VEHICLE FOR MOVING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC A61G5/06 B62B11/00 

FIELD: transport engineering; invalid chairs.

SUBSTANCE: invention is designed for moving up and down the stairs with the help of assistant and over even surface. proposed vehicle for invalids has carrying frame with handles on upper end for assistant and with coaxial wheels on lower end of frame. Said vehicle has at least one additional support member in form of piano caster which is brought forward, and mechanism for moving up the stairs with support levers. Support levers project from external circumferences of wheels by working ends to engage with nearest step of stairs free from wheels and are displaced widthwise and installed for turning in planes parallel to planes of rotation of wheels. Proposed vehicle contains additionally device to provide smooth moving down the stairs, means for changing relative arrangement of members, self-contained power supply, steering and control, chair for invalid or appliance for arrangement of useful load. Electric drive of vehicle is coupled with support levers. Support levers are installed for rotation under action of electric drive to move up onto higher step of stairs around axle fixed relative to frame, with displacement upwards and backwards relative to axle of rotation of wheels. Device providing smooth moving down the stairs is made in form of damper with movable and fixed links and additional support lever. Additional support lever is orientated backwards from axle of coaxial wheels. One end of additional support lever is hinge secured on carrying frame and the other is hinge coupled with movable link of damper. Fixed link of damper is secured on carrying frame.

EFFECT: improved service (design) characteristics, provision of compactness, smooth running and stability when moving up and down the stairs.

11 cl, 16 dwg