DEVELOPMENT OF RUN-FLAT CAPABILITY FOR AIRCRAFT TIRES

RODGARD'S 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ENGINEERING, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING OF RUN-FLAT SYSTEMS FOR MILITARY, GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A STATE-OF-THE-ART RUN-FLAT SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT TIRES WHICH WILL: (1) NOT DEGRADE TIRE DURABILITY OR PERFORMANCE DURING NORMAL TAKEOFF, LANDING, AND TAXI OPERATIONS; (2) NOT CHANGE THE EXTERNAL SHAPE, SIZE OR VOLUME OF EXISTING TIRE; (3) BE EASY TO INSTALL AND REQUIRE NO MAINTENANCE DURING NORMAL OPERATION; AND (4) PROVIDE A BACKUP LOAD CARRYING CAPABILITY SUITABLE FOR AT LEAST ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING WITH LITTLE LOSS OF PNEUMATIC CHARACTERISTICS ONCE THE TIRE CASING HAS BEEN VIOLATED. THE RUN-FLAT UNIT WILL BE AN INSERT TYPE WHICH FITS TIGHTLY ON THE WHEEL USING A PATENTED TWO-PIECE DESIGN. THE DEVICE WILL BE A MOLDED ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT MADE OF POLYESTER ELASTOMERS. THIS MATERIAL HAS HIGH STRENGTH, IS ENERGY ABSORBING AND LIGHTWEIGHT WITH STABILITY OVER A WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE. THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED IS THAT WHICH HAS PRODUCED RUN-FLAT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED RIGOROUS TESTING BY THE MILITARY AND PRIVATE SOURCES.