Re-inventing the wheel
The Air Suspension Wheel can achieve fuel savings due to lower rolling resistance which reduces toxic emission gases or extends battery range for EVS.
A US COMPANY IS REINVENTING THE TRUCK WHEEL with an alternative to rubber tyres.
Phoenix, Arizona-based Global Air Cylinder Wheels is continuing the development of its unique Air Suspension Wheel (ASW) which is constructed mostly out of steel.
Global Air Cylinder Wheels says the design represents the next generation of wheels for many industries, offering innovative environmental benefits, fuel saving, emission reduction, and EV battery extension.
It says the ASW is an eco-friendly, stronger, and safer alternative to the traditional rubber tyre and is up to 60% more economical over the lifetime of the wheel.
The ASW construction combines an inner steel hub with an outer steel drum which is connected by eight or 12 nitrogen-filled air cylinders and up to six oil-filled dampers that provide suspension and damping.
On the outer drum, individually bolt-on steel or polyurethane treads are fitted. These individual treads can be replaced without removing the wheel, a time-consuming process that takes up to eight hours with Off the Road (OTR) rubber tyres.
“Many industries operate under status quo, resistant to change,” says Dr. Zoltan Kemeny, president and CEO of Global Air Cylinder Wheels.
“Those companies that do adopt new technologies and embrace innovation will prosper. We provide a breakthrough multi-vertical highpotential technology. For end-users, it solves a real problem. For investors, it gives them a unique opportunity to invest in an old market.”
The mechanical wheel design can be adjusted to the payload, speed, sideload, size and weight requirements of a variety of applications.
Benefits include no overheating and the tyre can’t explode. There is less waste as only the part that wears off will be replaced and the construction makes use of more sustainable materials.
The company also says the treads of the ASW can be made with biodegradable materials.
The ASW also achieves fuel saving due to lower rolling resistance which reduces toxic emission gases or extends battery range for EVS.
Braking energy gets stored in the cylinders and gets returned to kinetic energy. The wheels have an estimated 10-15 years lifetime and are 100% recyclable..
The ASW technology has a strong patent portfolio with eight granted, and with 52 patents pending. The company has received multiple initial purchase orders and is expected to be fully commercialized within two years with rapid adoption into mining fleets.
“We are planning to have a commercially ready product for the mining market in Q1 2023 where the need is most urgent,” Kemeny says.
“Then followed by over-the-road applications such as cars, buses, and trucks. We are also looking to start developing other verticals next year.”
Global Air Cylinder Wheels has been developing the Air Suspension Wheel for OTR mining vehicles since 2016.
T&D