Curves
The stair lift has been designed with having the ability to
manoeuvre a curved staircase in mind this is due to the rack type gear not
being a conventional rack, it is instead a rack without teeth and with holes
instead. This makes it much easier to negotiate curves as well as being easier
to manufacture. With the stair lift having this feature the product will appeal
to a wider user group as it can be customised to fit the customer’s stair case requirements.
The tubular track is manufactured in sections. The sections
are then linked together by slotting into each other to span the full length of
the staircase, the track can be made longer or shorter. As the track is
manufactured in sections to the curved sections can be added when the stair
lift needs to go round a corner.
Installation
The stair lift can be easily installed
into any situation where the condition of the stair tread is adequate this is
because the track that the stair lift uses is attached to the stair tread and
not the wall.
All parts off the stair lift will fit through a standard
door frame size of 2’3” x 6’6” (686mm x 1981mm). Each part will also weigh no
more than 20kg. Because each part has a
small size and low weight parts can be transported easily. The parts are
designed with the assembly in mind, this is so that once the parts are in the user’s
home the stair lift can be installed by one person.
Materials
The main materials used in the stair lift are:
·
Aluminium cast for the track.
·
Hardened steel for the gear rack.
·
The housing and the seat frame will be made from
aluminium coated in PVC – This will give the seat a better appearance to the
user than the bare aluminium whilst having the structural strength of the
aluminium.
Power Supply
The stair lift will be operated by DC power, this is an
advantage over AC because although it does still have to be plugged into the
wall it instead charges a battery when the carriage is parked.
Seat
The seat has been designed with many features that make the
design more user friendly, features like the whole seat swivels and the base of
the seat folds in half, the armrests fold upwards to save space whilst also
making the seat easier accessible.
Footrest
A foldable footrest allows the user to ride in comfort when
the footrest is down but saves space when the carriage is at rest, It is also
designed so that it is level with the top stair when exiting the carriage.
