JP2003204998A - Steering device for wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein as a method for steering a wheelchair used by a physically handicapped person, the advancing direction is operated by controlling how to advance left and right manually driven wheels attached on driving wheels, however, it is difficult for the physically handicapped person with deteriorated nerve of movement to judge left and right balance, by developing a device for steering with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A steering shaft 5 on the top end of which a steering lever 6 is fitted is connected with a fork shaft 3 of one side between left and right free wheels 1 and a bearing 4 through which the steering shaft passes is fixed on a vehicle body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wheelchair manufacturing technique.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for wheelchairs used by persons with physical disabilities, as a steering method thereof, the method of advancing a manual wheel that is added to a moving wheel is controlled to operate the traveling direction by balancing the left and right moving wheels, or in the case of electric driving. , A method of electronically controlling the motor speed of the left and right driving wheels has been adopted.

[0003]

In the method described in the prior art, the manual wheel control method makes it difficult to judge the left-right balance for persons with impaired motor nerves and persons with cranial nervous system disorders. There is a difficult defect, and the method of controlling the motors for the left and right wheels has a complicated structure, which leads to an increase in production cost. The challenge is to simplify the mechanism and structure as much as possible.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a steering shaft having a steering lever attached to an upper end thereof is connected to a shaft of a fork on one side of the left and right free wheels,
Also, the bearing that passes through the steering shaft is fixed to the vehicle body. (Fig. 2) Also, the fork shaft and the steering shaft are connected to each other by using a joint or the like so that they can be separated from each other, and the steering shaft can be replaced on either side of the vehicle body by bearings on both sides of the vehicle body. There is also an example in which a mounting hole is provided. (FIG. 3) The steering lever is attached to the steering shaft so that the direction of the free wheel and the direction of the steering lever can be freely adjusted, and the steering lever can be attached to the steering shaft at an arbitrary rotation angle.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. A steering shaft 5 is connected and fixed to the upper end of a fork shaft 3 which is fixed to a fork 2 to which a universal wheel 1 is attached and which is vertically and rotatably held on a side surface of a wheelchair, and the steering shaft is vertically attached to a vehicle body A by a bearing 4. . A steering lever 6 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 5 at an arbitrary rotation angle with respect to the steering shaft 5. (FIG. 2) As another example, the fork shaft 3 and the steering shaft 5 described above are connected via a joint 7, and the joint 7 is configured such that the connector 7a and the connector 7b mesh with each other, and the upper end of the fork shaft 3 is connected. A connector 7b is molded on the steering shaft 5, and a connector 7a is molded on the lower end of the steering shaft 5. Further, the connector 7b is molded on both left and right fork shafts, and the bearing 4 is passed through the steering shaft 5. It can be mounted on either side of the wheelchair. (Figure 3)

[0006]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION When traveling in a wheelchair with one hand, or when an auxiliary driving device such as an electric motor is also used, it is effective in terms of convenience of handling and safety that the traveling direction can be controlled by oneself. Since the steering apparatus of the present invention has an extremely simple structure, it has an effect that it can be manufactured at a lower cost than other steering methods.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a wheelchair of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the wheelchair according to claim 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wheelchair according to claim 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Universal wheel 2 Fork 3
Fork shaft 4 Bearing 5 Steering shaft 6
Steering lever 7 Joint 7a Connector A 7b
Connector B A Body B Drive wheel

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A steering device for a wheelchair, comprising a fork shaft of a free wheel on one side and a steering shaft mounted vertically and rotatably on a vehicle body and provided with a steering lever at its upper end. 2. A wheelchair steering device in which a fork shaft of a free wheel on one side and a steering shaft vertically and rotatably mounted on a vehicle body and having a steering lever at an upper end thereof are connected through a joint in a wheelchair. .