FOLDING THREEWHEEL WHEELCHAIR

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FOLDING THREE-WHEEL WHEELCHAIR/ IMPROVED BRAKE
DESIGN
Amanda Maguire, Neeharika Bhartiya, Andrea
Blakemore, Rebecca Hung
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CURRENT DESIGN
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PROBLEM (FOLDING CHAIR)
Although three-wheeled wheelchairs are a better
chair for managing the tough terrain of the
developing world, the long rod in the front
attaching the front wheel as well as the sturdy
frame necessary to attach such a wheel ultimately
restricts mobility for its users. Being unable
to fold the chair means that it cannot be taken
in public transportation, and therefore, the user
is limited to traveling to only places where the
chair can go. Last years team designed a
mechanism for folding in the front rod, but in
order to further decrease the size and thus
enhance the users mobility, we are going to
develop a way to fold up the frame and seat and
bring the wheels in.
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FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Volume no larger than donated four-wheeled
chairs when folded up (width 15 inches,
height 35 inches, length 35 inches) Weight
no more than current design (maximum 45
pounds) Cost with 5 of cost of current
three-wheel design (maximum 315) Manufacturin
g Time/Steps add no more than 3 parts to
frame (currently 17 parts to make frame, so
maximum 20)
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CURRENT DESIGN
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PROBLEM (BRAKES)
For the most part, each wheelchair design also
has its own brake design, all of which have
problems with brake robustness and reliability.
For many of them, either the brakes cause damage
to the tires or the brakes will end up snapping
off of the frame. This project will aim at
producing better, long-lasting braking systems.
Also, we aim to make the braking system universal
for all wheelchairs, so that it can easily be
welded or attached in some other manner and
function properly for any style of chair.
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FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Universal can be adapted to all wheelchair
designs Wear on Tires should reduce wear
(extend life of tire by several years) Locking
Mechanism use self-help to stay
locked Positioning can be locked when
sitting (use does not need to bend over to
use) More Positioning thumb-safe, will not
hit brakes when pushing chair Cost within 5
of current designs Manufacturing Time/Steps no
more parts in brake than current designs
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Mobility Care/ KCMC
Katalema Chesire Home
Disacare
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Tanzania
Daniel Namkessa, Mobility Care, Arusha Abdullah
Munish, KCMC Wheelchair Workshop, Moshi
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Rest of Africa
Turyamureeba Wenceslaus, Katalema Cheshire Home,
Kampala, Uganda Rasta Nazarite, Disacare,
Lusaka, Zambia
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MENTORS
Ralf Hotchkiss Whirlwind Wheelchair
International Developing Countries Wheelchair
Expert
Aaron Wheeler Wheelchair Designer Appropriate
Technology Specialist
Ray Mines Motivation Wheelchair design NGO
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TIMELINE
Week of February 24th Strategy
Presentation Week of March 16th Concept
Presentation Week of April 13th Most Critical
Module Presentation May 10th Poster for Museum
of Science Week of May 11th Final Presentation
with Working Prototype
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STEPS TO CONCEPT PRESENTATION
FRDPARRC Individually Functional Requirements
(already done) Design Parameters Analysis Re
search Risks Countermeasures Discuss as a
Group and Use Pugh Chart to Determine Final
Concept Further Develop and Flesh Out Design
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STEPS TO MOST CRITICAL MODULE
Perform Benchmark Experiments Decide what to
build MCM with (material) Start Building!
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STEPS TO WORKING PROTOTYPE
Test MCM Evaluate MCM (what works, what could
be improved, are there inherent flaws in the
design?) Prototype it (aka Build It!) Test
Prototype Troubleshoot (evaluate performance and
fix any problems) Redesign/Tweak Design if
Necessary If theres time, Build Prototype 2!
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ANY QUESTIONS?