11 replies to this topic

[ColinF]

I was just wondering if anyone had already come up with a viable design for this yet or not. The only picture/idea I've seen is this one: http://jonathanoconn...ess-wheelchair/



While it looks pretty nice (at least to me) its still very clunky and needs work. I wonder if the interest is there enough for someone to start working on the concept.

Edited by ColinF, 21 July 2009 - 04:59 AM.

[ColinF]

another interesting one, though not sure where the feet go...? This one also might give the open-wheel/hubless wheel design more of a specific purpose (stairs/curbs) rather than just a cool factor.

http://www.tuvie.com...-caspar-schmitz

Edited by ColinF, 21 July 2009 - 06:22 AM.

[wheelywendy]

interesting concepts though, definately cool looking, i wonder if they'll ever appear for real one day?

[edlee]

My guess about the nuts and bolts of such a wheel, would make me believe that the wheels would be much, much heavier than the standard hubbed and spoked wheels,, and that developing a suspension with them would make the chair even heavier.

I love inovation,, and hope to see it continue with regard to the chairs we use,,, but, this looks a lot like a solution looking for a problem.
ed

[ColinF]

I see what you're saying, but there are prototypes of vehicles - cars, motorcycles etc. that use similar ideas. I'm sure they need to take suspension into consideration for their work, no reason the wheelchair developers couldn't do the same. As for the weight, yeah that's possibly a trade-off, until it can be figured out, but one I'd be happy to substitute (I use heavy wheels anyways...) if they could be used to climb curbs and steps.

[Tinbasher]

Why?

[greybeard]

Tinbasher, on Jul 25 2009, 09:45 PM, said:

Why?

That was the question going through my mind too.

[Jax]

Here's why. First, there are no spokes to bend, dent, break, or adjust. Second, the weight difference isn't as much of an issue as would be assumed. Some hubless design systems actually save weight. (as for whether or not they will save weight in chairs, who knows) What's really interesting is that the hubless wheels generally absorb more of the impact than spoked wheels without the distortion/balance issues of spokes. The possibility of quick release hubless systems is what's really interesting to me. I'm waiting to see how they accomplish it. I've seen a crotchrocket with the hubless system. Freaking AMAZING to see how it's driven. Driven by a roller that contacts the rear tire tread... Even makes for a better launch on the dragstrip supposedly.

Then of course, there's the absolute cool factor of hubless wheels on a chair. Just imagine the cool reactions from the general public... I can already see the facial expressions...

[Tinbasher]

I think it's unnecessarily complex from an engineering point of view and potentially heavy with all those ball bearings etc. I can see why a motorbike wheel or car wheel might save weight but there isn't enough of a wheelchair wheel to lose. The connection to the chair seems overly complex as well and I cannot see how they would be more resistant to deformation unless heavily built. Hitting a kerb edge when popping up would put a heck of a point load on the rim. I can see its an interesting engineering challenge but this the very occasion for the maxim...

"Why re invent the wheel?"

Tin

[edlee]

Tinbasher, on Jul 25 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

Why?

According to a philosophy professor I once knew,,, the truest answer to that is not "BECAUSE",,,, but



why

[edlee]

Tinbasher, on Jul 25 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

Why?

As a philosophy professor I once knew told me, the answer is not "because",, but



WHY NOT?

And to that, you and I have both given reasons. As much as it grieves me, I must go against my old prof by offering this thought,,, An excersize in inovation is never without worth.
ed

[Jax]

edlee, on Jul 28 2009, 01:09 AM, said:

Tinbasher, on Jul 25 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

Why?

As a philosophy professor I once knew told me, the answer is not "because",, but



WHY NOT?

And to that, you and I have both given reasons. As much as it grieves me, I must go against my old prof by offering this thought,,, An excersize in inovation is never without worth.
ed

true. hell, there are other chair designs that are seen as impractical, but some of us would like something different from time to time.