US3613813A - Wheelchairs - Google Patents
Wheelchairs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3613813A US3613813A US825276A US3613813DA US3613813A US 3613813 A US3613813 A US 3613813A US 825276 A US825276 A US 825276A US 3613813D A US3613813D A US 3613813DA US 3613813 A US3613813 A US 3613813A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- output shaft
- members
- housing
- chair
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- 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
- A61G5/042—Front 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
- 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
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- 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
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S180/00—Motor vehicles
- Y10S180/907—Motorized wheelchairs
Definitions
- ing wheels an electric motor for driving each of the wheels, the wheels being mounted on and supported by output shafts extending from the housings of the associated motors.
- PATENTEDnm 191911 SHEEI 36F 5 vs/v r02 RAY/v1 0ND Gaoreaa 5/001.
- This invention relates to motorized wheelchairs of the kind which include a pair of side members between which the seat portion and the backrest of the chair are disposed.
- the present invention provides a motorized wheelchair of the kind referred to above having the improvement comprising an electric motor having a housing from which an output shaft projects with each output shaft carrying a driving wheel of the chair and affording the sole support for said wheel.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the wheelchair
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the drive to one of the driving wheels of the wheelchair
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the control for driving and steering the wheelchair, the operating member of the control being shown in a position in which neither of the driving wheels of the chair is driven,
- FIG. 4 is a detail view of part of the control shown in FIG. 3 but showing the operating member of the control in a position in which both of the driving wheels of the chair are driven in a forward direction, and
- FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical system of the wheelchair.
- the wheelchair includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a frame construction which includes a pair of side members and 11, each side member I0, ll including a back upright member 12 of tubular construction, a front upright member 13 also of tubular construction and a pair of tubular members 14 and I5 interconnecting the front and back members 13 and 12.
- Threee linkages I6, [7 and 18 interconnect the side frame members 10 and II and each linkage l6, l7, 18 includes a pair of pivotally connected links which can be moved through positions in which they are aligned to positions as shown in FIG. 1 in which they serve to maintain the side frame members 10 and II spaced apart as shown in FIG. 1.
- An armrest 19 having a pad 20 is attached to each side of the side frame members 10 and 11, a sheet 21 of flexible material is secured between the back members 12 of the side frame members to form a backrest, a further sheet 22 of flexible material is secured between the upper tubular members 14 to provide the seat portion of the chair and an additional sheet 23 also of flexible material is secured between the lower tubular members 15 to provide a parcel shelf.
- Footrests 24 are connected by clips 25 to support members 26 which are connected by clips 27 to the front members 13 of the side frame members 10 and 11 and a box 28 containing a control system hereinafter described in more detail is secured to one of the armrests I.
- the wheels of the wheelchair comprise a pair of castor wheels 29 secured in the lower ends of the tubular back members 12 and are held in position by Mil.
- the wheels can either have pneumatic tires or solid rubber tires and conveniently have an external diameter of about 8 inches.
- each support plate 32 is secured to the lower forward portion of each side member 10, II of the chair frame and each support plate 32 carries a motor housing 33 which is secured thereto by threaded fasteners 34.
- the housing 33 contains an electric motor having a drive shaft 35 in the form of a gear which meshes with a gear wheel 36 mounted on a pin 37.
- the gear wheel 36 is formed integrally with a further gear wheel 38 which meshes with another gear wheel 39 nonrotatably mounted on a shaft 40, the shaft 40 including an output portion 41 which projects from the motor housing 33 and affords the output shaft of the motor.
- the gear ratios between the shaft 35 and wheel 36 and between the two gear wheels 38 and 39 are such that, as can be seen from FIG. 2, a stepdown gear drive system is provided.
- Each motor housing is disposed inwardly of its associated support plate 32 a can be seen from FIG. I and the output shaft 41 projecting from the housing 33 extends through an aperture 42 in the associated support plate 32 and the driving wheel 31 of each motor is disposed outwardly of the associated support plate 32.
- Each output shaft 41 engages a bushing 43 fitted in a central bore 44 of the associated wheel 31 and a key 45 engages in a slot formed in the bushing and in a slot formed in the output shaft 41 to prevent relative rotation between the shaft 41 and bushing 43 whereby drive is transmitted to the wheel 31, the bushing 43 being a tight lit and welded in its associated bore 44.
- the output shafts 41 not only provide the drive to the wheels 31 but also aITord the sole support therefor thus eliminating the need for any further means for mounting the wheels 31.
- the power for driving the motors is obtained from batteries contained within a battery casing 46 which is clipped onto the links of the front linkage 18.
- the batteries within the casing 46 can be either light duty, nonspillable batteries or heavier duty spillable batteries and are rechargeable and the battery casing 46 is removed from the linkage 18 prior to collapsing of the wheelchair frame which can be effected by moving the pivotal connection of each of the linkages I6, 17 and I8 upwardly and then moving the side frame members 10 and II of the chair towards each other.
- the battery housing will normally contain three batteries.
- a joy stick control which includes a control mechanism mounted within the control box 28 which can be mounted either on the left hand side or the right-hand side of the wheelchair.
- the control mechanism includes a lever 47 which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to a plate 48 and has a knob 49 at its upper end to facilitate manual grasping thereof.
- a helical spring 50 surrounds the lower end portion of the lever 47 between the plate 48 which is fixed within the box 28 and a plate 51 which is fixed to the lever 47 and the spring 50 serves to bias the lever 47 into an upright position.
- the lever 47 extends through an opening 57 formed in the upper surface of the control box 28 and there is a foampad 58 (not shown in FIG. 4) which fits round the lever 47 beneath said opening 57 and the pad 58 functions as a sealing member to prevent the entry of dust and dirt into the control box 2!.
- the arrangement is such that, when the lever 47 is moved in a forwards direction, i.e., into the position shown in FIG. 4, the contacts 54 and 55 are operated to operate the switches of the associated microswitches 540 and 550 the switch members of which are shown in their operated conditions in FIG. 5.
- the circuit of the control box is such that when the contacts 54 and 55 are operated both electric motors are driven in a forwards direction.
- the arrangement is also such that, when the lever is moved rearwardly to cause closure of the contacts $2 and 53 both the electric motors are driven in a rearwards direction.
- the opening 57 formed in the top plate of the box 28 is of square form with the diagonals of the square extending in a front to back and in a side-to-side direction.
- the arrangement is that when contact 54 is operated (i.e., the right-hand side front contact) the left wheel of the chair is driven forwards, when the contact 55 is operated the right wheel is driven forwards, when the contact 52 is operated the right wheel is driven backwards and when the contact 53 is operated the left wheel is driven backwards.
- the switch members of the microswitches are movable between normally open and normally closed positions, the switch members of microswitches S40 and 550 being shown in their operated conditions and the switch members of microswitches 520 and 530 being shown in their nonoperated conditions, a diode assembly 58 being connected between the microswitches to prevent feedback between the microswitches and the leads for the microswitches are connected either directly or indirectly to a plug and socket fitting 59, the indirect connections being effected through a circuit breaker 60 having an operating element 61 which can be moved between an open position as shown in FIG. 3 in which operation of the motors is prevented and a closed position in which operation of the motors is permitted.
- the circuit breaker 60 includes an overload mechanism which automatically cuts out if the motors are overloaded.
- the battery casing 46 contains, as pointed out above, three batteries which are normally 6-volt batteries and the arrangement is that either two or three batteries can be brought into the electrical circuit, this being by means of a switch 62 which, when in the up position, brings two batteries into the circuit and, when in the down position, brings all three batteries into the circuit.
- the circuitry is such that all three batteries can only be brought into the circuit when the chair is driven in the forwards direction. With an l8-volt supply each electric motor drives its output shaft 41 at a greater speed than with a l2-volt supply. When travelling forwardly therefore, the occupant of the chair can either travel at a first lower speed or at a second somewhat higher speed.
- the detachable connection includes the socket fitting 59 of the control box, a socket fitting 63 on the battery casing 46, a plug 64 for fitment in the socket fitting 63, a plug 65 for fitment in the socket fitting 59 and leads extending from the plug 64 to the plug 65 and from the plug 65 to each of the electric motors.
- the plug 65 is indicated in FIG. with the leads 66 and 67 shown extending from the plug 65 to the two electric motors M1 and M2.
- a joy stick control is provided for controlling operation of the electric motors but the joy stick control system can be replaced by a pushbutton control system (not shown in the drawings), there being four pushbuttons, depression of one serving to drive both wheels forwards,
- buttons 52, 53, S4 and 55 there are again four pushbuttons arranged as per the contacts 52, 53, S4 and 55. Depression of the front pair of pushbuttons causes the motors to drive the wheels forwardly; depression of the rear pair of push buttons causes the motor to drive the wheels rearwardly; depression of one diagonal pair of pushbuttons causes the left driving wheel to be driven forwardly and the right driving wheel to be driven rearwardly so that the chair turns to the right and depression of the other diagonal pair of buttons has the opposite effect.
- a motorized wheelchair which includes a pair of said members between which the seat portion and the backrest of the chair are disposed; a pair of electric motors carried one by each side member, each electric motor having a housing from which an output shaft projects, each output shaft being supported at one of its ends within the housing and the other end of the output shaft carrying a driving wheel of the chair, said other end of each output shaft being unsupported and affording the sole support for said driving wheel, said driving wheels being located at the front of the chair; a pair of castor wheels provided at the rear of the chair, the castor wheels being releasably fastened to the respective side members; each side member having a support plate secured thereto, the housing for the associated electric motor being releasably secured to one side of the support plate with the output shaft projecting from said housing and the driving wheel carried by the output shaft being disposed on the other side of the plate, the housing for each electric motor including an elongate bearing sleeve receiving and supporting said one end of the output shaft and a plurality of socket members projecting
- a wheelchair according to claim I wherein a plurality of linkages interconnect the side members, each linkage including a pair of links which are pivotally connected one to each side member and to each other in such a way that the wheelchair can be collapsed by pivoting said links upwardly relative to their respective side members, wherein the electrical power supply for the electric motors comprises a plurality of batteries housed within a casing which is mounted detachably on said wheelchair.
- a wheelchair according to claim 1 wherein a control unit is mounted on one of the side members, said control unit housing a joystick control for controlling operation of the electric motors, the joystick comprising a lever having a first plate secured thereto, said lever being tiltably connected to a second plate spaced from the first plate with biassing means acting between two plates to bias the first plate into a position in which it lies parallel to the second plate and a plurality of equispaced microswitch contact members surrounding the lever and projecting from the second plate towards the first plate.
- Each electric motor having one or more of the contact members associated therewith and the arrangement being such that tilting movement of the first plate can be effected to selectively operate the contact members to control operation of the respective electric motors.
Abstract
A motorized wheelchair which has a pair of driving wheels, an electric motor for driving each of the wheels, the wheels being mounted on and supported by output shafts extending from the housings of the associated motors.
Description
United States Patent 180/65 X 280/42 200/6 A 180/62 180/43 180/ I 3 180/19 ISO/6.5 ISO/6.48 UX 18016.5 318/55 180/6.5
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Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh [52] 180/65, 180/65 F, 180/77 H, ISO/Dig. 3, 200/6 A, 200/172 Assistant Examiner-Leslie .l. Papemer Attorney-Irving Seidman Field of ISO/6.48,
6.5, 65, 65 F, 77 H; 280/242 WC, 42; 200/6 A, 172
[ Rdennm C t ABSTRACT: A motorized wheelchair which has a pair of driv- UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1934 Taylor..........................
ing wheels, an electric motor for driving each of the wheels, the wheels being mounted on and supported by output shafts extending from the housings of the associated motors.
PATENTEI I SIIEEI 1 0f 5 IN Vt N TOR. RAYMOND 6504265 81001.:
PAIENTEUum 1919?: T613813 sum 20F 55 JINVENTOR RAYMOND GEORGE 51001.:
ATTORNE Y.
PATENTEDnm 191911 SHEEI 36F 5 vs/v r02 RAY/v1 0ND Gaoreaa 5/001. E
f @MM ATTORNEY PATENTEUum 19 Ian 3.613.813 sum u BF 5 //v VENTOR RAYMOND 620265 51001.:
Arromvey PATENTEDnm 19 I97l 3,613,813
SHEET 5 BF 5 //v vnvrorz RAYMOND 650R GE 51001.5
[QA'MJM/ ATTORNEY wrrssscnxras BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to motorized wheelchairs of the kind which include a pair of side members between which the seat portion and the backrest of the chair are disposed.
2. Description of the Prior Art In previous forms of motorized wheelchair an electric motor has been mounted on the frame of the wheelchair and a gear or pulley system has been provided for transmitting drive to a pair of driving wheels of the chair, the drive system including clutches which can be engaged or disengaged under the control of the occupant of the wheelchair to control steering of the wheelchair.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a form of wheelchair of the above kind in which the drive to the driving wheels of the chair is simplified, in which the construction of the chair is such as to obtain a lightweight construction and in which the construction is such that the chair is collapsible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a motorized wheelchair of the kind referred to above having the improvement comprising an electric motor having a housing from which an output shaft projects with each output shaft carrying a driving wheel of the chair and affording the sole support for said wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the wheelchair, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the drive to one of the driving wheels of the wheelchair,
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the control for driving and steering the wheelchair, the operating member of the control being shown in a position in which neither of the driving wheels of the chair is driven,
FIG. 4 is a detail view of part of the control shown in FIG. 3 but showing the operating member of the control in a position in which both of the driving wheels of the chair are driven in a forward direction, and
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical system of the wheelchair.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wheelchair includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a frame construction which includes a pair of side members and 11, each side member I0, ll including a back upright member 12 of tubular construction, a front upright member 13 also of tubular construction and a pair of tubular members 14 and I5 interconnecting the front and back members 13 and 12.Three linkages I6, [7 and 18 interconnect the side frame members 10 and II and each linkage l6, l7, 18 includes a pair of pivotally connected links which can be moved through positions in which they are aligned to positions as shown in FIG. 1 in which they serve to maintain the side frame members 10 and II spaced apart as shown in FIG. 1.
An armrest 19 having a pad 20 is attached to each side of the side frame members 10 and 11, a sheet 21 of flexible material is secured between the back members 12 of the side frame members to form a backrest, a further sheet 22 of flexible material is secured between the upper tubular members 14 to provide the seat portion of the chair and an additional sheet 23 also of flexible material is secured between the lower tubular members 15 to provide a parcel shelf.
Footrests 24 are connected by clips 25 to support members 26 which are connected by clips 27 to the front members 13 of the side frame members 10 and 11 and a box 28 containing a control system hereinafter described in more detail is secured to one of the armrests I. The wheels of the wheelchair comprise a pair of castor wheels 29 secured in the lower ends of the tubular back members 12 and are held in position by Mil.
means of clips 30 and a pair of driving wheels 3] are mounted at the front of the chair. The wheels can either have pneumatic tires or solid rubber tires and conveniently have an external diameter of about 8 inches.
As shown in detail in FIG. 2 a support plate 32 is secured to the lower forward portion of each side member 10, II of the chair frame and each support plate 32 carries a motor housing 33 which is secured thereto by threaded fasteners 34. The housing 33 contains an electric motor having a drive shaft 35 in the form of a gear which meshes with a gear wheel 36 mounted on a pin 37. The gear wheel 36 is formed integrally with a further gear wheel 38 which meshes with another gear wheel 39 nonrotatably mounted on a shaft 40, the shaft 40 including an output portion 41 which projects from the motor housing 33 and affords the output shaft of the motor. The gear ratios between the shaft 35 and wheel 36 and between the two gear wheels 38 and 39 are such that, as can be seen from FIG. 2, a stepdown gear drive system is provided.
Each motor housing is disposed inwardly of its associated support plate 32 a can be seen from FIG. I and the output shaft 41 projecting from the housing 33 extends through an aperture 42 in the associated support plate 32 and the driving wheel 31 of each motor is disposed outwardly of the associated support plate 32. Each output shaft 41 engages a bushing 43 fitted in a central bore 44 of the associated wheel 31 and a key 45 engages in a slot formed in the bushing and in a slot formed in the output shaft 41 to prevent relative rotation between the shaft 41 and bushing 43 whereby drive is transmitted to the wheel 31, the bushing 43 being a tight lit and welded in its associated bore 44. The output shafts 41 not only provide the drive to the wheels 31 but also aITord the sole support therefor thus eliminating the need for any further means for mounting the wheels 31.
The power for driving the motors is obtained from batteries contained within a battery casing 46 which is clipped onto the links of the front linkage 18. The batteries within the casing 46 can be either light duty, nonspillable batteries or heavier duty spillable batteries and are rechargeable and the battery casing 46 is removed from the linkage 18 prior to collapsing of the wheelchair frame which can be effected by moving the pivotal connection of each of the linkages I6, 17 and I8 upwardly and then moving the side frame members 10 and II of the chair towards each other. The battery housing will normally contain three batteries.
Operation of the driving motors of the wheelchair is effected by means of a joy stick control which includes a control mechanism mounted within the control box 28 which can be mounted either on the left hand side or the right-hand side of the wheelchair. The control mechanism includes a lever 47 which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to a plate 48 and has a knob 49 at its upper end to facilitate manual grasping thereof. A helical spring 50 surrounds the lower end portion of the lever 47 between the plate 48 which is fixed within the box 28 and a plate 51 which is fixed to the lever 47 and the spring 50 serves to bias the lever 47 into an upright position. There are four contacts 52, 53, 54 and 55 mounted on the plate 48 and the contacts 52, 53, 54 and 55 control operation of microswitches 520, $30, 540 and 550 (see FIG. 5), the microswitches being contained within switch housings S6. The lever 47 extends through an opening 57 formed in the upper surface of the control box 28 and there is a foampad 58 (not shown in FIG. 4) which fits round the lever 47 beneath said opening 57 and the pad 58 functions as a sealing member to prevent the entry of dust and dirt into the control box 2!.
The arrangement is such that, when the lever 47 is moved in a forwards direction, i.e., into the position shown in FIG. 4, the contacts 54 and 55 are operated to operate the switches of the associated microswitches 540 and 550 the switch members of which are shown in their operated conditions in FIG. 5. The circuit of the control box is such that when the contacts 54 and 55 are operated both electric motors are driven in a forwards direction. The arrangement is also such that, when the lever is moved rearwardly to cause closure of the contacts $2 and 53 both the electric motors are driven in a rearwards direction.
As indicated in FIG. 4 the opening 57 formed in the top plate of the box 28 is of square form with the diagonals of the square extending in a front to back and in a side-to-side direction. When the lever 47 is moved into the right-hand corner of the square contacts 52 and 54 are operated and the left wheel of the chair is driven in a forwards direction and the right wheel is driven in reverse whereby the chair is caused to turn rapidly to the right. When the lever is moved to the lefthand comer of the square to operate contacts 53 and 55 the right-hand wheel of the chair is driven forwards and the lefthand wheel is driven in reverse whereby the chair is turned rapidly to the left.
The arrangement is that when contact 54 is operated (i.e., the right-hand side front contact) the left wheel of the chair is driven forwards, when the contact 55 is operated the right wheel is driven forwards, when the contact 52 is operated the right wheel is driven backwards and when the contact 53 is operated the left wheel is driven backwards.
The switch members of the microswitches are movable between normally open and normally closed positions, the switch members of microswitches S40 and 550 being shown in their operated conditions and the switch members of microswitches 520 and 530 being shown in their nonoperated conditions, a diode assembly 58 being connected between the microswitches to prevent feedback between the microswitches and the leads for the microswitches are connected either directly or indirectly to a plug and socket fitting 59, the indirect connections being effected through a circuit breaker 60 having an operating element 61 which can be moved between an open position as shown in FIG. 3 in which operation of the motors is prevented and a closed position in which operation of the motors is permitted. The circuit breaker 60 includes an overload mechanism which automatically cuts out if the motors are overloaded.
The battery casing 46 contains, as pointed out above, three batteries which are normally 6-volt batteries and the arrangement is that either two or three batteries can be brought into the electrical circuit, this being by means of a switch 62 which, when in the up position, brings two batteries into the circuit and, when in the down position, brings all three batteries into the circuit. The circuitry is such that all three batteries can only be brought into the circuit when the chair is driven in the forwards direction. With an l8-volt supply each electric motor drives its output shaft 41 at a greater speed than with a l2-volt supply. When travelling forwardly therefore, the occupant of the chair can either travel at a first lower speed or at a second somewhat higher speed.
There is a detachable electrical connection between the battery casing 46, the control box 28 and each of the electric motors. The detachable connection includes the socket fitting 59 of the control box, a socket fitting 63 on the battery casing 46, a plug 64 for fitment in the socket fitting 63, a plug 65 for fitment in the socket fitting 59 and leads extending from the plug 64 to the plug 65 and from the plug 65 to each of the electric motors. The plug 65 is indicated in FIG. with the leads 66 and 67 shown extending from the plug 65 to the two electric motors M1 and M2.
It is to be understood that the electrical circuitry shown in FIG. 5 represents only one way in which the various operating components in the control box could be connected together and said electrical circuitry of FlG. 5 has therefore not been described in detail, it being assumed that the detailed operation thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In the above arrangement a joy stick control is provided for controlling operation of the electric motors but the joy stick control system can be replaced by a pushbutton control system (not shown in the drawings), there being four pushbuttons, depression of one serving to drive both wheels forwards,
turn the wheelchair to the left. I
In a further pushbutton arrangement there are again four pushbuttons arranged as per the contacts 52, 53, S4 and 55. Depression of the front pair of pushbuttons causes the motors to drive the wheels forwardly; depression of the rear pair of push buttons causes the motor to drive the wheels rearwardly; depression of one diagonal pair of pushbuttons causes the left driving wheel to be driven forwardly and the right driving wheel to be driven rearwardly so that the chair turns to the right and depression of the other diagonal pair of buttons has the opposite effect.
I claim:
1. A motorized wheelchair which includes a pair of said members between which the seat portion and the backrest of the chair are disposed; a pair of electric motors carried one by each side member, each electric motor having a housing from which an output shaft projects, each output shaft being supported at one of its ends within the housing and the other end of the output shaft carrying a driving wheel of the chair, said other end of each output shaft being unsupported and affording the sole support for said driving wheel, said driving wheels being located at the front of the chair; a pair of castor wheels provided at the rear of the chair, the castor wheels being releasably fastened to the respective side members; each side member having a support plate secured thereto, the housing for the associated electric motor being releasably secured to one side of the support plate with the output shaft projecting from said housing and the driving wheel carried by the output shaft being disposed on the other side of the plate, the housing for each electric motor including an elongate bearing sleeve receiving and supporting said one end of the output shaft and a plurality of socket members projecting from the housing, each support plate being formed with a plurality of apertures aligned one with each of said socket members of the associated housing, each aperture receiving a threaded fastener engaging with the socket member aligned with said aperture, the free ends of the socket members lying in a common plane and abutting said one side of the support plate, and each driving wheel including a cylindrical bushing receiving the as sociated output shaft and having a keyed connection therewith whereby each driving wheel is rotatably fast with its associated output shaft.
2. A wheelchair according to claim I wherein a plurality of linkages interconnect the side members, each linkage including a pair of links which are pivotally connected one to each side member and to each other in such a way that the wheelchair can be collapsed by pivoting said links upwardly relative to their respective side members, wherein the electrical power supply for the electric motors comprises a plurality of batteries housed within a casing which is mounted detachably on said wheelchair.
3. A wheelchair according to claim 1 wherein a control unit is mounted on one of the side members, said control unit housing a joystick control for controlling operation of the electric motors, the joystick comprising a lever having a first plate secured thereto, said lever being tiltably connected to a second plate spaced from the first plate with biassing means acting between two plates to bias the first plate into a position in which it lies parallel to the second plate and a plurality of equispaced microswitch contact members surrounding the lever and projecting from the second plate towards the first plate. Each electric motor having one or more of the contact members associated therewith and the arrangement being such that tilting movement of the first plate can be effected to selectively operate the contact members to control operation of the respective electric motors.
Claims (3)
1. A motorized wheelchair which includes a pair of said members between which the seat portion and the backrest of the chair are disposed; a pair of electric motors carried one by each side member, each electric motor having a housing from which an output shaft projects, each output shaft being supported at one of its ends within the housing and the other end of the output shaft carrying a driving wheel of the chair, said other end of each output shaft being unsupported and affording the sole support for said driving wheel, said driving wheels being located at the front of the chair; a pair of castor wheels provided at the rear of the chair, the castor wheels being releasably fastened to the respective side members; each side member having a support plate secured thereto, the housing for the associated electric motor being releasably secured to one side of the support plate with the output shaft projecting from said housing and the driving wheel carried by the output shaft being disposed on the other side of the plate, the housing for each electric motor including an elongate bearing sleeve receiving and supporting said one end of the output shaft and a plurality of socket members projecting from the housing, each support plate being formed with a plurality of apertures aligned one with each of said socket members of the associated housing, each aperture receiving a threaded fastener engaging with the socket member aligned with said aperture, the free ends of the socket members lying in a common plane and abutting said one side of the support plate, and each driving wheel including a cylindrical bushing receiving the associated output shaft and having a keyed connection therewith whereby each driving wheel is rotatably fast with its associated output shaft.
2. A wheelchair according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of linkages interconnect the side members, each linkaGe including a pair of links which are pivotally connected one to each side member and to each other in such a way that the wheelchair can be collapsed by pivoting said links upwardly relative to their respective side members, wherein the electrical power supply for the electric motors comprises a plurality of batteries housed within a casing which is mounted detachably on said wheelchair.
3. A wheelchair according to claim 1 wherein a control unit is mounted on one of the side members, said control unit housing a joystick control for controlling operation of the electric motors, the joystick comprising a lever having a first plate secured thereto, said lever being tiltably connected to a second plate spaced from the first plate with biassing means acting between two plates to bias the first plate into a position in which it lies parallel to the second plate and a plurality of equispaced microswitch contact members surrounding the lever and projecting from the second plate towards the first plate. Each electric motor having one or more of the contact members associated therewith and the arrangement being such that tilting movement of the first plate can be effected to selectively operate the contact members to control operation of the respective electric motors.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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GB23277/68A GB1198905A (en) | 1968-05-16 | 1968-05-16 | Improvements in Wheelchairs |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US3613813A true US3613813A (en) | 1971-10-19 |
Family
ID=10193066
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US825276A Expired - Lifetime US3613813A (en) | 1968-05-16 | 1969-05-16 | Wheelchairs |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3613813A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1924756A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1198905A (en) |
Cited By (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3802524A (en) * | 1972-06-05 | 1974-04-09 | W Seidel | Motorized invalid carrier |
NL7407699A (en) * | 1973-06-09 | 1974-12-11 | ||
US3896891A (en) * | 1973-08-31 | 1975-07-29 | Stainless Medical Products Inc | Modular motorized wheel chair |
US3901337A (en) * | 1971-11-24 | 1975-08-26 | Spastics Soc | Wheel chairs |
US3908776A (en) * | 1973-05-22 | 1975-09-30 | Saunders & Dudley Limited | Motorized wheel |
US3934181A (en) * | 1972-12-17 | 1976-01-20 | Rosenthal Ben J | Solid state light responsive control system |
US3976152A (en) * | 1973-12-05 | 1976-08-24 | Albert Bell | Wheelchair having pivotable ramp for climbing curbs |
DE2707541A1 (en) * | 1976-02-24 | 1977-09-01 | Nat Res Dev | RAILLESS LAND VEHICLE |
US4382166A (en) * | 1981-12-03 | 1983-05-03 | Wico Corporation | Joystick with built-in fire button |
US4689449A (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1987-08-25 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Tremor suppressing hand controls |
US4825971A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1989-05-02 | Bernstein Lawrence A | Universal wheeled chair |
US4941540A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1990-07-17 | Bernstein Lawrence A | Universal electric wheeled chair |
US5197559A (en) * | 1990-09-04 | 1993-03-30 | Fortress Life-Style, Inc. | Foldable wheelchair with optional power or manual drive |
US5366037A (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1994-11-22 | Invacare Corporation | Powered wheelchair having drive motors integrated into driven wheels |
US5923096A (en) * | 1997-04-18 | 1999-07-13 | Manak Dynamics Engineering Corp. | All-electric vehicle control system |
US6050356A (en) * | 1996-09-12 | 2000-04-18 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrically driven wheelchair |
US20040216929A1 (en) * | 2003-04-30 | 2004-11-04 | Catherine White | Solar powered transporter with stabilized speed control and clutch controlled steering |
US20050023056A1 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2005-02-03 | Clive Harrup | Electric motor and gear drive assembly for driving a vehicle wheel |
US20060076169A1 (en) * | 2004-08-14 | 2006-04-13 | Thomas Brendel | Running wheel arrangement for a wheelchair |
US20080041644A1 (en) * | 2006-08-16 | 2008-02-21 | Tudek Arthur L | Electric shopping cart/burden carrier |
US10377403B2 (en) | 2015-11-06 | 2019-08-13 | Caster Concepts, Inc. | Powered utility cart and compliant drive wheel therefor |
US20220332358A1 (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2022-10-20 | Rational Production S.R.L. | Assisted Thrust System For Carriages Or For Loads In General Moved On Wheels |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1414091A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-11-19 | Vessa Ltd | Wheel chairs |
SE374699B (en) * | 1973-07-04 | 1975-03-17 | Landstingens Inkopscentral | |
AT384947B (en) * | 1984-02-24 | 1988-01-25 | Haubenwallner Gerhard | FROM A POWER SOURCE DRIVE FOR WHEELS, ESPECIALLY WHEELCHAIRS |
GB2184987B (en) * | 1985-12-16 | 1989-01-18 | Jeremy Joseph Fry | Wheelchair drive |
GB2227462B (en) * | 1988-11-16 | 1993-02-10 | Sunrise Medical Ltd | Vehicle |
CN101315124B (en) * | 2007-05-30 | 2012-10-03 | 光阳工业股份有限公司 | Electric wheelchair transmission device |
US11124092B2 (en) * | 2013-06-26 | 2021-09-21 | Ricon Corp. | Transfer seat and method |
Citations (13)
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US1954272A (en) * | 1929-12-07 | 1934-04-10 | Taylor Edward Cooper | Signal switch |
US2586273A (en) * | 1947-06-09 | 1952-02-19 | Electro Glide Company Inc | Electrically driven hospital chair |
US2635703A (en) * | 1950-05-19 | 1953-04-21 | Norman V Grimes | Wheel chair adapted for optional operation by power or manually |
US2649309A (en) * | 1951-06-08 | 1953-08-18 | Douglas D Deissner | Foldable wheel chair and steerable wheel attachment therefor |
US2706008A (en) * | 1954-05-14 | 1955-04-12 | Robert H Voigt | Powered golf bag carrier |
US2756290A (en) * | 1954-06-08 | 1956-07-24 | Essex Wire Corp | Automotive seat adjusting switch |
US2798565A (en) * | 1954-12-23 | 1957-07-09 | Rosenthal | Motorized wheel chair steered by driving |
US2975851A (en) * | 1958-08-18 | 1961-03-21 | Deere & Co | Fluid pressure control system |
US3098574A (en) * | 1961-06-08 | 1963-07-23 | Heifred Corp | Hydraulically driven industrial truck |
US3100860A (en) * | 1958-10-09 | 1963-08-13 | Rosenthal Harry | Motor drive control for wheelchair |
US3100547A (en) * | 1960-06-30 | 1963-08-13 | Rosenthal Harry | Electric driving apparatus for a wheel chair |
US3163250A (en) * | 1960-06-09 | 1964-12-29 | Raymond Corp | Narrow aisle material handling truck |
US3340941A (en) * | 1965-05-03 | 1967-09-12 | Wallace I Neu | Electric baby walker |
-
1968
- 1968-05-16 GB GB23277/68A patent/GB1198905A/en not_active Expired
-
1969
- 1969-05-14 DE DE19691924756 patent/DE1924756A1/en active Pending
- 1969-05-16 US US825276A patent/US3613813A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1954272A (en) * | 1929-12-07 | 1934-04-10 | Taylor Edward Cooper | Signal switch |
US2586273A (en) * | 1947-06-09 | 1952-02-19 | Electro Glide Company Inc | Electrically driven hospital chair |
US2635703A (en) * | 1950-05-19 | 1953-04-21 | Norman V Grimes | Wheel chair adapted for optional operation by power or manually |
US2649309A (en) * | 1951-06-08 | 1953-08-18 | Douglas D Deissner | Foldable wheel chair and steerable wheel attachment therefor |
US2706008A (en) * | 1954-05-14 | 1955-04-12 | Robert H Voigt | Powered golf bag carrier |
US2756290A (en) * | 1954-06-08 | 1956-07-24 | Essex Wire Corp | Automotive seat adjusting switch |
US2798565A (en) * | 1954-12-23 | 1957-07-09 | Rosenthal | Motorized wheel chair steered by driving |
US2975851A (en) * | 1958-08-18 | 1961-03-21 | Deere & Co | Fluid pressure control system |
US3100860A (en) * | 1958-10-09 | 1963-08-13 | Rosenthal Harry | Motor drive control for wheelchair |
US3163250A (en) * | 1960-06-09 | 1964-12-29 | Raymond Corp | Narrow aisle material handling truck |
US3100547A (en) * | 1960-06-30 | 1963-08-13 | Rosenthal Harry | Electric driving apparatus for a wheel chair |
US3098574A (en) * | 1961-06-08 | 1963-07-23 | Heifred Corp | Hydraulically driven industrial truck |
US3340941A (en) * | 1965-05-03 | 1967-09-12 | Wallace I Neu | Electric baby walker |
Cited By (29)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3901337A (en) * | 1971-11-24 | 1975-08-26 | Spastics Soc | Wheel chairs |
US3955639A (en) * | 1971-11-24 | 1976-05-11 | The Spastics Society | Wheel chairs |
US3802524A (en) * | 1972-06-05 | 1974-04-09 | W Seidel | Motorized invalid carrier |
US3934181A (en) * | 1972-12-17 | 1976-01-20 | Rosenthal Ben J | Solid state light responsive control system |
US3908776A (en) * | 1973-05-22 | 1975-09-30 | Saunders & Dudley Limited | Motorized wheel |
NL7407699A (en) * | 1973-06-09 | 1974-12-11 | ||
US3930551A (en) * | 1973-06-09 | 1976-01-06 | Harold Cragg | Electric drive for wheel chairs |
US3896891A (en) * | 1973-08-31 | 1975-07-29 | Stainless Medical Products Inc | Modular motorized wheel chair |
US3976152A (en) * | 1973-12-05 | 1976-08-24 | Albert Bell | Wheelchair having pivotable ramp for climbing curbs |
DE2707541A1 (en) * | 1976-02-24 | 1977-09-01 | Nat Res Dev | RAILLESS LAND VEHICLE |
US4128137A (en) * | 1976-02-24 | 1978-12-05 | National Research Development Corporation | Peripatetic vehicles |
US4382166A (en) * | 1981-12-03 | 1983-05-03 | Wico Corporation | Joystick with built-in fire button |
US4941540A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1990-07-17 | Bernstein Lawrence A | Universal electric wheeled chair |
US4825971A (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1989-05-02 | Bernstein Lawrence A | Universal wheeled chair |
US4689449A (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1987-08-25 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Tremor suppressing hand controls |
US5197559A (en) * | 1990-09-04 | 1993-03-30 | Fortress Life-Style, Inc. | Foldable wheelchair with optional power or manual drive |
US5366037A (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1994-11-22 | Invacare Corporation | Powered wheelchair having drive motors integrated into driven wheels |
US6050356A (en) * | 1996-09-12 | 2000-04-18 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrically driven wheelchair |
US5923096A (en) * | 1997-04-18 | 1999-07-13 | Manak Dynamics Engineering Corp. | All-electric vehicle control system |
US20040216929A1 (en) * | 2003-04-30 | 2004-11-04 | Catherine White | Solar powered transporter with stabilized speed control and clutch controlled steering |
US7458433B2 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2008-12-02 | Arvinmeritor Technology, Llc | Electric motor and gear drive assembly for driving a vehicle wheel |
US20050023056A1 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2005-02-03 | Clive Harrup | Electric motor and gear drive assembly for driving a vehicle wheel |
US20060076169A1 (en) * | 2004-08-14 | 2006-04-13 | Thomas Brendel | Running wheel arrangement for a wheelchair |
US7341123B2 (en) * | 2004-08-14 | 2008-03-11 | Otto Bock Healthcare Ip Gmbh & Co., Kg | Running wheel arrangement for a wheelchair |
US20080041644A1 (en) * | 2006-08-16 | 2008-02-21 | Tudek Arthur L | Electric shopping cart/burden carrier |
US10377403B2 (en) | 2015-11-06 | 2019-08-13 | Caster Concepts, Inc. | Powered utility cart and compliant drive wheel therefor |
US10703401B2 (en) | 2015-11-06 | 2020-07-07 | Caster Concepts, Inc | Powered utility cart and compliant drive wheel therefor |
US20220332358A1 (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2022-10-20 | Rational Production S.R.L. | Assisted Thrust System For Carriages Or For Loads In General Moved On Wheels |
US11753059B2 (en) * | 2019-10-03 | 2023-09-12 | Rational Production S.R.L. | Assisted thrust system for carriages or for loads in general moved on wheels |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1198905A (en) | 1970-07-15 |
DE1924756A1 (en) | 1969-11-27 |
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