The Evolution and Development of Wheels

 

People would never be able to travel far without a wheel. Nothing can change the fact that the introduction of the wheel is among the biggest and the most revolutionary invention of the human. When anyone thinks about a wheel, then the first thing that comes to mind is a vehicle or travel. However, it is just a mere single function of this versatile item. From machinery to simple transportation, the wheel is the item used in almost everything.

The Invention of the First Wheel

Origination of the first wheel is still a debatable topic, but it was first discovered near 3500 BC. Some believe that the first wheel originated from Poland while others believe that it was Ukraine that came up with this world-changing invention. There is plenty of evidence that claims that Mesopotamia’s potters were the first to use the concept of a wheel in pottery.

Nothing without the Axle

Even though it is considered that the wheel is the most groundbreaking invention by humans, but it is still incomplete without simple equipment called Axle. Every wheel must have a hole in the middle to fit an axle around which the wheel can rotate freely. It may sound uncomplicated, but in reality, a lot of experiments were done to perfect this invention. The axle is the thing that ensures that the wheel rotates without any trouble.

Even after knowing that humans need to use an axle, it was complex to find the right type of axle. Some used thick axle, while others used thin ones. The problem with thick ones was that they lead to a lot of friction resulting in inefficiency whereas thin axles weren’t able to carry the load. In theory, an axle should be thin enough to reduce the weight, but strong enough to carry the load.

Early Uses of Wheel

Initially, the concept of a wheel was just limited to limited tasks including milling, pottery, and irrigation. It took centuries for humans to find out the most effective use of the wheel: transportation. After a few hundred years of using the first wheel, humans thought of using the same on chariots and the rest is history. The basic principle of using a wheel using an axle is applied to all the vehicles in the present time.

Wheel for Transportation

As mentioned above, even after the invention of the first wheel, it took several hundred years to use wheels to ease transportation. Wooden spoked wheels were first used by Egyptians in 2000 BC which is considered the breakthrough in using this invention. However, Greeks took their model one step forward and introduced cross-bar in wheels.

Using wood in the wheel was a good option but not a reliable one. Wood can easily be damaged, and roads were not perfect back in the time. Due to this reason, wood wheels were damaged easily. In 1000 BC, Celtic chariots started using iron rims. Iron rims were more stable as well as prone to small damages.

Making the Ride Softer

Iron rims were strong, but their inability to absorb shock resulting in a rough and bumpy ride. The solution found for this issue was using leather. It was a great way to reduce bump shocks and ensure a smooth ride. To make this part even better, leather was replaced by rubber. Wheels were covered with solid rubber without air, and they were highly effective at their job.

The first gasoline car was made by Benz in 1888 and it came with proper rubber tyres which were filled with air. These tyres were simple rubber with air-filled that evenly distributed the weight of the vehicle on the wheels. It was the year 1905 when the first tread tyres were used. Treads were great for road grip and boosted the friction coefficient of the vehicle.

All such tyres were made with natural rubber which caused damage to nature. The solution to this issue was found by DuPont Company which came up with synthetic rubber in 1931. Though these tyres were great in performance, the rising fuel pricing and poor fuel economy were the reasons automobile remain luxury. In the year 1947, the first tubeless tyre was made. These tyres were great in fuel efficiency and saved a lot of money as well.

In the 1950s, tyres came with carcass plies and cords that further enhanced the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Along with that, they had great road grip and control which made them the safest tyres on the road.

Present Time

Earlier, wheels only had rims that were poor at shock absorption. Since the introduction of tyres, the usage of wheels has become effective. Now transportation is impossible without the usage of wheels; be it road travel or air travel. Being an item of great importance, it is necessary to ensure that they are made with high quality and are safe for everyone.

With that thing in mind, many countries including India has started certifying tyres based on their quality so that they can be safe for driving. In India, every tyre model has to attain the BIS certification mark and meet the set standards by the BIS consultants delhi so that they can be sold in India. The only major motive is to keep the citizens safe and boost up the quality of the product.

Since the invention of the first wheel, humans have improved the design and added new factors to the wheel to make them more effective. The studies are still going to further enhance the wheel design and it is not going to stop till they are perfected.