JPH11206819A - Wheelchair with power assisting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair with a power assisting device capable of satisfying contradictory requirements of both improving running stability and improving ratability. SOLUTION: In the wheelchair with a power assisting device 21 where the power supporter provided with a motor and a driving wheel 24 is mounted on the lower part center of a wheelchair 1, the grounding position of the driving wheel 24 of the power assisting device 21 is set behind that of a pair of main driving wheels 17 of the wheelchair 1, and a driving wheel position regulating means 36 to make the driving wheel 24 contact with and leave from the ground surface is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair with a power assist device that allows a user to travel alone without relying on a caregiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a wheelchair with a power assisting device in which a power assisting device is attached to a wheelchair to obtain auxiliary power during traveling, a single wheel of the power assisting device may be, for example, a real wheelchair. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 5-36419 discloses a "manual and electric dual-purpose wheelchair for nursing care".
There is a "caregiver-sensing wheelchair auxiliary driving device" disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 66574. In the former wheelchair, a pair of drive wheels of the power assist device is aligned with the ground position of the pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair in the front-rear direction to improve the turning property, and the drive wheel of the power assist device is Has a clutch mechanism for interrupting power transmission. The latter wheelchair is operated by a caregiver pressing a handle, and has a structure in which a pair of drive wheels of a power assist device is arranged rearward with respect to a ground position of a pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair. Grounding improves running stability.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The wheelchair described in Japanese Patent No. 419 has the advantage that the turning property is good because the pair of drive wheels of the power assist device is aligned with the ground contact position of the pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair in the front-rear direction. In addition, there is a problem that the driving stability of the power assist device is not stable when the vehicle is rapidly driven by the driving wheels or when the vehicle runs on a slope.

In the latter wheelchair described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-266574, running stability is ensured because the pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair and the drive wheels of the power assist device are grounded by three-point support. It has an advantage of high turning performance, but has a problem of poor turning performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair with a power assist device that has a stable running and a good turning performance.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a wheelchair with a power assist device provided with a power assist device having an electric motor and one drive wheel at the lower center of the wheelchair, the ground position of the drive wheel of the power assist device is determined by a pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair. A drive wheel position restricting means is provided behind the ground contact position to move the drive wheel toward and away from the ground surface. Therefore, in a state where the drive wheels of the power assist device are grounded, the wheel is in contact with the pair of main drive wheels of the wheelchair by three-point support, so that traveling stability is good, and when turning, the drive wheel position regulating means is used. By raising the drive wheels of the power assist device, turning performance can be improved, and it is possible to meet the conflicting demands of running stability and turning performance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the power assisting device is rotatably attached to the wheelchair and the driving wheel is turned so as to be separated from the ground, the rear end of the power assisting device is in the wheelchair. It is provided so as to be located forward of the rear end. Therefore, when turning, there is nothing protruding to the rear of the wheelchair, whereby the turning performance can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an urging means for urging a power assisting device rotatably attached to a wheelchair upward, and the power assisting device against the urging force of the urging means. And a restricting means for restricting the driving wheels to a ground contact state. Therefore, the force for raising the drive wheels of the power assist device during turning may be small, and the operability can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wire for rotating a power auxiliary device rotatably attached to a wheelchair upward, and a fixing means for pulling the wire through a sliding guide portion and fixing the wire in a tensioned state. Thus, drive wheel position regulating means is formed. Therefore, the drive wheel position regulating means can be formed with a simple structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a fixing means for fixing the wire connected to the power assisting device in a tensioned state is rotated about a support shaft provided near a seat of a wheelchair.
The L-shaped lever and a fixed locking portion for fixing the L-shaped lever in a fixed position form a fixing means of the drive wheel position regulating means. Therefore, the operation of the drive wheel position regulating means can be performed by the operation lever provided near the seat, so that the operation by the user of the wheelchair is extremely easy.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given based on FIGS. First, wheelchair 1 is JI
It is a general product manufactured based on the S standard. This wheelchair 1 is assembled on the basis of a frame 2 made of a pipe-shaped member. The frame 2 includes side frames 3 which are connected to each other by V-shaped or X-shaped connecting brackets (not shown) so as to be located on both sides and to be able to widen or shrink each other. These side frames 3 are a vertical front frame 4 located in the front, a vertical rear frame 5 located in the rear, and a horizontal lower frame 6 which is positioned vertically and connects the front frame 4 and the rear frame 5. And an upper frame 7. A front wheel 8 having a small diameter is attached to a lower end of the front frame 4.
A handle portion 9 extending upward and projecting rearward is provided at an upper end of the upper frame 7, and an armrest portion 10 is provided on the upper frame 7. A middle frame 13 having a horizontal portion 11 and an inclined portion 12 positioned forward and inclined is fixed to an intermediate portion of the side frame 3, and a lower end of the inclined portion 12 of the middle frame 13 is A footrest portion 14 is formed which projects forward from the inclined portion 12 and rotates between a horizontal state and a vertical state with a longitudinal axis. A leg belt (not shown) is suspended between the left and right inclined portions 12 located above the footrest portion 14. Further, the middle frame 13
A seat 15 made of cloth or the like is suspended from the horizontal portion 11. Actually, the horizontal portion 11
Is formed separately and the seat 15 is wound. A backrest sheet 16 made of cloth or the like is also suspended from the rear frame 5.

A main drive wheel 17 having a large diameter is rotatably mounted behind the side frame 3. A wheel-shaped hand rim 18 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the main drive wheel 17 is fixed outside these main drive wheels 17.

A holding plate 19 is fixed at the intersection of the rear frame 5 and the lower frame 6 of the frame 2. On the vertical surfaces of these holding plates 19, both ends of a telescopic holding shaft 20 made of a double pipe slidably provided are fixed. And, in the intermediate portion of the holding shaft 20,
A power assist device 21 is rotatably mounted. The power assist device 21 includes an electric motor 22, a speed reduction mechanism 23, and one drive wheel 24. The power assisting device 21 obtains the ground pressure of the drive wheel 24 by its own weight acting on the holding shaft 20. The ground point A of the drive wheel 24 with respect to the ground 25 is determined by the main drive wheel 1
7 is located behind the grounding point B. Therefore, two ground points B and one ground point A make three-point contact with the ground surface 25, and a stable contact state is obtained.

Next, one end of a wire 26 is fixed to an upper rear portion of the power assist device 21. This wire 2
6 is fixed to a locking portion 27 provided near the distal end of the grip portion of one handle portion 9 and is engaged with a slide guide portion 28 provided at the base end of the other handle portion 9 so that the end portion is L Tension wire 30 fixed to the end of L-shaped lever 29
And the power auxiliary machine 21
And a pull wire 31 coupled to the wire.

The L-shaped lever 29 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 32 provided near the seat 16 and provided on the horizontal portion 11 of the middle frame 13 of the frame 2. A portion projecting upward from the L-shaped lever 29 is an operation portion 33, and a hook-shaped fixed engagement portion 34 which is opened rearward and temporarily holds the operation portion 33 is provided on the armrest portion 10. It is formed integrally with the outer edge. Therefore, a fixing means 35 is formed by the L-shaped lever 29 and the fixed locking portion 34, and a driving wheel position regulating means 36 is formed by the fixing means 35 and the wire 26.

Further, a control operation unit 37 for controlling the driving of the electric motor 22 of the power assist device 21 is attached to the horizontal portions 11 on both sides of the middle frame 13 of the frame 2, and an operation grip 38 of the control operation unit 37. Is provided on the front side of the armrest 10.

In such a configuration, the method of use is the same as that of using a general wheelchair 1. In other words, the patient or a person who cannot walk, that is, the user, sits on the seat 15 and operates the hand rim 18 to turn the main drive wheel 17 or the caregiver grips and pushes the handle portion 9 to use. Is done. In any case, the power assist device 21 can be attached and used. When the power assist device 21 is attached, the user can drive alone.

The operating portion 33 of the L-shaped lever 29
1 is a state in which the auxiliary power of the power assist device 21 is used, and the driving wheels 24 are pressed against the ground surface 25 by the weight of the power assist device 21. In this state, the user grips the operation grip 38 and moves it back and forth, so that the output from the control operation unit 37 changes and changes the driving speed of the electric motor 22. Thus, the auxiliary driving by the driving wheels 24 is performed. Moreover, the state in which the drive wheel 24 is grounded is supported at three points together with the ground point of the main drive wheel 17.
Good running stability. In other words, the wheelchair 1 shows a stable running state even if the vehicle rapidly accelerates or goes uphill. The operation of the control operation unit 37 is such that the acceleration is increased by moving the operation grip 38 forward, and the braking is applied by moving the operation grip 38 forward, and the left and right main driving wheels 17 are independently controlled. Is what you can do.

Next, at the time of turning, the user holds the operating section 33 and turns the L-shaped lever 29 backward.
Thereby, the power assist device 21 is pulled up via the wire 26, and the drive wheel 24 rises from the ground surface 25. In addition, when the power assist device 21 is pivoted largely upward,
Since the rear end is set to be located forward of the rear end of the main drive wheel 17, the power assist device 21 does not become an obstacle during turning. If the running force for traveling forward is insufficient during this turn, the driving force is obtained by grounding the driving wheel 24, so that the driving wheel 24 comes into contact with or separates from the ground surface 25 and one of the main operations by the control operation unit 37. By adjusting the control of the braking force applied to the drive wheels 17, it is possible for only the user to drive without a caregiver. When the caregiver is present and does not require a driving force, the L-shaped lever 29 is used.
The operation section 33 is locked to the fixed locking section 34. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Floating state is maintained, and a good turning state is continuously obtained.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted (the same applies hereinafter). In the present embodiment, the rear frame 5 of the frame 2
A locking projection 39 serving as a fixed locking portion 34 is formed on the end of the tension wire 30 of the wire 26, and an annular locking ring 40 that engages with and disengages from the locking projection 39 is formed. Therefore, the wire 26 having the locking ring 40 and the locking projection 3
9 form drive wheel position regulating means 36.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, the state in which the locking ring 40 is not engaged with the locking projection 39 is a state in which the driving force of the driving wheels 24 of the power assist device 21 is used. It can perform stable running,
As shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the locking link 40 is engaged with the locking projection 39, the driving wheel 24 is separated from the ground surface 25 to improve the turning property.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. In the present embodiment, the backrest sheet 1
The lower edge of the L-shaped lever 29 is provided with a biasing means 41 by a tension spring between the backrest sheet 16 and the power assist device 21. A restricting means 42 is provided by a restraining bar for contacting the upper end of the machine 21 and restricting the upward movement thereof to a fixed position.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, when the L-shaped lever 29 is locked to the fixed locking portion 34, the power assist device 21 resists the urging force of the urging means 41. As a result, the driving wheel 24 is brought into contact with the ground surface 25, and the power assisting state by the driving wheel 24 is obtained. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the L-shaped lever 29 is removed from the fixed locking portion 34, the power assisting machine 21
1 is turned upward by the urging force of the
4 rises from the surface 25.

In the embodiment, the various embodiments described above can be used for a luggage carrier, a senior car, and the like.

[0025]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair with a power assist device provided with a power assist device having an electric motor and one drive wheel at a lower center of the wheelchair. The grounding position of the wheelchair is behind the grounding position of the pair of main driving wheels of the wheelchair, and the driving wheels of the power assist device are grounded since the driving wheels are provided with the driving wheel position regulating means for bringing the driving wheels into and out of contact with the ground surface. In this case, the wheelchair is grounded by a pair of main driving wheels and three-point support, so running stability is good. In addition, when turning, the driving wheels of the power assist device are lifted up by the driving wheel position regulating means so that the turning performance is improved. And it is possible to provide a wheelchair with a power assist device that meets the conflicting demands of running stability and turning performance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the power assisting device is rotatably mounted on the wheelchair and the drive wheel is turned so as to be separated from the ground, the rear end of the power assisting device is in the wheelchair. Provided so as to be located forward of the rear end of the wheelchair, so that there is nothing protruding to the rear of the wheelchair when turning, thereby improving the turning performance of a wheelchair provided with a power assist device. It has the effect of.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an urging means for urging a power assisting device rotatably attached to a wheelchair upward, and the power assisting device against the urging force of the urging means. The driving wheel position restricting means is formed by the restricting means for restricting the driving wheels to the ground contact state, so that the force for raising the driving wheels of the power assist device during turning can be small, and the operability can be improved. Having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wire for turning a power assist device rotatably attached to a wheelchair upward and a fixing means for pulling the wire through a sliding guide portion and fixing the wire in a tensioned state. Thus, the drive wheel position restricting means is formed, so that the drive wheel position restricting means can be formed with a simple structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the fixing means for fixing the wire connected to the power assist device in a tensioned state is rotated about a support shaft provided near the seat of the wheelchair.
Since the fixing means of the driving wheel position restricting means is formed by the L-shaped lever and the fixed locking portion for fixing the L-shaped lever in a fixed position, the operation of the driving wheel position restricting means is provided near the seat. Because it can be done with the operation lever,
There is an effect that the operation of the wheelchair by the user is extremely easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view in a state where drive wheels of a power assist device are grounded.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a mounting portion of the power assist device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state in which a drive wheel of the power assist device is lifted.

FIG. 5 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view in a state where drive wheels of a power assist device are grounded.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a state in which a drive wheel of the power assist device is lifted.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view in a state where drive wheels of a power assist device are grounded.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which a drive wheel of the power assist device is lifted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheelchair 15 Seat seat 17 Main drive wheel 21 Power auxiliary machine 22 Electric motor 24 Drive wheel 26 Wire 28 Sliding guide part 29 L-shaped lever 32 Support shaft 34 Fixed locking part 35 Fixing means 36 Drive wheel position regulating means 41 Biasing means 42 Regulatory measures

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A wheelchair with a power assist device provided with a power assist device having an electric motor and one drive wheel at a lower center of a wheelchair, wherein a grounding position of the drive wheel of the power assist device is determined by a pair of the wheelchair. Behind the ground position of the main drive wheels of
A wheelchair with a power assist device, further comprising a drive wheel position regulating means for bringing the drive wheel into and out of contact with the ground surface. 2. A rear end of the power assist device is located forward of a rear end of the wheel chair when the power assist device is rotatably mounted on the wheelchair and the driving wheel is turned so as to be separated from the ground surface. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein
Wheelchair with power assist device as described. 3. A biasing means for biasing a power assist device rotatably mounted on a wheelchair upward, and a drive wheel of the power assist device in a grounded state against a biasing force of the biasing device. 2. A wheelchair with a power assist device according to claim 1, wherein the driving wheel position restricting means is formed by restricting means for restricting the driving wheel position. 4. A drive wheel position regulation by a wire for rotating a power assist device rotatably attached to a wheelchair upward and a fixing means for pulling the wire through a sliding guide portion and fixing the wire in a tensioned state. 2. The wheelchair with a power assist device according to claim 1, wherein means are formed. 5. An L-shaped lever for rotating a fixing means for fixing a connected wire of a power assist device in a tensioned state about a support shaft provided near a seat of a wheelchair, and the L-shaped lever. 5. The wheelchair with a power assist device according to claim 4, wherein a fixing means of the driving wheel position regulating means is formed by a fixed locking portion for fixing the driving wheel in a fixed position.