Wheelchair for Africa

A group of students build an "appropriate technology" wheelchair for developing countries. More at http://www.test-tube.org.uk/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• wheelchair
• Africa
• Kenya
• Mike
• Clifford

[20chocsaday]

@funklabADV Curb cutouts are not necessary unless there are curbs.

There might be a hard flat area at the side of the tarred strip - where there is a tarred strip.

If there is a tarred strip then it is probably higher than the surrounding earth or stone and powered vehicles might mount the tar at an angle to prevent them from hitting it with the sump.

[barrierefrei1]

Gute Idee, Grüße aus Deutschland

[BobbyIronsights]

P.S. Yes, I'm a wheelchair user in Canada, and am virtually housebound during the long winter. If only I was brown skinned and had palm trees in my back yard it would be politically correct for someone to help me. What's the phrase I'm looking for? Is it ........I hate you, YOU DAFT TWITS!?!!

[JebusGeist]

Absolutely fantastic idea.

Traditional wheelchairs are built based on a design that expects there to be someone pushing them from behind. The design is quite effective if that's how their being used.

When the chair is propelled by the occupant tho, all those design features suddenly become flaws and cause all sorts of situations that hinder self-sufficiency instead of facilitate it.

I hope you'll put the schematics in the public domain when you've completed this design.

[eayymjl1]

It's good to hear that this design of wheelchair would have benefits in other countries. In the video the levers are attached to hub geared wheels which don't have a very fine ratchet mechanism, we have more recently tried a back wheel of a normal derailleur bike which has a finer ratchet mechanism and so the levers kick in earlier and hence would be more appropriate to use in normal operation, for example just moving down the street.

Thanks for your comment

[dragonlaughing]

I see you used a racheted lever for leverage. Can you design something similar that would be useful for moving down the street. In the U.S., wheelchairs are often barely adequate and they cost as much as cars. So many people don't get them. Insurances often won't pay for a wheelchair for a person to get out of the house. So, many poorer people just don't have wheelchairs. It's not just Africa that needs cheap wheelchairs.

[eazmjc]

the video reply has some footage of the wheelchair on rough terrain and also going up curbs...

[eazmjc]

We swapped the rear wheel / fork at the last moment, which removed the tilt in the seat - it should have tipped back slightly as you suggest. We're in contact with a UK wheelchair manufacturer and a couple of charities have shown some interest, so we'll see.

[funklabADV]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I'd love to see how that chair handles curbs. Those are certain to be found in underdeveloped countries that dont have curb cutouts

[funklabADV]

Sound good. Might want to put some dump in the seat on the next prototype (make the back of the seat lower than the front of the seat) this would put the sitter much closer to the wheels, making it easier to push and keep the sitter from being pitched out of the wheelchair as easily.

Are there any plans for production, or is this just a school project?