Irrigation Tire

Abstract

A non directional pneumatic tire is provided for an agricultural irrigation system. The tire includes first and second side walls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber. A non directional tread pattern is defined on the tire and includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions are arranged in first and second rows extending from the first and second side walls toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternate with each other and there is a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with or overlaps another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to tires and to non-directional tires used in agricultural settings. More specifically, but without limitation, the present invention relates to non-directional pneumatic tires designed to support agricultural irrigation systems.[0003]2. Technical Background[0004]The development of specific tires to fill a specific need for various wheeled devices is well known in the art. Most of this focus has been directed at the development of tires for vehicles, such as automobiles, wherein those tires are designed to spend a great majority, if not all, of their useful life on paved surfaces.[0005]Another area of conventional tire development is the “off-road” tire that is used on various “off-road” vehicles such as trucks, SUV's, and similar vehicles, where those “off-road” vehicles spend most of their time on paved surfaces and a smaller portion of their time on non-paved surfaces. However,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a special tire designed to support an agricultural irrigation system. The tire has raised tread patterns with longitudinal and circumferential lugs. These lugs provide resistance to the surface and improve tire performance and traction. Additionally, the tire design reduces contact pressure with the surface. In summary, the patent describes a tire that improves efficiency and performance for agricultural applications.

Problems solved by technology

These prior art tires have several drawbacks for vehicles that spend any significant amount of time moving in both forward and backward directions.

For example, these prior art tires result in an uncomfortable and turbulent movement to the vehicle supported by those prior art tires when moved in a reverse direction.

A majority of this turbulence is due to the specific tread pattern on these prior art tires and the orientation of the various elements, commonly referred to as lugs, on the tread pattern.

A substantial portion of agricultural devices, such as tractors, trailers, crop planting devices, crop harvesting devices, and the like, are used in locations, such as agricultural fields, when it is undesirable for the agricultural device to substantially alter the ground upon which they move.

More importantly, tires so designed, can shorten the tire and wheel installation time required for the agricultural apparatus.

These types of tires can be very heavy and damage the ground upon which the irrigation system traverses.

Also, these irrigation tires do not contemplate altering the composite of the tires to specifically protect the tires against the weathering elements to which the tires are exposed during their useful life.

This needed tire is lacking in the art.

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