GB2149362A

GB2149362A - Tyre tread cover band

Info

Publication number: GB2149362A
Application number: GB08426680A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pedro Carlos Segismund Clamans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-21
Filing date: 1984-10-22
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: JPS60185605A; CA1237051A; IT8423218A1; IT8423218A0; IT1178583B; AR231097A1; BR8405388A; AU574729B2; FR2553719A1; AU3457084A; GB8426680D0; DE3438838A1

Abstract

The cover is a band of elastomeric material 1 comprising a thicker central part (2), which has a grooved tread surface (7) and contains reinforcing crosspieces (8) and (9), and lateral parts (3) and (4) which rest on the flanks of the tyre. The edges (11) of the lateral parts each contain a supporting cord (14) and part (9) of the reinforcing cross-pieces extends from one cord (14) to the other. The cover band may be endless or may comprise interlocking sectors. The cover band is used to restore a worn tyre or to adapt a tyre for different terrain by providing a different type of tread. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device to be installed on a tyre to cover it and act as a tread This invention concerns a device to be installed on a tyre to cover it and act as the tread. It main purpose is to provide an element which, when fitted onto a tyre, will prolong its useful life in a simple manner.

As is known, the grooves on tyres become worn with use. These grooves are the design of the treads, and when their depth diminishes to a given extent the tyre loses its grip and must be replaced.

Likewise, usage under certain conditions, as for example, on marshy terrain, makes it necessary to resort to specific designs of the grooves of the treads in order to obtain the necessary traction. It may also be necessary to resort to the use of special devices, such as chains, by means of which the traction of a normal tyre is enhanced.

The subject of the invention is a device that may be installed on a tyre to restore the tread, both when its traction is reduced as a result of wear and when it is necessary to resort to grooves of suitable design for specific conditions of the terrain.

The invention provides a device to be fitted over a tyre to cover and fulfill the functions of the tread, comprising an elongate band of elastomeric material in which there are distinct parts: a central part and two lateral parts, the central part being thicker and having a surface for resting on the tread of the tyre, its opposite surface being grooved according to a design, and having, between both surfaces, a reinforcing cross-piece, while the lateral parts have a surface for resting on part of the flanks of the tyre and an opposite smooth surface, part of the reinforcing cross-piece extends between both lateral surfaces and said lateral parts ending in an edge along which extends a means of supporting the edge that includes as its active element a cord, surrounded by said parts of the reinforcing cross piece.

The band may be of an endlessly circular configuration, the means of support being constituted by a circumferentially winding cord.

The band may be of an openly circular configuration, the means of support being constituted by an openly circumferential winding core that extends beyond the ends of the band and ends in means for reciprocally linking its terminal zones.

The band may be substantially flat and flexible, the means of support being constituted by a tubular piece within which can be lodged said cord having at its ends means for reciprocally joining them.

The band may have the shape of a circular sector, the means of support being constituted by a tube within which is lodged a cord; each end of the sector may have mutually engaging overlaps.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective and cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is, likewise, a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section view of a band according to the invention, showing the manner in which it is installed on an ordinary tyre; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is also a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, and Figure 6 is a top-view of a variant of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5.

In all the Figs, the same references are used to indicate similar or corresponding parts of the device according to the invention. The device includes an elongate band of elastomeric material 1, which has a central part 2 and two lateral parts 3 and 4, the central part 2 being the thicker of them, with a smooth surface 5, which rests against the tread of a tyre 6, and an opposite grooved surface 7, which grooves form a design that makes it adhere to the surface on which the device is to roll.

Between both surfaces 5 and 7 there is a reinforcement of plastics or metallic textile material formed by the layers 8 and 9. The lateral parts 3 and 4, which are thinner than the central part 2, have a smooth surface 10 which rests on part of the flanks of the tyre 6, as can be seen in Fig. 3, and an opposite surface which is also smooth, as can be seen in the Figs. Part of the reinforcement contained in the central part 2 extends between both lateral surfaces, shown as 1 3. The reinforcement formed by the layers 8 and 9 can extend in a continuous manner along the band of elastomeric material 1, or it can be discontinuous, and the same is true of the extensions 1 3.

The lateral parts 3 and 4 end in a thickened edge 11 along which a means of support 1 2 of same extends, surrounded by the continuations 1 3 of reinforcement 9.

In this manner the reinforcements formed by layers 8 and 9 and the extensions 1 3 form a joining cross-piece between the means of support 12, thereby providing unity to the whole, without taking away from its necessary flexibility.

The band of elastomeric material 1 can be flat, as can be seen, in which case the means of support 1 2 is a longitudinal tubular piece that runs along each edge 11, within which a cord 14 is threaded, once the band is adapted to the tyre 6, as can be seen in Fig. 3. Once the band 1 has been arranged over the tyre 6, the cord 14 is joined at its ends by the use of any suitable linkage which is not part of the invention.

The band 1, as shown in Fig. 2, can be, in a first embodiment of an endless circular configuration, with an internal diameter suitable to be fitted over the tyre 6, resting its surface 5 against the tread of same and the surface 10 of its lateral parts 3 and 4, against part of the flanks of the tyre 6. In this form, the means of support is a cord, although, since the cord is a circumferentially winding cord, the longitudinal tubular piece is dispensed with.

As is shown in Fig. 4, the band 1 can be, in a second embodiment, of an openly circular configuration, which makes it easier to fit it over the tyre. The means of support, as in the preceding embodiment, is only a cord which, as can be seen in Fig. 4, is an openly circumferential winding cord, extending beyond the ends of the band and terminating in any suitable means of reciprocal linkage tht is not included in this invention.

In another embodiment, that is especially appropriate for changing the tread on agricultural or road machinery, the band 1 can be a circular sector, such as that illustrated in Figs.

5 and 6, and this sector may be of a suitable extension so as to act as a filler strip to compensate for uneven wear in the tyre treads.

In this case the means of support 12 is a longitudinal tubular piece that runs along each edge 11, within which is threaded a cord to support the sector over the tyre.

At the terminal ends of the sector engaging overlaps 1 5 are provided which, through reciprocal joining means, allow the sectors to be linked with each other.

It may be necessary to peal the shell of the tyre 6 whose tread is to be restored, in order to place over the shell the device according to the invention, in which case an adhesive is interposed between the pealed shell and the surface 5 of the device.

Claims

1. A device to be fitted over a tyre to cover and fulfill the functions of the tread, comprising an elongate band of elastomeric material in which there are distinct parts: a central part and two lateral parts, the central part being thicker and having a surface for resting on the tread of the tyre, its opposite surface being grooved according to a design, and having, between both surfaces, a reinforcing cross-piece, while the lateral parts have a surface for resting on part of the flanks of the tyre and an opposite smooth surface, part of the reinforcing cross-piece extends between both lateral surfaces and said lateral parts ending in an edge along which extends a means of supporting the edge that includes as its active element a cord, surround by said parts of the reinforcing cross-piece.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the band is of an endless circular configuration, the means of support being a circumferentially winding cord.

3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the band is of an openly circular configuration, the means of support being an openly circumferential winding cord that extends beyond the ends of the band, terminating in means of reciprocal linkage of its terminal zones.

4. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the band is substantially flat and flexible, the means of support being a tubular piece within which a cord is lodged said cord having at its ends means for reciprocal linkage of its terminal zones.

5. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the band is formed of circular sectors, the means of support being a tube within which a cord is lodged, said cord having at its ends means of reciprocal linkage of its terminal zones.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein from the ends of the sector project corresponding overlaps provided with means by which they interlock with each other.

7. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A tyre including a device as claimed in any preceding claim.