The Collapsible Wheelchair Wheel

Presenter Information

Joseph Fischer

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Start Date

21-5-2015

End Date

21-5-2015

Keywords

Collapsible, Wheel, Portable

Abstract

Portability, convenience, and efficiency are becoming more and more prevalent as technology increases. This is also true with wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are being designed to fold and collapse smaller and smaller with every iteration but there is one parameter that remains constant, the wheel. No matter how small the wheelchair frame folds, it is always limited by its wheel’s diameter. This project aims to create a collapsible wheel design to accompany a foldable wheelchair in order to make it more portable and storable. Since the diameter of the wheel is the limiting factor in a foldable wheelchair, the relatively small width dimension of the wheel was increased in order to compensate for the reduction of the diameter dimension. This was achieved by creating a wheel composed of six equal parts that interlock to form a solid, functional wheel capable of supporting a human to the weight capacity of other wheelchairs (i.e., 250 pounds). It is also important that the wheel is easy and quick to assemble and disassemble for users of all ages and capability. It will be tested for strength but also for how quickly it can be assembled and disassembled. To achieve a one minute assembly time, quick release hinges were used, an instruction manual was created, and magnet and Velcro attach points were implemented. This collapsible wheel design collapses a standard 24-inch wheelchair wheel to an 11.25 by 10.75 by 6.00 inch assembly. This is a reduction of 83 percent of its original frontal area when collapsed.

Poster Number

28

Faculty Mentor(s)

Charles Pringle

Department/Program

Engineering Technologies, Safety, & Construction

Additional Mentoring Department

Engineering Technologies, Safety, & Construction

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May 21st, 2:30 PM May 21st, 5:00 PM

The Collapsible Wheelchair Wheel

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Portability, convenience, and efficiency are becoming more and more prevalent as technology increases. This is also true with wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are being designed to fold and collapse smaller and smaller with every iteration but there is one parameter that remains constant, the wheel. No matter how small the wheelchair frame folds, it is always limited by its wheel’s diameter. This project aims to create a collapsible wheel design to accompany a foldable wheelchair in order to make it more portable and storable. Since the diameter of the wheel is the limiting factor in a foldable wheelchair, the relatively small width dimension of the wheel was increased in order to compensate for the reduction of the diameter dimension. This was achieved by creating a wheel composed of six equal parts that interlock to form a solid, functional wheel capable of supporting a human to the weight capacity of other wheelchairs (i.e., 250 pounds). It is also important that the wheel is easy and quick to assemble and disassemble for users of all ages and capability. It will be tested for strength but also for how quickly it can be assembled and disassembled. To achieve a one minute assembly time, quick release hinges were used, an instruction manual was created, and magnet and Velcro attach points were implemented. This collapsible wheel design collapses a standard 24-inch wheelchair wheel to an 11.25 by 10.75 by 6.00 inch assembly. This is a reduction of 83 percent of its original frontal area when collapsed.