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Automatic Retractable Wheelchair Canopy

An electromechanical system designed to provide switch-activated rain protection for wheelchair-bound individuals. The canopy automatically assembles above the person and retracts behind the backrest. Patent pending.

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Automatic Retractable Wheelchair Canopy

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  1. Automatic Retractable Wheelchair Canopy Undergraduate Design Team Charles Stepaniuk Hugo I. Gallegos Daniel Totong karolstepaniuk@yahoo.com International Design Engineering Technical Conference September 5, 2007

  2. Introduction Awards: 1st Place: Stony Brook University 2007 Mechanical Senior Design Assistive Technology 4th Place: ASME Mechanism Design 2007 International Student Design Competition Patent Pending The video of operation is available on YouTube. Keyword: Stony Brook Mechanical Engineering For business interests please contact Charles Stepaniuk at karolstepaniuk@yahoo.com

  3. Agenda • Introduction • Market Analysis • Product Design Specification • Conceptual Design • Detail Design • Summary and Future Work

  4. Introduction • Automatic Retractable Wheelchair Canopy: • Electromechanical system designed to provide switch activated rain protection for wheelchair bound handicap people • Canopy automatically assembles above the handicap person and wheelchair • Canopy automatically retracts into a folded position behind the backrest

  5. Market Analysis • The Weather Breaker • Invented by Daniel D. Gistel • Patented in 1989 • Manufactured by Diestco Manufacturing • Manually mountable • Manually removable • Dismantles and stores in portable bag. • Bracket w/ clamp and fitting: • - Supports frame • - Clamps to wheelchair or scooter. Figure 1: The Weather Breaker

  6. The Third Arm Invented by Gary L. Etter Patented in 1994 Manufactured by The Third Arm Umbrella Hold Fitting for an umbrella handle Clamp adjusts wheelchair Right, left, forward and rearward angular adjustment Length adjustment Market Analysis Figure 2- The Third Arm

  7. Product DesignSpecification • Major Considerations • Should provide automatic rain protection with a mechanism that retracts into a confined space. • Should provide serviceable rain protection • Should not negatively impact the wheelchairs stability. • Should not restrict motion through typical building systems. • Lightweight structure with significant load bearing ability. • Components should be corrosion resistant. • Canopy upholstery should endure the operating cycles • Should be available as a mount-on kit. • Should provide emergency stop and manual gear by-pass. • Should be accessible to people within a variety of income levels.

  8. Conceptual Design 1. Convertible Canopy Concept: The linkage system used for convertible car canopy’s is mounted to the backrest of a wheelchair and redesigned to extend above the wheelchair.

  9. Conceptual Design 2. Telescoping Canopy Roll The canopy upholstery extracts from a spring loaded roll attached to a telescoping link located at the top of the backrest. A prismatic joint exists along the sides of the backrest and allows a link connected to the cloth material to extract the upholstery.

  10. Conceptual Design 3. Baby Stroller Canopy The U-Tube linkage system commonly found on baby strollers is pivoted in the upper portion of the backrest and designed to extend from its folded position behind the backrest to above the wheelchair.

  11. Objective Simple mechanism Inexpensive Compact Durable Safe Low maintenance Detail Design

  12. Design Challenges Gear selection and mounting Canopy material selection and mounting Electrical circuit Detail Design

  13. Detail Design Electrical Operation and Controls • 24 VDC system • User operation by a 3 way switch • Forward and reverse limit switches • Wiring between the power source, switches and motor.

  14. Drivetrain-Motor Geared motor Motor attached to the main mount bracket by the motor mount plate Detail Design

  15. Drivetrain-Gears Motor transmits motion thru the worm shaft and coupling to the worm gears and main shaft Mounted bearing and collar provide extra support for the drive assembly and ensure gear alignment Detail Design

  16. Main Mount Bracket Supports all of the drivetrain components Supports all of canopy structural components Mounting bolt attachment Detail Design

  17. Ribs and Rod Ends Main shaft drives rib 1 Rib 1 pulls ribs 2 and 3 with the canopy cloth Sleeve bushings between moving components ½ diameter aluminum tubing Detail Design

  18. Detail Design Canopy Upholstery • Water resistant • Strong transparent vinyl material • Attached by sections of double sided high strength tape

  19. Detail Design Limit Switches and Stops • Mechanical stops control movement of rib 3 • Limit switches control movement of the whole assembly.

  20. Ideas for the Future • An emergency stop and a manual operation will be included. • Canopy upholstery will be perforated to prevent a “sailing” effect during strong winds and to allow ventilation. • Front section can be opened for better visibility. • The upholstery material will be changed to also provide sun coverage. • The powertrain and control system will be housed to reduce corrosion and increase safety.

  21. Questions?

  22. Thank you to…. Professor Fu-Pen Chiang for always taking the time to provide guidance. Professor Yu Zhou for going above and beyond to help. Lester Orlick and George Luhrs for the uncanny manufacturing advise. The Entire Mechanical Engineering Department at Stony Brook University Thank You

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