EP1767178A1 - Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem - Google Patents

Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1767178A1
EP1767178A1 EP05020625A EP05020625A EP1767178A1 EP 1767178 A1 EP1767178 A1 EP 1767178A1 EP 05020625 A EP05020625 A EP 05020625A EP 05020625 A EP05020625 A EP 05020625A EP 1767178 A1 EP1767178 A1 EP 1767178A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame
caster
mainframe
drive wheel
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05020625A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Cheng-Ho Hsu
Ruei-Hong Huang
Yuch-Ying Lee
Tsung-Hsi Shih
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kwang Yang Motor Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Kwang Yang Motor Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kwang Yang Motor Co Ltd filed Critical Kwang Yang Motor Co Ltd
Priority to EP05020625A priority Critical patent/EP1767178A1/de
Publication of EP1767178A1 publication Critical patent/EP1767178A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/04—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven
    • A61G5/041—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type
    • A61G5/043—Mid wheel drive
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/06—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, kerbs or steps
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
    • A61G5/1078—Parts, details or accessories with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a wheelchair, and more particularly to a wheelchair suspension.
  • a conventional suspension disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0060748 A1 is incorporated in a wheelchair 100, and has two side frame assemblies 1, each of which includes a front caster assembly 11, a rear caster assembly 12, a linkage 13, a drive wheel 14, a driving unit 15 and a return spring unit 16.
  • the front caster assembly 11 includes a front mainframe 112, a front caster frame 113 extending downwardly from a front end of the front mainframe 112, a drive wheel frame 114 extending downwardly from a rear end of the front mainframe 112, and a front caster 115 disposed pivotally on a lower end of the front caster frame 113.
  • the rear caster assembly 12 includes a rear mainframe 122, a front connecting frame 123 extending downwardly from a front end of the rear mainframe 122, a rear caster frame 124 extending downwardly from a rear end of the rear mainframe 122, and a rear caster 125 disposed pivotally on a lower end of the rear caster frame 124.
  • the rear mainframe 122 cooperates with the front mainframe 112 to support a seat 300.
  • the linkage 13 has two ends connected respectively and pivotally to the front caster frame 113 and the front connecting frame 123.
  • the drive wheel 14 has a diameter greater than those of the front and rear casters 115, 125, and is disposed pivotally on the corresponding drive wheel frame 114.
  • the driving unit 15 includes an electric motor 151 installed on the corresponding drive wheel frame 114 and operable to rotate the corresponding drive wheel 14.
  • the return spring unit 16 includes a front spring 162 interconnecting the corresponding front mainframe 112 and the corresponding front connecting frame 123, and a rear spring 162' interconnecting the corresponding drive wheel frame 114 and the corresponding rear mainframe 122.
  • the front and rear springs 162, 162' are stretched so as to allow the front caster 115 to rise relative to the drive wheel 14 and the rear caster 125.
  • the front and rear springs 162, 162' return to their original shapes so as to allow the front caster 115 to contact a top surface of the obstacle 200.
  • the load ratios of the front casters 115, the rear casters 125 and the drive wheels 14 are respectively 18.9%, 11.6% and 69.5%; after the front casters 115 surmount the obstacle 200 and before the drive wheels 14 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 115, the rear casters 125 and the drive wheels 14 are respectively 16.9%, 26.8% and 56.3%; after the front casters 115 surmount the obstacle 200 and when the drive wheels 14 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 115, the rear casters 125 and the drive wheels 14 are respectively 21.4%, 34.2% and 44.4%; after the drive wheels 14 surmount the obstacle 200 and before the rear casters 125 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 115, the rear casters 125 and the drive wheels 14 are respectively 9.9%, 24.6% and 65.5%; after the drive
  • the load ratio of the front casters 115 is only 0.3%. Since load ratio is proportional to the anti-tip and supporting ability of a wheel or caster, the wheelchair 100 tends to tip or become unstable after the drive wheels 14 surmount the obstacle 200, and when the rear casters 125 contact the obstacle 200.
  • the object of this invention is to provide a wheelchair suspension that includes a front caster, which is connected to other elements in a specific manner so as to have a large load ratio, thereby promoting the anti-tip and supporting ability of the front caster.
  • a side frame assembly for a wheelchair suspension includes a mainframe, and a front caster frame connected pivotally to both a front end of the mainframe and a front caster.
  • a return spring is disposed between the front caster frame and the mainframe so as to bias the front caster to a predetermined position.
  • a drive wheel assembly includes a drive wheel frame, a drive wheel disposed pivotally on the drive wheel frame, and a driving unit operable to rotate the drive wheel.
  • a linkage is connected pivotally to the mainframe, the front caster frame and the drive wheel frame.
  • a rear caster assembly includes a rear caster frame attached to a rear end of the mainframe, and a rear caster disposed pivotally on the rear caster frame.
  • a wheelchair suspension of this invention is incorporated in an electric wheelchair, and includes two side frame assemblies. Because the two side frame assemblies are similar in construction to each other, the structure and operation of only one side frame assembly will be described.
  • a side frame assembly 2 of the preferred embodiment of a wheelchair suspension according to this invention includes a mainframe 3, a front caster assembly 4, an inclined return spring 5, a drive wheel assembly 6, a linkage 7 and a rear caster 8.
  • the mainframe 3 has a front connecting section 311, a rear connecting section 312, and a middle section 313 interconnecting the front and rear connecting sections 311, 312 and supporting a seat (not shown) thereon.
  • the front caster assembly 4 includes a front caster frame 41 and a front caster 42.
  • the front caster frame 41 has an upper end connected pivotally to a front end of the front connecting section 311 of the mainframe 3 at a first pivot point (P1), and a lower end connected pivotally to the front caster 42.
  • the return spring 5 is configured as a coiled compression spring that has a rear upper end fastened to the front connecting section 311 of the mainframe 31, and a front lower end fastened to the front caster frame 41. As such, the return spring 5 biases the front caster 42 to a predetermined position relative to the mainframe 3.
  • the drive wheel assembly 6 is disposed behind the front caster assembly 4, and includes a drive wheel frame 61, a drive wheel 62 disposed pivotally on the drive wheel frame 61, and a driving unit 63 including an electric motor 631 operable to rotate the drive wheel 62.
  • the linkage 7 includes a generally horizontal front link 71 and an inclined rear link 72.
  • the front link 71 has a front end connected pivotally to the front caster frame 41 at a second pivot point (P2), and a rear end connected pivotally to an end of the drive wheel frame 61 at a third pivot point (P3).
  • the drive wheel frame 61 extends rearwardly and downwardly from the third pivot point (P3).
  • the first pivot point (P1) is disposed in front of and above the second pivot point (P2).
  • the rear link 72 extends forwardly and downwardly from the mainframe 3, and has a front end connected pivotally to the rear end of the front link 71 at the third pivot point (P3), and a rear end connected pivotally to the front connecting section 311 of the mainframe 3 at a fourth pivot point (P4).
  • the rear caster assembly 8 includes a rear caster frame 81 attached fixedly to a rear end of the rear connecting section 312 of the mainframe 3 at an upper end thereof, and a rear caster 82 disposed pivotally on a lower end of the rear caster frame 81.
  • the return spring 5 when the front caster 42 climbs over an obstacle 200 in the wheelchair's path, such as a stair, the return spring 5 is compressed. After the front caster 42 surmounts the obstacle 200, the return spring 5 returns to its original shape so as to bring the front caster 42 into contact with a top surface of the obstacle 200, thereby preventing the tipping of the electric wheelchair.
  • a radius of each of the front and rear casters 42, 82 of 75mm a distance between the axles of the front and rear casters 42, 83 of 668mm, a radius of the drive wheel 62 of 130mm, a person sitting on the electric wheelchair weighing 70 kilograms, and a total weight of the remaining portion of the electric wheelchair supported by the drive wheel 62 and the front and rear casters 42, 82 of 74 kilograms.
  • the angle changes of the seat of the electric wheelchair incorporating the suspension of this invention are smaller than those of the conventional wheelchair shown in Fig. 1, regardless of the height of the obstacle 200. As such, the anti-tip effect of the wheelchair suspension is increased.
  • the load ratios of the front casters 42, the rear casters 82 and the drive wheels 62 are respectively 27.9%, 11.9% and 60.2%; after the front casters 42 surmount the obstacle 200 and before the drive wheels 42 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 42, the rear casters 82 and the drive wheels 62 are respectively 17.6%, 26.7% and 55.7%; after the front casters 42 surmount the obstacle 200 and when the drive wheels 62 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 42, the rear casters 82 and the drive wheels 62 are respectively 22.3%, 34.3% and 43.4%; after the drive wheels 62 surmount the obstacle 200 and before the rear casters 82 contact the obstacle 200, the load ratios of the front casters 42, the rear casters 82 and the drive wheels 62 are respectively 25.9%, 36.9% and 37.2%; after the drive
  • the load ratios of each of the front casters 42, the rear casters 82, and the drive wheels 62 are in all instances greater than 10%, thereby resulting in an increase in the anti-tip and supporting ability of the wheel or caster. This improves the safety and comfort of the electric wheelchair when encountering an obstacle.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
EP05020625A 2005-09-22 2005-09-22 Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem Withdrawn EP1767178A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05020625A EP1767178A1 (de) 2005-09-22 2005-09-22 Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05020625A EP1767178A1 (de) 2005-09-22 2005-09-22 Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1767178A1 true EP1767178A1 (de) 2007-03-28

Family

ID=35745995

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05020625A Withdrawn EP1767178A1 (de) 2005-09-22 2005-09-22 Rollstuhlaufhängungssystem

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1767178A1 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8177257B2 (en) 2007-05-08 2012-05-15 Eric Dugas Wheelchair base
US8210556B2 (en) 2005-08-18 2012-07-03 Sunrise Medical Hhg, Inc. Midwheel drive wheelchair with independent front and rear suspension
US8851214B2 (en) 2010-07-15 2014-10-07 Permobil Ab Electric mid-wheel drive wheelchair
CN109823443A (zh) * 2019-03-19 2019-05-31 浙江欣奕华智能科技有限公司 一种带有防倾覆结构的机器人底盘

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6129165A (en) * 1996-07-03 2000-10-10 Pride Mobility Products, Corporation Curb-climbing power wheelchair
US20040060748A1 (en) * 2001-10-10 2004-04-01 Molnar James H. Wheelchair suspension
US20050077714A1 (en) * 2003-10-08 2005-04-14 Mulhern James P. Anti-tip system for wheelchairs

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6129165A (en) * 1996-07-03 2000-10-10 Pride Mobility Products, Corporation Curb-climbing power wheelchair
US20040060748A1 (en) * 2001-10-10 2004-04-01 Molnar James H. Wheelchair suspension
US20050077714A1 (en) * 2003-10-08 2005-04-14 Mulhern James P. Anti-tip system for wheelchairs

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8210556B2 (en) 2005-08-18 2012-07-03 Sunrise Medical Hhg, Inc. Midwheel drive wheelchair with independent front and rear suspension
US8177257B2 (en) 2007-05-08 2012-05-15 Eric Dugas Wheelchair base
US8851214B2 (en) 2010-07-15 2014-10-07 Permobil Ab Electric mid-wheel drive wheelchair
US9320661B2 (en) 2010-07-15 2016-04-26 Permobil Ab Electric mid-wheel drive wheelchair
CN109823443A (zh) * 2019-03-19 2019-05-31 浙江欣奕华智能科技有限公司 一种带有防倾覆结构的机器人底盘

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