JPH0751316A - Wheelchair with interlockable wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a wheelchair capable of being driven by one hand of a physically handicapped person having one disabled hand, incapable of moving a wheelchair and obliged to use a wheelchair. CONSTITUTION:A wheelchair has an axle 1 and an axle 2 supporting the right and the left wheel, respectively, of the wheelchair, bearings are disposed between frames 3, an external gear 5 is mounted on one end of the axle 1, external splines are formed in one end of the axle 2, and a sliding gear 6 provided with internal splines mating with the external splines of the axle 2 is mounted on the axle 2 so that the splines are engaged. When an interlocking lever 12 is operated, a force is transmitted through a wire 8, a spring 7 and a shifting member 9 to the sliding gear 6 to slide the sliding gear 6 on the axle 2 so that the sliding gear 6 is brought into engagement with the external gear. The wheelchair is provided with a brake comprising a brake drum 10 mounted on the axle 2 at a position near the wheel, a brake band 11 wound around the brake drum 10, and a brake wire 13. When a brake lever 14 is operated, a force is transmitted through the brake wire 13 to the brake to apply the same.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair capable of connecting both wheels and traveling with one hand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been wheelchairs in which the left and right wheels rotate independently.

[0003]

However, this has the following drawbacks. Since the left and right wheels rotate separately, I could not drive with my own power without rotating both wheels with both hands. The present invention has been made to eliminate these drawbacks.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An axle (1) and an axle (2) directly connected to the left and right wheels of a wheelchair are provided, and the axle (1), the axle (2) and the wheelchair frame (3) are provided between Bearings (4) are provided. An outer peripheral gear (5) having a gear on its outer circumference is provided at the end of the axle (1), an axial groove is provided at the end of the axle (2), and a groove that meshes with the groove is provided on the inner peripheral surface, A sliding gear (6) provided with a gear that slides on the groove and meshes with the outer peripheral surface gear (5) is provided, and it is moved via the connecting wire (8) spring (7) by operating the hand connecting lever (12). The metal fitting (9) applies a sliding force to the groove cut in the sliding gear (6) and slides it on the groove of the axle (2) so that the sliding gear (6) meshes with the outer peripheral surface gear (5). If the wheels are rotated at the same number of rotations, or if the meshing is released, the left and right wheels can be rotated separately as in the conventional case. A brake shell (10) is provided on the wheel side of the axle (2), and the brake shell (10) is provided.
A braking device for tightening the outer peripheral surface of the brake belt (11) with a brake band (11) is provided, and is operated by a hand brake lever (14) via a brake wire (13). The present invention is a wheelchair having the above-mentioned structure, which can connect both wheels.

[0005]

[Operation] The hand connecting lever (12) and the hand brake lever (14) are attached to the left or right freely moving hand of the wheelchair. If the left and right wheels are connected by operating the hand connection lever (12), when one wheel is rotated, both wheels rotate in the same direction and can move forward or backward. When changing the direction, the hand connecting lever (12) is operated to release the connection between the left and right wheels and one of the wheels is rotated forward or backward to change the direction. When descending a downhill, the left and right wheels are connected to each other, and the vehicle is braked by the hand brake lever (14) to slow down while descending. Alternatively, if the hand brake lever (14) is pulled and fixed, it can be used as a parking brake.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. (A) An axle (1) and an axle (2) are provided on each of the left and right wheels of the wheelchair, and a bearing (4) is provided between the axle (1) and the axle (2) and the frame (3) of the wheelchair. (B) An outer peripheral gear (5) having a gear on its outer peripheral surface is provided at the end of the axle (1), a groove is provided axially at the end of the axle (2), and a groove that meshes with the groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface. Has a slide on the groove,
A cylindrical sliding gear (6) having a gear that meshes with the outer peripheral gear (5) is provided. (C) The sliding gear (6) is provided with a groove for transmitting a sliding force from the moving fitting (9), and is connected to the hand connecting lever (12) via the spring (7) connecting wire (8). ing. (D) The moving fitting (9) is provided with a return spring (15) between it and the frame (3) of the wheelchair. (E) A brake body (10) is provided on the axle (2),
A braking device for fastening the outer peripheral surface with a brake band (11) is provided, and is connected to a hand brake lever (14) via a brake wire (13). (F) Attach the hand connection lever (12) and the hand brake lever (14) to the right or left of the wheelchair frame (3) at a position where it is easy to operate. The present invention has the above-described structure. When using the sliding wheel, the user can sit on a wheelchair and operate the connecting lever (12) to move the sliding gear through the connecting wire (8), the spring (7) and the moving fitting (9). When (6) is slid over the groove of the axle (2) and meshed with the outer peripheral gear (5) and one wheel is rotated, both wheels rotate in the same direction and move forward or backward. When changing the direction, operate the connection lever (12) at hand to release the connection between the outer peripheral surface gear (5) and the sliding gear (6) by the spring pressure of the return spring (15), and move one wheel to the front. Or rotate it back and change the direction. When going downhill, the outer peripheral gear (5) and the sliding gear (6) are connected, the hand brake lever (14) is operated, and the brake band (11) is connected to the brake cylinder via the brake wire (13). It can be used as a parking brake by pressing it against the outer peripheral surface of (10) and slowly descending by utilizing the frictional force, or by pulling and fixing the hand brake lever (14). In addition to the outer peripheral surface gear (5) and the sliding gear (6), the connecting portion connects both wheels with a cylindrical gear having an axial groove formed at both axle ends and having a groove meshing with the groove on the inner peripheral surface. Although the connecting device may have any structure as described above, the direction can be easily determined when the number of meshed gears or the number of grooves is large. If the tip of the gear and the groove are engaged with each other in a mountain shape, the engagement is easy.

[0007]

[Effects of the Invention] Among those who are forced to live in wheelchairs, there are many people who cannot move by their own power even if they are placed in a wheelchair with one hand inconvenient.
If both wheels are connected as in this case, one wheel can be rotated with one hand to move forward or backward, and if the connection is released, the direction can be changed. Even on the downhill, you can connect both wheels and slowly get off while operating the brakes. In this way you can act on your own.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another coupling device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Axle 2 Axle 3 Wheelchair skeleton 4 Bearing 5 Outer peripheral gear 6 Sliding gear 7 Spring 8 Connecting wire 9 Moving metal 10 Brake trunk 11 Brake band 12 Hand connecting lever 13 Brake wire 14 Hand brake lever 15 Return spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A wheelchair is provided with axles respectively on the left and right wheels, the left and right wheels are connected by meshing gears, etc., and both wheels can be rotated at the same number of revolutions, and a braking device is attached to the axle. A wheelchair that can connect both wheels.