Relationship between tire pressure and ride comfort of manually self-propelled wheelchairs

Abstract

Along with the assisted wheelchair, a self-propelled wheelchair is also used as an assisted wheelchair by a caregiver; however, the problem with wheelchairs is that the vibration during driving causes motion sickness, discomfort, and annoyance for users. The tire pressure of the wheelchair is considered an influencing factor affecting the ride quality of the wheelchair; however, the extent of the effects of tire pressure on the wheelchair remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the tire pressure changes of the self-propelled wheelchair on the vibration using the tire pressure indicator. Furthermore, this experiment aimed to improve data reliability by manufacturing a device that pushes out a self-propelled wheelchair using an electric wheelchair to run the self-propelled wheelchair at a constant speed. A dummy heavy object was placed on the seat of the self-propelled wheelchair of the vibration measuring device manufactured in this experiment, and a triaxial accelerometer was mounted on it. Moreover, an electric wheelchair is used to drive the uneven road surface at a constant speed at regular intervals. The tire pressure display manufactured in this study was attached to both sides of the rear wheel of the self-propelled wheelchair, and a dummy weight of 50 kg was placed on the seat. Then, acceleration in the vertical direction is measured by a three-axis accelerometer mounted on a heavy object. In this study, the effects of tire pressure on ride quality were considered by looking at the correlation between ride quality by sensory evaluation and vibration analysis.

Keywords: Wheelchair, Tire pressure, Traveling over a level difference, Vibration, Sensory evaluation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1001654