NEW DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAVEL WHEELCHAIR

NEUENTWICKLUNG EINES REISEROLLSTUHLS

This paper describes the background to the development project "folding lightweight wheelchair" for use on public transport vehicles. The project was sponsored by the BMFT (Federal Ministry for Research and Technology) and carried out by the DGVLR (German Research and Test Institute of aviation and astronautics). The requirements which had to be fulfilled were: low weight, variable travel width, stowability and travel comfort. The combination of those requirements eventually led to the production of the wheelchair described in this report. The weight of the ready-to-use travel chair is 23 kg, thus still exceeding the requirements set. It is hoped that further developments up to the production stage will reduce the weight still futher. Small driving width, tipping resistance and ergonomic drive were ensured by the technical design of the contraction mechanism. Transport and stowage problems have been substantially eased by the separation of the seat assembly from the undercarriage. The design of the seat gives a degree of comfort exceeding that of the existing wheelchair and a very pleasing appearance. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared originally in German in: Medizintechnik, 1981-12, 101 (6), pp 144-148.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Brudermann, U
  • MacKert, P
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Comfort; Design; Equipment; Ergonomics; Handling and storage; Lightweight materials; Persons with disabilities; Portable equipment; Prototypes; Public transit; Safety; Storage facilities; Translations; Weight; Wheelchairs; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• ITRD Terms: 9138: Comfort; 9011: Design (overall design); 1726: Disabled person; 3674: Equipment; 9060: Portable; 9109: Prototype; 744: Public transport; 9137: Storage; 8538: Translation; 5485: Weight; 6479: Width
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00392869
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Translation 3150 Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM