JPH031978B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wheelchair for the disabled and similar vehicles, and more specifically, it not only allows the disabled to move on a horizontal floor or paved road surface, but also allows the disabled to move around on a level or continuous floor. The invention relates to a vehicle that can pass through stairs or uphill or downhill slopes.

Although the first object of the invention is to provide a wheelchair for disabled persons, the invention has other purposes, namely transport, especially in situations where the ability to move uphill, downhill or on horizontal surfaces is required. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle or vehicle in which the center of gravity of the load is located at a relatively high position relative to the wheel base of the vehicle, as in the case of a wheelchair for the disabled.

The vehicle according to the invention can therefore, instead of having a chair-shaped luggage platform, be used as a trolley for a remote-controlled or otherwise controlled computer-controlled automatic robot, the luggage platform of the vehicle being a box. It can also be shaped into a shaped container or a loading platform for simple transportation of general daily necessities. As an example of the latter use, the vehicle could be used to transport bricks to the upper floor of a building under construction.
Suitable for work where cranes, hoists, or regular brick conveyors cannot be used due to the nature of the building.

Although the present invention has general applicability as described above, since the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair as stated at the beginning, the following description will be made using a wheelchair as an example. do. To summarize, the present invention includes a chassis frame, an upright support column whose lower end is pivoted on the frame, and is rotatable in the front and back direction with respect to the frame. a chair-shaped member attached to the upper end of the column; and wheels attached to the frame and providing a first wheelbase for the vehicle to move on a generally flat running surface, the wheels comprising at least Some of these include a plurality of wheels driven by motors, and two holding plates placed on each side of the frame, each holding plate holding a track belt driven by a motor, and two track belt belts each holding a corresponding track belt. a retaining plate adapted to form a second wheel base for movement on a generally inclined running surface relative to the vehicle; and activating a coincident translational movement in said retaining plate, thereby causing one of said wheel bases to move. a link mechanism that connects the supporting column and the switching means with a switching means that brings the other into contact with the running surface and separates the other, the angular direction of the supporting column being changed by a predetermined amount by the operation of the switching means; To provide a vehicle for a sick and injured person, which is equipped with a link mechanism that changes.

According to the vehicle for the injured and sick of the present invention based on this configuration, the switching means can be operated to switch to the first mode for flat traveling.
When switching between the wheel base and the second wheel base for inclined driving, the angle of the support column changes at the same time by the link mechanism, and the inclination angle of the chair-shaped member connected thereon changes, so that the passenger After switching, you can take a posture that matches the angle of the running surface, and you will not fall off the chair.
It should be understood that this is particularly important in wheelchairs for the disabled and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair in which its components move on a horizontal floor surface, with some components not shown. For example, only the framework of a chair-shaped luggage platform is shown, and one of the retaining plates holding the caterpillar has been omitted for clarity. Figure 2 is a side view of the wheelchair components arranged for ascending or descending stairs; Figure 3 is a plan view with the luggage platform omitted; Figure 4 is an enlargement taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3. The sectional view, FIG. 5, is a perspective view showing the main components.

In the figure, the chassis frame is composed of side rails 6, center rails 7, and transverse shafts 8, 9. Each side rail 6 consists of a retaining plate part 10 rigidly fixed to a rod part 11. Center rail 7 is shaft 8,9
It has a stabilizing effect on the frame which prevents the plate part 10 from deflecting laterally due to its thinness. rail 6,7
is provided with a bearing sleeve 12 fixed on the rail by an angle washer 13. The shafts 8, 9 are rotatable within the sleeve 12 and are prevented from moving towards the end by a collar 14.

The upright support column consists of a yoke section 15 and a stem section 16 fixed to the yoke section. Therefore, the lower end of the support column is separated into two parts, and each part is rotatably supported on the shaft 9 via a bearing sleeve 17. The upper end of the support column is provided with a suitable member for attaching a load platform thereon. In the example shown, the luggage platform is a chair 18, which can be fixed on the top of the column or mounted so as to be pivotable laterally.

Each support plate part 10 supports an electric motor 19 having a projecting drive shaft 20 on which a front wheel 21 is keyed. For relatively short distances, these motors can be operated using a flexible cable or trolley wire supply system from the conventional power line. More preferably, the motor can be powered by a battery mounted on the vehicle. Conventional controls are installed to operate the motors simultaneously in forward or reverse directions, or independently or in opposite directions for operation.

The end of the rod part 11 is a caster type rear wheel 23.
supports a vertical bearing sleeve 22 for mounting.

The wheels 21, 23 provide the vehicle with the aforementioned first wheel base, or wheel base (wheel connection) which is effective while the vehicle travels on a horizontal surface as shown in FIG.

The retaining plates 24 are arranged on the sides of the chassis frame, and both retaining plates are each closely surrounded by a flexible caterpillar belt 25 having an internal gear 26 and an external linear projection 27. Belt 25 runs around a conventional idler pulley which is freely rotatably mounted on retaining plate 24. Two of these idler pulleys are shown at 28. The belt 25 is operated by a drive pinion 29, either alone or in combination. Each pinion 29 has a cooperating holding plate 24
It has its own motor 30 mounted above. Motor 30 may be controlled in the same manner as described in connection with motor 19.

The retaining plate 24 is operatively connected to the chassis frame by a front bellcrank 31 and a rear bellcrank 32 keyed on the shafts 8, 9, respectively, with the bellcrank 31 necessarily being an integral element. The bell crank 32 operates to rotate when the shaft 9 rotates. Each retaining plate 24 has a bearing block 33 fixed to its inside, which receives a pin 34 on a bell crank arm 35.
Bell crank arms 36 located on each side of the chassis frame are connected together by connecting rods 37.

The shaft 9 has a sector gear 3 keyed to it.
8, this gear 38 is connected to a motor 4 mounted on a plate 42 fixed on the frame member 7.
It meshes with a drive pinion 39 keyed on the protruding shaft 40 of 1. Conversion operation transmission lever 43
is supported by a fulcrum at a position 44 between the frame parts 11. One arm of the lever 43 is a link 45
The other arm of the lever 43 is connected by a link 45 to a projection 47 fixed on the columns 15, 16.

As mentioned above, the wheelchair shown in FIG. 1 is running on a water surface, and its caterpillar belt 25 is raised above the floor level 48.

When climbing a step 49 (FIG. 2) or a section, approach in the direction of arrow 50 (FIG. 2). Just before reaching the uphill slope, the motor 41 is energized and the sector gear 38 is transformed from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2. As a result, the caterpillar belt 25 is lowered to the floor via the shaft 9 and the bell cranks 31, 32, and the wheels 21, 23 are raised until they leave the floor level. In this way, the bottom surface of the belt 25 effectively contacts the ground and forms the aforementioned second wheel base (wheel ground surface).
Studs 15 and 16 for wheelbase switching
is swung around the pivot point of the shaft 9 stop via the lever 43 and links 45, 46 so that the direction of the luggage platform 18 is suitable for climbing a slope, and from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2. At the same time, the vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the combined load of the cargo platform and its cargo remains within the lateral circumference of the second wheelbase.

During the approach in the ascending direction, the belt 25 naturally moves in the direction of the arrow 51 in FIG. 2, and when it comes into contact with the stairs, the protrusion 27 serves to ensure climbing.

When descending the stairs, the same operation is performed except that the vehicle moves in the direction of arrow 52 in FIG.

The pinion 39 that rotates the sector gear 38 to switch the wheel base is preferably connected to the motor 4.
1 is preferred, but it is understood that it is also possible to attach a worm wheel to the shaft 40 on which the pinion 39 is attached and engage it with a worm pinion attached to a shaft that is manually rotatable using a manual wheel or the like. sea bream.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the vehicle according to the present invention in a state of moving on a horizontal floor surface, second is a side view of the vehicle in a state of going up and down stairs, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vehicle with the luggage platform omitted. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the main components of the vehicle. 6-11... Palm frame, 15, 16...
Upright support column, 18... Luggage platform, 19... Motor, 21, 23... Wheels, 24... Holding plate, 25... Caterpillar belt, 31, 32...
Bell crank, 37...Connection rod, 43,4
5,46... link mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A chassis frame, and an upright support column whose lower end is pivoted on the frame and is rotatable in the front and back direction with respect to the frame. a chair-shaped member attached to the upper end of the column; and wheels that provide a first wheel base for the vehicle attached to the frame to move on a generally flat running surface. a plurality of wheels, at least some of which are driven by motors, and two retaining plates respectively disposed on the sides of the frame, each retaining plate retaining a caterpillar belt driven by a motor; a retaining plate adapted to form a second wheelbase for movement on a generally inclined running surface for the vehicle; and activating a coincident translational movement in said retaining plate, thereby causing one of said wheelbases to switching means for bringing one into contact with the running surface and separating the other from the running surface; and a link mechanism for connecting the supporting column and the switching means, the angular direction of the supporting column being changed by a predetermined amount by the operation of the switching means. A vehicle for the sick and wounded, comprising a link mechanism that changes the amount of time. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wheels include a pair of front wheels independently driven by a motor and a pair of caster-shaped rear wheels. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the front wheels independently driven by the motor are located generally centrally with respect to the length of the retaining plate. 4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the caterpillar belts are each independently driven by a motor. 5. The chassis frame has a pair of side rails, a front shaft and a rear shaft rotatable in bearings on the side rails, and restraint means on the shafts, whereby the side rails Claims 1 to 4 are held at a predetermined distance from each other by a shaft.
Vehicles described in any of the paragraphs. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the support column is pivotally supported on the rear shaft. 7. The vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, wherein all of the wheels are mounted on the side rails. 8. The switching means for effecting the movement of the retaining plates comprises a pair of bell cranks for each retaining plate, a connecting rod and means for rotating the rear shafts, each of the bell cranks being connected to a front shaft and a rear shaft, respectively. one free end of the arms of the bellcrank is pivotally connected to each associated side plate, the connecting rod linkingly connecting the free end of the other arm of the bellcrank. A vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 7. 9. The means for rotating the rear shaft comprises a sector gear keyed on the rear shaft, a drive pinion meshing with the sector gear, and means for rotating the drive pinion. Vehicles listed in section. 10 The link mechanism comprises a first command lever supported on the side rail and a link, and free ends of the arms of the lever are connected to the sector gear and the support column, respectively. Vehicles described in item 9.