Design And Simulation Based Improvement Of A Portable Curb Climbing Aid For Wheelchair
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v29i1.816Keywords:
Wheel chair, Ramp, Mechanical stop, Independent curbs climbing.Abstract
The proposed aid is designed to be arranged and operated by the wheelchair occupant without external assistance. Although several existing designs attempt to address curb climbing challenges, most rely on complex mechanisms, powered systems, or sophisticated controls, making them expensive, heavy, and impractical for household or everyday use. At present, there are no widely available solutions within an economical range that effectively meet the needs of a broad user population. The objective of this work is to develop a simple, low-cost, and user-friendly design that is feasible for users across different economic backgrounds. The proposed system consists of detachable attachments that can be manually deployed by the occupant with minimal physical effort. The design emphasizes affordability, ease of operation, and compatibility with conventional wheelchairs. The study involves analyzing the forces acting on the ramp during wheelchair traversal and using these results to design an appropriate and structurally safe ramp. In addition, mechanical stops are incorporated to arrest the attachments at predefined positions, eliminating the need for complete removal during operation. A slight eccentricity is introduced in the attachment at the axle to improve reachability and ease of handling for the occupant. Overall, the proposed design aims to provide a practical, economical, and effective solution for independent curb climbing by wheelchair users. This paper focuses on the design of a wheelchair equipped with an assistive aid that enables users to climb roadside curbs independently.
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