WO2003034968A1

WO2003034968A1 - Motorised chair which is steered by an accompanying person

Info

Publication number: WO2003034968A1
Application number: PCT/ES2002/000466
Authority: WO
Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzales Alemany; José Mendiolagoitia Juliana; Iñigo LANDA MAYOR; Juan Domingo Gonzalez Pantiga; Iñigo Maria NARVAEZ Y VEGA DE SEOANE
Original assignee: Ingenieria Y Desarrollo De Equipos Moviles, S.L.
Priority date: 2001-10-24
Filing date: 2002-10-03
Publication date: 2003-05-01

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheelchair which is steered by an accompanying person. The inventive chair comprises a seat, a frame, a power storage system, a control system, a pushing element with a control device, a driving shaft with a geared motor and additional wheels. The invention is characterised in that the power from the geared motor is transmitted to the driving wheels via a differential and the additional idler wheels rotate around the axis thereof and an axis that is essentially perpendicular to the ground. In this way, the wheelchair can be rotated when the accompanying person exerts a force on the pushing element.

Description

MOTORIZED CHAIR CONDUCTED BY THE OBJECT COMPANION

The present invention relates to a motorized wheelchair designed for those who need the assistance of a companion to travel. This chair provides important advantages in terms of the simplicity of its control, while maintaining the general performance of existing motorized chairs. It also greatly reduces product costs.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Different solutions are already known to motorize wheelchairs that are driven by a companion, among which we can mention as more important:

1. Manual-powered wheelchairs to which a subset of the engine and detachable center wheel are added, attached to the chair frame normally at the rear. An example of such solutions is found in US Patent 5,113,959.

2. Electric propulsion wheelchairs, which can be driven by the user and / or the passenger. These types of chairs use 2 independent motors, one for each wheel. The directionality of the chair is achieved thanks to the electronic control system, which rotates both driving wheels differently. There are different variants of chairs, depending on the position of the driving wheels. Nowadays many manufacturers make chairs of these characteristics. As an example we will mention the POWERTEC range of Sunrise Medical. * ..

- two -

DESCRIPTION

The wheelchair of the present invention is composed of a seat, a frame with 2 wheels that rotate freely with respect to its axis and with respect to an axis perpendicular to the ground, and two other wheels that rotate with respect to its axis thanks to the action of a gearmotor; an energy storage system, which in the preferred configuration is a battery system; a control system for, among other possible functions, varying the speed of the gearmotor and operating a braking system; a control system for the passenger to control the functions of the chair; and a pusher.

Compared to the systems described in point 2 above, this chair has a single motor, which transmits its power to the wheels through a reducer and a differential. This avoids the complex control system necessary in the current chairs to make a turn with the chair, which is really only necessary for the chair to be directed by the user himself.

In the wheelchair of the present invention, the rotation of the chair is easily accomplished by the action of the passenger on the pusher, thanks to the differential that connects the two driving wheels, and the free rotation of the other two wheels on the perpendicular axes down. In this way you get a much cheaper chair, and much easier to handle by the companion.

Although in the preferred configuration, the drive axle of the chair will be the rear axle, configurations with the central drive axle, or with the front drive axle are also possible. The chair of the present invention facilitates the companion the task of raising and lowering obstacles, thanks to the power transmitted to the wheels at the time of climbing, or the automatic braking that occurs when the control button is released. In addition, when controlled by the passenger, this chair does not require any anti-tip device, which in the case of the electric chairs described in section 2 above, prevents these chairs from being placed by a passenger in the "horse" position suitable to be able to climb obstacles.

Although in the preferred configuration, individual drive wheels will be mounted, other configurations are also possible in which the engine power is transmitted to groups of wheels, or even one in which the power is transmitted to a rubber tracks that facilitate overcoming of obstacles (stairs, ...)

The wheelchair of the present invention has means for releasing the driving wheels of the existing brake on the motor shaft, thus allowing its handling as if it were a manual wheelchair, if necessary.

Another novelty of the present invention is the configuration of the frame, consisting of a single curved tube making a "C", which allows an additional suspension for the wheelchair user.

Compared to the systems added to manual chairs, this wheelchair provides much greater performance, in terms of autonomy, stability, resistance of the chair and transmitted power. Additionally, a chair of these characteristics can be provided with a rear platform, which in its preferred configuration, although not limited, will be supported on two wheels that rotate freely around its axis, and one more wheel that rotates freely around its axis and around an axis perpendicular to the ground. Naturally, other configurations are possible, with only two wheels, or with more than 3 wheels.

Said platform can be attached to the chair described above by means of a system of joints and / or kneecaps that allows the movement of the platform with respect to the chair in all directions of the space, although preferably keeping the platform's distance fixed to the point of union with respect to the chair. By way of example, the connection could be made by means of a biarticulated bar, with the axes of the joints parallel to the axes of the driving wheels. In turn, this biarticulated bar could rotate with respect to an axis perpendicular to the floor near the driving axis of the chair, and with respect to an axis parallel to the floor at the joint to the platform. Many other configurations are possible, without changing the concept of the platform described here.

This platform allows the passenger to go at the same speed of the wheelchair without effort, which facilitates the handling of it.

In the preferred configuration of the present invention, this platform can be easily disassembled from the wheelchair, or it can be elevated, being held by the appropriate means in an upright position behind the seat, which facilitates both access to elevators and crossing obstacles Of course, you can also make a folding platform, or any other design that allows the platform to be removed when it does not want to be used.

In summary, the wheelchair of the present invention is specifically designed to be operated by a companion, having adequate motorization, and, optionally, a platform for transporting the passenger, and provides the following advantages:

• Simplicity of control and handling thanks to the differential that acts on the driving wheels.

• It is a lower cost solution than conventional electric chairs adapted for passenger handling.

• Significantly increases passenger comfort thanks to the rear platform, which allows you to move effortlessly.

• Increase the safety of use by avoiding obstacles and ramps with respect to other solutions.

All the exposed characteristics, as well as the operation of the wheelchair of the present invention, will be set forth in greater detail below, with the help of the attached drawings, in which a non-limiting embodiment example is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a wheelchair constituted in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is an isometric view of the frame of a wheelchair according to the present invention, containing the wheels, the gearmotor, the batteries and the control system.

Figure 3 is a schematic of the driving axle of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a symmetrical view of a passenger platform, for use in a motorized wheelchair driven by the passenger

Figure 5 is a detail of a possible connection between the platform and the wheelchair.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a wheelchair with the vertical platform at the back of the seat.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a platform with only two wheels, attached to the chair by a kneecap.

In figure 1 an isometric view of a wheelchair can be seen, which includes a seat (1), with footrests (2) and armrests (3); a frame (4); and a pusher (5) with a console (6) with the chair control devices. On the back you can see a platform (7), which can transport the passenger while he is driving the wheelchair.

In figure 2, the frame (4) of the wheelchair can be seen in more detail. Said frame is constituted by a C-shaped curved circular tube, which provides an additional suspension to the user. In this frame two forks (42) are mounted, which rotate freely around an axis perpendicular to the ground (YY '). The front wheels (41) are mounted on these forks, which rotate freely around their own axle (XX '). In turn, the gearmotor (43) is attached to the frame, which rotates the rear wheels (44), thereby producing the movement of the chair.

In more detail, in figure 3 we can see a scheme of the gearmotor (43), in which it is appreciated how there is a differential (45) between the driving wheels. This differential, and the free rotation of the forks

(42) with respect to the axis (YY ') are those that allow the wheelchair to be rotated, with the simple action of the passenger on the pusher (5). This is the main advance of the chair of the present invention with respect to the existing electric wheelchairs, since with this solution the necessary control for the wheelchair is considerably simplified, and the need to have two motors is eliminated.

In figure 2 we also see the batteries (46), which store the energy that the motor then uses (43), and the control system (47), which mainly serves to regulate the speed of the wheelchair and control the brakes .

Of course other configurations for a wheelchair with this concept are possible. For example, we can change the position of the drive axle to the center of the chair, or to the front; or we can also change the design of the seat (1) using the usual cushions in other wheelchairs. Folding racks can even be used, such as those already known for other conventional wheelchairs. An additional advantage for the wheelchair of the present invention is the presence of the platform (7), which can be used by the passenger to drive the chair, being transported by it. Figure 4 shows in more detail a possible design for this platform, which is composed of the base (71) where the passenger is mounted, two rear wheels (72) that rotate freely around its own axle (XX ¹ ), and a front wheel (73), which rotates freely on its own axis (XX '), and is mounted on a fork (74), which rotates freely with respect to an axis perpendicular to the ground (YY').

In a preferred configuration, this platform joins the wheelchair as shown in Figure 5. In it, a link (75) articulated at its two ends is responsible for transmitting power from the wheelchair to the platform. In the design of the figure, the articulations (76) of the link (75) in the part near the chair are produced along an axis parallel to the driving axis (XX ') and an axis perpendicular to the ground (YY'), while The joints (77) on the side near the platform are produced along an axis parallel to the driving axis (XX '), and along a longitudinal axis (ZZ).

The platform (7) is prepared to be easily removed, or to be folded in an upright position, behind the seat back (1), as can be seen in Figure 6.

Of course, there are many other possible configurations for the platform (7). As an example, in figures 7 and 8 we can see another platform design (7), with only two wheels (78), which rotate freely around its axis (XX '), and which is attached to the chair of wheels with a bar (79) that is closest to the chair, a kneecap (80), which allows the free rotation of the platform in the 3 directions of space.

Claims

1. Wheelchair driven by the passenger, consisting of a seat, a frame, an energy storage system, a control system, a pusher with a control device, a drive axle with a gearmotor and additional wheels, characterized because the power of the gearmotor is transmitted to the drive wheels through a differential, and the additional wheels rotate crazy around its axis and an axis approximately perpendicular to the ground, thus allowing the wheelchair to rotate by action of the companion on the pusher.

2. Wheelchair driven by the passenger according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is constituted with a C-curved tube, thus producing an additional suspension for the user.

3. Wheelchair driven by the passenger according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive axle is placed on the back of the chair.

4. Wheelchair driven by the passenger according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft moves tracks, to facilitate overcoming obstacles.

5. Wheelchair driven by the passenger, characterized in that there is an additional platform on which the passenger can be mounted, attached to the wheelchair by means of a suitable joint assembly, and moved by it.

6. Wheelchair according to claim 5, characterized in that the additional platform has the appropriate means to be removed from the chair.

7. Wheelchair according to claim 6, characterized in that the additional platform can be folded and placed vertically behind the chair seat.