Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
W. Scott Wayne.
Abstract
The concern for people with disabilities who are users of wheelchairs has become a dynamic research area in the past several years. As part of this research, new and innovative mechanisms that give the manual wheelchair users a mechanical advantage, and allow them to operate a standard wheelchair with less effort and muscle strain are being developed.;An innovative mechanism has been conceived, designed, built, and tested. It allows the user to propel a standard wheelchair in both the push and pull strokes of the handle. This new design will allow for a more symmetric muscle development of the shoulder and upper-arm complex, and should reduce muscle (skeletal) injuries. A prototype of the innovative mechanism was built and retrofitted onto a standard manual wheelchair, and a portable wheelchair testing station was designed and fabricated to allow for human testing comparative measurements between a standard wheelchair and the innovative mechanism.
Recommended Citation
Burke, Thomas S. Jr., "Design, construction and testing of an innovative mechanism for manual wheelchair propulsion" (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1521.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1521