Power wheelchair

• US 20050236208A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunrise Medical Hhg Incorporated (Sunrise Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sunrise Medical Hhg Incorporated (Sunrise Medical Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koerlin, James, Runkles, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/115,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/254
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1072 rotating the whole seat around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/303 with a gearwheel on the steering knuckle or kingpin axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/026 characterised by comprising more than one bogie, e.g. situated in more than one plane transversal to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/1509 with different steering modes, e.g. crab-steering, or steering specially adapted for reversing of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A wheelchair has a base and a plurality of wheels supporting the base on a supporting surface. At least one of the wheels is a driven wheel. One of the wheels may be a non-driven wheel. One or more of the wheels, driven or non-driven, is adapted to be steered. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the wheels are driven and steered independently of one another. The wheelchair also has a seat that is mounted for movement relative to the base. Movement of the seat is preferably controlled independently of the steering direction of the wheels. The wheelchair may further include one or more sensors for controlling the stability of the wheelchair. These sensors may include wheel position sensors, speed sensors, rate-of-turn sensors, accelerometers, and proximity detectors. Such sensors would be useful in controlling the tracking of the wheelchair, avoiding the occurrence of tipping and tilting, and avoiding impact with obstacles.

Claims

1. A wheelchair having two or more independently steered wheels, at least one of the wheels being independently driven.

2. A wheelchair having two or more wheels that are independently steered and independently driven.

3. A wheelchair having a plurality of parallel steered wheels and a seat that is movable independently of the wheels.

4. The wheelchair according to claim 3 wherein the seat is selective coupled to the steering linkage.

5. A wheelchair having a plurality of parallel steered wheels and at least one rate-of-turn sensor for tracking the movement and preventing drift of the wheelchair.

6. A wheelchair having a plurality of parallel steered wheels and at least one accelerometer for sensing tilt of the wheelchair.

7. A wheelchair having a plurality of parallel steered wheels and at least one rate-of-turn sensor and at least one accelerometer for tracking the movement preventing drift of the wheelchair and sensing tilt of the wheelchair.

8. A wheelchair having a plurality of parallel steered wheels and at least one speed sensor for sensing rate of rotation of at least one of the wheels.

9. The wheelchair according to claim 8 further including a controller for slowing down the wheelchair prior to making a turn.