Wheelchair Traction Assembly With Rotatable Multi-Position Hooking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary traction devices for wheelchairs are limited to a single position of attachment, leading to inefficiencies in various driving conditions, such as difficulty in uphill movement, inadequate braking, and inability to switch between manual and assisted control modes.
Innovation Solution
A universal auxiliary traction device that can be configured to attach at the front, rear, or central position relative to the wheelchair's rear wheels, featuring a compact design with a rotatable connection assembly and interchangeable accessories for manual or power-assisted control, including a braking system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If auxiliary traction device is attached at the front of the wheelchair, then steering control is improved, but uphill movement effectiveness deteriorates due to unloaded configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly is designed to be rotatable relative to the support structure, allowing the auxiliary traction device to dynamically change its attachment position between front and rear of the wheelchair. This enables adaptation to different driving conditions - front attachment for steering control and rear attachment for uphill movement effectiveness.
2Productivity
If auxiliary traction device is attached at the rear of the wheelchair, then uphill traction is improved, but steering capability deteriorates as the device cannot provide manual steering
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable connection assembly enables the auxiliary traction device to be positioned at the rear for uphill traction when needed, while still allowing the user to manually steer the wheelchair through the connection assembly's rotational capability, thus maintaining steering control even in rear-mounted configuration.
3Device complexity
If auxiliary traction device is designed for fixed attachment position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different driving conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly incorporates a rotatable mechanism that allows the auxiliary traction device to be repositioned between front and rear attachment positions. This dynamic repositioning capability provides adaptability to different driving conditions (uphill, downhill, steering requirements) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary traction device is designed with a universal connection assembly that can accommodate multiple attachment positions and control modes (manual steering, power-assisted steering, braking), making it versatile for various driving conditions without requiring multiple separate devices.
4Ease of manufacture
If auxiliary traction device uses fixed connection assembly, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but ability to switch between control modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly incorporates a rotatable mechanism that enables switching between different control modes (manual steering, power-assisted steering, braking) by changing the spatial relationship between the auxiliary traction device and the wheelchair, while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An auxiliary traction device (1) for wheelchairs (W), comprising a support structure (2) to which a drive wheel (3) is rotatably coupled comprising a wheel (31) operatively connected to an electric motor (32), an electronic control unit (4) configured to control the electric motor (32), a connection assembly (6) rotatably associated to the support structure (2) so as to define a steering axis (Y) of the support structure (2) and of the drive wheel (3) relative to the connection assembly (6). The auxiliary traction device also comprises a hooking body (7) defined coaxially to the steering axis (Y), rotatably coupled to the connection assembly (6) and integrally connected with a first end (7a) thereof to the support structure (2). Such a hooking body (7) is provided, at the second end (7b), opposite to the first end (7a), with a hooking shaping (71) so as to allow the operating hooking of an external accessory device (200, 300, 400) provided with a counter-shaping (205, 304, 401) complementary to the hooking shaping (71).