve supported by the wheel for supplying highly pressurized air to at least one of the pressure elements.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one air path forming a communication path of air introduced through a second air injection valve installed on the at least one of the pressure elements or reinforcing elements, for supplying the air to the tubeless tire.