Seminar Report on TWEEL

Submitted by

2K9255

SREEJITH P S

under the guidance of

Asst Prof. MADHU V V

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GOVT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING KANNUR- 670563 APRIL 2013

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING KANNUR- 670563

CERTIFICATE

05/04/2013 This is to certify that the Seminar Report entitled TWEEL is a bonafide work submitted by SREEJITH P S of 8th semester Mechanical Engineering in partial fulfillment of requirement for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from Kannur University.

Signature Asst Prof.MADHU V V

Signature Prof. T D JOHN

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It is our privilege to express our sincere gratitude to and deep indebtedness to the people who helped me to complete the seminar successfully. All glory and honors to God Almighty, who showered his grace upon me to make this endeavor a success. I am deeply grateful to Dr. K. C. Raveendranathan, Principal of Govt. College of Engineering, Kannur for providing me the opportunity to complete my seminar. I express my gratitude to Dr. T D John , Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government college of Engineering, Kannur for his valuable suggestions, advice and encouragement throughout this seminar. We are extremely grateful to Mr. Madhu V V, Assistant professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Kannur for the extensive help and guidance for the completion of the seminar. I also wish to express my gratitude to all our teaching and non-teaching staff of Mechanical Engineering Kannur for their valuable support and help. I also thank my parents and friends for their support and valuable suggestions. Lastly, I express my sincere thanks to all those who directly or indirectly have supported me in all the stages for the completion of my seminar.

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ABSTRACT

The Tweel is an experimental tire design developed by the French tire company Michelin. The tire uses no air, and therefore cannot burst or become flat. Instead, the Tweel's hub connects to flexible polyurethane spokes which are used to support an outer rim and assume the shock-absorbing role of a traditional tire's pneumatic properties. The Tweel consists of a cable-reinforced band of conventional tire rubber with molded tread, a shear band just below the tread that creates a compliant contact patch, and a series of energy-absorbing polyurethane spokes. The rectangular spokes can be designed to have a range of stiffnesss, so engineers can control how the Tweel handles loads. The inner hub contains a matrix of deformable plastic structures that flex under load and return to their original shape. By varying the thickness and size of the spokes, Michelin can generate a wide array of ride and handling qualities. The tread can be as specialized as any of today's tires and is replaceable when worn.

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CONTENTS
Title Page Certificate Acknowledgement Abstract Contents List of Figures Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PNEUMATIC TIRES 1.2 DRAWBACKS OF PNEUMATIC TIRES 1.3 WHY REINVENT THE WHEEL? Chapter 2 Chapter 3 TIRE + WHEEL PARTS OF TWEEL 3.1 TREAD 3.1.1 TREAD PATTERN 3.2 DEFORMBLE WHEEL 3.2.1 VARIOUS HUB DESIGNS 3.3 Chapter 4 FLEXIBLE SPOKES AND SHEAR BAND i ii iii iv v vi 1 1 2 2 4 5 6 7 9 9 10 11 11 15 15 17 19 20 23 24

POLYURETHANE POLYMER 4.1 4.2 POLYURETHANE STRUCTURE MANUFACTURING 4.2.1 DISPENSING EQUIPMENT

Chapter 5 Chapter6 Chapter7 Chapter8

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES APPLICATIONS CONCLUSION REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE NAME

Fig.1.1 Fig.3.1 Fig.3.2 Fig.3.3 Fig.3.4 Fig.3.5 Fig.4.1 Fig.4.2 Fig.4.3 Fig.5.1 Fig.7.1 Fig.7.2 Fig.7.3 Tweel Part of Tweel Tire Tread Tread Pattern Deformable Wheel Hub Design Polyurethane Synthesis Polymerization Manufacturing Equipments Tweel Advantage iBOLTs and Segways NASAs Lunar Rover and in Audi A4 Constructional and Military Application

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