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Innovative wheel for vehicles that predictably increases grip when taking a curve.

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: TOES20170623001
Publication Date: 26 June 2017

Summary

A Spanish SME specializing in the development of innovative products for the automotive and mobility industry has designed and patented an innovative wheel for vehicles that predictably increases grip when taking a curve. The company is looking for partners to develop a prototype of the wheel in order to carry out field tests, evaluations and product demonstrations. For this purpose it offers technical cooperation and financial agrements.

Description

The SME from Southern Spain specializing in the development of innovative products for the automotive and mobility industry has designed and patented a wheel for vehicles that due to its innovative design predictably offers a greater grip in the curves than the ones currently available in the market. 



The current wheels do not fully grip the road when making a turn. Certainly, when a vehicle enters a curve part of the tread of the tire loses direct contact with the asphalt of the road which causes loss of grip and, therefore, loss of stability. In case the asphalt is wet or in not good condition the loss of the tire grip in the curves can lead to skidding and, even worse, to accidents such as run-off-roads, falls (in the case of two-wheeled vehicles), etc.



The wheel patented by the company allows the entire surface of the tire to be in contact with the asphalt when the vehicle makes a turn in a curve. This is achieved thanks to the innovative design of the wheel structure which is made up by several moving independent parts radially placed on the outside of the rim which pivot individually on a perpendicular axis when taking a curve. This allows the moving independent parts to be completely in contact with the asphalt when making a turn in a curve and, therefore, a predictably greater grip on the asphalt. Furthermore, the mechanism of this wheel allows the moving independent parts to exert some pressure on the asphalt, beyond that exerted by the weight of the vehicle. This is expected to add more tire grip to the asphalt while keeping the vehicle more stable in the curves.



This wheel can be used in all types of vehicles: motorcycles, cars, bicycles, agricultural vehicles, etc.



Having designed and patented this innovative product, the company wants to develop a prototype in order to carry out field tests, evaluations and demonstrations to potentially interested groups such as drivers' clubs. For this purpose the company would like to find partners, with technical and/or financial capacity, which highly value the market potential of this innovative product and are willing to take on financial risk. Consequently, the company believes that the most appropriate types of cooperation agreements are:



-Technical cooperation.

-Financial.



The first type of agreement would be offered to industrial partners specialized in the automotive and the mobility industry. The second type of agreement would be offered to private investors.

Advantages and Innovations

The main innovation of this wheel is that it is formed by a set of moving independent parts between the tread area and the rest of the wheel. It allows, when taking a curve, that the tread zone that is in contact with the asphalt to remain parallel to the road –and so in contact with the whole width of the tread zone´s surface-, regardless of the inclination of the wheel.



The main advantages expected from this wheel are as follow:



-It increases the grip in the curves.

-It better fits the road irregularities.

-It improves braking efficiency.



In addition, this wheel is anti-puncture.



Therefore, this innovative wheel is expected to significantly increase safety of drivers, particularly in adverse driving conditions (e.g.: wet road surfaces, roads in poor condition, etc).

Stage Of Development

Concept stage

Requested partner

Regarding the types of partner sought by the company, they are as follow:



-SMEs manufacturers of parts and components for the automotive and the mobility industry. 

-Private equity investors (corporate credit).



The first type of partner would be in charge of the manufacture of the wheel prototype, by providing technical, human and financial resources. The second type of partner would support the development of the prototype of the wheel by providing loans (corporate credit) to the company.