GB2188889A - Electrically driven wheelchair - Google Patents

Electrically driven wheelchair Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2188889A
GB2188889A GB08707657A GB8707657A GB2188889A GB 2188889 A GB2188889 A GB 2188889A GB 08707657 A GB08707657 A GB 08707657A GB 8707657 A GB8707657 A GB 8707657A GB 2188889 A GB2188889 A GB 2188889A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wheel
wheels
steering
awheelchair
drive
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB08707657A
Other versions
GB2188889B (en
GB8707657D0 (en
Inventor
John Michael Singleton
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.)
Spastics Society
Original Assignee
Spastics Society
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
Priority claimed from GB868607946A external-priority patent/GB8607946D0/en
Priority claimed from GB868616434A external-priority patent/GB8616434D0/en
Application filed by Spastics Society filed Critical Spastics Society
Priority to GB8707657A priority Critical patent/GB2188889B/en
Publication of GB8707657D0 publication Critical patent/GB8707657D0/en
Publication of GB2188889A publication Critical patent/GB2188889A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2188889B publication Critical patent/GB2188889B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • A61G5/046—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type at least three driven wheels
    • 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
    • A61G5/1051—Arrangements for steering
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/02—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units comprising more than one electric motor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L15/00—Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
    • B60L15/20—Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
    • B60L15/2036—Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
    • 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
    • A61G2203/00—General characteristics of devices
    • A61G2203/10—General characteristics of devices characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering
    • A61G2203/14—Joysticks
    • 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
    • A61G5/1056—Arrangements for adjusting the seat
    • A61G5/107—Arrangements for adjusting the seat positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2200/00—Type of vehicles
    • B60L2200/34—Wheel chairs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2220/00—Electrical machine types; Structures or applications thereof
    • B60L2220/40—Electrical machine applications
    • B60L2220/42—Electrical machine applications with use of more than one motor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2220/00—Electrical machine types; Structures or applications thereof
    • B60L2220/40—Electrical machine applications
    • B60L2220/46—Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2240/00—Control parameters of input or output; Target parameters
    • B60L2240/10—Vehicle control parameters
    • B60L2240/24—Steering angle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2260/00—Operating Modes
    • B60L2260/20—Drive modes; Transition between modes
    • B60L2260/28—Four wheel or all wheel drive
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/64—Electric machine technologies in electromobility
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/72—Electric energy management in electromobility

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)

Abstract

A wheelchair has four ground engaging wheels 10, two at the front and two at the rear, and four electric motors 11, one for each wheel 10, wherein each wheel 10 is connected to a respective electric motor 11 for driving the wheelchair and preferably the front wheels are mounted on respective steering arms 30 of a steering linkage driven by an electric actuator 32 coupled to a track rod 35 connecting the steering arms 30 for steering the wheelchair. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheelchair This invention relates to wheelchairs and in particularto electrically driven wheelchairs.
Electrically driven wheelchairs wherein either a pair offrontwheels or a pair of rear wheels is electrically driven are well known.
For satisfactory operation it is necessary in such known wheelchairs to maintain the ground engaging contact of both driven wheels. As a result, while the known two wheel drive wheelchairs perform well on smooth surfaces, problems can arise on uneven surfaces such as encountered for "offthe road" use, for example on grass.
Additionally, the known two wheel drive wheelchairs are not well suited to overcome obstacles of limited height such as kerb stones and this further restricts the use of the wheelchair.
The present invention is intended to remedy these drawbacks. It solves the problem of designing an electrically driven wheelchair capable of operation on uneven surfaces and negotiating obstacles of limited height by providing a respective electric motorforeach of a pairoffrontwheels and each of a pair of rear wheels of the wheelchair.
The advantages offered by the invention are mainly that by providing drive to both the front and rear pairs of wheels there are sufficient driven wheels in ground engaging contactatanyonetime to drive the wheelchair on uneven surfaces and to overcome kerb stones and similar obstacles of limited height. Additionally, by providing a separate motor for each driven wheel, complicated drive transmissions connecting the driven wheels, such as belts orchains in which the user's hands orclothing may be trapped, are avoided.
Each driven wheel and associated motor are connected by respective drive transmitting means which is preferably disengageable to disconnect the drive so as to permit manual propulsion ofthe wheelchair if desired, for examplefollowing failure of one or more of the electric motors.
In a preferred construction each driven wheel is rotatably mounted on a spindle driven bythe associated motor and the drive transmitting means comprises a coupling pin mounted on the wheel for engagement and disengagement with an aperture in a drive plate mounted on the spindle.
Preferably the coupling pin is resiliently biassedto engage in the aperture in the drive plate and has an operating member accessible to the userfor manually disengaging the coupling pin to disconnectthedrive.
Advantageously each driven wheel, associated motor and drive transmitting means are carried by a respective suspension unit providing limited resilient springing movement of the wheel.
Convenientlyeachsuspension unitcomprisesa resilient bushing carrying a suspension pin to which the associated support plate is attached.
Advantageously one pair of driven wheels, either thefrontorrear, is steered. Convenientlythesteered wheels are mounted on a steering linkage operable by an electric actuator.
Preferablythesteering linkage comprises respective steering arms for mounting each wheel, the arms being mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axes and pivotally connected to opposed ends of a track rod driven by the actuator for effecting simultaneous adjustment of the steering arms.
Advantageously a manually operable control unit is provided to control selectively the drive and the steering. Conveniently the wheel motors and steering linkage actuator are connected to a power source comprising one or more batteries to which the control units is connected for controlling the power output to the wheels and steering linkage.
The invention will now be described in more detail, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein :- Figure 1 is a front view of a wheelchair according to the present invention; Figure2 is a rear view of the wheelchair shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view ofthe wheelchair shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the wheels partially broken away for clarity; Figure 4is a plan view of the wheelchair shown in Figures 1 to 3 with the seat removed for clarity: and Figure 5 is an exploded isometricviewoftbefront wheel assemblies and the steering linkage.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a wheelchair 1 comprising an upholstered seat unit 2 mounted on a chassis 3 supported on a pairoffrontwheel assemblies4and a pairof rear wheel assemblies 5.
The seat unit 2 includes a reclining backrest 6 carrying a pairof pivotal armrests7 and is detachably secured by releasable fastening means (not shown) which also permit forward pivotal movement of the seat unit 2 for access to the chassis and associated components for maintenance purposes. Mounted on the chassis 3 behind the seat unit 2 is a parcel box 8which is also detachably secured by releasable fastening means (not shown).
Mounted atthe front of the chassis 3 between the front wheel assemblies 4 are two similarfootrests 9 detachably secured by releasable fastening means (not shown) which also permit adjustment of the inclination ofthefootrests 9.
Each wheel assembly 4,5 is similar and includes a wheel 10 driven by an electric motor 11 as demanded by the user through a manually operable control unit 12 mounted on one of the armrests 7. Accordingly, the arrangement for one wheel assembly only will now be described, it being understood that the other wheel assembly arrangements are substantiallythe same.
As best shown in Figure 5, the motor 11 is mounted on a support plate 13 and is connected to a spindle 14through a reduction worm gearbox 1 Sto drive the spindle 14.
Arrive plate 16 is fixedly mounted on the inboard portion ofthe spindle 14 bya retaining pin 17 and has an annular portion 18inwhich a pluralityof circumferentially spaced apart apertures 19 are formed.
The wheel 10 comprises a pneumatictyre 20 mounted on a wheel rim 21 rotatably mounted on the outboard end of the spindle 14 and retained by a circlip (not shown) permitting removal of the wheel 10when required.
For transmitting the drive from the spindle 14to the wheel 10, the wheel 10 slidably mounts a coupling pin 22 extending parailel to the spindle 14 and resiliently biassed bya spring (not shown) to engage one end in one of the apertures 19 in the drive plate 16.
Theotherendofthecoupling pin 22 carries a lever 23 accessible to the user by means of which the pin 22 can be moved axially against the resilient biassing to disengage the aperture 19 thereby disconnecting the drive to permit manual pushing of the wheelchair, for example by an attendant.
Each wheel assembly 4,5 is mounted buy a respective suspension unit 24 providing limited independent resilient springing movement of the wheel 10 relative to the chassis 3.
Each suspension unit 24 is similar and comprises a rubber-bonded bushing 25 carrying a suspension pin 26 having a threaded end 27 extending through a hole 28 in the associated support plate 13to which a nut 29 is attached to securethesuspension pin 26 and support plate 13 together against relative movement.
The rearwheel assemblies 5 are mounted by the associated suspension units 24 directly on the chassis 3 and the front wheel assemblies 4 are mounted by the associated suspension units 24On respective arms 30 of a steering linkage 31 mounted on the chassis 3 and drivenbyan electric linear actuator 32, for example an electrically operated servo-motor, piston and cylinder ram device orthe like, as demanded by the userthrough the control unit 12.
Each steering arm 30 has a swivel pin 33 intermediate the ends which is rotatably mounted in a respective sleeve 34 fixedly attached to the chassis 3 permitting rotation of the arm 30 about a substantially vertical axis.
The steering arms 30 are pivotally connected to opposed ends of a track rod 35 having a peg 36 atthe mid-pointto which one end of the linear actuator 32 is pivotally connected. The other end ofthe linear actuator 32 is pivotally connected to the chassis 3 by a hinge pin 37 whereby change in length of the linear actuator 32 displaces the track rod 35 effecting simultaneous steering adjustment of both front wheel assemblies 4.
Supported on the chassis 3 beneath the seat unit 2 are fou rtwelve volt batteries 38 connected in series to a power amplifier unit 39 to which the control unit 12 is connected. The batteries 38 are of the rechargeable lead-acid type and provide a power output sufficientto give a range of travel of about 20 miles atspeeds upto 4 miies per hourbefore requiring recharging.
The linearactuator32 and each ofthewheel motors 11 is independently connected to the power amplifier unit 39 and the cntrol unit 12 has a manually operable joystick40 movable forwards and backwards and to either side for controlling driving and steering of the wheelchair 1.
More specifically, forwards and backwards movement of the joystick 40 controls the power output to the wheel motors 11 for driving the wheelchair and sideways movement controls the power outputto the linear actuator 32 for steering the wheelchair.
Thus starting from a central neutral or stop position in which there is no power output to the wheel motors 11 or the linear actuator 32, the steering linkage 31 is in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 and forwards or backwards movement of the joystick 40 provides a power output to each ofthewheel motors 11 to drive the wheelchairforwards or backwards with the displacement of the joystick 40from the neutral position being proportional to the power output for controlling the speed.
Ifthejoystick40 is moved sideways, a power output is provided to the linear actuator 32 for adjusting the length ofthe actuator to adjustthe steering linkage 31 with movement to one side reducing the length of the actuator 32 to turn both frontwheels 1 Oto one side as shown in dotted lines in Figure4and movementtotheotherside increasing the length ofthe linearactuator32 to turn both frontwheels 10 to the other side.
The sideways movement of the joystick 40 may be combined with either forwards or backwards movement for simultaneous driving and steering.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, a four wheel drive wheelchair is provided in which each driven wheel is independently resiliently mounted and the front wheels are steered. By such construction there results a wheelchair which can be driven over uneven surfaces, can negotiate obstacles of limited height, for example climb and descend kerb stones, is comfortable and is highly manoeuvrable.
Itwill be understood that the invention covers all constructions of wheelchair in which there are a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels each driven buy a respective electric motorand thatthe above-described exemplary embodiment does not limitthe scope of the invention as regards other features ofthe wheelchairwhich may be altered, changed or modified without departing from the invention.
For example, the drive connection between each wheel and the associated motor may be of any suitabletype and may be releasable as described or fixed.
The steering linkage may be of any suitable construction and may mount the front wheels as described or the rear wheels.
Alternatively the steering linkage may be omitted and the wheelchair steered by using sideways movement of the joystick to drive one or more of the wheels at a different speed from the otherwheels.
The construction of the seat unit and chassis may be altered as desired and the seat unit may be fixed or detachable.

Claims (19)

1. Awheelchair having a pair offrontwheels and a pair of rear wheels and a respective electric motor for driving each of the front wheels and each of the rear wheels.
2. Awheelchair according to Claim 1 wherein each driven wheel and associated motor are connected by respective drive transmitting means.
3. Awheelchairaccordingto Claim 2wherein each drive transmitting means is disengageable.
4. AwheelchairaccordingtoClaim3wherein each driven wheel is rotatably mounted on a spindle driven by the associated motor and the drive transmitting means comprises a coupling pin mounted on the wheel for engagement and disengagement with an aperture in a drive plate mounted on the spindle.
5. Awheelchairaccordingto Claim4whereinthe coupling pin is resiliently biassed to engage in the aperture in the drive plate and has an operating member accessible to the user for manually disengaging the coupling pintodisconnectthe drive.
6. Awheelchair according to Claim 5 wherein said drive plate has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures.
7. Awheelchairaccordingtoanyoneofthe preceding Claims wherein each driven wheel is resiliently mounted by a respective suspension unit.
8. AwheelchairaccordingtoClaim7wherein each suspension unit comprises a resilient bushing carrying a suspension pin to which a support plate for the associated driven wheel is attached.
9. Awheelchairaccordingtoanyoneofthe preceding Claimswherein pne of said pairs of wheels is steered.
10. Awheelchair according to Claim 9 wherein the steered wheels are mounted on a steering linkage operable by actuator means.
11. Awheelchairaccording to Claim 10wherein the steering linkage comprises respective steering armsformounting each wheel,the arms being mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axes and pivotally connected to opposed ends of a track rod driven by the actuator means for effecting simultaneous adjustment ofthe steering arms.
12. Awheelchair according to Claim 10 orClaim 11 wherein a manually operable control unit is provided to control seiectively the drive and the steering.
13. Awheelchairaccording to Claim 12wherein the wheel motors and steering linkage actuator means are connected to a power source comprising at least one battery to which the control unit is connected for controlling the power output to the wheels and the steering linkage.
14. Awheelchairaccording to any one of Claims 10 to 13wherein the steering linkage actuator means comprises a linear actuator.
15. A wheelchair according to any one of Claims 9to 1 4wherein the steered wheels are the front pair ofwheels.
16. Awheelchair according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising a seat unit mounted on a chassis supported on the front and rear pairs of wheels.
17. Awheelchairaccording to Claim 16wherein the seat unit is detachably mounted on the chassis.
18. Awheelchair having four ground engaging wheels, two at the front and two at the rear, and four electric motors, one for each wheel, wherein each wheel is connected to a respective electric motor for driving the wheel.
19. Awheelchairsubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8707657A 1986-04-01 1987-03-31 Wheelchair Expired GB2188889B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8707657A GB2188889B (en) 1986-04-01 1987-03-31 Wheelchair

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868607946A GB8607946D0 (en) 1986-04-01 1986-04-01 Wheelchair
GB868616434A GB8616434D0 (en) 1986-07-05 1986-07-05 Drive for electric wheelchairs
GB8707657A GB2188889B (en) 1986-04-01 1987-03-31 Wheelchair

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8707657D0 GB8707657D0 (en) 1987-05-07
GB2188889A true GB2188889A (en) 1987-10-14
GB2188889B GB2188889B (en) 1989-11-29

Family

ID=27262977

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8707657A Expired GB2188889B (en) 1986-04-01 1987-03-31 Wheelchair

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2188889B (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5036929A (en) * 1988-07-28 1991-08-06 Emile Trougouboff Apparatus for handling heavy loads such as a trolley or a rolling chair for the handicapped
GB2244684A (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-12-11 Keith Richard Bound Electric four wheel drive wheelchair
WO1993010735A1 (en) * 1991-12-05 1993-06-10 J. Pagett Industries Pty Limited Steerable four wheel drive vehicle
GB2281727A (en) * 1993-09-14 1995-03-15 Fisher & Paykel Wheelchair power system with quick-release drive units
AU669139B2 (en) * 1991-12-05 1996-05-30 J. Pagett Industries Pty Limited Steerable four wheel drive vehicle
US5924506A (en) * 1996-01-23 1999-07-20 Peg Perego Pines S.P.A. Motorized wheel assembly and toy vehicle with such wheel assembly
GB2407076A (en) * 2003-10-13 2005-04-20 Sunrise Medical Ltd Personal mobility vehicle powered by disengagable motors

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3502166A (en) * 1968-07-19 1970-03-24 Gen Motors Corp Power wheel drive assembly

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2184987B (en) * 1985-12-16 1989-01-18 Jeremy Joseph Fry Wheelchair drive

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3502166A (en) * 1968-07-19 1970-03-24 Gen Motors Corp Power wheel drive assembly

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5036929A (en) * 1988-07-28 1991-08-06 Emile Trougouboff Apparatus for handling heavy loads such as a trolley or a rolling chair for the handicapped
GB2244684A (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-12-11 Keith Richard Bound Electric four wheel drive wheelchair
WO1993010735A1 (en) * 1991-12-05 1993-06-10 J. Pagett Industries Pty Limited Steerable four wheel drive vehicle
AU669139B2 (en) * 1991-12-05 1996-05-30 J. Pagett Industries Pty Limited Steerable four wheel drive vehicle
GB2281727A (en) * 1993-09-14 1995-03-15 Fisher & Paykel Wheelchair power system with quick-release drive units
US5495904A (en) * 1993-09-14 1996-03-05 Fisher & Paykel Limited Wheelchair power system
US5924506A (en) * 1996-01-23 1999-07-20 Peg Perego Pines S.P.A. Motorized wheel assembly and toy vehicle with such wheel assembly
GB2407076A (en) * 2003-10-13 2005-04-20 Sunrise Medical Ltd Personal mobility vehicle powered by disengagable motors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2188889B (en) 1989-11-29
GB8707657D0 (en) 1987-05-07

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