38
R. K. Gupta et al.
limit. Figure 7b shows the equivalent von Mises stress in the Force Tuner. The circle
marked indicates the maximum stress area as it is nearest to the bearing which is
fixed; hence, its motion is restricted and therefore faces the maximum stress.
The mechanism was successfully fabricated. Some of the parts like clutch pedal,
bearings and mild steel sheet were purchased from the market. The lever was fabricated in-house. Assembly and welding were done in-house and experimented in the
laboratory environment.
4 Discussion
The developed clutch operating mechanism for disabled people allows the driver to
control the clutch from the two points which are provided at the gear knob and under
the steering column. So, when driver meets any panic situation, he/she could just press
the handle located under the steering column and avoid any fatal consequences. The
other purpose providing the two controls is to allow the driver to control clutch and
shift gear simultaneously. While shifting the gear, the driver can use the clutch handle
provided at the gear knob to shift the gear. While in traffic, the driver can use the
clutch handle provided under the steering column to control the clutch. This will not
only make the hill climbing easier but also assist the driver in traffic. Force required
to press clutch pedal varies with the different cars. Some cars require high amount
of force to press the clutch pedal. In our invention, we have developed a special
part “Force Tuner lever” which reduces the force required to press the clutch pedal
to half by providing mechanical advantage to the device. This MA will assist the
driver to press the clutch handle with feeble amount of force avoiding any strain in
hands. The developed mechanism has very limited no. of components and has used
cables instead of long rods and levers; hence, there is a lot of space available for the
comfort sitting of the driver. Also, a small number of components make the system
more reliable and safer. The developed mechanism does not require any electronic
equipment and sensors and is completely mechanically operated, hence its cost is
also very low as compared to that of electronic/electromagnetic devices.
5 Conclusion
The presented mechanism was developed to provide a mobility solution by modifying
the manual transmission vehicles (manual control of gear and clutch) so that people
with disability can also drive the vehicle without difficulty. A device named dual
clutch control is developed which has two points control of clutch by hand instead
of leg so that the driver (person with one leg disability) can easily steer with both the
hands and can control clutch at same time. The device enables the user to actuate the
complete range of motion of the pedal by hand control. The developed mechanism not
only reduces the force required to press the clutch pedal but also saves the space by
R. K. Gupta et al.
limit. Figure 7b shows the equivalent von Mises stress in the Force Tuner. The circle
marked indicates the maximum stress area as it is nearest to the bearing which is
fixed; hence, its motion is restricted and therefore faces the maximum stress.
The mechanism was successfully fabricated. Some of the parts like clutch pedal,
bearings and mild steel sheet were purchased from the market. The lever was fabricated in-house. Assembly and welding were done in-house and experimented in the
laboratory environment.
4 Discussion
The developed clutch operating mechanism for disabled people allows the driver to
control the clutch from the two points which are provided at the gear knob and under
the steering column. So, when driver meets any panic situation, he/she could just press
the handle located under the steering column and avoid any fatal consequences. The
other purpose providing the two controls is to allow the driver to control clutch and
shift gear simultaneously. While shifting the gear, the driver can use the clutch handle
provided at the gear knob to shift the gear. While in traffic, the driver can use the
clutch handle provided under the steering column to control the clutch. This will not
only make the hill climbing easier but also assist the driver in traffic. Force required
to press clutch pedal varies with the different cars. Some cars require high amount
of force to press the clutch pedal. In our invention, we have developed a special
part “Force Tuner lever” which reduces the force required to press the clutch pedal
to half by providing mechanical advantage to the device. This MA will assist the
driver to press the clutch handle with feeble amount of force avoiding any strain in
hands. The developed mechanism has very limited no. of components and has used
cables instead of long rods and levers; hence, there is a lot of space available for the
comfort sitting of the driver. Also, a small number of components make the system
more reliable and safer. The developed mechanism does not require any electronic
equipment and sensors and is completely mechanically operated, hence its cost is
also very low as compared to that of electronic/electromagnetic devices.
5 Conclusion
The presented mechanism was developed to provide a mobility solution by modifying
the manual transmission vehicles (manual control of gear and clutch) so that people
with disability can also drive the vehicle without difficulty. A device named dual
clutch control is developed which has two points control of clutch by hand instead
of leg so that the driver (person with one leg disability) can easily steer with both the
hands and can control clutch at same time. The device enables the user to actuate the
complete range of motion of the pedal by hand control. The developed mechanism not
only reduces the force required to press the clutch pedal but also saves the space by