Weelchair exercise roller product design

Inspired by bicycle training rollers, a wheelchair exercise roller (an exercise machine for the application of wheelchair users) was designed from conception of idea to alpha prototype. Background and market data was gathered through research with disabled people, members of disability and rehabilitation centers, and by examining other existing related products. Initial designs were created, and using these designs, functional requirements were set. These functional requirements were used to determine the main product modules (rollers, frame, and ramp) and desired features (simulated natural inertia/forces, varying resistance, tilt feature, etc.) Keeping these in consideration, initial calculations and hands-on research were performed in particular to determine the effect of radial load and RPMs on the bearings. Then, by using test modules built with inline skate bearings, aluminum tube, and wood 2"x 4"s, the initial calculations and research were tested. The results of these tests helped to determine the eventual final design. Solid modeling software (Solidworks 2005) was then used to create various design iterations and make changes as needed.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Su, Benjamin W

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander H. Slocum.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32959

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32959