14 patents in this list

Updated:

Tire design innovations are essential for increasing the load capacity of equipment and vehicles that frequently move large loads.

Tires that can sustain heavy weights without sacrificing performance or safety are essential for use in the commercial, agricultural, and construction industries.

 

This page looks at new developments in tire technology that are meant to increase load capacity without sacrificing efficiency or durability.

1. Reinforced Support Structure for Non-Pneumatic Tires to Enhance Load Capacity and Durability

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, 2023

Resilient, reinforced support structure for non-pneumatic tires that improves durability and load transmission. The support has a curved, flexible membrane connecting the inner and outer joints. The curved shape allows the support to flex and absorb impacts while maintaining radial stiffness. The joints connect to tire components like hubs and tread bands.

2. Shape Memory Alloy Spring Tire for Enhanced Load Capacity and Traction

The SMART Tire Company Inc., 2023

A spring tire that provides improved load-carrying capacity, climbing ability, flotation, and traction compared to previous non-pneumatic tires. The tire uses shape memory alloy springs in the main body, tread, and bump stop. The tread has variable stiffness springs to create uneven deflection and form tread lugs when pressured. The bump stop contacts the rim to prevent over-deflection. The springs are interconnected to distribute the load around the rim. This allows top and bottom loading for increased capacity. The tire also has a spoked rim and integrated lugs for weight reduction.

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3. Enhanced Load-Carrying Pneumatic Tire with Improved Rolling Resistance

BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION, 2023

High-strength, load-carrying pneumatic tire with low rolling resistance for small shuttles and other vehicles. The tire has an outer diameter of 350-600 mm and a belt layer to support high loads. It also contains a rubber compound with a mercaptocarboxylic acid compound to improve rolling resistance (fuel efficiency) and rubber strength. The tire design allows for a large rim diameter relative to the outer diameter to maximize load capacity while saving space.

4. Enhanced Load Transfer Mechanism in Non-Pneumatic Tires through Optimized Shear Band Design

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

An improved shear band design for non-pneumatic tires provides a cost-effective, lightweight, and low heat-generating load transfer mechanism. The shear band is made of yarns arranged in a lattice-like pattern. The yarns are oriented at different angles to optimize load transfer and shear resistance. This lattice structure allows the shear band to deform primarily in shear rather than bending, which reduces stress and heat generation. The yarns can be made of high-strength materials like aramids or polyethylene to provide the necessary tensile strength.

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5. Truck Tire with Enhanced Crown Durability for Increased Load Capacity

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

A truck tire with improved crown durability and increased load-carrying capacity. The tire has a tread with a thicker center rib section compared to the shoulder sections. This provides a stronger crown area for better durability and load-carrying capacity.

6. Truck Tire with Enhanced Crown Durability and Load Carrying Capacity

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

A truck tire with improved crown durability and increased load-carrying capacity. The tire has a new tread pattern with unique features like multiple circumferential ribs and wide grooves to increase the contact area with the road. This provides better traction and reduces wear. The wider grooves also help with heat dissipation, which improves durability. Additionally, the tire has a reinforced crown area with thicker rubber to handle higher loads.

7. Truck Tire with Angled Belt Reinforcement for Enhanced Load Capacity and Durability

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

A truck tire design with improved load-carrying capacity and durability. The tire has a tread, sidewalls, and beads. It features a belt reinforcement structure under the tread, with two angled working belts and a zigzag belt. The belts are oriented at angles of 10-50 degrees from the circumferential direction. This configuration allows the tire to carry heavier loads without excessive tread wear, providing improved crown durability.

8. Reinforced Bead Design for Enhanced Heavy-Duty Truck Tire Endurance

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, 2023

Bead design for heavy-duty truck tires to improve endurance and prevent carcass damage. The bead features a contention armature that overlaps itself on the outer side of the bead core rod. This overlapping armature provides additional reinforcement and prevents relative movement between the bead core and rubber components, reducing stress on the carcass and increasing bead endurance.

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9. Reinforced Non-Pneumatic Tire Design for Enhanced Load Capacity and Durability

Patrick F. KING, Christopher MAST, John DUTY, Keven C MILES, Ronald Hobart PSON, Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, 2023

The invention is a non-pneumatic tire (NPT) with improved load-carrying capacity, damage tolerance, and speed capability compared to previous NPT designs. It achieves this through a reinforced annular beam that supports the load and extends radially inward to a thermoplastic elastomer annular support and rim. The annular beam is reinforced to prevent excessive deflection. The annular support is molded after the beam to create prestrain when it contracts upon cooling. This prestrain prevents excessive deflection under load. The rim lacks reinforcement to allow radial deflection.

10. Non-Pneumatic Tire with Load-Carrying Spokes for Enhanced Durability and Load Capacity

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly provides a long-lasting, efficient, and comfortable alternative to traditional pneumatic tires that can go flat. The non-pneumatic tire has an outer flexible tread band with a grid of load-carrying spokes inside. The spokes are made of a material having a higher stiffness than the tread band. This allows the spokes to support the load and carry it like a traditional pneumatic tire, while the tread band provides contact with the road. The non-pneumatic tire can be molded in one piece for simplicity and cost efficiency.

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11. Pneumatic Tire Design with Reinforced Crown and Flexible Shoulders for Enhanced Load Capacity

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

A pneumatic tire for vehicles like trucks that has improved durability and load-carrying capacity. The tire has a tread with a crown region and shoulder region. The crown region is reinforced with additional rubber material to increase its durability. The shoulder regions have a lower rubber thickness to allow for more flexing and deformation, which increases the tire's load-carrying capacity. The combination of strengthening the crown and allowing more flex in the shoulders enhances the tire's overall durability and load capacity.

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12. Aircraft Tire with Enhanced Cut and Puncture Resistance for Heavy Load Conditions

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

Aircraft tire with improved cut and puncture resistance for heavy load and high-speed conditions. The tire has a cut/puncture-resistant breaker layer between the crown reinforcement and tread. The breaker layer is made of parallel monofilaments inclined at 0-10 degrees to the equatorial plane. This configuration protects against cuts and punctures without sacrificing ride comfort or tire life.

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13. Helically Angled Spoke Structure for Non-Pneumatic Wheel/Tire Assembly with Enhanced Load Capacity

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023

Non-pneumatic wheel/tire assembly with a spoke structure that supports a vehicle without relying on air pressure like traditional tires. The spoke structure consists of radially extending closed cavities and alternating radially extending openings. These cavities and openings are helically angled relative to the wheel axis. Under load, the flexible wheel ring can deflect vertically, while the part of the spoke structure adjacent to the ring also deflects vertically due to the helical angle. This vertical deflection allows the spoke structure to support the load without buckling.

14. Dual-Strand Reinforced Tire Cord for Enhanced Load Capacity and Flexibility

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, 2023

A reinforced tire cord that balances strength and flexibility while allowing good elastomer penetration. The cord has an internal strand surrounded by an external strand. The external strand is wound in the opposite direction to the internal strand. The external strand has an incomplete layer - the outer wires don't touch. This creates gaps for elastomer to penetrate between the strands. The internal strand's wires have larger diameters towards the center to help elastomer flow. The cord is used in heavy-duty vehicle tires.

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New developments in tire design show how much progress has been made in increasing load capacity in a variety of applications. The issues of carrying enormous loads while maintaining safety and performance are addressed by these innovations through the integration of new materials and structural systems.