US firm releases self-inflating truck tyre

California-based company Aperia Technologies has unveiled an innovative system for maintaining optimal air pressure in truck tyres

Running the correct pressures in commercial truck tyres is crucial in terms of safety, wear rates and fuel economy, and one American company is tackling the issue head on with a clever system that auto inflates tyres to their optimal pressure.

Named the Halo Tire Inflator, the technology has come from California’s Aperia Technologies – a fledgling firm founded in 2010 by Stanford University mechanical engineering graduates Josh Carter and Brandon Richardson.

Released in the US in February, the system essentially sees a compact pump fitted within each truck hub, the pump self-inflating each tyre to the correct pressure when that pressure drops below the minimum required. The pump relies on centrifugal force for operation, negating the need for an air compressor.

Aperia Technologies says maintaining correct tyre pressures through using its Halo system will prevent blowouts, extend tyre life by around 15 per cent, and typically reduce fuel consumption by approximately 1.4 per cent – giving operators of large fleets in particular plenty to think about.

Said to work with drive and trailer axles and both dual or wide-base tyres, Carter says the system works on a similar principle to that of a self-winding watch, and that one Halo can be fitted relatively easily in around 10 minutes.

The company says it expects the Halo Tire Inflator to operate effectively for 10 years or 800,000km. The system has so far completed nearly 13,000,000km in on-road testing.

Aperia Technologies says the system is compatible with the vast majority of heavy-duty trucks and trailers, as well as buses, garbage trucks and box trucks.

The Halo Tire Inflator is priced at $US299 per unit. When contacted by Trucksales.com.au, a company spokesperson said that while Aperia Technologies is initially focussing on domestic orders, foreign interest in the product has been strong and exports to other markets will follow.

Visit www.aperiatech.com for more information but in the meantime check out the YouTube clip below...

US firm releases self-inflating truck tyre

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