Modular Wheelchair Loading System for Off-Road Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicles lack a modular seat loading system that can accommodate various driver seats, including wheelchairs, allowing for easy loading and unloading, which limits accessibility and independence for disabled drivers who require personalized adaptations.
Innovation Solution
A modular seat loading system with controllable length-adjustment devices that tilt or lift the vehicle floor to create a sloped loading ramp, enabling the use of wheelchairs as driver seats, and includes a lock holder and seat-fastening mechanism for secure attachment, allowing for easy entry and exit without assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed driver seat is installed in an off-road vehicle for disabled drivers, then the vehicle can accommodate disabled drivers, but the vehicle lacks adaptability for different disabled drivers with varying needs and disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The driver seat is segmented into removable components, allowing different seat types (wheelchair, standard seat, bucket seat) to be interchangeably installed on the vehicle frame. This enables the vehicle to adapt to different disabled drivers' needs without requiring complete vehicle customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle frame is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate multiple types of driver seats. The same frame structure supports wheelchairs, standard seats, and bucket seats, making the vehicle universally adaptable to various disabled drivers without increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the driver seat is positioned at an elevated location in the vehicle, then the vehicle structure is simplified, but disabled drivers require assistance from other persons to enter and exit the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is designed to dynamically change its angle between horizontal and inclined positions. When inclined, it forms a ramp that enables independent wheelchair loading; when horizontal, it provides a stable driving surface. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain simplicity while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading ramp system is controlled by the disabled driver themselves, enabling self-service entry and exit without requiring assistance from other persons. The driver can independently adjust the floor angle to load their wheelchair or standard seat.
3Ease of operation
If a modular seat loading system with movable floor is implemented, then disabled drivers can independently load wheelchairs, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic or hydraulic actuator is used to adjust the floor angle. This provides smooth, controlled movement with minimal manual effort, enabling easy wheelchair loading while keeping the mechanism relatively simple compared to mechanical screw or linkage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical floor adjustment system is replaced with an electric motor or pneumatic actuator that can be controlled via button or switch. This substitution reduces the physical effort required and simplifies the user interface while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the floor is tilted to form a loading ramp, then wheelchair loading is enabled, but the vehicle cannot be driven in this position
Solution Approach 1:
The floor angle is dynamically adjusted between inclined (for loading) and horizontal (for driving) positions. This dynamic reconfiguration enables dual-mode operation without requiring separate loading and driving systems, keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading ramp function and driving floor function are merged into a single movable floor structure. The same floor serves both purposes by changing its angle, eliminating the need for separate loading ramps and reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular seat loading system for loading of various driver seats onto an off-road vehicle (ORV), forming a modular wheelchair-accessible ORV. The modular system includes controllable length-adjustment devices, configured to controllably adjust angular position of a floor of the ORV, by controlling length thereof, for switch ably achieving ORV modes: a load mode in which a floor structure of the ORV is tilted forming a non-zero angle βετωεεν the ORV floor and a ground surface, for removably loading a wheelchair or a wheel-less seat for serving as a driver seat; and a drive mode in which the ORV floor structure is lifted from the ground. The modular seat loading system also includes a load controller configured at least for adjusting length of the length-adjustment devices. Each of the length-adjustment devices is also configured and used for movement suspension of the ORV by enabling natural expansion and contraction responsive to ORV movements and road conditions.