Cable Carrier Protects Wheelchair Lift Power Cables
Heavy-duty cable carrier adds durability and function to vehicle wheelchair lift
By Design News Staff -- Design News, November 1, 2009
A steel-enclosed, heavy-duty cable carrier manages and protects the power cables on the Bruno™ Joey™ Interior Platform Vehicle Lift. The lift can accommodate all types of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters up to 350 lb.
The Joey is one of many types of vehicle lifts and related mobility products designed and manufactured by Bruno Independent Living Aids Inc. It's designed to safely lift and stow all types of powerchairs and scooters inside more than 25 different vehicles.
In operation, the user powers the lift's platform out and down from the back of the vehicle using a handheld or vehicle-mounted pendant with single-switch control. The powerchair or scooter is then driven onto the unit's self-leveling platform from either side and secured in place with belts designed for one-hand operation. Finally, the platform is raised and powered into the vehicle. The Joey's small footprint maintains the vehicle's second-row seating, while its fast cycle time speeds loading and unloading. A precise guide pin assembly provides alignment and stability, and the unit is anchored securely to prevent it from being propelled forward in an accident.
The basic lift design was originally powered by a separate battery located in the carriage, but some users were not driving enough to charge the extra battery. Although a hardwired version was developed to address this problem, it now accounts for about 90 percent of Joey sales.
The Joey VSL-4000HW is the hardwired version. It uses the vehicle's battery for power rather than a separate battery, and the power and control cables that move the lift along its path are housed in a Nylatrac SP cable carrier, which is provided by A&A Mfg. Co. Inc. of New Berlin, WI. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing cable and hose carriers, protective bellows and covers, slip clutches and related components for machinery and mechanisms.
"We looked at what other lifts on the market were using, and they all had the possibility of the cables getting caught or torn," says Senior Electrical/Electronics Engineer Kelly A. Smith. "We had some experience in keeping cables tracking on an elevator we built, so we used a similar approach with the Joey. It keeps the cables managed but out of sight and away from damage. With the cable carrier, we keep space required for the cables to a minimum." The cables coil and uncoil in a horizontal plane, which keeps the assembly profile low.
The cable carrier handles two 12-gauge wires that bring power to the lift from the vehicle's battery, as well as two 22-gauge wires for the control pendant and door safety switch. The SP series is a small standard-link cable carrier which utilizes hinge bars that can open on the inner or the outer radius. The SP series is excellent for automation, robotics and light industrial applications.
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