SEMINAR ON,

AIRLESS TYRES

Satyanarayana Acharya

IntroductionParts of an Airless tireNeed For Airless TiresWorking of the Airless tireThe TweelAdvantages of Airless tiresDisadvantagesApplicationsCurrent developmentFuture of Airless tires

CONTENTS

For long, the practical tires used in day to day life are pneumatic, i.e. tires that are supported by internal air pressure.

These tires are filled with pressurized air inside tubes which are held inside the rubber tire.

So this raises problems like puncture, which are hard to cope up with.

In contrast, non-pneumatic tires or Airless tires are not supported by air pressure.

Airless tires have no tubes inside them, but they are not same as tubeless tires, since even they have pressurized air in them.

Parts of an Airless tire

In contrast non-pneumatic tires or Airless tires are not supported by air pressure.

Airless tires have no tubes inside them.

Airless tires consist of a 1. A deformable wheel2. Flexible spokes3. Sheer band4. Tread

A solid inner hub mounts to the axle. Hub surrounded by polyurethane spokes arrayed in a

pattern of wedgesA sheer band is stretched across the spokes, forming

the outer edge of the tire.

Pneumatic tires undergo puncture, which leads to failure of the wheel.

Blow out at high speed leads to accident.Variation in air pressure inside tube, thus

needs constant monitoring and caretaking.

Need For Airless Tires

Pneumatic tyres are not adaptable to large changes in temperature.

Maintenance is costly.

All these factors call for better tires which are free of punctures and air loss.

The spokes absorb road defects.The flexible tread and sheer bands deform

temporarily as the spokes bend.Cushioning effect is provided by sheer

band.

Working of the Airless tire

Tread comes in contact with road surface.Treads can be replaced.

Michelin is currently developing an integrated tire and wheel combination, called the "Tweel“.

The name is derived from "tire" and "wheel’’.

The wheel and the tire are combined into one new, fused part, that operates entirely without air.

The Tweel

Michelin claims its "Tweel" has load carrying, shock absorbing, and handling characteristics that are better than conventional pneumatic tires.

Other companies like Bridgestone and ‘resilient technologies’ are developing airless tires too.

Universities like the Clemson university are tying up with companies too research and develop airless tires.

No More Air Pressure Check, &No More Blow-outs.

Less Maintenance & Risk Free.

Low Mass.

High Payload Capacity.

Tyre Is Service-free.

Advantages of Airless tires

At high speeds it creates vibration thus generating noise & heat.

Driving long distance produce more heat.

Manufacturing is difficult and costly as of now.

Airless tires aren’t available commercially now.

Disadvantages

Airless tires perform very good at slow speeds, thus they are find a very important use in military vehicles.

They have high payload capacity, so they are used in construction equipment vehicles like bulldozers and trailers and excavators.

They are used in very critical situations where the tire should be puncture-free.

NASA used airless tires in its lunar rover.

Applications

Current developmentApart from military and utility airless tires

are being developed for civilian vehicles too.A Humvee with airless tires is to be released

in 2012.Segway released its concept “centaur” which

uses airless tires.

Segway’s Centaur

Bridgestone is its developing its own version of the Tweel

Michelin is testing it’s Tweel in an Audi A4.

Airless tires are being developed for motorcycles and bicycles too.

Airless tires are still in its initial developing stages.

Currently Airless tires are used in military and industry specific applications.

With the research and development being done by tire manufacturers now, we can soon expect Airless tires to replace conventional pneumatic tires.

Airless tires are costly to manufacture now, by once largely accepted, they will be affordable.

Future of Airless tires

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References

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