TWEELTWEEL

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY,,

jithintv@gmail.comMECHANICALMECHANICAL

GEC CALICUT’ 09GEC CALICUT’ 09

INTRODUCTION TO TYREINTRODUCTION TO TYRE

Tyre is an annular torridal shaped Tyre is an annular torridal shaped inflatable envelope made of an elastic inflatable envelope made of an elastic material, natural or synthetic rubber or a material, natural or synthetic rubber or a blend reinforced with textile cord ply fabric blend reinforced with textile cord ply fabric carcass (or steel for some ranges of radial carcass (or steel for some ranges of radial ply tyre) enclosing a bead rings.ply tyre) enclosing a bead rings.

TYPES OF TYRESTYPES OF TYRES

Tyres in general are of two typesTyres in general are of two types

Pneumatic tyre (air filled)Pneumatic tyre (air filled)

&&Non-pneumatic tyre (airless tyres)Non-pneumatic tyre (airless tyres)

WHY AIRLESS TYRES ?WHY AIRLESS TYRES ?Pneumatic tires do have drawbacksPneumatic tires do have drawbacks The main problem, of course, is that a The main problem, of course, is that a

puncture of the tire results in total failure. puncture of the tire results in total failure. A blowout at high speeds can lead to a A blowout at high speeds can lead to a

dangerous car accident.dangerous car accident. Variations in air pressure and tire Variations in air pressure and tire

performance. performance. Susceptible to changes in temperature.Susceptible to changes in temperature. A harder ride at low speeds on rough A harder ride at low speeds on rough

roads. Lower grip at low speedsroads. Lower grip at low speeds

TWEELTWEELInnovative design by MICHELIN.Innovative design by MICHELIN.

It was introduced in 2005 at DETRIOT motor show.It was introduced in 2005 at DETRIOT motor show.

The name is a combination of the words tire and The name is a combination of the words tire and wheel.wheel.

Basically an airless tyre.Basically an airless tyre.

TWEEL(CONTD)TWEEL(CONTD)

Tweel is a shock-absorbing rubber tread Tweel is a shock-absorbing rubber tread band that distributes pressure to dozens of band that distributes pressure to dozens of flexible polyurethane spokes. The spokes flexible polyurethane spokes. The spokes in turn are supported by an aluminum in turn are supported by an aluminum center. center.

Because the Tweel is airless, it is more Because the Tweel is airless, it is more rugged than a pneumatic tire and never rugged than a pneumatic tire and never goes flat."goes flat."

TWEEL(CONTD)TWEEL(CONTD) The first automobile to use air-filled tyres The first automobile to use air-filled tyres

was a racecar built by André and Édouard was a racecar built by André and Édouard Michelin in the early 1890's.Michelin in the early 1890's.

Now, after decades spent persuading the Now, after decades spent persuading the world to ride on air, the Michelin company world to ride on air, the Michelin company has begun work on an innovative non-has begun work on an innovative non-pneumatic concept.pneumatic concept.

Engineers at MATC here envision a future Engineers at MATC here envision a future in which vehicles would ride on what they in which vehicles would ride on what they call the Tweel, that could never go flat call the Tweel, that could never go flat because it contains no air. because it contains no air.

TWEEL DESIGNTWEEL DESIGN

Consists of mainly four partsConsists of mainly four parts

TreadTreadSheer bandSheer bandPoly urethane spokePoly urethane spokeDeformable wheelDeformable wheel

TWEEL DESIGNTWEEL DESIGN The Tweel consists of a cable-reinforced The Tweel consists of a cable-reinforced

band of conventional "tyre" rubber with band of conventional "tyre" rubber with molded tread, a shear band just below the molded tread, a shear band just below the tread that creates a compliant contact tread that creates a compliant contact patch, and a series of energy-absorbing patch, and a series of energy-absorbing polyurethane spokes.polyurethane spokes.

The rectangular spokes can be designed The rectangular spokes can be designed to have a range of stiffnesses, so to have a range of stiffnesses, so engineers can control how the Tweel engineers can control how the Tweel handles loads.handles loads.

PARTSPARTS

TreadTread –rubber tread made of specially reinforced –rubber tread made of specially reinforced elastomeric material.elastomeric material.

Sheer band-Sheer band- rectangular in cross section. rectangular in cross section. Made of fibers embedded in a resin matrix.Made of fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Reduces inter laminar sheer.Reduces inter laminar sheer.

PARTS (CONTD)PARTS (CONTD)

Deformable wheelDeformable wheel- consists of spokes.- consists of spokes. Spokes oppose radial compressive stressSpokes oppose radial compressive stress And stabilizes relative position.And stabilizes relative position.Polyurethane Spokes-Polyurethane Spokes- Polyurethane- diisocynate +polyolPolyurethane- diisocynate +polyol Rectangular pattern wedges.Rectangular pattern wedges. Spokes- injection molded.Spokes- injection molded. Basically low density flexible compound.Basically low density flexible compound. Spokes are capable of absorbing shocksSpokes are capable of absorbing shocks

WORKING WORKING

When the Tweel is put to the road, the When the Tweel is put to the road, the spokes absorb road impacts the same way spokes absorb road impacts the same way air pressure does in pneumatic tires.air pressure does in pneumatic tires.

The tread and sheer bands deform The tread and sheer bands deform temporarily as the spokes bend, then temporarily as the spokes bend, then quickly spring back into shape. quickly spring back into shape.

Tweels can be made with different spoke Tweels can be made with different spoke tensions, allowing for different handling tensions, allowing for different handling characteristics. characteristics.

TESTINGTESTING

For testing, Michelin equipped an Audi A4 For testing, Michelin equipped an Audi A4 with Tweels made with five times as much with Tweels made with five times as much lateral stiffness as a pneumatic tire, lateral stiffness as a pneumatic tire, resulting in very responsive handling.resulting in very responsive handling.

On a skid-steer equipped with Michelin On a skid-steer equipped with Michelin TWEEL, the driver felt fewer bumps and TWEEL, the driver felt fewer bumps and less vibration. Driving precision and tread less vibration. Driving precision and tread wear are also optimized.wear are also optimized.

DISADVANTAGES OF TWEELDISADVANTAGES OF TWEELAbove 50mph the tweel vibrates Above 50mph the tweel vibrates

considerably and produces unpleasantly considerably and produces unpleasantly loud noise.loud noise.

Long distance driving at high speeds Long distance driving at high speeds produces excessive heat.produces excessive heat.

Spikes strip wont work on tweel.Spikes strip wont work on tweel.New tyre balancing & mounting equipment New tyre balancing & mounting equipment

has to be used in auto repair shops which has to be used in auto repair shops which is a major obstacle to the broad adoption is a major obstacle to the broad adoption of these tyres.of these tyres.

APPLICATIONSAPPLICATIONS

"Our concentration is to enter the market "Our concentration is to enter the market with lower-speed, lower-weight Tweel with lower-speed, lower-weight Tweel applications. What we learn from our early applications. What we learn from our early successes will be applied to Tweel successes will be applied to Tweel fitments for passenger cars and beyond."fitments for passenger cars and beyond."

-Michelin--Michelin-

APPLICATIONS (CONTD)APPLICATIONS (CONTD)

Tweel is used for low speed, low weight Tweel is used for low speed, low weight applications such asapplications such as

Wheel ChairsWheel ChairsMilitary vehiclesMilitary vehiclesConstruction equipmentConstruction equipmentScooters etcScooters etcLunar Wheel for NASA Lunar RoverLunar Wheel for NASA Lunar Rover

APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN WHEEL CHAIRWHEEL CHAIR

APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN MILITARY VEHICLESMILITARY VEHICLES

APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN APPLICATION OF TWEEL IN CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENTCONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

APPLICATIONS OF TWEEL APPLICATIONS OF TWEEL (AUDI A4)(AUDI A4)

APPLICATIONS OF TWEEL IN APPLICATIONS OF TWEEL IN NASA LUNAR ROVERNASA LUNAR ROVER

AWARDSAWARDS

Best Invention 2005, TIME Best Invention 2005, TIME Magazine. Magazine.

Michelin Tweel becomes Lunar Michelin Tweel becomes Lunar Wheel for NASA Lunar Rover. Wheel for NASA Lunar Rover. February, 2009. February, 2009.

FUTURE AND BEYONDFUTURE AND BEYOND

TWEEL researches are going on.TWEEL researches are going on.

Super tweel – More advanced version of Super tweel – More advanced version of tweel is on research with modified design.tweel is on research with modified design.

It rectifies all the disadvantages of tweel. It rectifies all the disadvantages of tweel. Data gathered from Tweel research will aid Data gathered from Tweel research will aid

in development of future models for public.in development of future models for public.

FUTURE AND BEYOND…FUTURE AND BEYOND…

Michelin has planned all the design Michelin has planned all the design flaws to be corrected by the year flaws to be corrected by the year 2016, so that it may appear in future 2016, so that it may appear in future car models.car models. Expect to see Tweel on Expect to see Tweel on the market in 10 years.the market in 10 years. In future MICHELIN expects that In future MICHELIN expects that TWEEL may reinvent the way that TWEEL may reinvent the way that vehicles move.vehicles move.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Because of the advantages of tweel it Because of the advantages of tweel it can be used as an alternative to the can be used as an alternative to the present pneumatic tyres once the present pneumatic tyres once the problems associated with it are resolved. problems associated with it are resolved. Checking tyre pressure, fixing flats, Checking tyre pressure, fixing flats, highway blow-outs , balancing between highway blow-outs , balancing between traction and comfort ,tweel could make traction and comfort ,tweel could make them all fade into memory.them all fade into memory.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU