Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Home & Family » Elderly Care » Article
 

What Do Mobility Scooters Consist Of?




By Scootamart Staff

Mobility Scooters usually consist of a base unit, the drive chain, the seat, and tiller, as well as the batteries and wheels. The base unit is the chassis that the other components are attached to. This chassis provides the area where the feet go in between the tiller and the batteries or drive chain. The drive chain is the part that powers the scooter. The tiller is the handlebar that steers the mobility scooter.

Front wheel drive mobility scooters have the drive train just over the front wheel. These sorts of scooter have a smaller weight capacity and are much more suited to indoor use than outdoor use compared to a rear wheel driver mobility scooter. They directly drive the front wheel, and so are not as good up hills as rear wheel drive scooters. Front wheel drive scooters also tend to be small/boot scooters rather than larger pavement or road legal scooters. Rear wheel drive mobility scooters use a chain, belt or transaxle mechanism to drive the rear wheels. Rear wheel drive scooters "push" the rider whereas front wheel drive scooters "pull" the rider. This offers more power and efficiency and so provides a better ride, and allows the scooter to go up steeper hills.

Mobility scooters use electro magnetic regenerative brakes which work by slowing and then stopping the scooter as soon as the user releases the controls. When the brakes are applied, the batteries are recharged by the excess power from the motor. This type of brake means that a separate hand brake is not necessary, and that the scooter can be left on a slope without fear of it rolling away. Most mobility scooters have a freewheel mode so that the scooter can be moved with out it being switched on, perhaps for storage, or in case of an emergency.

The batteries on a mobility scooter are not the same as car or motorcycle batteries, and should not be substituted. Car and motorcycle batteries are starter batteries, designed to provide short bursts of power. The batteries should be charged and looked after as per the mobility scooter manual.

The number of wheels and size and type of tyre affect the stability and ride quality of the mobility scooter. Smaller scooters tend to have small solid tyres, which don't offer the same ride quality as bigger scooters with larger pneumatic tyres. Three wheel scooters offer more legroom and a smaller turning circle compared to a four wheel scooter, but the stability can be compromised.

Mobility scooter seats often have folding armrests, and swivel to aid getting on and off the scooter. The seat is often padded to provide more comfort. Some models have a larger Captain or Admiral seat, which is more like a car seat, and may offer more adjustment than a standard seat. The larger, more comfortable seats are normally found on the larger scooters as the scooter has a larger range, so the distance travelled could be almost double that of a small scooter. Almost all seats are adjustable for height, some adjust for reach, and some even recline like a car seat.

The tiller controls the direction, and speed of the mobility scooter, and is like a bicycle handle bar. The scooter moves by either pulling or pushing the lever on the tiller (called a wigwag). Some models of scooter have a Delta tiller meaning that the user can either pull with the fingers (like a bicycle brake) to make the scooter move, or push with the thumb. This tiller is ideal for people with limited hand mobility or who have one hand much better than the other. This means they can use the same hand for both moving forward and reversing. The control panel on the tiller includes the battery gauge, the speed control, and the horn and light controls, where fitted.

The scooters speed is usually controlled by a rotary control, which ranges from low speed to high speed. On some 6 and 8mph mobility scooters there is a switch that lowers the top speed from 6/8 mph to 4mph to make it pavement legal.

Mobility Scooters are designed to be simple to understand and operate, and so shouldn't be intimidating.
 
 
About the Author
For more information about mobility scooters, please visit http://www.scootamart.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/33824.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/33824.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Scootamart Staff
How To Choose A Powerchair
A powerchair or electric wheelchair can bring independence and freedom to those currently reliant on others. Once you have decided on a powerchair rather than a mobility scooter or wheelchair, there are still plenty ...

What To Look For When Choosing A Riser Recliner Chair
If you suffer from mobility problems such as arthritis and back pain, and spend a lot of time in an armchair, you may find it difficult ...

How To Choose A Wheelchair
Nowadays, wheelchairs can be cheap to purchase and are widely available, so choosing a wheelchair can be confusing. Some people will have been prescribed a specific sort of wheelchair by ...

Who Could Benefit From A Bathlift?
People who don't find bathing as easy as they used to, and maybe perhaps struggle getting in and out of a traditional bath or shower, and are perhaps considering a walk in bath or ...

Who Could Benefit From A Mobility Scooter?
Anyone who struggles to walk or gets tired after walking a short distance could benefit from using a mobility scooter. Using an electric scooter is not an admission of defeat and can ...

Where To Buy Your Mobility Scooter
Traditionally mobility scooters were only available at a small number of dedicated mobility dealers. These dealers were able to charge a premium as there was little or no local competition. Nowadays, due to the internet, ...

  
  Recent Articles
The Truth About Adjustable Beds
by Christopher Smith

Quick Review of Adjustable Beds
by Christopher Smith

Change in Lifestyle and Environment- The Secret to a Happy Retired Life.
by Kanaga Siva

Housing Options for Seniors
by TC Thorn

Hopes & Dreams: A Critical Ingredient In The Lives Of Caregivers And Their Loved Ones
by Vicki Rackner MD

Early Retirement: What You Should Know.
by Thomas G. Holmshaw

Caring For Dependent Relatives - Survival Guide
by Aislinn O'Connor

Who Could Benefit From A Mobility Scooter?
by Scootamart Staff

Can't connect to database