Replacing Rubber Tires With Pressurized Wheels

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #1, Page #02

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Global Air Cylinder Wheels (GACW), an Arizona startup, says it has reinvented the wheel.
While working for Volkswagen in 2011, principal investor Dr. Zoltan Kemeny - a professor, architect, seismologist and structural dynamic engineer - came to believe that the current design of wheels and tires is not efficient. Based on a napkin drawing, he patented his idea for a new wheel option and shelved it for later review.
Harmen van Kamp joined the company in 2016 and soon after the two men began actively marketing the concept. They located investors and completed testing.
“We have been granted six patents and have 72 international patents pending,” says van Kamp, GACW’s Global Sales SVP. “They cover any wheel on any type of vehicle. That includes wheelchairs, bicycles, cars, airplanes, racers, buses, trucks, OTR applications, ATVs and military equipment.”
Wheels are made of rigid solid steel in the outer drum covered with polyurethane treads around the perimeter. Mounting discs secure the wheel to the existing axle. Multiple nitrogen cylinders inside the wheels provide flexibility.
Van Kamp explains that the cylinders provide the needed suspension to control vibration and deflection like a rubber tire. Operating pressure is 2,300 psi, but the cylinders are rated for 10,000, allowing plenty of room for overloading, even in the harshest conditions.
“The nitrogen compressed cylinders are hugely beneficial as they provide an exponential rather than lineal suspension like rubber tires. They have a dampening and soothing effect on the drivetrain, axle and engine.”
He adds that the wheels are designed to offer up to 87,000 hours of use. Safety is a huge asset as cylinders bring the flexibility and strength of the wheel to the inside rather than having the flexible portion constantly touching the ground as rubber tires do.
“The wheels are 100 percent recyclable,” van Kamp says. “Only the removable treads need to be replaced although we’re working on an idea to use existing unrecycled rubber for treads. We also believe there will be a substantial amount of fuel savings when using the wheels. Conservative numbers say between 8 and 30 percent on hard road conditions with rolling resistance reduced by 60 to 70 percent. We’re in the process of proving these metrics with real data for our customers.”
In the future, GACW hopes to move from retrofits to designing equipment for any rim size, width, diameter, speed rating or payload.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harmen van Kamp, Global Air Cylinder Wheels, San Tan Corporate Center II, 3100 West Ray Road, Suite 201, Chandler, Arizona 85226 (ph 480-456-0999; sales@gacwheels.com; www.globalaircylinderwheels.com).

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Replacing Rubber Tires With Pressurized Wheels TIRES/WHEELS New Uses Global Air Cylinder Wheels GACW an Arizona startup says it has reinvented the wheel While working for Volkswagen in 2011 principal investor Dr Zoltan Kemeny - a professor architect seismologist and structural dynamic engineer - came to believe that the current design of wheels and tires is not efficient Based on a napkin drawing he patented his idea for a new wheel option and shelved it for later review Harmen van Kamp joined the company in 2016 and soon after the two men began actively marketing the concept They located investors and completed testing “We have been granted six patents and have 72 international patents pending ” says van Kamp GACW’s Global Sales SVP “They cover any wheel on any type of vehicle That includes wheelchairs bicycles cars airplanes racers buses trucks OTR applications ATVs and military equipment ” Wheels are made of rigid solid steel in the outer drum covered with polyurethane treads around the perimeter Mounting discs secure the wheel to the existing axle Multiple nitrogen cylinders inside the wheels provide flexibility Van Kamp explains that the cylinders provide the needed suspension to control vibration and deflection like a rubber tire Operating pressure is 2 300 psi but the cylinders are rated for 10 000 allowing plenty of room for overloading even in the harshest conditions “The nitrogen compressed cylinders are hugely beneficial as they provide an exponential rather than lineal suspension like rubber tires They have a dampening and soothing effect on the drivetrain axle and engine ” He adds that the wheels are designed to offer up to 87 000 hours of use Safety is a huge asset as cylinders bring the flexibility and strength of the wheel to the inside rather than having the flexible portion constantly touching the ground as rubber tires do “The wheels are 100 percent recyclable ” van Kamp says “Only the removable treads need to be replaced although we’re working on an idea to use existing unrecycled rubber for treads We also believe there will be a substantial amount of fuel savings when using the wheels Conservative numbers say between 8 and 30 percent on hard road conditions with rolling resistance reduced by 60 to 70 percent We’re in the process of proving these metrics with real data for our customers ” In the future GACW hopes to move from retrofits to designing equipment for any rim size width diameter speed rating or payload Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Harmen van Kamp Global Air Cylinder Wheels San Tan Corporate Center II 3100 West Ray Road Suite 201 Chandler Arizona 85226 ph 480-456-0999; sales@gacwheels com; www globalaircylinderwheels com

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