Ortopedia Gmbh

Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh

Dieter Simmat

Reinhard Koster

Hans W Korber

Ewald Linse

Ralf Böttcher

The electric wheel-chair comprises drive wheels on one axle group, and swivel wheels on a second axle group, with the swivel wheels being either freely pivotable or positively steerable by an engageable steering drive. The positive steering system may have either a purely electric configuration in the form of a pair of electric steering drives, or an electro-mechanical configuration in the form of a common steering drive and a mechanical steering mechanism with electro-mechanical disengagement of the positive steering system. Switch-over from pivoting to steering operation is monitored by position sensors provided on the swivel wheels. As the seat assembly is adapted to be rotated to a corresponding position, the swivel wheels may be operated alternatively as the front wheels or the rear wheels of the wheel-chair. Owing to the engageable steering drive, the wheel-chair is well adapted for both indoor operation and outdoor operation, thereby considerably enhancing the mobility of a disabled person.

Growing community of inventors

Kiel, Germany

Dieter Simmat