Unlike suspension forks, which only work in one plane, Loopwheels provide tangential suspension—they absorb force from any direction. Loopwheels respond to head-on force in the same way as they do to a force from above or below.
The wheelchair application seems to run straight into the eternal problem with sprung wheels. Without dampers, they bounce badly, as sometimes seen in tractors fitted with buckets on a bad road. With dampers, they have very high rolling resistance. I tire needs enough flex to meet the ground, but any further suspension should be on the axle. Lardo January 30, 2018 06:00 PM
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A robust cast-iron block restrains a forged-steel crankshaft with induction-hardened bearings, all engineered to withstand firing pressures of 1,595 psi—the equivalent of 20,000 pounds of force.
Copyright 2021 • SouthwestMedical.com • All rights reserved • SouthwestMedical.com, LLC Home Info _About Me _Contact Blogs _Travel _Accommodation _Days Out _Theatre _Products This has definitely been a well requested blog. I was lucky enough to get to try the only pair of Loopwheel Urban's in the world at the moment before their release later this year. I certainly put them through their paces, taking them out in the city and off-road on sand, so, I wanted to share my thoughts with you! A Loopwheel is a wheel with integral suspension, designed to reduce vibration, increase performance and provide greater comfort. Giving you a smoother ride, they are more comfortable than standard wheels: the carbon springs absorb tiring vibration, as well as bumps and shocks. They’re designed for everyday use and are strong and durable. Loopwheels are not just a wheel, they’re a suspension system. Studies have shown that wheelchair users are exposed to levels of vibration that are considered unsafe and that this can affect health and life quality. This is a risk factor for all wheelchair users, increasing the amount of muscle fatigue and potentially damaging connecting nerves. For me, vibration causes a huge increase in pain which is why I was first interested in the product. Loopwheels solved this problem by using carbon composites to create an ‘in-wheel‘ spring that can absorb vibration, without the weight penalties of a suspension chair or the cost penalties of a full carbon frame. The Loopwheels reduce vibration by 68% at 7Hz, 52% at 10Hz and 76% at 13Hz. Overall Loopwheels significantly reduce the amount of harmful whole body vibrations a wheelchair user will experience, this is turn reduces pain and fatigue and therefore allows a wheelchair user to travel further. I signed up for the 'Try Before You Buy' Scheme for the classic Loopwheels. For £20, this allows you to have the loopwheels for 21 days. This fantastic scheme enables people to see whether the product would be right for them. My loopwheels were black and fitted with ease to my manual wheelchair. I was travelling a lot when I first got my loopwheels and I found them easy to store in the car or on the plane. You can get a specially made bag to put them in if you travel a lot which I like! One thing which a number of people contacted me about is the weight of the Loopwheels. They are 1.8kg without the push rim/tyre/axle. Looking at a leading competitor, X-Core, their wheels are 1.5kg without tyres. They aren't as lightweight as I would have liked and for me, I need to take the wheels off individually and use 2 hands to lift one (I am a weakling though!). You would have to make a decision about whether you could manage the weight of the wheels independently and also if you're willing to have that extra bit of weight in return for extra comfort; it's completely individual. Short and sweet, I love the look of the classic. Wherever I go, people ask about them and I always used them for my photoshoots. Having a 'pretty' chair gives me such a confidence boost so having wheels which reflect this is so special. I have very small front castors which absorb a lot of vibration on my wheelchair. Even with the Loopwheels on, my castors at the front were still an issue. For you to get the best out of this equipment, I would thoroughly recommend using it with something like a Tri-Ride or Freewheel. This elevates the small castors and allows the weight to go through the loopwheels, giving you the best possible result. I used them a lot in the dance studios and loved the glide on the solid floor. But, because I didn't have any add-on equipment to try, I don't feel like I felt the full potential of the Loopwheels outdoors, but I still felt a difference. At £872, with payment plans available, they are certainly an investment. Other wheelchair wheels on the market cost around £250 mark, so you are looking at an extra £600. With the new personal budget for wheelchairs just released, there could be some hope that equipment like this could be provided as 'top ups' if a good enough case was made, but in the meantime, you might have to save your pennies. Have one set of wheels for all occasions – from the streets to the park to the forest. Lighter; an everyday wheel that is light enough to lift easily with one hand. Deliver all-important comfort and pain relief whilst being efficient to push and roll. Wheels that look great, and look technical – and perform brilliantly. Different spring ratings dependant on speed and weight. At 1.36 they are lighter than one of their leading competitors, X-Core, who's wheels are 1.5kg without tyres. They were much easier to lift, meaning putting them in the car and attaching them to the chair was simple. I felt a significant difference from my 'classics'. Because they were so much lighter, I could self-propel for a significantly longer time which was fantastic. I also tried the wheels out on the sand whilst I was on holiday, and despite having no add on for my front wheels, they managed really well! The wheels are designed to tackle a multitude of surfaces and they certainly excelled in that. I also like the fact there are 3 different spring ratings. Because I'm so light, I didn't feel like I was getting the full spring potential in the classic sometime but on these I can opt for the soft so I can feel more benefit. All those positive reviews do come at a price and that is £1,800. It's difficult when equipment that could potentially benefit your quality of life is so out of your price range, honestly I know, but I also have got to know the company well now and know how much they've invested so this is priced for the quality of the product. I love Loopwheels because they genuinely want to help people live better. The brand is good, the people are good and the products are good. Personally, the Loopwheel Classics didn't have as much benefit to me as I'd hoped because I didn't have a piece of equipment to lift my front castors off the ground. If you want the full potential of them, as I've said before, I'd recommend giving them a go with a Tri-Ride, Freewheel or investing in some suspension front castors. However, the Urban for me was a game changer. I really felt the benefit from these wheels, especially with them being lighter and cannot wait for their official launch so I can get my hands on them! If you'd like to learn more about Loopwheels, try or order some, visit their website https://www.loopwheels.com I am an ambassador for Loopwheels, because of my love for the product, so the wheels discussed in these reviews were either #Gifted or PR trial. But, I certainly am honest with my review of them!
I played with the idea using steel springs in wagon wheels for a Ring of Fire series fanfic (I highly recommend the books if you like time travel stories) but I am not convinced that loopwheels are a better solution than a springy seat post. Michael Lau April 18, 2013 02:48 AM Frank van Schie April 18, 2013 06:31 AM
A pair of shock-absorbing wheels for wheelchairs with integral suspension, designed to help you push over uneven streets, rough tracks, grass and gravel paths, with less effort. The carbon leaf springs give you extra power to get up or down kerbs/curbs. They’re wonderfully comfortable over cobblestones, and potholes needn’t be a problem any more!
There are three times when you should get your steering and suspension systems inspected. Every 50,000 miles (approximately 80,000 km). As part of your annual service or any time your car is in for routine service and the steering and suspension systems are accessible. When your tyres are replaced. When your brakes are serviced. When your oil and filters are changed.
Suspension blocks are the quickest way to provide both, in addition to suspension and turning capabilities, but don't necessarily meet all demands. A rotor can also be used, but has a much lower maximum speed (60rpm, regardless of wheel size) for propulsion purposes - however it can also have its braking torque set to 0 to make it a free-wheeling axle.
While I know my life would be forever changed had I XploreAir's flying bicycle, the Paravelo, during my fuming battles with city gridlocks and local Department of Transportation personnel who were almost certainly collectively...
From their initial musings over 4 years ago to the recent debut at Bespoked Bristol, Loopwheels has been a labour of love for them.
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Loopwheels reduce vibration by up to 70% compared to a spoked wheel so the amount of vibration transferred into the person in the chair is significantly reduced.
The Loopwheel works using three heavy duty springs instead of spokes. When the rider hits a bump, the springs compress to give a smooth ride
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Near the end of the video it shows the bike on the "rolling road" test bed, the rim is moving laterally, not good in most bike applications. wle April 18, 2013 05:17 PM