Hollow tire and method of making same
A tire comprising a continuous channel defined by spaced apart sidewalls coupled at a first end to a bridging member and at a second end to a contact member that is coupled to a disc contact portion, said tire being formed by rotational molding of a polyurethane and configured for mounting on a wheel rim.
1. A seeder tire comprising:
a first sidewall spaced apart from a second sidewall, whereby the first sidewall has a base portion and an opposing end and an L-shaped cross section between the base portion of the first sidewall and the opposing end of the first sidewall, and the second sidewall has a base portion and an opposing end and an L-shaped cross section between the base portion of the second sidewall and the opposing end of the second sidewall; a contact member extending from the opposing end of the first sidewall to the opposing end of the second sidewall; a bridging member extending from the base portion of the first sidewall to the base portion of the second sidewall; a central axis; and a sidewall structure extending outwardly away from the contact member and the second sidewall to a disc contact portion of the sidewall structure;
whereby the sidewalls, contact member and bridging member define a hollow channel;
whereby the L-shaped cross section of the second sidewall comprises a leg that continuously increases in cross-sectional thickness as it extends laterally away from the central axis; and
whereby the seeder tire has a homogeneous single-piece construction made of one or more polyurethane compounds.
2. A method of making the seeder tire of claim 1 , whereby the seeder tire is formed by rotational molding of the one or more polyurethane compounds.
3. The tire of claim 1 , whereby the one or more polyurethane compounds are one or more thermoset polyurethane compounds.
4. The tire of claim 1 , whereby the one or more polyurethane compounds are one or more thermoplastic polyurethane compounds.
5. The tire of claim 1 , whereby the first sidewall, second sidewall, contact member and bridging member have thicknesses ranging from 0.225 inches to 0.4 inches.
6. The tire of claim 1 , whereby the first sidewall, second sidewall, contact member and bridging member have thicknesses ranging from 0.3125 inches to 0.4 inches.
7. A seeder tire comprising:
a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a contact member, a bridging member, a central axis; and a sidewall structure
whereby the first sidewall is spaced apart from the second sidewall, the first sidewall has a base end and an opposing end and an L-shaped cross section between the base end of the first sidewall and the opposing end of the first sidewall, and the second sidewall has a base end and an opposing end and an L-shaped cross section between the base end of the second sidewall and the opposing end of the second sidewall;
whereby a contact member connects the opposing end of the first sidewall to the opposing end of the second sidewall;
whereby the bridging member connects the base portion of the first sidewall to the base portion of the second sidewall;
whereby a sidewall structure extends from the contact member and the second sidewall, the sidewall structure having a disc contact portion;
whereby the sidewalls, contact member and bridging member define a hollow channel;
whereby the L-shaped cross section of the second sidewall comprises a leg that continuously increases in cross-sectional thickness as it extends laterally away from the central axis; and
whereby the seeder tire has a homogeneous single-piece construction made of one or more polyurethane compounds.
8. The tire of claim 7 , whereby the one or more polyurethane compounds are one or more thermoset polyurethane compounds.
9. The tire of claim 7 , whereby the first sidewall, second sidewall, contact member and bridging member have thicknesses ranging from 0.225 inches to 0.4 inches.
10. The tire of claim 9 , whereby the first sidewall, second sidewall, contact member and bridging member have thicknesses ranging from 0.3125 inches to 0.4 inches.