Safest wheelchair ever built

The engineers have promised a seat + brakes by the end of the month. And I hope to test them 6-7 March. The rigid piece is telescopic, so it will extend for faster downhill journeys. Upon full expansion, it will pop into two pieces. With a further modification, the rear axle will be quick-release from this rigid telescope.

The wood is not telescopic. This is just what I had to sit on as a temporary measure to test the wheelchair steered.

The telescopic part is the square section joining the two axes. So when going down hill it can be made 30cm longer, and therefore more stable at speed

👍

Wheelchair manufacturers specify wheelchairs can't go above 7kph, walking speed.

Why are non-wheelchair users allowed to go faster, but those restricted in wheelchairs effectively castrated to below 7kph?

It is not fair

It is D.I.S.C.R.I.M.I.A.T.I.O.N.

Better make wheelchairs static, Just to allay the concerns of the two-legs. It's their planet after all. Wheelchair people are just a nuisance and inconvenience 👆

Progress

WORK REQUIRED:

1) Reduce the length by at least 5cm to allow for a foot-rest beyond the front axle

2) Make a foot-rest beyond the front axle. This could be a cloth

3) Reduce the distance between the rear wheels by 6cm: Gerrit stated cut 3cm out in middle, and remove the horizontal pipes by the rear wheels. Tuck the brakes under the seat

4) Reduce the height of the backrest to match the new reduced folded length, but add a height extender to hold up the long 207 liter bag which would otherwise drag on the ground: www.gingliders.com/en/gear/bags-and-rucksacks/xxl-rucksack/

5) Examine the attached video of Gerrit's side guard design that reduces folded size. These also act as supports for the back rest as it is folded down to lying-down bed position. Could the side guards not be detachable to make the folded size more compact?

6) Someone should be able to stand on the simplest rolling platform behind the wheelchair:

* youtube.com/shorts/Ll5EuTIIbWE

* mytravelscoot.co.uk/products/stand-on-trailer-with-hitch-connector

This should work whether the motor is attached or not.

This could also be used to transport my large bag

* Gerrit recommended this, but I'm not sure it could cope with Scottish hills: https://mooevo.com/kit/

7) I foot propel in reverse up slopes. Gerrit noticed that I would not be able to foot propel with the wheelbase in the short position. So maybe the front axle should be higher at seat height. But then maybe this would make foot-steering in the extended position more difficult.

PHILOSOPHY:

The reason for the extendible-wheelbase wheelchair with castors that can lock at 90° to the axle is to eliminate the castor flutter and resultant forward instability that occurs at downhill speeds > 24kph, with the additional benefit of eliminating lateral drift on cambered pavements.

It is based upon this prototype:

https://retotogni.com/the-reagiro-original

The telescopic design is to increase downhill speed.

The wheelchair should be as energy efficient as possible, so I can travel more kilometers and be less tired, sweaty and injured. In this regard, Gerrit mentioned moving the rear wheels slightly forward as running on rear tyres has less ground friction than with the pressure on the castors.

Consider ways to make the chair fold as small as possible to fit in the trunk of a small car, with quick release mechanisms.

Keep the wheelchair light.

The downhill-steering-mechanism is softer aluminium brake blocks rubbing on harder Marathon tyres.

The wheelchair should double up as a bed, with the backrest folding down. It will have lightweight poncho as a weatherproof cabin, like a baby's buggy. This would that extends over it's length in the backrest folded down position.

The wheelchair is propelled with sticks in the style of Nordic skiing. This is much faster and avoids finger damage and clothes cuff damage.

The side guards are extended at the rear to prevent the bag going into the spokes.

HISTORY:

5) Mario at T.N.S. Revalidatie Service - he retired last month

4) Gerrit Cooiman - Directeur - Exello BV

Cothen

At our 2nd meeting on 3 June, Gerrit agreed to complete the work by end of July, but cancelled the agreement of 17 June

3) ALL WORK DONE SO FAR BY COUSIN MARK.

Two years of work up to October 2024. Diary of work here:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/62115/safest-wheelchair-ever-built#latest

2) Luis at Amadeu Santos&Santos Lda (no work done)

1) Carl at Cardiff Engineering & Fabrications Ltd (no work done)