| 摘要 |
<p>A wheelchair suspension system comprises a suspension assembly disposed adjacent to each wheel of the wheelchair, and attached to and interconnecting the axle (13) of the wheels to the wheelchair frame. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a front bracket (16) and a rear bracket (17), wherein the front bracket (16) is attached to the wheelchair frame and the rear bracket (17) is attached to the axle (13). Top and bottom generally L-shaped arms (35) each are privotally attached to each of the brackets in a diametrically opposed fashion, and an elastomeric spring (19) is disposed between and interconnects the arms. When one or more of the wheels encounters a bump in a travel surface of the wheelchair, the arms move closer together to compress the spring. Conversely, when one or more of the wheels encounters a depression, the arms move farther apart to place tension on the spring. The pivoting parallel arrangement of arms and brackets enables displacement of the axle in a substantially vertical, relatively large distance when one or more of the wheels encounter an irregularity in the wheelchair travel surface, which in turn maintains stability and steering control of the wheelchair by keeping the wheels in contact with the travel surface.</p> |
