SEMINAR ON,

AIRLESS TYRES

Satyanarayana Acharya

 Introduction Parts of an Airless tire Need For Airless Tires Working of the Airless tire The Tweel Advantages of Airless tires Disadvantages Applications Current development Future of Airless tires

 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.

 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. 2. 3. 4.

A deformable wheel Flexible spokes Sheer band Tread

 A solid inner hub mounts to the axle.

Hub surrounded by polyurethane spokes arrayed in a

pattern of wedges A 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.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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 arent available commercially now.

 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.

 Apart 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.

Segways Centaur

 Bridgestone is its developing its own version of the

Tweel Michelin is testing its 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.

 http://www.digitalnewsagency.com

http://gizmodo.com
http://www.autoevolution.com http://www.gizmag.com

Wikipedia
Google images

Thank you