Wheelchair Wheel Cleaner

Wheelchair Wheel Cleaner - open-source assistive technology concept by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) community

About this project

The Wheelchair Tire Cleaner cleans dirt and other remnants off the surface of wheelchair tires autonomously by using the wheels' movement. The device was designed in Melbourne, Australia to be used to before entering the home. Note building this device requires a certain skill level and access to specialist machining equipment. For more information on manufacturing specs and its development story, see resources.

The challenge

This challenge was introduced to the TOM:Melbourne community during a Makeathon in 2016. Mandy’s challenge was based around her wheelchair. Whenever she uses her wheelchair in the garden or out on a dirt road, her husband needs to clean all 6 wheels manually with a brush. For many permanent wheelchair users, this simple task would be made extremely difficult, especially without the appropriate support. Mandy would like to create a wheelchair docking station, akin to an automatic car wash, where you could roll in the wheelchair, have the wheels cleaned and then roll straight off again.

Who it helps

Mandy is a quadruple amputee with two prosthetic arms and legs. Mandy was a Need-Knower in both the 2016 and 2017 TOM:Melbourne Makeathon with two unique challenges.

How it works

Manufacturing Note

The WheelChair Tire Cleaner requires a high level of technical skill to modify and manufacture. Before building this device, Makers should (1) be f amiliar with Solidworks Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to make needed changes to the product files, AND have (2) access to specialist machining equipment to produce components to the required accuracy and tolerances.

This product requires the majority of components to be modified digitally before being manufactured using a water jet cutter, or a laser cutter. These are specialist precision pieces of machining equipment used to cut steel and aluminum. Makers will need to find a business in their area that can provide these services and contact them for quotes and preferred file type for the specific equipment to have these components manufactured for this build.

Project details

The build files for Wheelchair Wheel Cleaner are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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