Conceptual Design
The trailer should not demand excessive propelling power due to the limited amount of power available. Consequently, it should be extremely light, which means that it should be made from light materials of high strength so that it will be comprised of as few components as possible. Nevertheless, it should provide the required mechanical strength to carry enough goods equal to the carrying capacity of a human being. The design should also consider the quality and aesthetic aspects of the trailer.
These requirements rule out heavy materials and materials that can rust easily, which narrows down to the use of two materials, aluminum and fiber reinforced polymer. Aluminum is a light and strong metal that does not rust (Whang 1972: 1). FRPs are also light and rust resistant materials (Ramroth 2006: 2). Other factors to consider include cost efficiency, durability, mechanical strength and reparability of the trailer. FRP is better that aluminum on strength performance while aluminum is better that FRP on durability, cost efficiency and reparability (Ramroth 2006: 2). Therefore, aluminum will be used because it will perform better than FRP especially on durability, cost efficiency and reparability, which eventually result to cost efficiency.
Trailer design should consider a person’s safety and comfort during operation, as well as ease of operation especially ease of steering the wheelchair-trailer combination. Further, the shape and capacity of the trailer should be considered, which will determine the carrying capacity of the trailer. A fixed trailer will ensure ease of steering, which will result to comfort during operation and safety of the person. However, only a small trailer can be mounted if the balance of the wheelchair is to be maintained, which reduces the amount of goods the trailer can carry.
A detachable trailer, on the other hand, will facilitate the design of a high capacity trailer that will be hauled by the wheelchair. Further, it will allow for detaching the trailer when not in use, which will save the person power losses when especially when the trailer is not required. A detachable trailer will be considered, but users will be given some training on how to steer the wheel chair-trailer combination to ensure safety and comfort of operation.
References
Ramroth, W.T. 2006. Thermo-Mechanical Structural Modeling of FRP Composite Sandwich
Panels Exposed to Fire. ProQuest Information and Learning Company, p. 2
Whang, B. 1972. Comparison Study of Aluminum, Ferro-Cement, and Fiber-Reinforced Plastic
for Small Craft in Korea. Bethesda, Maryland: Naval Ship Research and Development
Center, p. 1
