Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module

This study examines the impact of the reversing interlock module on the energy intensity of manual wheelchair propulsion while considering the need for the module to cooperate with wheels exhibiting significant roundness deviations. The aim was to determine the additional energy demand caused by the...

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Main Authors: Bartosz Wieczorek, Łukasz Warguła
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11818
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author Bartosz Wieczorek
Łukasz Warguła
author_facet Bartosz Wieczorek
Łukasz Warguła
author_sort Bartosz Wieczorek
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the impact of the reversing interlock module on the energy intensity of manual wheelchair propulsion while considering the need for the module to cooperate with wheels exhibiting significant roundness deviations. The aim was to determine the additional energy demand caused by the module and analyze the effect of the number of one-sided ribs in flexible rollers on energy consumption. Experiments were conducted on a specially designed test bench to measure the torque, power, and energy required to rotate the wheels. The results show that the use of flexible rollers reduces energy consumption compared to rigid rollers—by 8% at a clamping force of 10 N and by 13% at 100 N. A linear relationship between the clamping force and energy savings, along with a significant influence of the roller rotation direction, was observed. When rotating in the less rigid direction, a 17% reduction in energy intensity was achieved. These findings suggest that incorporating flexible rollers in the reversing interlock module can significantly enhance the energy efficiency of wheelchairs.
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issn 2076-3417
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spelling doaj-art-9659d1ddea3945e283e4600185e6af072024-12-27T14:08:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114241181810.3390/app142411818Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill ModuleBartosz Wieczorek0Łukasz Warguła1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Machine Design, Poznań University of Technology, 3 Piotrowo Street Room 609, 60-965 Poznań, PolandFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Machine Design, Poznań University of Technology, 3 Piotrowo Street Room 609, 60-965 Poznań, PolandThis study examines the impact of the reversing interlock module on the energy intensity of manual wheelchair propulsion while considering the need for the module to cooperate with wheels exhibiting significant roundness deviations. The aim was to determine the additional energy demand caused by the module and analyze the effect of the number of one-sided ribs in flexible rollers on energy consumption. Experiments were conducted on a specially designed test bench to measure the torque, power, and energy required to rotate the wheels. The results show that the use of flexible rollers reduces energy consumption compared to rigid rollers—by 8% at a clamping force of 10 N and by 13% at 100 N. A linear relationship between the clamping force and energy savings, along with a significant influence of the roller rotation direction, was observed. When rotating in the less rigid direction, a 17% reduction in energy intensity was achieved. These findings suggest that incorporating flexible rollers in the reversing interlock module can significantly enhance the energy efficiency of wheelchairs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11818wheelchair drive systemdrive ergonomicsreduction in energy consumptionreverse lock module
spellingShingle Bartosz Wieczorek
Łukasz Warguła
Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
Applied Sciences
wheelchair drive system
drive ergonomics
reduction in energy consumption
reverse lock module
title Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
title_full Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
title_fullStr Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
title_full_unstemmed Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
title_short Research on Reducing the Energy Intensity of the Drive System of a Wheelchair Equipped with an Assisted Uphill Module
title_sort research on reducing the energy intensity of the drive system of a wheelchair equipped with an assisted uphill module
topic wheelchair drive system
drive ergonomics
reduction in energy consumption
reverse lock module
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11818
work_keys_str_mv AT bartoszwieczorek researchonreducingtheenergyintensityofthedrivesystemofawheelchairequippedwithanassisteduphillmodule
AT łukaszwarguła researchonreducingtheenergyintensityofthedrivesystemofawheelchairequippedwithanassisteduphillmodule