Improving the efficiency of a pneumatic tyre.

About the Idea

Pneumatic tyres have reached high levels of quality & reliability. A wide variety of tyres are available to suit various applications.
This project focusses on tyres for human powered vehicles - cycle rickshaws, bicycles, etc. The footprint of a tyre on the ground is very important as it is one of the factors that determine vehicle energy inputs. In human powered vehicles, this energy input is the pedalling energy. Bicycle & cycle rickshaw tyres continuously leak very small amounts of air, causing them to graduallly deflate. This means a bigger tyre contact area with the ground with the passage of time & more pedalling effort.
I have designed a "smart" tyre that will retain all the qualities of a pneumatic tyre, but does not change it's footprint, even when slightly deflated.
Hence, not only is the overall pedalling effort reduced - AT THE INITIAL STAGE ITSELF- by switching over to this tyre, the effort does not increase even when the tyre is not fully inflated.
It will be easier to pedal a bicycle fitted with these tyres & the inhuman effort required to pedal a cycle rickshaw will greatly decrease.
The idea, suitably modified for use in powered vehicles, will result in fuel saving & decreased pollution.
There will be fewer punctures.
The costs, in production, will increase by about 10%.

Idea Action Plan

The Idea's 30-Day Plan

1Information on tyre moulds

Dimensional drawings of the tyre will be sent to various tyre mould manufacturers for quotations.The quotations will be received & compared.
Located in:Punjab, Haryana

The Idea's 60-Day Plan

1Making the tyre moulds.

Visits to mould manufacturers. Finalisation of the mould order.Payment of advance, follow up, inspection of the final mould.Final payments.
Located in:Punjab, Haryana

The Idea's 120-Day Plan

1Field trials

Fitting of thr tyres on bicycles & cycle rickshaws.Comparative studies.If possible, measurement of operator fatigue.
Located in:Mumbai

How do you plan to utilize the grant

The bulk of the grant will be used to manufacture the tyre mould.Other expenses will include the moulding costs, trials, transportation, travel, etc

Who will this help Rise

Bicycles and cycle rickshaws are a poor man' s transport.They transport goods & material in the underdeveloped & developing countries.
By using these tyres the pedalling effort will reduce.Bicycle users & cycle rickshaw drivers will be less fatigued as lesser effort will be required to propel vehicles fitted with these tyres.

How will this help them Rise?

Users will find it easier to pedal human powered vehicles like bicycles & rickshaws. Rickshaw drivers would benefit greatly because of the lower effort. There will be very less strain on the health of the driver.
The tyres will be less prone to punctures.
The tyres will be affordable.

Idea Milestones

Pneumatic tyres are great.However,they leak very small amounts of air over a period of time.This results in the tyre making progressively larger footprints on the ground.In powered vehicles,this will increase fuel consumption, pollution.In human powered vehicles, since pedalling is involved, the rickshaw driver/cyclist will have to pedal harder & will soon get fatigued.My improved tyre design will retain an ideal footprint permanently.Same raw materials, manufacturing processes.

Idea Champion

Prasanna Pillai

Prasanna Pillai
Engineering consultant.

Idea Location

Mumbai, Maharashtra

This Idea Needs

Funding
₹1200000

Can you contribute any of the above?

Idea Keywords

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