Manual-electric switching device for wheelchair

Abstract

The present invention relates to a manual-electric switching device for a wheelchair, the manual-electric switching device comprising: a module bracket attached to and detached from a wheelchair frame on which wheels of the wheelchair are mounted; a driving module including a roller which comes into contact with or separates from the wheels of the wheelchair and is rotated by a driving motor, and which is provided on the module bracket so as to be able to reciprocate; a lever which is pivotally coupled to the module bracket and is pushed or pulled so that the roller reciprocates between a first position, in which the roller is in contact with the wheels, and a second position, in which the roller is separated from the wheels; a link that is rotatably coupled to the lever and the driving module and connects the lever and the driving module; and a linear motion conversion unit that converts the rotational motion of the lever and the link into linear motion and transmits the linear motion to the driving module.

Description

Wheelchair manual and electric conversion device

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair manual and electric switching device, and more specifically, to a wheelchair manual and electric switching device that switches the driving method of a wheelchair to automatic or manual by the operation of a lever.

[0002] Wheelchairs are used as an assistive walking aid for people with disabilities and are classified into manual and electric types depending on the method of driving the wheels.

[0003] Manual wheelchairs have hand rims fixed to the sides of the wheels, allowing people with disabilities to move by turning the wheels directly with their hands by rotating the hand rims.

[0004] On the other hand, electric wheelchairs rotate both wheels using the rotational force of a drive motor, allowing people with disabilities to move conveniently without having to turn the wheels with their own strength.

[0005] Recently, a drive device has been developed that equips a drive module driving the wheels of a wheelchair capable of dual use as a manual and electric wheelchair with a roller, allowing the wheelchair to be used in manual mode when the roller is separated from the wheel, and converting the manual wheelchair into an electric wheelchair when the roller is in contact with the wheel and the wheel rotates as the roller rotates due to the rotation of the drive motor.

[0006] Such a manual and electric combined wheelchair is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1756296.

[0007] A manual and electric wheelchair disclosed in the prior art includes a roller that is rotated by a drive motor and is in contact with each of the wheels on both sides of the wheelchair, and a lever for contacting or separating the roller from the wheel.

[0008] Accordingly, when the lever is pushed forward, the rollers are not in contact with the wheels, switching the wheelchair to manual mode, and the user moves the wheelchair by directly rotating the wheel hand rims with their hands.

[0009] Then, when the lever is pushed towards the rear of the rider, the roller comes into contact with the wheel, converting the wheelchair to an electric system. Consequently, the rider can rotate the drive motor in forward and reverse directions to directly transmit the rotational force of the roller to the wheel, allowing the wheelchair to move at the desired speed and direction.

[0010] In such conventional manual and electric dual-purpose wheelchairs, to convert the wheelchair to manual or electric mode, the roller and drive motor rotate around the center axis of rotation of the lever as the lever is rotated, causing the roller to come into contact with or separate from the wheelchair's wheels.

[0011] However, conventional manual and electric wheelchair switching devices have a structure in which the roller and the drive motor move in a circular motion about the center axis of rotation of the lever as the lever rotates, and since the distance between the center axis of rotation of the lever and the center axis of the roller must be increased, there is a problem that the overall size of the device becomes excessive.

[0012] In addition, when the lever rotates, the roller and the drive motor shake and move in a circular motion due to the influence of gravity caused by the self-weight of the drive module, so the roller and the wheel do not come into smooth contact, which causes inconvenience in use.

[0013] The present invention has been devised to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a wheelchair manual-electric switching device that can implement a compact device size and eliminate inconvenience in use by improving the operating structure of the lever and the drive module.

[0014] The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below.

[0015] The objective of the present invention can be achieved by a wheelchair manual and electric conversion device comprising: a module bracket detachably mounted on a wheelchair frame on which the wheels of the wheelchair are mounted; a drive module provided to be linearly reciprocating on the module bracket, having a roller that is rotated by a drive motor while in contact with or separated from the wheels of the wheelchair; a lever rotatably coupled to the module bracket and pushed or pulled to move linearly reciprocating between a first position where the roller is in contact with the wheel and a second position where the roller is separated from the wheel; a link pivotably coupled to the lever and the drive module and connecting the lever and the drive module; and a linear motion conversion unit that converts the rotational motion of the lever and the link into linear motion and transmits it to the drive module.

[0016] Here, the linear motion converter may include a hub formed through the module bracket along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module; and a moving shaft provided in the drive module and coupled to the hub so as to be reciprocally movable.

[0017] It may further include a guide part that guides the drive module to move in a straight reciprocating motion along the module bracket according to the operation of the lever.

[0018] The above guide member may include a guide shaft protruding a certain length from the module bracket along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module; and a guide bushing coupled to the guide shaft so as to be reciprocally movable.

[0019] It may further include an elastic member provided between the guide shaft and the guide bushing, which generates an elastic force on the guide bushing to move the roller to the second position.

[0020] It may further include a stopper part that limits the rotation of the lever.

[0021] The distance between the roller and the wheelchair wheel can be adjusted according to the length of the above link.

[0022] According to the present invention, by improving the operating structure of the lever and the drive module, the size of the device can be implemented compactly and the inconvenience of installing the device can be eliminated.

[0023] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a state in which a wheelchair manual and electric switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheelchair.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wheelchair manual and electric switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0026] FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2,

[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a wheelchair manual and electric switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0028] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the state when the roller is in the first position.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the state of the lever and the drive module when the roller is in the first position.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the state when the roller is in the second position.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state of the lever and the drive module when the roller is in the second position.

[0032] The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but can be implemented in various different forms; these embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention.

[0033] The terms used in this specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" used in this specification do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the components mentioned. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components, and "and / or" includes each of the mentioned components and all combinations of one or more. Although terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the technical scope of the invention.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Additionally, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0035] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0036] First, the main components of a wheelchair (100) equipped with a wheelchair manual and electric conversion device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wheelchair (100) includes a seat portion (101) on which a user sits, a wheelchair frame (103) that supports the seat portion (101), and a pair of wheels (105) that are rotatably coupled to the wheelchair frame (103).

[0038] A pair of wheelchair manual and electric conversion devices (1) for implementing an electric wheelchair (100) are provided, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the wheelchair manual and electric conversion devices (1) are mounted on wheelchair frames (103) on both sides of the wheelchair (100), such as a pair of wheels (105), adjacent to each of the wheels (105) and parallel to the rotational trajectory of the wheels (105). Each wheelchair manual and electric conversion device (1) includes a roller (25, see FIG. 2) that contacts or separates from the wheels (105) of the wheelchair (100). The roller (25) is rotated by a drive motor (21, see FIG. 2) provided in a drive module (20, see FIG. 2).

[0039] Additionally, the drive module (20) includes a battery (not shown) and can be driven by its own power for a certain period of time without the supply of external power. With the roller (25) in close contact with the wheel (105), the rotational force generated by the drive motor (21) is transmitted to the wheel (105) through the roller (25) to rotate the wheel (105), thereby enabling the manual wheelchair to be converted into an electric wheelchair.

[0040] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a manual and electric switching device (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, the wheelchair manual and electric switching device (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a module bracket (10), a driving module (20), a lever (40), links (50a, 50b), and a linear motion conversion unit (60).

[0041] The module bracket (10) is attached to and detached from the wheelchair frame (103) on which the wheels (105) of the wheelchair (100) are mounted.

[0042] A holder (11) is provided on one side of the module bracket (10).

[0043] The holder (11) has a rod shape with a circular cross-section and is detachably clamped to a clamp portion (109) provided on the wheelchair frame (103). For example, the holder (11) can be fixed to the clamp portion (109) by means of a coupling means such as a pin or a bolt. Thus, the module bracket (10) is stably fixed to the wheelchair frame (103).

[0044] Additionally, the module bracket (10) further includes an auxiliary housing (13) that accommodates a portion of the lever (40) and links (50a, 50b). The auxiliary housing (13) is coupled to the upper portion of the module bracket (10).

[0045] The auxiliary housing (13) includes a stopper part (15) provided on the rotational trajectory of the lever (40) to limit the rotation of the lever (40).

[0046] The stopper part (15) includes a first stopper (17) and a second stopper (19).

[0047] The first stopper (17) limits the rotation of the lever (40) so that the roller (25) of the drive module (20), which will be described later, does not press against the wheel (105) by more than a certain distance at the first position where it contacts the wheel (105).

[0048] The first stopper (17) is formed at an angle on the module bracket (10) such that, as an example, the lever (40) forms a predetermined angle with respect to the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0049] The second stopper (19) restricts the rotation of the lever (40) so that the roller (25) of the drive module (20), which will be described later, does not move more than a certain distance from the wheel (105) at a second position where it is separated from the wheel (105).

[0050] The second stopper (19) is formed perpendicular to the module bracket (10) such that, as an example, the lever (40) is perpendicular to the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0051] In this way, by providing the first stopper (17) and the second stopper (19), the operating range of the lever (40) for manual and electric switching of the wheelchair (100) can be limited within an optimal range, thereby improving user convenience.

[0052] The drive module (20) includes a drive motor (21) that generates rotational force and a gear part (not shown) that transmits the rotational force of the drive motor (21). The gear part is housed in a module housing (31) so as not to be exposed to the outside.

[0053] On the output side of the gear section, a roller mounting section (23) is provided, on which a roller (25) that contacts or separates from the wheel (105) of the wheelchair (100) is mounted.

[0054] Additionally, the drive module (20) is rotatably coupled to the links (50a, 50b) by the third axis (27) to be described later.

[0055] The module housing (31) of the drive module (20) is provided with a third axis coupling hole (33) into which a third axis (27) is rotatably coupled.

[0056] The lever (40) has a rod shape of a certain length and is rotatably coupled to the module bracket (10) so that the wheelchair occupant can push or pull it. Depending on the pushing or pulling operation of the lever (40), the roller (25) reciprocates between a first position where it contacts the wheel (105) and a second position where it is separated from the wheel (105).

[0057] The lever (40) is rotatably coupled to the module bracket (10) by a first shaft (43). A first shaft coupling hole (41) is provided in the center of the lever (40) to which the first shaft (43) is rotatably coupled.

[0058] And, at one end of the lever (40), a second shaft coupling hole (45) is provided to which a second shaft (47), to be described later for connecting the lever (40) and the links (50a, 50b), is rotatably coupled.

[0059] The links (50a, 50b) have a rod shape of a certain length and connect the lever (40) and the drive module (20). Here, in this embodiment, the links (50a, 50b) are shown as being provided as a pair and connected to both sides of the lever (40), but are not limited thereto, and the links may be provided as a single link and connected to the lever.

[0060] Links (50a, 50b) are pivotally connected to the lever (40) by a second axis (47) and pivotally connected to the drive module (20) by a third axis (27). Accordingly, links (50a, 50b) pivot according to the pushing or pulling rotational operation of the lever (40).

[0061] Meanwhile, a second axis through hole (51) through which a second axis (47) passes is provided at one end of the link (50a, 50b), and a third axis through hole (53) through which a third axis (27) passes is provided at the other end of the link (50a, 50b). Accordingly, the second axis through hole (51) and the third axis through hole (53) are spaced at a certain interval along the longitudinal direction of the link (50a, 50b).

[0062] Here, links (50a, 50b) of various lengths are connected to the lever (40) and the drive module (20), so that the distance between the roller (25) and the wheelchair wheel (105) can be adjusted according to the length of the links (50a, 50b), for example.

[0063] The linear motion conversion unit (60) includes a hub (61) and a moving axis (63).

[0064] The hub (61) is formed through the module bracket (10) along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0065] The moving axis (63) is provided to protrude a certain length from one side of the module housing (31) and moves back and forth while sliding along the hub (61).

[0066] Accordingly, the linear motion conversion unit (60) converts the rotational motion of the lever (40) and the links (50a, 50b) into linear motion and transmits it to the drive module (20).

[0067] In addition, the wheelchair manual and electric switching device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a guide part (70) that guides the driving module (20) to move in a straight reciprocating motion along the module bracket (10) according to the operation of the lever (40).

[0068] The guide section (70) includes a guide shaft (71) and a guide bush (73).

[0069] The guide shaft (71) protrudes a certain length from the module bracket (10) along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0070] The guide bush (73) is coupled to the guide shaft (71) so as to be reciprocally movable.

[0071] In this way, by further including a guide shaft (71) and a guide bush (73), the drive module (20) is not affected by gravity due to its own weight when the lever (40) rotates, and the roller (25) and the drive motor (21) are guided to move back and forth more stably in a straight line, so that the roller (25) and the wheel (105) come into smooth contact, thereby eliminating inconvenience in use.

[0072] In addition, the wheelchair manual and electric switching device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include an elastic member (75) provided between the guide shaft (71) and the guide bush (73).

[0073] The elastic member (75) generates elastic force on the guide bush (73) to move the roller (25) to the second position.

[0074] By including the elastic member (75) in this manner, the user can easily rotate the lever (40) by means of the elastic restoring force of the elastic member (75) without applying excessive force to the lever (40) while using the wheelchair, thereby enabling the wheelchair to be switched from electric to manual.

[0075] With this configuration, the process of switching the wheelchair (100) between electric and manual modes using the wheelchair manual and electric mode device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is described as follows.

[0076] First, when the wheels (105) of the wheelchair (100) and the roller (25) are separated, for example, when the roller (25) is in a second position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the occupant pushes the lever (40) forward of the wheelchair (100), the lever (40) rotates counterclockwise around the first axis (43).

[0077] As the lever (40) rotates counterclockwise, the links (50a, 50b) rotatably coupled to the lever (40) and the drive module (20) rotate counterclockwise around the second axis (47), and due to the rotation of the links (50a, 50b), the movement axis (63) of the linear motion conversion unit (60) moves linearly along the hub (61) toward the rear of the wheelchair by a linear length corresponding to the rotation angle of the links (50a, 50b), so that the roller (25) mounted on the drive module (20) is positioned at a first position where it contacts the wheel (105), as shown in FIG. 5.

[0078] To explain more specifically, as the links (50a, 50b) rotate counterclockwise, the second axis (47) moves from the bottom dead center toward the top dead center as shown in FIG. 6, and as the links (50a, 50b) come into contact with the first stopper (17), the links (50a, 50b) stop rotating. At this time, the virtual axis line connecting the first axis (43) and the second axis (47) is positioned parallel to the first stopper (17), for example, at an angle with respect to the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0079] At the same time, as the driving module (20) moves to the rear of the wheelchair (100) by a distance, the guide bush (73) connected to the driving module (20) moves linearly to the rear of the wheelchair along the guide axis (71), and the elastic member (75) maintains a compressed state.

[0080] Accordingly, the rotational motion of the lever (40) and the link (50a, 50b) is transmitted to the drive module (20) as linear motion through the linear motion conversion unit (60), and the roller (25) mounted on the drive module (20) moves to a first position where it contacts the wheel (105) as shown in FIG. 5.

[0081] Thus, the wheelchair (100) is converted to an electric type.

[0082] And, when the occupant rotates the drive motor (21) of the drive module (20) at the same speed in both forward and reverse directions through the operation of the control module (107), the wheelchair (100) moves forward and backward due to the frictional force between the roller (25) and the wheel (105). In addition, the wheelchair (100) can be moved in the desired direction by varying the rotational speed of the drive motor (21) of each drive module (20). Furthermore, during the process of the roller (25) being pressed against the wheel (105) of the wheelchair (100), the roller (25) maintains a strong contact force due to the toggle action by the link (50a, 50b) structure, so unintended release of the electric mode does not occur.

[0083] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the roller (25) is in the first position, if the occupant pulls the lever (40) toward the rear of the wheelchair (100), the links (50a, 50b) rotate clockwise around the first axis (43).

[0084] As the lever (40) rotates clockwise, the links (50a, 50b) rotatably coupled to the lever (40) and the drive module (20) rotate clockwise around the second axis (47), and due to the rotation of the links (50a, 50b), the guide axis (71) of the linear motion conversion unit (60) moves linearly forward along the hub (61) by a straight length corresponding to the rotation angle of the links (50a, 50b), so that the roller (25) mounted on the drive module (20) is positioned at a second position separated from the wheel (105) as shown in FIG. 7.

[0085] To explain more specifically, as the links (50a, 50b) rotate clockwise, the second axis (47) moves from the top dead center to the bottom dead center as shown in FIG. 8, and as the links (50a, 50b) come into contact with the second stopper (19), the links (50a, 50b) stop rotating. At this time, the virtual axis line connecting the first axis (43) and the second axis (47) is positioned parallel to the first stopper (17), for example, perpendicular to the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module (20).

[0086] At the same time, as the driving module (20) moves forward of the wheelchair (100) by a distance, the guide bush (73) connected to the driving module (20) moves linearly forward of the wheelchair along the guide axis (71), and the elastic member (75) expands and generates elastic force to restore to its initial state.

[0087] Accordingly, the rotational motion of the lever (40) and the link (50a, 50b) is transmitted to the drive module (20) as linear motion through the linear motion conversion unit (60), and as shown in FIG. 7, the roller (25) mounted on the drive module (20) moves to a second position separated from the wheel (105).

[0088] Thus, the wheelchair (100) is converted to a manual type.

[0089] And, the user can rotate the wheel (105) by directly rotating the hand rim of the wheelchair (100) with their hand, thereby moving the wheelchair (100) in the desired direction.

[0090] In this way, according to the present invention, by improving the operating structure of the lever and the drive module so that the rotational motion of the lever is converted into linear motion and transmitted to the drive module, the size of the device can be implemented compactly and inconvenience in use can be eliminated.

[0091] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A modular bracket that is detachable from a wheelchair frame on which the wheelchair wheels are mounted; A drive module having a roller that contacts or separates from the wheel of a wheelchair and rotates by a drive motor, and configured to move linearly back and forth on the module bracket; A lever rotatably coupled to the module bracket above, which is pushed or pulled to move linearly back and forth between a first position where the roller contacts the wheel and a second position where the roller is separated from the wheel; A link pivotably coupled to the lever and the drive module and connecting the lever and the drive module; and A wheelchair manual and electric conversion device comprising a linear motion converter that converts the rotational motion of the lever and the link into linear motion and transmits it to the drive module.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above linear motion conversion unit is, A hub formed through the module bracket along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the drive module; and A wheelchair manual and electric conversion device comprising a moving shaft provided in the above-mentioned drive module and coupled to the above-mentioned hub so as to be reciprocally movable.

3. In Paragraph 1, A wheelchair manual and electric conversion device further comprising a guide portion that guides the drive module to move in a straight reciprocating motion along the module bracket according to the operation of the lever.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above guide part is, A guide shaft protruding a certain length from the module bracket along the linear reciprocating movement direction of the above-mentioned drive module; and A wheelchair manual and electric conversion device comprising a guide bushing coupled to the above guide shaft so as to be reciprocally movable.

5. In Paragraph 4, A wheelchair manual and electric conversion device further comprising an elastic member provided between the guide shaft and the guide bushing, which generates an elastic force on the guide bushing to move the roller to the second position.

6. In Paragraph 1, A wheelchair manual and electric switching device further comprising a stopper portion that limits the rotation of the lever.

7. In Paragraph 1, A wheelchair manual and electric switching device that adjusts the distance between the roller and the wheelchair wheel according to the length of the above link.

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