Adaptation of a Van with a Device to Lift a

Non-foldable Wheelchair Group Eight Members:

Bill Fotoples- Team Leader

Chad Wainscott- Technical Liaison/Web Page Specialist

Ryan Keeler- Purchasing Agent

Faculty Advisors- Dr. Hefzy & Dr. Pourazady

Client- Ms. Jill Caruso

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Introduction

The client, Ms. Jill Caruso, currently uses a collapsible wheelchair. She plans to convert to a “rigid” chair in the near future for improved comfort and durability. She is able to get into the drivers seat from the wheelchair and seeks a device which will then take the empty chair and place it into the back of the van through the drivers side rear sliding door.

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Problem Statement Sliding door opening is roughly 28” wide Wheelchair is roughly 35”x 26” (footprint) Chair is initially parallel to the van but must be rotated

perpendicular to fit through the door With less than 1 inch of clearance on both sides of the chair, the

device must be very consistent and accurate

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Client Preferences

No traditional platform lifts Keep it simple - Client is willing and able to

“help” the chair into the van however possible Do not decrease resale value of the vehicle by

making too many permanent changes Would like to be able to easily transplant the

device to a new van in the future

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Design #1

Platform lift design Wheelchair would need to rotate 90° while on

the platform Controlled remotely from the front seat

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Design #1

Simple to use for operator

Minimal effort required

Potential for wheelchair to fall off

Device requires an inordinate amount of space

Difficult to install in another vehicle

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Design #2

Side bar lift design Bar hinges to rotate

chair Attaches to arm or

wheel to lift

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Design #2

Less invasive than full platform lift

Relative ease of use

Limits front seat mobility

Exerts large amount of strain on wheel spokes and arm bars.

Difficult to re-install in new vehicle

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Design #3

Under-seat lift design Flat bar under

wheelchair seat lifts chair into vehicle

Front and rear bars keep wheelchair in place on bar

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Design #3

Easy to use for operator

Least intrusive of all lift designs

Easiest lift design to remove and put in another van

Chance of chair moving sideways on bar

Difficult to load chair properly on lift

Design does not allow necessary preciseness required for placement in van

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Design #4

Winch Assisted Lift Pulls wheelchair into

van using electric winch

Chair rolls into place along guided tracks

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Design #4

Easy to remove and place in new vehicle

Minimal space required Guided tracks allow for

repeated and precise chair placement in allowed space

Requires most setup by operator

Difficult attachment process

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House of Quality

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTSCUSTOMER

IMPORTANCE RATING

DESIGN 1: LIFT-PLATFORM

DESIGN 2: SIDE-BAR LIFT

DESIGN 3: UNDERSEAT

LIFT

DESIGN 4: WINCH

EASE OF USE 5 4 4 4 2

EASILY TRANSPLANTED 4 1 2 3 5

SAFETY 3 4 3 3 2

RELIABILITY 3 4 4 4 5

UNINTRUSIVE 4 1 2 3 5

VALUE   52 57 65 71

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Best Option… Design #4

Best design to use with minimal space allowed

Easily placed in new vehicle because of plywood base

Tracks allow process and placement to be extremely accurate and repeatable

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Timetable

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Budget

ITEM EXPLANATION OF USE COST QUANTITY TOTAL COST

WINCH PULL CHAIR INTO VAN $ 250.00 1 $ 250.00

PLYWOOD BASE OF ASSEMBLY $ 10.00 1 $ 10.00

CARPET COVER BASE AND TRACKS $ 20.00 1 $ 20.00

TRACK WOOD CHAIR ALIGNMENT $ 10.00 1 $ 10.00

HINGESATTACH FOLD OUT TRACK

EXTENSION $ 5.00 2 $ 10.00

MISC. (BOLTS, SCREWS, ETC.) INSTALLING COMPONENTS $ 20.00 1 $ 20.00

DOOR MODIFICATION SLIDING DOOR ASSIST $ 400.00 1 $ 400.00

TOTAL   $ 720.00

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QUESTIONS?