SHIFTING MECHANISM AND QUICK RELEASE FOR MULTISPEED WHEELCHAIR

摘要

A new wheel assembly (14), with a gear reducing hub (22), and including a new hand wheel assembly (30) mounted on a hand wheel hub (36) for a manual multispeed wheelchair (10), that has an improved shifting mechanism that allows easy shifting at user's hand level. A shifter (76) is rotated, which axially moves a shift member (52) to couple with drive chock openings (46) in direct drive or a planetary gear system (58) for low gear operation. The new wheel assembly (14) also includes a quick disconnect mechanism for easy change of the wheel assembly (14) from the wheelchair (10) without tools. A torque collar (144), on the inboard side of the hub (22), couples with a sleeve assembly (136) on the wheelchair (10) and allows torque to transfer directly from hub (22) to wheelchair (10).