HOW IT WORKS
WHAT IS THE AIR SUSPENSION WHEEL®?
REINVENTION OF THE WHEEL
The Air Suspension Wheel® (ASW) is literally the re-invention of the wheel. It is a revolutionary new design replacing the extremely polutive Off-the-Road (OTR) rubber mining tires.
LASTS AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE
Off-The-Road rubber mining tires in general only last six to nine months due to their intensive use. On the other hand, Air Suspension Wheels® are engineered to last as long as the vehicle itself and therefore save up to 60% in costs. They are also safer, stronger, and are 100% recyclable.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The ASW combines an inner steel hub with an outer steel drum which are connected by twelve nitrogen filled air cylinders and six oil filled dampers that provide suspension. On the outer drum, individually bolt-on steel or polyurethane treads are fitted. The bolt-on treads are individually replaceable.
'The ASW is easily the largest innovation in the OTR/truck space since the introduction of the radial tire over 20 years ago.'
Brownfield Engineering, Australia
INDESTRUCTIBLE
High Strain Ductile Steel
The inner wheel and outer tire structures are made from high performance ductile steel which both have been welded and bolted together to withstand extreme conditions. The Air Suspension Wheel® has been engineered with a 100 to 200% safety factor.
High Performance Nitrogen Cylinders
The nitrogen cylinders interconnecting the rim and drum have bidirectional movement and have a rated pressure of 2,500 PSI and a burst pressure of 10,000 PSI. The cylinders are hermetically sealed against mud, dust, rocks, and water. Additionally the cylinders have internal lubrication and are sealed with high performance elastomeric seals.
Solid Polyurethane or Steel Treaded Shoes
The solid treaded shoes are designed to last three to five times longer than OTR tires. They do not overheat and there is little deformation, moreover, there is no sensitivity to uneven tread wear.
The ASWs can be outfitted with PU treaded shoes with a hardness range from Duro A55 to D85. Fire retardant treaded shoes are also available.
The ASWs can be outfitted with PU treaded shoes with a hardness range from Duro A55 to D85. Fire retardant treaded shoes are also available.
MINIMAL MAINTENANCE
With minimal maintenance, the ASW lasts as long as the vehicle does.
The cylinders need a yearly check with the seals designed to last three years. The air cylinders are designed to last ten years, and the wheel’s mud seal is designed to last four years.
The bolt-on polyurethane treaded shoes are individually mounted and are easily replaced during a fuel stop. For specific application such as loaders that go near furnaces, steel treads can be supplied, making the wheel high heat resistant.
The cylinders need a yearly check with the seals designed to last three years. The air cylinders are designed to last ten years, and the wheel’s mud seal is designed to last four years.
The bolt-on polyurethane treaded shoes are individually mounted and are easily replaced during a fuel stop. For specific application such as loaders that go near furnaces, steel treads can be supplied, making the wheel high heat resistant.
NO OVERHEATING, NO BLOWOUTS
The steel structure conducts the heat away from the treaded shoes. There is negligible heat generation by the tread compression/decompression.
ASW therefore cannot explode or overheat, making it safe for workers and eliminating downtime due to tire failure.
ASW therefore cannot explode or overheat, making it safe for workers and eliminating downtime due to tire failure.
EASY TRANSPORTATION
The larger Air Suspension Wheel® with rim sizes R51, R57, and R63, can be cut in three segments so therefore up to three wheels can fit in a standard ISO shipping container, reducing the cost of transportation.
BETTER THAN RUBBER OTR TIRES IN EVERY ASPECT
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LOWEST PROJECTED COST PER HOUR: SAVE UP TO 60%
Amortized over ten years, the Air Suspension Wheel® reduces the cost per hour up to 60%. Maintenance cost includes cylinder servicing and tread replacements.
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SAFEST WHEEL IN THE INDUSTRY: NO OVERHEATING; NO BLOWOUTS
The Air Suspension Wheel® cannot explode or overheat, making it safe for workers and eliminating downtime due to tire failure.
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MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WHEEL
The Air Suspension Wheel® is environmentally friendly and 100% recyclable upon it’s well earned retirement.
LOWEST COST PER HOUR
Air Suspension Wheels® have the lowest projected cost per hour in the industry. The projected cost per hour saving is up to 60% in comparison to regular OTR tires because:
LASTING
The ASW structure is engineered to last as long as the vehicle itself. The ASW can be leased and amortized over 10 years with a 15% residual value.
DOWNTIME REDUCTION
The ASW is self-aligning, self-balancing, and there is no need for rotation.
FUEL SAVINGS
Potential 3 to 6% fuel savings because:
- The hub leads the wheel
- The cylinders store braking energy
- Smaller ground contact area reducing rolling resistance
- The hub leads the wheel
- The cylinders store braking energy
- Smaller ground contact area reducing rolling resistance
REDUCED TRANSPORTATION COST
ASW can be shipped segmented in an ISO container, reducing transportation cost. There are no environmental regulatory cost involved.
SAFEST WHEEL IN THE INDUSTRY
MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WHEEL
81% OF RUBBER OTR TIRES ARE DISPOSED ON-SITE
One (1) giant rubber Off-The-Road (OTR) mining tire weighing 13,000 lbs contains 500 gallons of renewable blend oil, 4,000 pounds of carbon black, 2,000 pounds of steel, and over 3 million cu. ft. of synthetic gas (Titan International, June 2014).
At the end of its useful life, OTR tires are frequently buried or burned on-site because recycling is often too expensive,
releasing harmful chemicals and heavy metals into groundwater and air.
A report by Tyre Stewardship Australia produced in June 2020 found that 81% of OTR tires are disposed of on-site at the end of their lifetime.
At the end of its useful life, OTR tires are frequently buried or burned on-site because recycling is often too expensive,
releasing harmful chemicals and heavy metals into groundwater and air.
A report by Tyre Stewardship Australia produced in June 2020 found that 81% of OTR tires are disposed of on-site at the end of their lifetime.
RUBBER TIRES ACCOUNT FOR 10% OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE WORLD’S OCEANS
A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, estimated that tires account for as much as 10% of overall microplastic waste in the world’s oceans.
TOO MANY BENEFITS TO MENTION THEM ALL
Lower Costs
- Reduces cost per hour/mile by 40-55%
- Saves at least 8% fuel
Safer
- No risk of explosion
- No tire related accidents
Less Maintenance
- Easy installation requiring no specialized equipment and individually replaceable treads do not require wheel removal
- Wheel maintenance done together with the vehicle´s regular maintenance interval
- Self-aligning, self-balancing, no wheel rotation necessary
- No need for tire pressure and temperature checks
- Less strain on axle, transmission and engine
Better Performance
- Up to 40% higher payload capacity
- Can safely be overloaded by 25%
- Durable and heat resistant, reduces downtime caused by tire failure and replacement
- Better traction and reduced skidding risk
- Reduced non-suspended weight
- Functions as a flexible torque coupler
- Larger than R63 wheels possible
- Complete customizable wheels according to client´s specific conditions
eco-friendly
- 100% recyclable - no harmful chemicals are released into the environment
- Reduced CO2 and NOX emissions because of 30% lower rolling resistance
Engineered To Last As Long As The Vehicle
The Air Suspension Wheel changes an unreliable and unsafe consumable
into a predictable, safe, and eco-friendly capital asset.
into a predictable, safe, and eco-friendly capital asset.