ME6811 PROJECT WORK

DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF WHEEL CHAIR RAMP IN

GOVERNMENT BUS

A PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by

PRAVEEN T S (111717114072)

PRAVEEN KUMAR K (111717114318)

RAKESH S (111717114319)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

R.M.K. ENGINEERING COLLEGE,

KAVARAIPETTAI.

ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

APRIL 2020
 ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF WHEELCHAIR

RAMP IN GOVERNMENT BUSES” is the bonafide work of PRAVEEN T S

(111717114072), PRAVEEN KUMAR K (111717114318), RAKESH S

(111717114319) who carried out the project under my supervision.

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE

Dr. K.R. SENTHIL KUMAR, M.E., Ph.D. Mr. R. L. SANKARLAL,

M.E., (Ph.D).

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
R.M.K. Engineering College, R.M.K. Engineering College,
R.S.M. Nagar, Kavaraipettai, R.S.M. Nagar, Kavaraipettai,
Tiruvallur District – 601206. Tiruvallur District – 601206.

Submitted for the Project Viva - Voce held on …22-09-2020…. at R.M.K.

Engineering College, Kavaraipettai, Tiruvallur District – 601 206.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The success of any project depends largely on the people associated with it.
We are indebted to everyone who has made valuable contribution towards the
success of the project. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the
enthusiasm rendered from all the Personalities.

We would express our gratitude to our beloved Chairman

Shri. R. S. MUNIRATHNAM, R.M.K. Group of Institutions for having arranged to do this
project work.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to our beloved Principal

Dr. K.A. MOHAMED JUNAID for granting permission to undertake the
project.

We also thank our Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dr. K. A. SENTHIL KUMAR, ME., Ph.D, for his kind encouragement.

We wish to record thanks to the encouragement that we received from our

guide Mr. R. L. SANKARLAL, ME., (Ph.D), who gave us valuable guidance and
follow up during each stage of our project.

We wish to record thanks to the encouragement that we received from our

external guide Mr. A. P. EZHILARASAN, from NATIONAL SMALLSCALE
INDUSTRIES CORPORATION (NSIC) who gave us valuable guidance and
follow up during each stage of our project.
 ABSTRACT

A large portion of the physically disabled community of the world is

currently using wheel chair which is not universally accessible. In many countries,
public transport system depends on high floor bus and a wheel chair user fails to
access to that comfortably. This research aims to demolish that problem of
inaccessibility through a modification of the high floor bus door. This will
encourage the integration of disabled people in the community and will also consist
a technical challenge for the design. The basic methodology here, consists of
movable Ramp system which allows the wheel chair users to board the bus. Chain
and Sprocket mechanism is involved in this system. In this research, through
simulation analysis the feasibility of the ramp is tested. Eventually, the cost is
discussed for performing this type of modification in a public bus in Tamil Nadu.
So, this work will help people to find an effective mean to make public buses
accessible for disabled persons.
This study deals with the design and development of Ramp mechanism for
wheelchair Users. In this project we will be creating CAD model of the Ramp and
performing FEA on Ramp it will assist us to know the stresses and displacement.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter No. Title Page No.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. General Introduction

1.2. Barriers To Be Kicked

1.3. Implications For The Transport Sector

1.4 Safety Need

1.5 History

1.6 Type of Ramp System Used

1.6.1. Manually Operated Ramp System

1.7. Types of Ramps

1.7.1. Portable Ramps

1.7.2. Semi-Permanent Ramps

1.7.3. Permanent Ramps

1.7.4. Aluminium Modular Ramps

1.7.5. Steel Ramps

1.7.6. Wooden Ramps

2. LITERATURE SURVEY
Chapter No. Title Page No.

3. METHODLOGY

3.1. Identifying Problem Statement

3.2. Selection of Suitable Mechanism

3.2.1. Chain and Sprocket Mechanism

3.2.2. DC Motor

3.2.3. Limit Switch

3.3. Selection of Material

3.3.1. Mild Steel

3.3.2. Aluminium

3.3.3. Wood

3.4. Creating CAD Model Using CAD Software

3.5. Analysis of Ramp Using ANSYS Software

3.5.1. Total Deformation

3.5.2. Equivalent Stress

3.5.3. Equivalent Elastic Strain

3.5.4. Safety Factor

3.5.5. Force Reaction

3.5.6. Moment reaction

3.6. Interpretation of Results

Chapter No. Title Page No.

4. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

4.1. Conclusion

4.2. Future Work

5. COST ESTIMATION

6. REFERENCES

7
 CHAPTER-I

INTRODUCTION

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

A wheelchair ramp is an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of

stairs. Ramps permit wheelchair users, as well as people pushing strollers, carts, or
other wheeled objects, to more easily access a building, or navigate between areas
of different height. Ramps for accessibility may predate the wheelchair and are
found in ancient Greece.

When designing a wheelchair ramp an important factor to keep in the mind is

that design and concept are proposed so as to meet the strict requirements of The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all ramps must be as follows: A minimum
of a 5x5 flat space at the top of the ramp. This is to ensure safe maneuverability
once wheelchair users have reached the top of the ramp. A 1:12 slope ratio. This
means that for every inch of vertical rise, there have to be 12 inches (or one foot)
of the ramp. This is to ensure the ramp itself is not too steep and is the most
complex measurement to get right. No ramp is allowed to be longer than 30 feet
without a rest or a turning platform. This is to ensure that ramps aren't too long
which could cause fatigue and accidents. Minimum width of 36 inches of clear
space across the ramp. Some states such as California require as much as 48
inches, so be sure to check the specific legislation of your state. If using a turning
platform, it should be a minimum size of 5x5 just like the flat space at the top of
the ramp.

8
Globally, persons with disabilities are often referred to as the largest minority,
accounting for a total of over 1 billion or 15 percent of the world’s population. Too
often, they experience challenging poverty, marginalization and exclusion in
society.

The existence of cultural and physical barriers, among other factors, are major
contributors to the obstacles persons with disabilities, their families and
communities face. Lack of inclusive environments often lead to deprivation of
opportunities, such as education, skill training, work or income-generating
business, access to health care or leisure activities. As a result, many persons with
disabilities are unable to get out of their own homes and lead independent,
productive and fulfilling lives. Member States are making efforts to remove
environmental barriers in compliance with international and domestic legal
requirements. Accessibility is well-established by the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as an obligation for States Parties to
ensure equality and non-discrimination. This commitment is further reinforced by
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its 17 goals (SDGs) that
pledges to leave no country and no one behind. Therefore, accessibility should be
promoted as a collective good. States and development agencies must better
quantify and capture the socio-economic added value that benefits not merely a
particular group of people, namely persons with disabilities, but the population at
large. In this endeavour, Member States, the United Nations system, development
institutions and other stakeholders, including the private sector, need to join hands
in order to increase and improve availability of accessibility for achieving the
SDGs for all. This Policy Brief is a timely response to the growing demand for
sound policy advice and practical toolkits. It provides policy-makers and

9
development professionals an effective lens to look at the barriers to mobility that
persons with disabilities face, and more importantly, useful tools to advance and to
implement accessible sustainable development for all people of all ages and
abilities in all countries.

1.2. BARRIERS TO BE KICKED

Safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all is a key target
(11.2) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)1 for 2030.
This target specifically includes public transport to meet the needs of people with
disabilities as well as other vulnerable people. Accessible public transport gives
people with disabilities access to education, employment and healthcare, as well as
social contacts with family and friends. The ability to move and travel
independently is fundamental to breaking the downward spiral of dependence and
poverty. In line with the SDG target, this policy brief sets out practical steps to
making the right choices to ensure public transport meets the mobility needs of
people with disabilities. The brief has been prepared specifically for transport
policy-makers and transport professionals in low-income countries in Africa and
Asia, but is applicable to all countries of these regions. Better transport starts with
their awareness and commitment to making public transport easier and safer for
people with disabilities. The starting point is to engage with people with
disabilities and their representative organisations to understand the needs and
priorities from their perspective. The steps to easier and safer transport for people
with disabilities are based on best practices in countries worldwide. Many
obstacles to mobility can be overcome with simple, low cost solutions, such as
removing obstructions on footpaths, designing bus stops without steps, and
providing clear, easy to follow route signs. These relatively inexpensive measures
10
can sustainably improve mobility and contribute to a better quality of life for
people with disabilities. New transport infrastructure and systems must be designed
and implemented on the principles of Universal Design as set out in the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities2 (2006) and ratified by
many low-income countries. These principles are directed to ensuring that public
transport meets the needs of everyone. In line with Universal Design principles,
this policy brief sets out practical steps to use available resources most effectively
for the

benefit of all transport users. Better mobility for people with disabilities starts with
the awareness and commitment of everyone engaged in transport from policy-
maker to bus driver to make changes. Because small, low cost solutions can make
very big difference.

[Link] FOR THE TRNSPORT SYSTEM

The needs and wishes expressed by people with disabilities in the GAATES survey
have implication for the transport sector. These are summarised as follows:
1. Laws and regulations to make vehicles and systems accessible to people with
disabilities are not adequate to ensure their mobility.
2. Mobility must be tackled at the most basic level by providing appropriate access
for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, designing and constructing streets and
sidewalks to ensure that people with disabilities can move about safely.
3. Standards must be set for the design and operation of accessible vehicles. These
standards as well as overarching legal requirements must be monitored and
enforced, with appropriate penalties and remedial steps to ensure that investment in

11
disability inclusive transport is effective. Much can be done to address inequalities
in the public transport system and pedestrian environment and so improve the
mobility of people with disabilities. And what is more, many of these
improvements are lowcost and easy to achieve.
In many low-income countries, small buses or jitneys are used which are more
flexible and manoeuvrable than large buses but are generally not accessible to
wheelchair users. Whatever the vehicle size and how ever difficult access for
someone with walking difficulty, there are low-cost measures that can help many
people. For example, a clear colour contrast on step edges helps people with low
vision to board and alight safely. Handrails in the entrance can make it easier to
balance while climbing steps. There are other features to help people with impaired
hearing or vision

to travel independently by bus including audible signals warning of doors opening

and closing. Audible and visual real time systems at bus stops announcing time to
next bus can also be very helpful to people with vision or hearing loss and are
generally welcomed by all passengers. They are also valuable on other systems
such as Bus Rapid Transit and metro. Transport for London has visual
announcements to help people with hearing loss (right).

1.4. SAFETY NEED

Although some of the Final Rule requirements can be justified on the basis of
accident and inj iry data, the agency's rule is based on Access Board and FTA
sponsored guidelines and recommendations as well as SAE practices and
procedures. The FTA sponsored guidelines were developed in consultation with

12
bus drivers and transit system operators and reflect engineering judgment and
common practice. The requirements being proposed are consistent with those
published by many organizations concerned with bus lift systems for the disabled,
e.g., the FT.1, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA), The Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE).

1.5. HISTORY

The Pallavan Transport Corporation Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a
fleet strength of 1,029 buses. The operational jurisdiction is the Chennai
Metropolitan area. It served 176 routes and had 8 depots, including those at T.
Nagar, Adyar, and Vadapalani. Depots at Anna Nagar and K.K. Nagar were
established in 1973. The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a
new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started
functioning from 19 January 1994. The depots in the northern areas of the city
were brought under Dr. Ambedkar Transport

Corporation Ltd and the southern depots came under Pallavan Transport
Corporation. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan
Transport Corporation (Madras Division - I) Limited and Dr. Ambedkar Transport
Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division
- II) Ltd., on 1 July [Link] order to make the Corporations viable, and for better
administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division II)
was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division I)
Ltd on 10 January 2001. The fleet strength of the Corporation at 1 March 2009 was
13
3,260 with 25 depots, a body building unit at Chromepet, a ticket printing press at
[Link] and Reconditioning Unit at Patullos Road. During the year 2002–2003,
117 buses have been purchased for replacement. After 2007, thousands of number
of buses are purchased for new services as well as replacement for old [Link] of
2012, the corporation operates 42,961 services daily in 800 [Link] driver
strength at MTC is 5,000 as against a required driver strength of 5,800.

According to information submitted by MTC, Chennai to the Transport

Commissioner, there were 3,676 government buses in the city. Of them, 10 were
equipped with lift mechanism facility. A total of 895 buses had either of these
facilities and therefore the percentage of buses with physically challenged friendly
provisions worked out to 24.42% of the total fleet, he said. He also said that as per
the guidelines of Union Ministry of Road Transport, a new bus body building code
had been provided for the physically challenged passengers.

All Regional Transport Officers in the State had been strictly instructed to adhere
to the code. “Moreover, it has been made compulsory to allot two seats for
physically challenged in all existing buses plying in Tamil Nadu. It is being closely
monitored every year while issuing fitness certificates,” the commissioner claimed.

1.6. TYPE OF RAMP SYSTEM USED

1.6.1 MANUALLY OPERATED RAMP SYSTEM

The manual ramp is a hand-operated solution to facilitate easy entry of

handicapped persons into buses and trams. It can be integrated into the vehicle
floor and can handle loads up to 500 kg. These loading ramps are distinguished by
14
their simple handling and easy stowage, allowing them to be taken everywhere
with the vehicle. The perforated, non-slip surface ensures safe boarding. Manual
Wheelchair Ramp also should be controlled manually and the material of base is
aluminum. It is installed on the vehicle floor, when need it, you just unfold the
ramp. There will be a s lope which can help the disabled get into/out of vehicle.
The operation of aluminum wheelchair ramps is easy, simple, independent and
wholly manual, because it doesn’t need to connect with vehicle electric system.
The disabled wheelchair ramps take no space of vehicle. Moreover, the platform of
handicap wheelchair ramp and the floor of vehicle are at the same level, so there is
no effect for passengers. This wheel chair ramp is suitable for all types of Indian
low floor vehicle These include plastic-based products that allow for weight
reductions in the ramp units. Some of the features of Manually operated Ramp
system are:

 width - 2000mm
 Length - 11000mm
 Dynamic Capacity - 10 Tons
 Adjust Range - 1200-1700mm
 Self-weight - 3500kgs
 Operate manner - Manual & Electric

15
 Fig. 1.1 manually operated ramp system

A portable wheelchair ramp can be extremely versatile. They are usually

designed to be compact and are suitable for indoors and outdoors use, and can be
used with vehicles, curbs and other [Link] brands of ramp are designed
to enable the various sections to ‘telescope’ as they are compacted, ensuring that
the ramp takes up much less space, making it viable for cramped spaces.

Some ramps also feature both locking elements and built-in handles, which
helps to make it easier to fold them and move the whole ramp, so further
enhancing flexibility. Lightweight modern portable ramps are sometimes
available in material called Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) which combine
strength with considerable flexibility. While some ramps will need to be fastened
down when using them for thresholds, some ramps, as with many of the rubber
threshold models, can rest against the door sill, making them ideal for using with
sliding doors. They can also be trimmed down to an appropriate size.

16
1.7. TYPES OF RAMPS

1.7.2. PORTABLE RAMPS

They are lightweight and can be easily moved from one place to another. This
durable ramp is a safe and strong product for wheelchairs and scooters to easily
access steps, vehicles and other low to moderate raises. Among these ramps, the
most popular type is the folding suitcase ramp that can be folded as well as
separated into two lightweight sections each with their own carrying handle,
making it easier to carry, use and store them. These easy-to-install ramps are
available in both aluminum and rubber material. They are mainly installed in
buildings and vehicles such as vans, trucks and SUVs. There are threshold ramps
which allow wheelchairs and scooters to conveniently navigate through doorways,
sliding glass doors, curbs, showers and raised landings.

1.7.3. SEMI-PERMANENT RAMPS

These ramps are durable enough to last for a long time, and can be moved from one
place to another if you want. You can use these ramps both indoors and outdoors.
Examples include shower ramps that facilitate access to walk-in showers and

17
threshold ramps that enable you to navigate small obstacles, typically less than 3
inches.

1.7.4. PERMANENT RAMPS

These are ramps that cannot be easily moved from their position, and are usually
used to access the front and back doors of a building.

1.7.5. ALUMINUM MODULAR RAMPS

These can be ordered in sections and joined together to meet your height and length
requirements. The advantage is that modules can be bought in a range of styles in
keeping with your needs. Aluminum ramps are very strong and durable and have
excellent safety features. Their multi-welded fabrication process ensures less
deflection of the ramp surface. These ramps have a code-compliant mesh design
which allows the rain water and melting snow to pass right through, thus preventing
the formation of puddles. Their slip resistant, high traction aluminum tread surface
keeps your wheels from slipping even when the ramp is wet. They are 100%
maintenance-free and recyclable. Furthermore they are free from rusting, rotting
and splinters.

1.7.6. STEEL RAMPS

These are cost-effective and robust ramps with all its components coated with a
durable powder-coated finish, which makes them more durable. Attributes include
textured finish for slip resistance, natural drainage of rain water, easy installation,
non-formation of puddles, no high-maintenance issues and modular design to allow
18
virtually any configuration. Galvanized steel ramps last for many years and are
relatively easy to maintain. They do not rust if exposed to snow or rain. You can
easily walk on them without slipping.

1.7.7. WOODEN RAMPS

They enhance your outdoor decks and patios. They are pressure treated to resist
insects, mold and rot and to withstand various climatic conditions. As there is
adequate gap between the wood decking, natural drainage as well as natural
expansion and contraction are viable.

19
 CHAPTER-II

LITERATURE SURVEY

Here in this chapter the outlines of some of the recent reports published in
literature on the mechanisms used for wheel chair ramps in high and low floor
buses.

James A. Lenker et al., [1] carried out a research literature on access ramps
used in transit vehicles is undermined by inconsistent methodologies used across
studies, thus providing an inconclusive evidence base for proposed Federal
guidelines that would impose a maximum 1:6 slope for all deployment situations.
This study assessed the usability of ramp slope for mobility aid users. Four access
ramp slopes were evaluated, with 27 adults representing three populations: manual
wheelchair users, power wheelchair users, and people with vision impairment who
use a cane or service animal. The dependent variables included five usability
measures. The 1:8 and 1:12 slopes were usable and acceptable for most
participants. The data indicate that the 1:4 slope is too steep for safe unassisted

20
boarding and disembarking. Many manual wheelchair users lacked the strength
needed for unassisted ascent. Power wheelchair users and people with vision
impairment expressed safety concerns about descent of steeper slopes. Conclusive
interpretations should be cautiously drawn because the sample size was relatively
small and did not include users of scooters or ambulation aids.

The data from this research indicate that the 1:4 slope is too steep for safe
unassisted boarding and disembarking. Many manual wheelchair users lacked the
strength needed for unassisted ascent. Power wheelchair users and people with
vision impairment expressed safety concerns about descent of steeper slopes.
Additional interpretations should be cautiously drawn because the sample size was
relatively small and did not include users of scooters or ambulation aids. It should
be emphasized that deployed ramp slope is not purely a design issue for bus
manufacturers. A variety of environmental design factors may also contribute to
the ramp slopes achievable everyday situations, e.g., availability of raised
platforms, accessibility of bus stops and sidewalks leading to bus stop areas,
illegally parked cars that block sidewalk deployment of ramps at bus stop areas,
and accumulations of snow at bus stop areas during winter months.

Md. Hafizur Rahman et al., [2] used an Rack and Pinion for lifting the
wheelchair from ground to inside of an High Floor Bus. The basic methodology
here, consists of movable door-step system (one vertically and other horizontally)
which allows the lifting of a wheel chair into the bus. Two linear actuators and two
rack and pinion mechanisms are involved in this system. In this research, through
simulation analysis the feasibility of the lifting step is tested. Eventually, the cost is
discussed for performing this type of modification in a public bus in Bangladesh.

21
So, this work will help people to find an effective mean to make public buses
accessible for disabled persons.

Waibhaw Meshram et al., [3] in this research the lifting mechanism in

which the platform is lift vertically with the help of scissor mechanism. The main
objective of the use of scissor mechanism is to reach the desire height or level.
This lifting mechanism will be help full for those disable people. The required data
for the design of lifting mechanism are collected from the bus such as ground
clearance and chassis distance etc with the help of measuring device. This study
deals with the design and development of lifting mechanism used to lift
wheelchair. In this project we will be creating CAD model of the mechanism and
performing FEA on mechanism it will assist us to know the stresses and
displacement.

In this research in the analysis they calculated the stresses on assembly

and other parts for 3 different cases and compared the stresses with the material
yield stress. The M.S material is used for the manufacturing. The yield stress of
mild steel is 250MPa. The stress obtains from the analysis in case I platform at
lowest position is 115MPa, stress in case II platform at mid position is 156MPa
and stress in case III platform at top position is 128MPa. The maximum stress is
156MPa which obtain in case II this stress compare with the material yield stress
which is less than the material yield stress. The linear static analysis results shows
that the stresses are well within the safe limit, hence the design is safe.

Songkran Kantawong., [4] This paper presents the development of

22
wheelchair ramp lift boarding supporter system that is applied for wheelchair
passenger accessible on public transport bus service system (WCPB) which is the
first step to develop a wheelchair user guide for more safety and comfortable to
public transit services system that can be benefited to support a person with
disabilities on wheelchair in urban bus stop service areas. A RFID reader is
installed on the side of the bus to read the wheelchair RFID tag and sent it on wire
line or wireless transceiver channel to display on monitor or ramp lift
automatically operation by computer command. This RFID technique deals with
multi-wheelchairs that it provides an efficiency time management scheme with
correct data reporting, in which a dynamic time schedule is worked out in real time
for the bus driver or user of each wheelchair boarding situations. The ramp lift
mechanisms are controlled by fuzzy proportional plus integral controller (F-PI)
functions which installed on PLC that applied to generate an adequate setting
voltage for controlling signal acted to maintain a wheelchair ramp lift operation
processes in a specific state. By unknown the wheelchair passenger’s weight and
velocity, the fuzzy proportional plus integral controller can be used to solve this
kind of problems that the main advantage of fuzzy logic is that no mathematical
modeling is required but can be achieved higher performance with effective tuning
parameters in initial setting status. The proposed ramp lift design described here
takes an advantage of single link lift to gain the geometrical criteria that shorter
ramp lift dwell time while still maintain electric or manual wheelchair user easily
used by them self. By applying the proposed method, performance has been
improved which indicated that the wheelchair mechanism can work well and
satisfied the design concept for computer simulation with fuzzy ladder plus PI
controlled while the RFID tags of each wheelchairs data are more correctly data
recorded and can be send this correct data to the bus driver’s monitor to make a

23
decision for ramp lift operation via on wire line or wireless transceiver channel
simultaneously.

In this paper, they proposed the development of RFID solution applied

for the new design of wheelchair ramp lift boarding supporter with fuzzy PI control
that suitable for wheelchair accessible easily on semi-low floor public bus
transportation service and may have better performance than conventional ramp in
the same conditions. The RFID reader can be read correctly data enough that are in
general more effective than a real environmental transit system, but must be
improved for more efficiency detection range such as in 3-10 m. of RFID reading
range with microwave frequency range that can be installed easily in anywhere of
transit area. For more accuracy of wheelchair ramp lift position the fuzzy ladder PI
controller was selected to control the setting DC voltage supply to the ramp lift
motors both for vertical and horizontal ramp axis. The room experimental results
were revealed that the proposed method was evaluated more effective than a real
environmental. This means that the performance of wheelchair ramp lift operation
must be improved for more efficiency in the disturbance situations such as
wheelchair waiting time effect or load boarding effect.

24
 CHAPTER-III

METHODOLOGY

Identifying problem statement

Selection of suitable mechanism

Selection of material for Ramp

25
 Creating CAD Model using CAD software

Analysis using ANSYS Software

Interpretation of results

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1. IDENTIFYING PROBLEM STATEMENT

Persons with disabilities are often referred to as the largest minority. Too
often, they experience challenging poverty, marginalization and exclusion in
society. The existence of cultural and physical barriers among other factors are
major contributors to the obstacles persons with disabilities, their families and
communities face. As a result, many persons with disabilities are unable to get out
of their own homes and lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives. So to
encourage the integration of disabled people in the community, we have decided to
create a facility for Wheel Chair Users for boarding public transports like normal
people, so that they won’t get left behind. In many countries, public transport
system depends on high floor bus and a wheel chair user fails to access to that
comfortably. This research aims to demolish that problem of inaccessibility

26
through a modification of the high floor bus door.

3.2. SELECTION OF SUITABLE MECHANISM

In previous researches, they have used various Mechanisms like Scissor

Mechanism, Rack and Pinion Mechanism in Low and High floor Buses for lifting
of Wheelchair users from Ground to inside of the Buses. These lifting Mechanisms
are not used in real time applications due to high probability of accidents. So we
have decided to use an ramp facility using Chain and Sprocket Mechanisms. Since
accidents are minimized while using Ramp facility

3.2.1. CHAIN AND SPROCKET MECHANISM

CHAIN AND SPROCKET

A sprocket is a toothed wheel that fits onto a shaft. It is prevented from rotating on
the shaft by a key that fits into keyways in the sprocket and shaft.

27
A chain is used to connect two sprockets. One sprocket is the driver sprocket. The
other sprocket is the driven sprocket. Motion and force can be transmitted via the
chain from one sprocket to another, therefore from one shaft to another. Chains
that are used to transmit motion and force from one sprocket to another are
called power transmission chains.

There are 6 major groups of power transmission chains:

 standard general purpose roller chains, widely used in industry

 high performance roller chains, these roller chains are stronger than general
purpose roller chains
 lube-free chains, these chains can be used without lubrication
 environmentally resistant chains with special corrosion resistance
 specialty chains, Type 1. used as bicycle chains, motor cycle chains,
automotive chains
 specialty chains, Type 2. including miniature chains, leaf chains and inverted
tooth chain, i.e. silent chains.

Most of these chains are the roller type, i.e. they are composed of link plates, pins
that join the link plates and also rollers and bushes.

28
The size of the chain links must match precisely the size and spacing of the
sprocket teeth.

ADVANTAGE OF CHAIN DRIVES

An advantage of chain drives over most belt drives is that the chain cannot slip on
the sprocket, so the chain and sprocket provides a positive, non-slip drive, i.e. the
chain cannot slip on the sprocket because the sprocket teeth prevent the chain from
slipping.

29
Some belt and pulley drives also have teeth. These toothed belt and pulley drives
are used in applications where it is important that the belt does not slide on the
pulley, e.g. timing belts in internal combustion engines and the drive belts that
replace the chain on some motorcycles.

DISADVANTAGE OF CHAIN DRIVES

The disadvantage of the chain and sprocket drive is that it can be noisy and more
expensive than a belt and pulley drive system.

Chain and sprocket drives are not used on some applications such as drilling
machines and lathes precisely because the chain and sprocket drive does not allow
slip. For safety reasons, belt and pulley drives are used on many machines so that
in the event of something jamming in the machine, under great pressure, the belt
can slip on the pulley rather than damaging the machine as would happen with a
no-slip chain and sprocket drive.

Chain and sprocket drives are used in applications where slipping should not occur,
e.g.

 bicycles and motor cycles

 cam shaft drives in internal combustion engines
 fork lift trucks
 Elevators and escalators

3.2.2. DC MOTOR
30
 A DC motor is one of the first electric motors designed to convert direct
current electrical energy to mechanical energy. It is one of the greatest devices that
humans invented and since then, it has amazingly revolutionized our lives. This
rotary electrical machine occupied different types, all of them contain almost the
same components that cooperate based on either the mechanism of electronic or
the mechanism of electromechanical that is responsible for changing the direction
of current in the motor.

TYPES OF DC MOTOR

 Permanent Magnet Motors

Permanent Magnet Motors, also known as PMDC motors, are one the DC motors
that use a permanent magnet to make a field flux. This type of DC motors
possesses a great starting torque with good speed regulation. With limited torque it
has, typically appliances with low horsepower use permanent magnet motors.
31
 Shunt Motors

The field of shunt motors is connected in parallel with the armature windings. This
type of motors provides a great speed regulation due to the fact that the shunt field
can be excited separately from the armature windings. additionally, shunt motors
also provide simplified reversing controls.

 Series Motors

A series motor is made up of a field wound with some turns of a wire which carries
the current of the armature. Just like permanent motors, series motors offer a large
amount of starting torque. But unlike permanent motors, series motors cannot
regulate speed. Besides, if series motors run with no load, it can be so hazardous.
These limitations make series motors unsuitable for variable speed drive
applications.

 Compound Motors

Compound motors have a shunt field which is separately excited, just like shunt
DC motors. compound DC motors are alike permanent and series motors, in terms
of offering good starting torque but they have some problems in speed regulation
in variable speed drive applications.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

DC motors work on the principle of electromagnetism that for the first time
Faraday introduced. Faraday’s principle of electromagnetism says that a current-
carrying conductor faces a force when it is placed in a magnetic field. On the other
hand and according to Fleming’s Left-hand rule, the motion of the conductor is
32
always in a direction that is perpendicular to the current and the magnetic field.

As we mentioned before, a better understanding of the working of DC motor needs

us to know about all the details in the construction. The armature is the rotating
part that is placed between the north and south pole of the permanent or
electromagnet and the stator is their stationary part whose magnetic fields are in
interaction with the magnetic field of the rotor or the armature.

The armature coil consisting of the commutator and brushes is connected to the DC
supply. The commutator turns the AC induced in the armature into DC and the
brushes move this current from the rotating part of the motor to the stationary
external load.

The stator of a DC motor enjoys a stationary set of magnets and a coil of wire with
a current running through it to produce an electromagnetic field aligned with the
center of the coil. To concentrate the magnetic field One or more windings of
insulated wire are wrapped around the core of the motor.

The windings of insulated wire are connected to a rotary electrical switch that is
called a commutator, applying an electrical current to the windings. The
commutator allows each armature coil to be energized in turn, creating a steady
rotating force.

To create this steady rotating force called also torque the coils of the armature are
turned on and off in a sequence that consequently a rotating magnetic field is
generated that interacts with the different fields of the stationary magnets in the
33
stator.

This interaction between the rotating magnetic field and field of stationary magnets
in the stator finally causes it to rotate. These key operating principles of DC motors
allow them to convert the electrical energy from direct current into mechanical
energy through the rotating movement, which can then be used for the propulsion
of objects.

Advantages and Disadvantages of DC Motors

There is a wide range of DC motors in different dimensions and sizes, suitable for
different needs. Small ones can be used in toys, tools, and home appliances, and
larger ones are used in the elevator and hoists and propulsion of electric vehicles
and industrial appliances.

Although AC motors decreased the selling amount of DC motors on account of

simple generation and transmission with fewer losses to long distances, needing
less maintenance and can be operated in explosive atmospheres, DCs still are used
in where ACs can’t fulfill the needs. DCs have their unique features and
importance in industries that make up for lots of other advantages that AC motors
have over them.

 They are suitable for low-speed torque

 They have adjustable speed

 They offer a wide range of speed control both below and above the rated speed

 They have a very high and strong starting torque

34
 They are used in appliances such as electric trains and cranes having
overwhelming burdens in the beginning conditions

 They are more affordable

 Their maintenance is easy and takes little to no time

3.2.3. LIMIT SWITCH

A limit switch is an electromechanical device operated by a physical

force applied to it by an object. Limit switches are used to detect the presence or
absence of an object. These switches were originally used to define the limit of
travel of an object, and as a result, they were named Limit Switch.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

The limit switch operating principle is rather simple, but as you can tell
from the examples above, it’s integral to a host of industrial and commercial
35
mechanical operations. Its most basic use is to slow down, stop, start or speed up
operations. You can integrate a limit switch into a wide range of electromechanical
applications ranging from residential garage doors to material handling in
warehousing and distribution.

WORKING OF LIMIT SWITCH

Limit switches consist of an actuator with operating head, the switch

body mechanism, and a series of electrical terminals that are used to connect the
switch to the electrical circuit that it is controlling. The operating head is the part
of the limit switch that comes in contact with the target. The actuator contains is
connected to the operating head, whose linear, perpendicular, or rotary motion is
then translated by the actuator to close or open the switch. The switch body
contains the switch contact mechanism whose state is controlled by the actuator.
The electrical terminals are connected to the switch contacts and enable wires to be
joined to the switch through terminal screws. Industrial machinery that undergoes
automatic operations usually requires control switches that activate according to
the movements involved in a machine’s performance. For repeat usage, the
accuracy of the electrical switches needs to be reliable and their response rate
should be prompt. Due to the mechanical specifications and performance
parameters of different machines, factors such as size, operational force, mounting
method, and stroke rate are important characteristics in the installation and
maintenance of limit switches. In addition, a limit switch’s electrical rating should
be matched to the mechanical system loads that it will be controlling in order to
avoid instrument failure.

USES OF LIMIT SWITCH

36
 Limit switches are often used to tally items or materials so that when a
limit is reached, the switch closes or opens. This condition is frequently the case in
industrial applications such as assembly lines. For example, when the limit switch
in a specific piece of equipment detects that it has added a predetermined number
of components to a product, the switch moves the actuator, which in turn moves
the piece of equipment away, and the product goes on to the next [Link]
switches can also be used as safety interlocks to prevent machine parts from
moving any further when a specific point is reached. A good example of this is an
automatic garage door. Without a limit switch that stops the door when it reaches
the bottom rail, the door would keep moving downwards and eventually crash into
the ground, causing serious damage. Limit switches can also be used as part of a
larger control system. When a certain limit is reached, the actuator can de-activate
or activate a device to prevent malfunctioning or emergencies.

3.3. SELECTION OF MATERIAL

For the production of Ramp, we have decided to use sandwich type of

Materials consisting of Mild Steel at the bottom, Wood at the middle and
Alumimium at the top.

3.3.1. MILD STEEL

37
 Mild steel is a type of steel that only contains a small amount of
carbon and other elements. It is softer and more easily shaped than
higher carbon steels. It also bends a long way instead of breaking
because it is ductile. It is used in nails and some types of wire, can be used to make
bottle opener, chairs, staplers, staples, railings and most common metal product. Its
name comes from it only has less carbon than steel.

MILD STEEL PROPERTIES

Mild steel has a maximum limit of 0.2% carbon, the proportions of

manganese (1.6%) , copper (0.6%) and silicon (0.6%) are approximately
fixed , while the proportions of cobalt ,chromium , niobium, molybdenum ,
titanium , nickel, tungsten, vanadium and zirconium are not.
The calculated average industry grade mild steel density is 7.85 gm/[Link]

38
Young’s modulus which is measure of its stiffness is around 21,0000 Mpa.
Mild steel is the cheapest and most versatile form of steel and serves every
application which requires a bulk amount of steel.
The low amount of alloying elements, makes mild steel vulnerable to rust.
Naturally , people prefer stainless steel over mild steel when they want rust
free material.

Mild steel is one of the most common of all metals and one of the least
expensive steels used. I t is to be found in almost every product created
from metal. Having less than 2% carbon it will magnetize well and being relatively
inexpensive, can be most project requiring lot of steel. Because of its poor
resistance to corrosion it must be protected by painting or otherwise sealed
to prevent it from rusting. At worst a coat of oil or grease will help seal it. Being a

softer metal it is easily welded. Its inherent properties allow

electrical current to flow easily through it without upsetting its structural
integrity. This is in contact to other high carbon steels like stainless steel
which require specialized techniques. This mild steel of harder steel is thus far less
brittle and can therefore give and flex in its applications where harder more brittle
material would break and crack.

USES OF MILD STEEL

Mild steel is used in construction as structural steel. It is also widely used

in the car manufacturing industry.

39
 Mild steel is used in almost all forms of industrial applications and
industrial manufacturing. It is a cheaper alternative to steel , but still better
than iron. Most everyday items made of steel have some milder steel contain.
Anything from cookware, motor cycle frames through to motor car chassis
use this metal in their constructions.

3.3.2. ALUMINIUM

Pure aluminium is soft, ductile, corrosion resistant and has a high electrical
conductivity. It is widely used for foil and conductor cables, but alloying with
other elements is necessary to provide the higher strengths needed for other
applications. Aluminium is one of the lightest engineering metals, having a
strength to weight ratio superior to steel.

By utilising various combinations of its advantageous properties such as strength,

lightness, corrosion resistance, recyclability and formability, aluminium is being

40
employed in an ever-increasing number of applications. This array of products
ranges from structural materials through to thin packaging foils.

ALUMINIUM PROPERTIES

Aluminium has a density around one third that of steel and is used
advantageously in applications where high strength and low weight are required.
This includes vehicles where low mass results in greater load capacity and reduced
fuel consumption. When the surface of aluminium metal is exposed to air, a
protective oxide coating forms almost instantaneously. This oxide layer is
corrosion resistant and can be further enhanced with surface treatments such as
anodising. Aluminium is an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity. The
great advantage of aluminium is that by weight, the conductivity of aluminium is
around twice that of copper. This means that aluminium is now the most
commonly used material in large power transmission lines.

The best alternatives to copper are aluminium alloys in the 1000 or 6000
series. These can be used for all electrical conduction applications including
domestic [Link] considerations mean that a large proportion of overhead,
high voltage

power lines now use aluminium rather than copper. They do however, have a low
strength and need to be reinforced with a galvanised or aluminium coated high
tensile steel wire in each strand.

41
The aluminium industry is very conscious of the environmental impact of its
activities. The mining and smelting of aluminium, plus the disposal of red mud can
have a major environmental impact if not done properly.

The industry is proud of its efforts and achievements in rehabilitating open cut
mine sites and the restoring flora and fauna to these sites. Such efforts have been
rewarded with awards from the United Nations Environment Programme and red
mud disposal areas are now being successfully revegetated.

USES OF ALUMINIUM

Aluminium is used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils,

kitchen utensils, window frames, beer kegs and aeroplane parts. This is because of
its particular properties. It has low density, is non-toxic, has a high thermal
conductivity, has excellent corrosion resistance and can be easily cast, machined
and formed. It is also non-magnetic and non-sparking. It is the second most
malleable metal and the sixth most ductile.

It is often used as an alloy because aluminium itself is not particularly strong.

Alloys with copper, manganese, magnesium and silicon are lightweight but strong.
They are very important in the construction of aeroplanes and other forms of
transport.
Aluminium is a good electrical conductor and is often used in electrical
transmission lines. It is cheaper than copper and weight for weight is almost twice
as good a conductor.

3.3.3. WOOD

42
 Wood, the principal strengthening and nutrient-conducting tissue of trees
and other plants and one of the most abundant and versatile natural materials.
Produced by many botanical species, including both gymnosperms and
angiosperms, wood is available in various colours and grain patterns. It is strong
in relation to its weight, is insulating to heat and electricity, and has desirable
acoustic properties. Furthermore, it imparts a feeling of “warmth” not possessed by
competing materials such as metals or stone, and it is relatively easily worked. As
a material, wood has been in service since humans appeared on Earth. Today, in
spite of technological advancement and competition from metals, plastics, cement,
and other materials, wood maintains a place in most of its traditional roles, and its
serviceability is expanding through new uses. In addition to well-known products
such as lumber, furniture, and plywood, wood is the raw material for wood-based
panels, pulp and paper, and many chemical products. Finally, wood is still an
important fuel in much of the world.

43
WOOD PROPERTIES
One of the best things about wood is how long it lasts. Browsing through the
daily news, you'll often read that archeologists have unearthed the buried remains
of some ancient wooden article a wooden tool, perhaps, or a simple rowboat or the
remnants of a huge building that are hundreds or even thousands of years old.
Providing a wooden object is properly preserved (something else we discuss later),
it will easily outlast the person who made it. But just like that person, a wooden
object was once a living thing and it's a natural material. Like other natural
materials, it's subject to the natural forces of decay through a process known as
rotting, in which organisms such as fungi and insects such as termites and beetles
gradually nibble away the cellulose and lignin and reduce wood to dust and
memories.

USES OF WOOD

The main physical properties of wood include: color, luster, texture, macro-
structure, odor, moisture, shrinkage, internal stresses, swelling, cracking, warping,
density, sound - electro - thermal conductivity. Сolour, shine, texture and
macrostructure determine the appearance of wood. A solid wood floor is a floor
laid with planks or battens created from a single piece of timber, usually a
hardwood. Since wood is hydroscopic (it acquires and loses moisture from the
ambient conditions around it) this potential instability effectively limits the length
and width of the boards. Engineered wood products, glued building products
"engineered" for application specific performance requirements, are often used in
construction and industrial applications. Glued engineered wood products are
manufactured by bonding together wood strands, veneers, lumber or other forms of
wood fiber with glue to form a larger, more efficient composite structural unit.
44
3.4. CREATING CAD MODEL USING CAD SOFTWARE

We are going to create a CAD Model of the Ramp using

SOLIDWORKS CAD Software and we are going to analyse the Ramp using
ANSYS Software.

45
46
For Designing of CAD Model, we have used SOLIDWORKS 2020 software.
Some of the highlights of SOLIDWORKS 2020 Software are:
 Large Assembly Drawings for Working Faster.
 Faster Assembly Design.
 Flexible Components.
 Faster Sketching.
 Faster Calculations and Improved Accuracy for Simulation.
 Improved Design Experience.
 Expanded Interoperability with 3D Interconnect
 More Flexibility for Surfacing.

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3.5. ANALYSIS OF RAMP USING ANSYS SOFTWARE

3.5.1. Total Deformation

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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49
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3.5.2. Equivalent Stress

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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52
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3.5.3. Equivalent Elastic Strain

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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55
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3.5.4. Safety Factor

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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58
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3.5.5. Force Reaction

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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61
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3.5.6. Moment Reaction

Subject:
Date Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Comments:

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 CHAPTER-IV

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

4.1. CONCULSION

Accessibility is the first need of a person to communicate and to keep pace

with the world. But here in Tamil Nadu due to having no mechanism to transport a
wheel-chair user in public bus, the accessibility to everywhere for a physically
challenged person remains uncertain. The purpose of this project is to obtain the
optimal design for Ramp mechanism which is used by Wheel Chair Users for
boarding the Bus. This research has showed the current situation of bus system in
countries like India, Bangladesh, etc., and stated a cheap way to come out from this
situation by modifying the door system. It also created scopes of further research
for developing this system for the noble sake of the wheel chair users. On the basis
of objective, data accumulated and design calculations the CAD model of the
Ramp design using SOLIDWORKS. After CAD modeling, Finite Element
Analysis was carried out by using ANSYS Software to validate the Designed CAD
model.

4.2. FUTURE WORK

Further Research can be done by analyzing the chain and sprocket

mechanism and further developments can also be done to the mechanism or the
ramp design. Fabrication can also be done to check the feasibility of the current
design and further improvements can also be done to increase the feasibility.
66
 CHAPTER-V

COST ESTIMATION

5.1. COST ESTIMATION

Currently for Designing and Analyzing of the Ramp alone it costs

around Rs5000, since we used Design and Analysis Software in NSIC campus
itself . The actual cost for the Fabrication of Wheel Chair Ramp in Buses it may
cost around
Rs60, 000 - Rs70, 000 approximately.

67
 CHAPTER-VI

REFERENCES

[Link]

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[2] Greg Shaw, Wheelchair rider risk in motor vehicles: A technical note, Journal
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[3] Vivek Kaundal, Rajesh Singh, Low Cost Robotic Wheel Chair for Disabled
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[4] Getting on board, Trolleybus Magazine No. 190, pp. 86–87, National
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[5] ZHAO Cong, “The Design of Wheelchair Lifting Mechanism and Control
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[7] Long-Chang Hsieh, “The Innovative Design of Wheelchair with Lifting and
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[8] [Link] Moses Paul, “CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF

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[10] Penttila K, Sydanheimo L, and Kivikoski M (2004) Performance development

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[11] Visioli, A., “Fuzzy Logic Based Set-Point Weight Tuning of PID Controller”,
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[12] Kun Zhou, Yanmin Song, Xintian Shen, Yurong Yan, Wen Wang, "An
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[13] Finkenzeller K, RFID Handbook: Fundamentals and Applications in
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[14] Tran Systems corp., “Statewide Transit Intelligent Transportation Systems

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[15] Kaye, HS, Kang, T, LaPlante, MP.“Disability Statistics Report-Mobility

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[16] Wretstrand, A. (2007). Comfort and Safety as Perceived by Wheelchair-

Seated Bus Passengers. Transportation Planning and Technology 30 (2-3), pp. 205-
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[17] Gaffar G Momin, “Design, Manufacturing & Analysis of Hydraulic Scissor

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[18] M. Kiran Kumar, “Design & Analysis of Hydraulic Scissor Lift” International
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