Designs Of An Electric Powered Wheelchair

How are Electric Power Wheelchair designed?

The electric powered wheelchairs are designed on the basis of battery, chassis, controller, seat, suspension, motor, etc. They above designed categories are described below:

1. Chassis

Chassis is also known as the drive system. Electric power wheelchairs generally have four or six wheels, and may or may not be dismantled, meaning they can either be folding or non-folding. There are generally four types of electric power wheelchair drive systems that exist. They are front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, center wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The wheels in the electric power wheelchairs are generally larger than those on trailing wheelchairs. The drive system of an electric power wheelchair provides excellent ability to maneuver and also gives a driving experience that is intuitive.

2. Seat

There are a number of companies that manufacture power wheelchairs and therefore the designs for the seats vary. Some manufacturers may manufacture power wheelchair with an ordinary sling seat while others may manufacture with a backrest that would be made up of vinyl or nylon. Certain other manufacturers may have an optional padding in the wheelchair to give comfort to the patients. Adjustable backrest and seat cushions are also available for people who might suffer from sores as a result of prolonged hours of sitting on the wheelchair. Other adjustments such as automatic leg rest that are powered in order to let users vary the position of their legs, reclining facilities or a tilt-in-space facility, that helps users to change seating positions.

3. Controller

Since these wheelchairs are powered once they do not have to be operated manual, that can be fatiguing but this can be done with the help of a joy stick. The joy stick is usually mounted on the arm-rest of the wheelchair. Along with the joy stick there are other additional controls available on the wheelchair, which allows users to tailor with sensitivity and access the various control modes. There are also other alternatives to hand controls such as sip-and-puff controls that works with the help of a sensor. This sensor has the capability of turning the drive wheel forward and backward, meaning turning the chair within the radius.

Some manufacturers also design their wheelchair that allows the users to operate and control other devices that are connected with the same infrared that they are using their controller. Some wheelchair may also have the ability to control the wireless mouse that is connected to the computer.

4. Suspension

Various types of suspensions are available for users. Some wheelchairs may come with a rubber suspension while others may come with a spring suspension. The wheelchair that comes along with a rubber suspension is designed for absorbing the jolts and impacts. While spring suspension is designed for absorbing impacts and provides dampeners.

5. Battery

Power wheelchairs use dry cell batteries that have 12 to 80 ampere-hour rechargeable deep-cycle batteries. These batteries are available with charges that can be plugged into any standard wall plug outlet. These batteries hold power for at least one day between the times they are charged.

Todd Dawson Is a freelance writer