Archive for the ‘Technical Aids’ Category

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks XI

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Frontpage

Many wheelchair drivers with a spinal cord injury are only able to sweat a little bit, or not at all anymore. This sounds rather nice for one moment.
No wet clothes any more, garlic as much as you like, and the deodorant stick dries from non-using in the bathroom cabinet. I also belong to the tribe of the

Antiperspirantians (Non-sweaters).

There is just one hitch:
If it is more than 25° C and I am physically active, or just standing around meaningless in the sun, my body temperature rises constantly.
From 40° C my body decides to leave the wheelchair with a floor transfer.
To counteract this we arm ourselves with a customary

water sprayer for flowers.

I was absolutely convinced that each wheelchair driver concerned would know this, thus I had never mentioned it before, but unfortunately this is not the case!

At the last World Cup pedestrians have constantly borrowed my

thermo sprayer.

It was possibly due to the fact that we covered the roof and the sides of the roofing with black plastic sheets in order to better see the beamer picture.
There were perceived 80° C, but maximum 58°C!
If you have a belt out of Velcro tape you can fix the sprayer to it.

Such a water sprayer is great, but I am warning it’s highly addictive!

Addendum, an ingenious aid: Click on tag “cooling vest and cooling cap“

Translator BL

Wheelchair Tuning Part X

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Frontpage

The selection of wheelchair tyres should not be under-estimated.
For the driving wheels it has to be decided first:

Full cushion or pneumatic tyres?

Many active wheelers are using

Pneumatic tyres Schwalbe Marathon Plus (until 10 bar*).

There is a persistent rumour that it completely doesn’t matter how the tyre is mounted as no wheelchair tyre ever has a running direction.
Very convincing!
Due to the stud axles on the wheelchair the tyres can be switched from right to left.
Because the profile of the tyre is not equal there hast o be a difference.
I don’t have much power and noticed the difference immediately when the tyres were exchanged, but this wasn’t supposed to be possible.

Now I wanted to know and wrote to the company Schwalbe.
I have already received a reply on the next day:

The tyre is mounted in the designated running direction so that it has a low rolling resistance.
If the tyre would have been fitted in the opposite direction it would have a better traction as e.g. for

ice and snow,

but then with a higher rolling resistance.

So this secret was disclosed as well.

At the next

tyre change

you should mind that you get tyres with additional reflector stripes.

Thus you will even be seen when you are rolling home from the club at night.

* Tyres should have 8 bar pressure.
The other one has to feel it when you ride across his foot!

Translator BL

Selfmade- Wheelchair

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Frontpage

It is nothing new that the health insurances are currently in financial difficulties.

The saving-mania reaches unforeseen dimensions.

To save mounting costs technical aids will be delivered to all in need as construction kits only.
It is stopped not even at kids.

Look yourself, the new

Constructy 2101 for do-it-yourself mounting

The advantage of the Constructy 2101 is that the size can be easily adjusted with a couple of bricks.

For adults the wheelchair components are pre-fabricated in Sweden.

But seriously: Pictures from Kids medical supply (Kindersanitätshaus).

Simply great, keep it up!!!

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks X

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Frontpage

Wheelchair users and their bathroom equipment is an endless subject!
The mounting height of the bath mirror can lead to the move-out of the partner if no agreement is found.
To avoid these discussions, usually cost-efficient (ho, ho, ho)

movable mirrors

are recommended. How are you supposed to see anything without binoculars in such a thing when it is skillfully mounted under the ceiling, and who moves it if needed?

My tip is a, mounted to hobbit size, a telescopic round

Make-up Mirror

made by the

Swedish meatballers.


Model: FRÄCK 5,99€
The mirror of my wall cupboard is with its height just suitable for eyebrow shaping.
Now I can finally see if my nurse is botching with the shaving. ;-)

Translator BL

Hier geht’s,…ääh..fährt man zur

Swimming Pool

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Frontpage

A visit to the swimming pool in my case turns out to be a little bit like the launch of a

Containership.

There are the most different methods to be

„watered“

Possibilities are e.g. a hydraulically swinging bench, a chair in which one is wound down to the water, or a shower chair in which one is pushed down a ramp into the wet as at a ship’s christening.
Into the sea one is pushed e.g. with a beach wheelchair.
(see older blog post).

The strangest variant reminds immediately of the good old

Chairoplane

on a fun fair. The fun begins with this

floating chair

being 10 cm higher than my cushion, and I would have had to unpack little wings to get on it on my own. Presumably for hygienic reasons the footrest was installed towards the inner side of the chair so that not everybody puts his unwashed feet on it.
If the jump on this thing was successful you swing the safety bar around. The copilot (assistant) drives you to the starting position in front of the pool, hooks you up with two belts into the hoist mounted on the ceiling, and the flight above the water may start.

Before watering put on your life vest!

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips und Tricks IX

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Frontpage

My car manufactured in RĂĽsselsheim and customized to hand throttle in Fulda also has a wheelchair loading system.
Have a look yourself:

I transfer from wheelchair to car with a permanently mounted slide board to the driver’s seat,

fold up my wheelchair*,

the rear door opens and the loading system comes out like magic.

The wheelchair is clamped with the handles into the loading system and pulled inside the car.

Now quickly close the door and put on estimated 5 kg safety belt, then the journey into the green can start.

Maybe I will manage it some time on my own..

* The folding of the wheelchair requires the genetics of a contorsionist ;-)

Translator BL

Eigude- Pranger II

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Rollifahrer- AutofĂĽhrerschein

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Dass ich wieder Auto fahre, habt Ihr mittlerweile ja mitbekommen.
Wieder Auto fahren zu dĂĽrfen, ist da so eine Sache fĂĽr sich.
Man mĂĽsste sich quasi schon vor eintreten in der Rolliszene mit diesem Thema auseinander setzen und entsprechende MaĂźnahmen einleiten, um seinen

Rollifahrer- AutofĂĽhrerschein

 

 zu erlangen.
Als erstes sollte man wirklich mit allen Mitteln wieder Autofahren wollen, oder immer genug Valium, Canabis, oder ähnliche Produkte griffbereit zur Hand haben, um dieses Drama ertragen zu können.

1. Man muss als erstes einen Arzt finden, der ein Attest schreibt, dass man geistig und körperlich auch ohne Beinfunktion wieder in der Lage sei, fahrzüchtig zu sein.
Die Doktoren erteilen ein Attest eher, wenn sie in der nächsten Stadt oder in einem anderen Bundesland wohnen, um so selbst besser zukünftig den Fahrkünsten ihrer Schützlinge aus dem Weg zu gehen.

2. Einen Augentest darf man natürlich auch machen. Dafür langt normalerweise der Test beim Optiker um die Ecke (4,50 €). Nachdem ich diesen gemacht hatte, fiel den hohen Herren ein, dass so ein Augentest in der Uniklinik bei mir doch viel besser sei, da ich ja auf dem einen Auge eine Sehschwäche hätte. Für mich etwas unverständlich, ich hatte den ersten Test bereits bestanden. Na gut!

3. Auf einen Erste Hilfe Kurs wird netter Weise verzichtet. Mir wäre ehe nicht mehr zu helfen.

4. Als nächstes beginnt die Suche nach einer Fahrschule die über ein geeignetes auf Handgas umgebautes Fahrzeug verfügt. Diesen Dienst bieten auch üblicherweise alle Autoumbauer an, die dann das zukünftige Auto gleich mitverkaufen. Das Autofahren an sich ist recht einfach. Man hat einen Hebel am rechen Oberschenkel. Hebel nach vorne Stoff, Hebel nach hinten kein Stoff. So ein Automatik hat doch was, wenn er genug PS hat. Erinnert ein wenig an die Autoscooter auf dem Jahrmarkt.

5. Nach 4- 200 Fahrstunden sollte man die Handgasfahrerei unfallfrei beherrschen.

6. Die PrĂĽfungsanmeldung wird mit dem Gutachtenberg in der Hoffnung auf schnelle Bearbeitung an das Amt geschickt. Dieses sendet die Unterlagen dann vielleicht an die vorher genannte TĂśV- Stelle weiter. Das ging schnell.

7. Mit einem TÜV- Mitarbeiter macht man dann eine Fahrprüfung. Dabei wird dann die Fahrtüchtigkeit festgestellt und aufgenommen welche Spezialumbauten der Rollifahrer zum Autofahren benötigt. Handgas, Lenkhilfe, Sonnenbrille, Flaschenhalter… Auch dieses Gutachten erreicht einen irgendwann auf dem Postweg zu Hause!

8. Mit dem Gutachten vom TÜV „geht’s“ zur Führerscheinstelle. Ein hübsches Foto sollte man schon dabei haben. Die Abgabe seines alten Führerscheines beim Amt ist ein muss, egal wie weh das tut. Zu allem Überdruss darf man für die Beantragung des neuen Führerscheins gleich mal 38€ latzen. Jetzt hat man es fast geschafft!!!

9. Als ich meinen neuen Führerschein nach angemessener Zeit bei der Führerscheinstelle abholte, stellte ich fest, dass auf dem Teil fast nichts mehr darauf steht. Kein 7,5 Tonnen LKW mehr, kein Hänger mehr, kein Moped mehr, aber einen Traktor oder Mähdrescher umgebaut auf Handgas dürfte ich außer einem langweiligen Auto mit meinem Führerschein noch fahren. Wie ich da hoch käme weiß noch keiner.

 

10. Jetzt musste „nur“ noch ein Auto bei, oder eine Hebebühne für den Mähdrescher!

 

Wheelchair Tuning Part VIII (Hand cycle)

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Frontpage

This winter during snow drift I have bought a

run-in hand cycle

(see older blogpost).

The main reason was probably my guilty conscience after I stood with my wheelchair on a platform laundry scale. I can eat whatever I want, the wheelchair is getting more and more heavy ;-)

The bike was auctioned for charity. The proceeds should be used to purchase a horse!

Swapping “donkey on wheels” for therapy pony!

This is really true, donations are still accepted.
The bike was allowed to have a rest in my cellar after the long journey from the north.
It was run-in so well that around 200 gram unnecessary

dead weight in screws and nuts

were thrown off in the last years and thus missing.

The driving noise

was probably planned that loud for safety reasons so that you are heard by the other traffic participants, like a fire engine on duty.

The bike chain

reminded of a hammock and was as dry as the Namib desert. (I haven’t been to the Gobi desert yet.)

The universal fastener,

with which the hand cycle is adjusted to the particular wheelchair, was locked with two high-quality steel weld seams, so that the adjustment to my wheelchair was made a little more difficult than planned.
The person who welded the fastener knew what he was doing and is probably working in the shipbuilding in a dockyard. The weld seams were bombproof…

The original handles and gear shift

have been adjusted by some friends for me so that I can use them with my buckled fingers and hands.
I could have used the original special handles only limited, they cost 230 € and I didn’t like them anyway.

The rack

was additionally mounted with two small

iron plates

of around 10 cm length to keep it up horizontally.
My mate calls such constructions usually:

Russian-style: Looking sh…, but working well.

Why the previous owner didn’t take the provided clamps from the rack and turned them around will remain his secret.
Now I can take on with any granny at the

Rollator race.

Equal opportunities at last!!!

As you can see my pot belly still didn’t get smaller, but I keep you posted!

Translator BL

Rollituning Part VII (Konkurrenz)

Monday, April 26th, 2010

  

Postzustellrolli E-Type  

Anscheinend hat die Post neue Arbeitsplätze in der Zustellung für Rollstuhlfahrer geschaffen.
Die Zustellung von Tieren aller Art wie Hunden, Katzen, Schlangen, Meer- und Mastschweinen… wird Gerüchten zu Folge jetzt ausschließlich von den

 Gelben Rollipostlern  

übernommen. Die Ehemaligen 

Zufußtierzusteller 

versuchen immer wieder erfolglos die Rollipostler aufzuhalten. 

OK, bisschen ernsthafter: 

Die Idee eine ausgemusterte Postbox vor den Rolli zu montieren ist genial.
Die Box ist seitlich wegschwenkbar und ermöglicht problemlos den Transport der Einkäufe bis ca. 20 kg. Außerdem kann die Box mit einem Handgriff abgenommen werden.
Mir ist nicht bekannt, dass etwas Ähnliches wie dieser 

Boxenhalter  

von einem Rollstuhlhersteller angeboten wird. 

Die standen alle noch nie im Supermarkt an der Kasse, wenn die Einkäufe nicht mehr in den Rucksack passten, oder der Rolli wegen Übergewicht drohte nach Hinten umzufallen. 

Der Rolli bekam zusätzlich vorne und hinten eine vernünftige 

LED-Beleuchtung. 

Durch einen 

Zweiten Akku 

fĂĽr den E-fix Antrieb (Motoren in den Radnaben), wurde die Reichweite von 18 km auf rund 36 km
(6 Stunden Vollgas) in der Ebene erreicht. 

Das langt leider immer noch nicht, wenn der Partner Marathonläufer ist. 

Es ist geplant später einmal den E-Rolli mit einer 

Brennstoffzelle 

der Fa. Efoy anzutreiben.
Brennstoffzellen in Rollis einzubauen, ist ein Quantensprung im punkto Reichweite, aber noch recht teuer.
Aus Gewichtsgründen lassen sich allerdings die E-fix Antriebsräder nicht mit einer Autobatterie/Akku betreiben. Da sie 24V benötigen und zwei 12 Volt Autobatterien/Akku dann viel zu schwer wären. Dieses Problem würde die Brennstoffzelle lösen. Mit einem 12Volt 12 Ah Akku (nur für Spitzenlast und Kurzstrecke) und der Brennstoffzelle wäre der Rolli wesentlich leichter als heute mit zwei 12 Volt 18Ah Akkus.
Mit einer Tankpatrone der Brennstoffzelle könnte der Fahrer verteilt über mehrere Tage mehr als 500 km mit dem E- Rolli zurücklegen. Bei einer täglichen Fahrleistung von z.B. 20 km ist der E- Rolli so einen vollen Monat lang einsatzbereit ohne jemals an die Steckdose zu müssen. 

Da müsste der Partner schon Haile Gebrselassie heißen, um da noch mitzukommen.  

Danke an Holger (siehe Kommentar) fĂĽr seine Beschreibung dieses Spezialumbaus!

Wheelchair Tuning Part VI (Competitor)

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Frontpage

It is no secret that I am constantly “tailoring” my wheelchair.
But even I am surprised about what my fellow wheelers are developing.

Wheelchair 24 carat gold-plated with dollar signs as spokes!

With this one “50 Cent” is pushed through the Bronx after a leg fracture!

Source Colours Wheelchair

How about this tank wheelchair with chain-drive!

Pedestrians have respect immediately, and the human crowd separates at a street fair like once Moses parted the sea.

Source TC Mobility www.tankchair.net

The army wheelchair for the Middle East mission.

The arms were not permitted to be shown.

My personal highlight, the donated

Indian Low Budget Wheelchair

of the world-wide operating organisation free wheelchair mission

Look closely, it has brake handle extensions.
This is no fake!

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks VIII

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Frontpage

Everybody who knew me before my accident should still remember that I was a quite good dancer.
The thought would have been absurd that I would ever acquire a

dancing pole

for my own four walls,
especially because classic ballet was none of my favourite dancing styles.
Now as passive dancer I have let me built a

stainless steel pole

and fix it to the wall.
However the intended use of this pole is different.
I place myself with my

race wheelchair

next to my

standing device
(this is not a wheelchair)

and transfer over with my dancing pole and slide board and with the help of unnamed volunteers.
Now I’m buckled up, and I am

„standing on my own two feet again“.

Good that I am not on the picture, so at least you can’t see my pot belly.

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks VII

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Frontpage

As self-confessed hobbit with 1,38 m total height forehead top sitting in the wheelchair you have to confess every now and then that the upward reach is a little limited.
My well-tried

key hooks

suddenly have a perceived height of 2,10 m after my accident.
If you aren’t a friend of the fishing sport then taking down the keys turns out to be a bit tedious and can be dangerous.
The usage of safety glasses and helmet is mandatory.
The

Yellow North European Furniture Elks

are offering a

magnet holder for kitchen knives,

which I have declared as

vertical magnet key holder.

Watch out, there are two types.
One of the holders just succeeds to prevent a paper clip from falling down.

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks VI

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

Frontpage

In winter or rainy weather, almost all pedestrians take off their shoes in front of their door and sneak in socks over the laminate.

I absolutely appreciate that this makes sense when you have estimated 2 kg snow on the soles of your shoes
and you don’t like to go sledging in your flat.

You won’t believe how much snow or rain water can stick to a wheelchair.
Even the wiping of the wheelchair tyres with discarded towels is rather difficult if you are not a Paralympian or contortionist.

To counteract the spring tide in your flat
I have purchased a carpet as it is usually lying e.g. at the entrance of department stores and positioned it outside of my door in the staircase.

These carpets absorb up to 6 liters of water per m².
With its size of 230 cm x 120 cm my

wheelchair tyre cleaning carpet

(wheelchair doormat)

could actually absorb more than 16 liters rain water.
Before I roll into the flat I am doing two laps on the carpet in the staircase, and the wheelchair tyres are clean and dry.

Up to now the maximum “filling capacity” was not reached yet.

Translator BL

Latest Project: Hand Cycle

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Frontpage

I have bought the

hand cycle

with an extra amount of snow.

The costs of such a bike start from 2400€ when it’s new
(no typing error).

It doesn’t even have 2 wheels!!!

One day it should look like this (see newer blogposts).

I have to clean instead of writing :-)

Still no clue how I should hold the handles…,
let alone how I should shift the gears?

The handles issue should work out somehow with lots of duct tape, construction foam, sanitary silicone and super glue so that I can hold them with my buckled fingers.
There is a variant to shift gears with the chin.
Attach a toothbrush to the lever,
and I sell the bike in Ebay in the beauty section for double the price.

Translator BL