摘要 |
A wheelchair (12) having apparatus (14) mounted thereon which, when placed in a stair-climbing position, enables an occupant of the wheelchair (12) to turn the large wheels (21) of the wheelchair (12) in a reverse direction, thereby causing a plurality of sprockets (28, 32, 68) and chains (69) mounted thereon to climb a stairway (70). The occupant places the apparatus in stair-climbing position by utilizing a hand air pump (62) or other fluid pump mounted on the frame of the wheelchair to pump fluid into actuating fluid cylinders (48), thereby causing the pistons (86) and associated piston rods of the fluid cylinders (48) to extend and to place the apparatus in the climbing position. In this position the occupant may also cause the wheelchair to descend a stairway (70). By reversing a valve (104), the occupant may pump fluid into the fluid cylinders (48) to place the climbing apparatus in the stowed-away position, in which position the wheelchair (12) may be used as a normal wheelchair.
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