PowerUp: Mechanism to Power Personal Wheelchair Lift

Many manual wheelchair users have limited reach capabilities and could be more independent with the ability to raise themselves in their wheelchairs. Several pneumatic lifts exist but require a supply of pressurized air throughout the day. An accessory (PowerUp) was conceptualized to maintain the air supply by converting the motion of the wheelchair wheels into pressurized air. The physical capabilities and tendencies of wheelchair users were explored, and two concepts for PowerUp's design were investigated. The final design utilizes several small piston-cylinder assemblies that are geared to the axle (pin) which connects the wheelchair wheel to the wheelchair frame. The tangential force required of a wheelchair user was experimentally confirmed to match the theoretical value, indicating that the operation of a device like PowerUp is physically viable for manual wheelchair users.

Autorentext

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2015;B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2014, Summa Cum Laude, Spanish Minor