Design of a Vehicle for Disabled People Motion

Abstract

In this paper is proposed a new design solution for a motorized wheelchair intended for motion of disabled people. Vehicle transmission uses two motors, one for traction and another with less power for steering. The front wheels of the vehicle are self directionally. In order to achieve the steering mo-tion, is used the principle of differential steering. The steering transmission uses a central bevel gear and two differential mechanisms. For straight line dis-placement the motion is transmitted from the traction motor, equipped with a worm gear to final transmission with spur gears, coupled to the back traction wheels shafts. The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic behavior of the vehicle in different motion conditions. A CAD model of the transmission is de-signed assembled with the vehicle body. Dynamic simulation in ADAMS was made, in order to calculate wheelchair dynamic parameters and demonstrate the functionality of this transmission. The obtained results are satisfactory, and demonstrate the proper design of wheelchair transmission, and allow develop-ment of this solution to an experimental model.