JP2016140499A - Wheelchair and design method of wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair whose balance of vibration attenuation characteristics and rigidness is the most suitable for a user.SOLUTION: A vehicle frame 11 of a wheelchair 1 is divided into a front part 11a to which wheels 13 are attached, a rear part 11c connected to a cage 10, and a central part 11b between the front part 11a and the rear part 11c. Structures of the front part 11a, the rear part 11c, and the central part 11b are designed for each region so that rigidness and vibration attenuation characteristics of the vehicle frame 11 as a whole can meet a user's requirement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair, in particular, a wheelchair for racing used in a track race, a marathon, and the like, and a design method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a wheelchair for racing used in track races, marathons, etc., a cage having a seat for seating, a body frame extending in front of the cage, a steering handle provided on the body frame, and a body frame There is known a vehicle equipped with a front wheel disposed at the front end of the vehicle, a pair of rear wheels attached to the left and right sides of the cage, and a front fork attached to the front end of the body frame and holding the front wheel.

  By the way, the conventional wheelchair provided with the structure as described in Patent Document 1 may cause the front wheel to jump or vibrate when the front wheel receives unevenness on the road surface, and the straight running stability may be reduced. Therefore, in conventional wheelchairs, part of the constituent material of the front fork that holds the front wheels is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, which prevents the front wheels from jumping up and generating vibrations (that is, preventing straight running stability from being lowered). ).

JP 2012-19821 A

  By the way, in the conventional wheelchair, the structure of the front fork is improved to improve the vibration damping characteristics, but the structure of the vehicle body frame, which is a larger member than the front fork, is improved to improve the vibration damping characteristics. Has been proposed.

  However, materials with good vibration damping characteristics often have low rigidity, and when the body frame is made of such materials, the rigidity is insufficient, and when the user performs a rowing operation, driving by that operation is performed. There is a risk that the force is not sufficiently transmitted.

  In addition, the balance between vibration damping characteristics and rigidity varies greatly depending on the user, so an optimum design is required for users of wheelchairs for racing used in track races and marathons. In some cases, it was difficult to design.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a wheelchair in which the balance between vibration damping characteristics and rigidity is optimal for the user, and a design method thereof.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wheelchair according to the present invention includes a cage having a seat for seating, a vehicle body frame extending in front of the cage, a steering handle provided on the vehicle body frame, and a front end of the vehicle body frame. A wheelchair comprising a front wheel attached to the front part and a pair of rear wheels attached to the left and right sides of the cage, wherein the vehicle body frame includes a front part to which the front wheel is attached, a rear part connected to the cage, and It is divided into at least three areas including at least one central part between the front part and the rear part. The structure of the front part, rear part and central part of the body frame uses the rigidity and vibration damping characteristics of the whole body frame. It is characterized in that it is designed for each region so as to meet the demands of a person.

  In order to achieve the above object, the wheelchair design method of the present invention includes a cage having a seat for seating, a vehicle body frame extending in front of the cage, and a steering handle provided on the vehicle body frame. A design method executed by a design device for designing a wheelchair having a front wheel attached to a front end portion of a body frame and a pair of rear wheels attached to left and right sides of a cage, A region dividing step for dividing the front wheel to a front portion, a rear portion connected to the cage, and at least three regions including at least one central portion between the front portion and the rear portion; Structure determining step for determining the structure in the front, rear, and center portions for each region so that the rigidity and vibration damping characteristics of the entire body frame meet the user's request Characterized in that it comprises a.

  As described above, the wheelchair of the present invention and the wheelchair designed by the design method of the present invention divide the body frame into at least three regions, and design the structure for each region, so that the entire body frame These characteristics are designed to meet the needs of users such as athletes.

  For this reason, the wheelchair of this invention and the wheelchair designed by the design method of this invention can respond to a user's request | requirement flexibly compared with the wheelchair which has a vehicle body frame of a single structure. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily optimize the balance between vibration damping characteristics and rigidity for the user.

  In the wheelchair of the present invention, the vehicle body frame is a columnar member formed by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced plastics, and the front part, the rear part, and the central part of the vehicle body frame are fibers for each region. It is preferable that the laminated structure of the reinforced plastic is different.

  Thus, if each region of the vehicle body frame is configured by laminating fiber reinforced plastics, the characteristics of each region can be easily made different, so that the design of the wheelchair is further facilitated. Here, the laminated structure refers to, for example, the inclination angle of the fibers contained in the laminated fiber reinforced plastic with respect to the fibers contained in the adjacent fiber reinforced plastic, the thickness of each fiber reinforced plastic, and the like.

  Further, in the wheelchair of the present invention, when fiber reinforced plastics are laminated to constitute each region of the body frame, vibrations are generated in the center portion of the front portion, the rear portion, and the center portion of the body frame. It is preferable to include a fiber reinforced plastic having high damping characteristics.

  In this way, if a fiber reinforced plastic with high vibration damping characteristics (for example, aramid fiber reinforced plastic or polyarylate fiber reinforced plastic) is used in the central part, which is often designed to be larger than other areas, the vibration damping characteristics It becomes easy to improve.

  In the wheelchair of the present invention, the characteristics of the vehicle body frame may be set by changing the diameters of the front, rear, and center portions of the vehicle body frame for each region. Further, the characteristics of the vehicle body frame may be set by changing the ratio of the length in the axial direction between the rear portion and the center portion of the vehicle body frame.

  In the wheelchair design method of the present invention, the vehicle body frame is a columnar member formed by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced plastics. In the structure determination step, the diameter of the front part, the rear part, and the central part is determined. The thickness, the ratio of the axial length of each region, and the laminated structure of fiber reinforced plastic may be selected and set from the pattern table.

The top view of the wheelchair concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The top view of the front fork of the wheelchair of FIG. The side view of the wheelchair of FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle body frame of the wheelchair of FIG. 1, FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. The graph which shows the vibration characteristic in the wheelchair of FIG. 1, and the vibration characteristic in the conventional wheelchair.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1-3, schematic structure of the wheelchair 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment includes a cage 10 having a seat for seating, a vehicle body frame 11 extending in front of the cage, and a steering handle 12 provided on the vehicle body frame 11. The front wheel 13 disposed at the front end of the body frame 11, the pair of rear wheels 14 attached to the left and right sides of the cage 10, and the front wheel 13 are attached to the front end of the body frame 11 to hold the front wheel 13. The front fork 15 is provided.

  An upper portion of the cage 10 is opened, and a seat 10 a for sitting by a player (user) is disposed inside the cage 10.

  The rear wheel 14 is provided with a hand rim 14a, and the athlete sitting on the seat 10a transmits the driving force to the rear wheel 14 through the hand rim 14a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front fork 15 has a column portion 15a supported at the tip of the vehicle body frame 11, and a fork portion 15b extending forward from the column portion 15a. A bearing hole 15c that supports the axle of the front wheel 13 is formed at the tip of the fork portion 15b.

  The column portion 15a is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is pivotally supported by the front end portion of the vehicle body frame 11 via a bearing (not shown). A handle 12 (see FIG. 3) is fixed to the upper end of the column portion 15a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 12 is connected to the end portion of the column portion 15 a of the front fork 15 that is pivotally supported by the front end portion of the vehicle body frame 11. In the wheelchair 1, by operating the handle 12, the direction of the front fork 15 is changed, and the wheelchair 1 can be swung in a desired direction.

  Next, the structure of the vehicle body frame 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle body frame 11 is formed as a hollow member by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced plastics. The structure of the body frame 11 includes a front part 11a to which the front wheel 13 is attached, a central part 11b provided on the cage 10 side of the front part 11a, and a cage 10 side of the central part 11b and connected to the cage 10. And the rear portion 11c.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the front portion 11a is a portion that holds the front fork 15 and the handle 12, and is formed by laminating a larger number of fiber reinforced plastics than other regions so as to have high rigidity. Yes. Therefore, the front portion 11a has high rigidity but is thick and heavy. However, since the front part 11a is a small area compared to the central part 11b and the rear part 11c, even if the front part 11a is configured in this way, the weight does not increase greatly.

  Specifically, the outermost layer 11a1 and the innermost layer 11a6 of the front portion 11a are formed of fiber reinforced plastic using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber. The four intermediate layers 11a2 to 11a5 between the outermost layer 11a1 and the innermost layer 11a6 are based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) -based carbon fiber, and in addition, aramid fiber, glass fiber, pitch-based carbon fiber, PBO fiber, poly It is formed of fiber reinforced plastic reinforced with arylate fiber, polyethylene fiber or the like. The four intermediate layers 11a2 to 11a5 are laminated according to a predetermined pattern (for example, a pattern of inclination angles of fibers included in the layer with respect to fibers included in an adjacent layer).

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the central portion 11b is longer in the axial direction than the other regions. Therefore, the vibration attenuation characteristics of the entire body frame 11 are greatly affected by the configuration of this region. Therefore, in the central part 11b, not only using a fiber reinforced plastic using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber as in the front part 11a and the rear part 11c, but also having good vibration damping characteristics, Fiber reinforced plastic using aramid fiber is also used.

  Instead of fiber reinforced plastic using aramid fibers, fiber reinforced plastic using fibers with high vibration damping characteristics such as organic fibers such as polyarylate fibers and pitch-based carbon fibers may be used.

  Specifically, the outermost layer 11b1 and the innermost layer 11b3 of the central portion 11b are formed of fiber reinforced plastic using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber, like the front portion 11a. The intermediate layer 11b2 between the outermost layer 11b1 and the innermost layer 11b3 is formed of fiber reinforced plastic using aramid fiber, polyarylate fiber, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the rear portion 11c is a portion connected to the cage 10 to which the rear wheel 14 is attached. Therefore, when the user performs the rowing operation, the driving force due to the operation is sufficiently transmitted. As shown in the figure, it is configured to have higher rigidity than the central portion 11b.

  Specifically, the outermost layer 11c1 and the innermost layer 11c4 of the rear portion 11c are formed of fiber reinforced plastic using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber, like the front portion 11a and the central portion 11b. The two intermediate layers 11c2 and 11c3 between the outermost layer 11c1 and the innermost layer 11c4 are made of fiber reinforced plastic using fibers having high vibration damping characteristics such as glass fibers, pitch fibers, PBO fibers, polyarylate fibers, polyethylene fibers, etc. Is formed. The two intermediate layers 11c2 and 11c3 are stacked according to a predetermined pattern.

  Thus, in the wheelchair 1 of this embodiment, the characteristics corresponding to a user's demands, such as a player, are given to body frame 11 by setting a structure independently in front part 11a, central part 11b, and rear part 11c. The configuration is realized as a whole.

  For this reason, the wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment is more flexible to the user's request than the conventional wheelchair having a single body frame and has the optimal balance between vibration damping characteristics and rigidity. Can be.

  FIG. 5 shows, as an example, a graph of vibration characteristics in the wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment and vibration characteristics in a conventional wheelchair. As is apparent from this graph, the wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment is almost all of the wheelchairs of the conventional form (for example, the entire body frame is composed only of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fiber). Vibration is suppressed in frequency. In particular, vibration is suppressed particularly in the case of a low frequency or a high frequency.

  Therefore, the wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment has improved straight running stability (steering stability) and riding comfort compared to a conventional wheelchair.

  The structure of the front part 11a, the central part 11b and the rear part 11c as described above is merely an example, and the structure such as the number of regions to be divided, the material, the lamination pattern, the axial length, the number of laminations, etc. The characteristics of the entire body frame 11 are appropriately changed so as to meet the user's request.

  Next, a process executed by the design apparatus when the structure of the vehicle body frame 11 is designed using the design apparatus will be described.

  When designing the wheelchair 1 using the design device, the design device first determines the number of regions of the vehicle body frame 11 (region division step). As the number of areas increases, it becomes possible to flexibly respond to the user's request, but this also leads to an increase in manufacturing man-hours and consequently production costs. For this reason, the design apparatus determines the number of areas in consideration of a budget and the like in addition to a request at the time of use by the user.

  As the number of regions, for example, as described above, the regions may be divided into three regions of a front part, a center part, and a rear part. The central portion may be divided into a plurality of regions and divided into four or more regions. In the following description, the case where it is divided into three regions will be described.

  Next, the design apparatus determines the structure of the front part 11a, the central part 11b, and the rear part 11c for each region so that the rigidity and vibration damping characteristics of the entire body frame 11 are in accordance with the user's request. The structure is determined (structure determination step).

  As the structure to be set, for example, the sectional shape of each region, whether each region is hollow or solid, the diameter of each region, the forming material of each region, the central portion 11b and the rear portion 11c There are ratios of lengths in the axial direction. Further, when the body frame 11 is formed by laminating fiber reinforced plastics, a laminated structure of fiber reinforced plastics in each region is also included.

  When the thickness of the diameter is changed, the sectional moment of inertia changes, so that the bending rigidity in each region changes.

  As a forming material, for example, a metal such as iron or aluminum, a laminated fiber reinforced plastic, or the like can be selected. Examples of fiber reinforced plastic include fiber reinforced plastic using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fiber, aramid fiber reinforced plastic, glass fiber, pitch carbon fiber, PBO fiber, polyarylate fiber, fiber reinforced with polyethylene fiber Reinforced plastics can be selected. The vibration damping characteristics and weight of the vehicle body frame 11 vary greatly depending on this forming material.

  The ratio of the length of the central portion 11b and the rear portion 11c in the axial direction can be set so that the central portion 11b: the rear portion 11c is, for example, 8: 2, 7: 3, or 6: 4. It has become. Depending on this ratio, the rigidity of the body frame 11 changes greatly.

  The design apparatus searches and determines each structure from the pattern table so that the characteristics of the entire body frame 11 meet the user's request.

  The wheelchair 1 of the present embodiment designed by the design device that executes such processing flexibly responds to the user's request, and therefore has an optimal balance between vibration damping characteristics and rigidity for the user. It becomes.

  Although the illustrated embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a form.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the body frame 11 is formed as a hollow member by laminating fiber reinforced plastics. However, the body frame of the present invention may be a solid member. Moreover, you may form by a single layer. Moreover, you may use the plastics with the high vibration damping characteristic reinforced with various fibers including an aramid fiber also in areas other than a center part. In addition, it is not always necessary to laminate fiber reinforced plastics, and other materials may be used or a single layer may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the laminated structure of the area | region which comprises the vehicle body frame 11, the thickness of a diameter, and the length of an axial direction are used as parameters, The parameter is changed and the characteristic of each area | region is changed. However, in the present invention, the characteristics may be changed by changing other parameters. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft may be selected from a cylindrical shape, a columnar shape, a rectangular shape, a semicircular shape, and the like.

  Further, in the above embodiment, at the time of design, the thickness of the diameter of the rear part and the central part, the ratio of the length in the axial direction of each region and the laminated structure of the fiber reinforced plastic are selected from a predetermined pattern table. doing. However, in the present invention, each parameter may be changed according to a user's request without using the pattern table. Also, a pattern table may be defined for other parameters, and the parameters including those parameters may be selected from the pattern table.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wheelchair, 10 ... Cage, 10a ... Seating seat, 11 ... Body frame, 11a ... Front part, 11b ... Center part, 11c ... Rear part, 12 ... Handle, 13 ... Front wheel, 14 ... Rear wheel, 14a ... Hand rim , 15 ... front fork, 15a ... column part, 15b ... fork part, 15c ... bearing hole.

Claims (7)

A cage having a seat for seating; a body frame extending forward of the cage; a steering handle provided on the body frame; a front wheel attached to a front end of the body frame; A wheelchair with a pair of rear wheels attached to the left and right,
The body frame is divided into at least three regions including a front part to which the front wheel is attached, a rear part connected to the cage, and at least one central part between the front part and the rear part. ,
The structure of the front part, the rear part, and the central part of the body frame is designed for each region so that the rigidity and vibration damping characteristics of the whole body frame can meet the needs of the user. A wheelchair characterized by being. The wheelchair according to claim 1,
The vehicle body frame is a columnar member formed by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced plastics,
The wheelchair characterized in that the front part, the rear part and the central part of the vehicle body frame are different in the laminated structure of the fiber reinforced plastic for each region. A wheelchair according to claim 2,
A wheelchair characterized by including a fiber reinforced plastic having high vibration damping characteristics in the central portion among the front portion, the rear portion, and the central portion of the vehicle body frame. The wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The wheelchair is characterized in that the characteristics of the body frame are set by varying the diameters of the front part, the rear part, and the center part of the body frame for each region. The wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A wheelchair characterized in that the characteristics of the vehicle body frame are set by changing the ratio of the axial lengths of the rear portion and the central portion of the vehicle body frame. A cage having a seat for seating; a body frame extending forward of the cage; a steering handle provided on the body frame; a front wheel attached to a front end of the body frame; A design method performed by a design device for designing a wheelchair with a pair of rear wheels attached to the left and right,
The vehicle body frame is divided into at least three regions including a front part to which the front wheel is attached, a rear part connected to the cage, and at least one central part between the front part and the rear part. Area segmentation process;
A structure in which the structure of the front part, the rear part, and the central part of the body frame is determined for each region so that the rigidity and vibration damping characteristics of the whole body frame meet the user's request. A wheelchair design method comprising: a determination step. A wheelchair design method according to claim 6,
The vehicle body frame is a columnar member formed by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced plastics,
In the structure determination step, the diameter of the front part, the rear part, and the central part, the ratio of the axial length of each region, and the laminated structure of the fiber reinforced plastic are selected and set from a pattern table. A design method for a wheelchair characterized by the above.