Fail-safe 3D seat module in wheelchairs

• What was needed: iglidur ® plain bearing, iglidur® thrust washers
• Requirements: Bearing components were needed that are completely maintenance-free in indoor and outdoor use, enable maximum mobility and are failure-free, space-saving and noise-free.
• Industry: Medical technology
• Success for the customer: While the plain bearings can be used in the tight installation space, the iglidur® material enables noiseless operation and works perfectly and without failure even when using chemical cleaning agents. The bearings also represent the most economical solution for the customer's problem.

This wheelchair uses a gyroscopic hovering module in the seat, which acts as an interface between the user and the seat surface, improving the user experience and bringing health benefits. Under the brand name CoSeat®, the system significantly improves the overall quality of life for wheelchair users.
The seating system can be easily explained as a hemisphere with a plate resting on the curve of the hemisphere. Although the plate is very manoeuvrable in all directions, it is also extremely unstable and almost impossible to control. The CoSeat® was designed to allow exactly the same mobility in all three dimensions, but at the same time to be controlled, monitored and customised to the user's requirements and wishes. 
Bearing solutions are particularly central components of the technology, which enable maximum mobility and at the same time have to be space-saving, noiseless and maintenance-free.

These complex mechatronics could only be realised economically with plain bearing systems from the iglidur® plain bearing range. Specifically, iglidur ® J plain bearings and iglidur® X thrust washers were used. By using the bearings, the typical requirements for medical products in the seating area could be implemented in the design. These are requirements for maintenance-free use of the seating system indoors and outdoors as well as complete reliability. Furthermore, the highest demands are placed on the disinfection of multi-resistant germs and the use of the CoSeat® under incontinence conditions in clinical use. The bearing products also work perfectly when used with chemical cleaning agents. In addition, the iglidur® material also guarantees the required quietness while the bearings can be used in tight installation spaces without any problems.