| 摘要 |
925,699. Self-propelled wheel chairs. EVEREST & JENNINGS Inc. Oct. 31, 1961, No. 39007/61. Classes 79(2), 79(3) and 79(5). [Also in Group XXXII] A self-propelled wheel chair comprises two opposed side frames each having mounted thereon a castor wheel 35 and a drive wheel 31 independently driven by one of two reversible electric motors 40 through a V-belt 38. Each motor 40 is pivotally suspended from a side frame member 18 and is provided with a V-pulley 39 driving the V-belt 38 which is entrained around a flat drive rim 37 on the associated wheel 31 and a tightener pulley 42 carried by one link 44 of a toggle linkage 44, 46 which is actuated to adjust the belt tension or to disengage the V-belt from the drive rim 37 by a handle 49 rigidly connected to the link 46 and engaging ratchet teeth mounted on the side frame. Batteries 52 carried by a holder 53 resting on side frame member 15 supply current to the motors 40 through a control box 54 and a steering control 55 provided with a handle 56 which is tilted forwardly or rearwardly for forward or rearward driving of both wheels 31, to the right for forward and rearward driving of the left hand and the right hand wheel 31 respectively, and vice versa. The castor wheels 35 are carried by forks 34 rotatably mounted in housing 33 on the side frames and to ensure that the wheel chair may be driven in a straight line regardless of slight differences in the driving speed of the wheels 31 and adjustably spring-loaded detent carried by each housing 33 engages an aperture in a plate 57 on each fork 34 to retain the castor wheels in the straight ahead position until a considerable turning moment is exerted. The side frames are cross-connected by members 20 so that providing the batteries 52 and their holder 53 are removed the wheel chair may be collapsed by pushing the side frames together. Footrests 66 pivotally connected to the side frames are retained in the position shown by spring loaded detents which may be disengaged by handles 72 so that each footrest 66 may be swung to one side. |
