JP4093305B2 - Tire / wheel assembly and run-flat support - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support, and more particularly to a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support used for the tire / wheel assembly that can promptly warn the driver of run-flat travel. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many technologies have been proposed in response to market demands that enable emergency traveling of several hundred km even when a pneumatic tire is punctured while the vehicle is traveling. For example, in JP-A-10-297226 and JP-T-2001-519279, a support is mounted on a rim inside a hollow portion of a rim-assembled pneumatic tire, and a punctured tire is supported by the support. The thing which enabled the run flat driving | running | working by this is proposed.
[0003]
The run-flat support body includes an annular shell having an open leg structure in which an outer peripheral side is a support surface and an inner peripheral side is opened, and elastic rings are attached to both leg portions. And is supported on the rim. This run-flat support has the advantage that it can be used without disruption to the market because it can be used as is without any special modifications to existing wheels / rims.
[0004]
By the way, when a tire punctures during running and runs into a flat run, in order to prevent an accident, it is necessary to notify the driver as soon as possible to call attention, and a countermeasure is required.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a tire / wheel assembly and a run-flat support that can promptly warn the driver of run-flat running.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The tire / wheel assembly of the present invention that achieves the above object has a run flat having an annular support surface that supports the inner surface of the pneumatic tire during run flat running in a hollow portion of the pneumatic tire mounted on the rim of the wheel. The run-flat support body has an outer peripheral side as the support surface, and an annular shell having an inner peripheral side that is bifurcated and a leg that is bifurcated on the rim. In the tire / wheel assembly comprising the elastic ring, the center of the support surface having a circular cross-sectional shape in the circumferential direction is aligned with the center of the inner peripheral surface of the elastic ring coincident with the wheel rotation center axis. by the center of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic ring to vary the height of the elastic ring so as to match the center of the bearing surface, is offset from the wheel rotation center axis, wheel of said support surface Changing the diameter of the rotation center axis on the circumference in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 mm, and the space portion of the tire meridian, which is formed between the run-flat support body and the pneumatic inner surface of the tire The cross-sectional area in the cross-section is characterized in that the maximum cross-sectional area is 2 to 10% larger than the minimum cross-sectional area .
[0007]
The run-flat support body of the present invention is a run-flat support body having an annular support surface that supports an inner surface of a pneumatic tire attached to a rim of a wheel during run-flat travel , wherein the outer peripheral side is supported by the support. The annular shell having a bifurcated leg on the inner peripheral side and an elastic ring for supporting the leg part having the bifurcated leg on the rim, and the circumferential cross-sectional shape is formed into a perfect circle The height of the elastic ring is adjusted so that the center of the inner surface of the elastic ring coincides with the center axis of the wheel rotation while the center of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic ring coincides with the center of the support surface. By changing the distance from the wheel rotation center axis, the diameter of the support surface from the wheel rotation center axis is changed within a range of 0.5 to 5.0 mm on the circumference , and the run-flat support body When The cross-sectional area of the tire meridian section of the space formed between the serial inner surface of a pneumatic tire, characterized in that as the maximum cross-sectional area is 2-10% greater of the minimum cross-sectional area.
[0008]
In this way, by changing the diameter of the support surface of the run-flat support body on the circumference, vibration can be generated when the inner surface of the pneumatic tire is supported by the support surface during run-flat travel, so that the driver It is possible to promptly warn that the vehicle is in a run-flat running state.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a meridian cross-sectional view showing the main part of a reference example of a tire / wheel assembly (wheel) of the present invention, wherein 1 is a wheel, 2 is a rim of the wheel 1, 3 is a pneumatic tire, and 4 is for a run flat. It is a support. The rim 2, the pneumatic tire 3, and the run-flat support 4 are annularly formed coaxially with the wheel rotation center axis O as the center, and the run-flat is formed in the hollow portion 3 A of the pneumatic tire 3 attached to the rim 2. A run-flat support 4 is provided to support the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 during travel.
[0011]
The run-flat support body 4 includes an annular shell 5 formed in an annular body from a rigid material such as metal or resin in order to support the vehicle weight via a punctured tire, and the annular shell 5 is stabilized against the rim 2. In order to support, it is composed of left and right elastic rings 6 and 6 formed from an elastic material such as rubber or elastic resin.
[0012]
The annular shell 5 is formed to have an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the inner surface 3a so as to keep a constant distance from the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3, and two convex curved surfaces 7a and 7a are formed on the outer circumferential side of the shell width. It has an annular support surface 7 in the direction. The support surface 7 is separated from the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 when the pneumatic tire 3 is normal, but supports the inner surface 3a that is crushed when punctured.
[0013]
On the inner peripheral side of the annular shell 5, both side walls are legged as leg portions 8 and 8, respectively, and elastic rings 6 and 6 are attached to the inner peripheral side. These elastic rings 6 and 6 support the annular shell 5 by fitting and abutting on the left and right rim seats 2a and 2a, reduce the impact and vibration received by the annular shell 5 from the punctured tire, and the rim seats 2a and 2a. The annular shell 5 is stably supported by preventing the slip. The inner diameters of the elastic rings 6 and 6 are formed to have substantially the same dimensions as the inner diameter of the bead portion of the pneumatic tire 3.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the convex curved surfaces 7a and 7a of the support surface 7 of the annular shell 5 have an elliptical cross-sectional shape, and have a diameter (length) from the wheel rotation center axis O. It is made to change on the lap. The cross-sectional shape may be an oval instead of an elliptical shape.
[0015]
The run-flat support 4 is assembled to the wheel 1 together with the pneumatic tire 3 while being inserted inside the pneumatic tire 3 to form a tire / wheel assembly. When this tire / wheel assembly is mounted on a vehicle and the pneumatic tire 3 is punctured while traveling, the punctured and crushed tire is supported by the support surface 7 of the run-flat support body 4. Enables run-flat driving.
[0016]
As described above, since the diameter of the support surface 7 of the run-flat support 4 is changed on the circumference, vibration is generated when the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 is supported by the support surface 7 during the run-flat travel. Therefore, it is possible to promptly alert the driver that the vehicle is in the run-flat running state.
[0017]
Moreover, since the cross-sectional area in the tire meridian section of the space 3B formed between the annular shell 5 and the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 changes on the circumference, it is possible to improve cavity resonance during normal running. .
[0018]
Moreover, when the run-flat support body 4 is fitted into the hollow portion 3A of the pneumatic tire 3, it can be fitted more easily than the one formed in a perfect circle by being inserted into the hollow portion 3A from the long diameter side. it can.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the run-flat support 4 used in the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, the convex curved surface 7a of the support surface 7 having a circular shape in the circumferential direction is shown. In 7a, the center X is offset from the wheel rotation center axis O, so that the diameter of the support surface 7 around the wheel rotation center axis O is changed on the circumference.
[0020]
Such a run-flat support 4 has a height of the elastic rings 6 and 6 fixed inside the annular shell 5 formed in a perfect circle, and the height of the inner peripheral surface 6a formed in a perfect circle in cross section. It can be easily obtained by making the center coincide with the wheel rotation center axis O and changing the center of the outer peripheral surface 6b to coincide with the center X of the convex curved surfaces 7a and 7a.
[0021]
Even in the tire / wheel assembly using the run flat support 4 as described above, vibration is generated when the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 is supported by the support surface 7 during the run flat running. Thus, it is possible to promptly warn that the run-flat running state has been reached, and to improve the cavity resonance during normal running.
[0022]
In the present invention, the diameter of the support surface 7 described above the difference A is changed within the range of 0.5 to 5.0 mm. If the difference A is smaller than 0.5 mm, it is difficult to generate vibration effectively. On the contrary, if it is larger than 5.0 mm, there is a possibility of giving an excessive vibration which is uncomfortable. Desirably, it should be about 2 mm.
[0023]
When the cavity resonance is improved as described above, the maximum cross-sectional area is the minimum cross-sectional area in the tire meridian section of the space 3B formed between the run-flat support 4 and the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3. to be 2-10% of the area increases. If this value is lower than 2%, it is difficult to effectively improve the cavity resonance. Conversely, if it exceeds 10%, excessive vibration is caused, which is not preferable.
[0024]
The annular shell 5 configured as described above is composed of a rigid material such as metal or resin as described above. Examples of the metal include steel and aluminum. Further, the resin may be either a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyphenylene sulfide, and ABS. Examples of the thermosetting resin include an epoxy resin and an unsaturated polyester resin. The resin may be used alone, or may be used as a fiber reinforced resin by blending reinforcing fibers.
[0025]
The rubber and elastic resin constituting the elastic rings 8 and 8 may be any rubber as long as the annular shell 5 can be stably supported. Examples of the rubber include natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and butadiene rubber. Examples of elastic resins such as butyl rubber include foamed resins such as foamed polyurethane.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the example of the annular shell 5 including the support surface 7 having the two convex curved surfaces 7a and 7a has been shown. However, the number of the convex curved surfaces may be one, or three or more. Also good. Preferably, as shown in the figure, two or more are formed so that the contact portions of the support surface 7 with the inner surface 3a of the pneumatic tire 3 are dispersed to two or more, and local wear applied to the inner surface 3a is reduced. In order to reduce, the continuous distance which enables run-flat driving | running | working can be extended.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention changes the diameter of the support surface of the run-flat support body from the wheel rotation central axis on the circumference, so when the inner surface of the pneumatic tire is supported by the support surface during the run-flat travel. Vibration can be generated to promptly warn the driver that the vehicle is in a run-flat running state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a meridian cross-sectional view of a reference example of a tire / wheel assembly of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory view showing a cross-sectional shape of a convex curved surface of a support surface.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a run-flat support used in the tire / wheel assembly of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheel 2 Rim 3 Pneumatic tire 3A Cavity part 3B Space part 3a Inner surface 4 Run-flat support body 5 Annular shell 6 Elastic ring 7 Support surface 7a Convex curved surface 8 Leg part A Difference O Wheel rotation center axis

Claims (2)

A run-flat support body having an annular support surface that supports the inner surface of the pneumatic tire during run-flat travel is disposed in the hollow portion of the pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel rim , and the run-flat support body has an outer periphery. in the inner bifurcated comprising a leg and an annular shell and open leg into the bifurcated shape with open leg and an elastic ring for supporting on the rim in the tire / wheel assembly as well as the side on the supporting surface, the circumferential direction The center of the support surface, which has a perfect circular cross-sectional shape, the center of the inner peripheral surface of the elastic ring coincides with the wheel rotation center axis, while the center of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic ring coincides with the center of the support surface by the changing the height of the elastic ring so that, by offsetting from the wheel rotation center axis, the range of 0.5~5.0mm a diameter on the circumference in from the supporting surface of the wheel rotation center axis In varying and the cross-sectional area of the tire meridian section of the space portion formed between the run-flat support body and the pneumatic inner surface of the tire, the maximum cross-sectional area is 2-10% greater of the minimum cross-sectional area as to the tire / wheel assembly. A run-flat support body having an annular support surface that supports the inner surface of a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim during run-flat travel , the outer peripheral side being the support surface and the inner peripheral side being bifurcated. The center of the support surface, which is formed by a legged annular shell and an elastic ring that supports the leg portion that is bifurcated leg on the rim, has a circumferential cross-sectional shape formed into a perfect circle, and the inner circumference of the elastic ring. The height of the elastic ring is changed so that the center of the surface coincides with the wheel rotation center axis while the center of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic ring coincides with the center of the support surface. Te, formed between the supporting surface of the diameter from the wheel rotation center axis is varied within a range of 0.5~5.0mm a peripheral on, and the run-flat support body and the pneumatic inner surface of the tire The That the cross-sectional area in the tire meridian section of the space, 2-10% larger way the run-flat support of the minimum cross-sectional area up to the cross-sectional area.

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