DAEDALUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
MAKING TECHNOLOGY MORE ACCESSIBLE
Installing of the DAESSY Folding Mount - DFM2 and DFM2ROP
Assemble and Install the Frame Clamp Components
Background:
The DAESSY Folding Mount (DFM2) can be mounted on either the left or right side of a wheelchair with left and right defined from the position of the person seated in the wheelchair.
Find the location on the wheelchair to attach the Frame Clamp. This should have been chosen already in the step Selecting a Frame Clamp Location during the process of fitting the mounting system. Most often the frame clamp assembly will be installed near the front caster wheel but make sure the selected location is part of the wheelchair frame, not a movable armrest or footrest.
Check that both the Frame Clamp and the Vertical Tube will not interfere with the caster wheel at the bottom, the brake lever, or any controls. If there is interference it may be necessary to use an Offset Link or Frame Clamp Spacer to displace the Frame Clamp Outer Piece forward, backward or further out from the position of the inner piece.
Assemble the Frame Clamp Pieces:
The pieces of the complete Frame Clamp Assembly should be connected together before it is installed on the wheelchair frame. For a standard mount these pieces will include a Frame Clamp Inner Piece (UFCxxxxIP) and a Frame Clamp Outer Piece (UFCOP) and a Swivel Clamp. The ROP Version mount will have a Frame Clamp Assembly consisting of a Frame Clamp Inner Piece (UFCxxxxIP), a Removable Frame Clamp Receiver (RFCR) and a Removable Outer Piece (ROP). The UFCxxxxIP and RFCR will be connected with a Swivel Clamp. Additionally the Frame Clamp Assembly may include Offset Links (O3L) and/or Frame Clamp Spacers (UFCSPCR) to clear any obstructions.
When the Inner Piece has a Cap and Body fastened with two screws the Cap must be removed so that the threaded end of the Swivel Clamp can be fitted in the long hole through the Inner Piece. Some Inner Pieces have integrated threaded holes for the Swivel Clamp bolts and do not use the threaded end.
On the standard Frame Clamp Assembly the unthreaded end of the Swivel Clamp fits in the hole through the length of the UFCOP. The long arm of the 3/16" Allen Key will be needed to reach the heads of the two bolts through the hole in the UFCOP. For the ROP Version the unthreaded end of the Swivel Clamp fits in the centre hole of the RFCR.
If there are no Offset Links or Spacers needed to avoid obstructions the Frame Clamp Inner Piece is connected directly to the UFCOP or RFCR with one Swivel Clamp. If Offset Links or Frame Clamp Spacers are needed, these are connected between the Inner Piece and UFCOP or RFCR with a Swivel Clamp at each joint. Longer Swivel Clamp bolts are provided with the Frame Clamp Spacer, UFCSPCR. The Swivel Clamps should be inserted into each joint so that the threaded end is closest to the wheelchair and the bolt heads remain accessible.
The adjoining faces of all the parts for a Frame Clamp Assembly have circular grooves to give extra friction against movement when assembled. The grooves on an Inner Piece engage with the grooves on an Outer Piece but will not engage with the grooves on another Inner Piece. Offset Links and Frame Clamp Spacers have the letters IP stamped into the metal beside the grooves that attach to the Inner Piece and OP stamped into the metal beside the grooves that attach to the Outer Piece.
The bolts do not need to be fully tightened at this step. However when the bolts are finally tightened it may be necessary to use an extender on the short arm of the Allen Key to obtain sufficient torque. A four-inch length of aluminum with a long hole to fit the Allen Key is provided for this purpose. This tool is called the Tommy Bar.
Caution
All the grooved faces must be correctly matched and engaged before the swivel clamp bolts are tightened.
Do not use the Tommy Bar to extend the long arm of the Allen Key.
With the DFM2ROP the Removable Outer Piece (ROP) should be inserted and locked into the Removable Frame Clamp Receiver (RFCR) to complete the assembly of the Frame Clamp. It may be necessary to loosen or remove the Pinch Clamp inside the ROP so that the Vertical Tube can be temporarily inserted for aligning the Frame Clamp.
Attach the Frame Clamp to the wheelchair – Round Tubing
At the selected location fit the Cap and Body of the Frame Clamp Inner Piece around the tube. Replace the bolts but do not fully tighten them yet. The Cap should face towards the inside of the wheelchair and the Body, connected to the Outer Piece, should face away from the wheelchair. The two bolts are evenly, but gently tightened.
Align the Frame Clamp:
If the mount is supplied with a standard Frame Clamp Inner Piece for round tubing the Frame Clamp Assembly must be aligned in two ways:
- The inner piece must be adjusted on the wheelchair frame tube so that the outer piece is facing directly outward. This is referred to as 'Sideways Alignment'.
- The outer piece must be rotated around the Swivel Clamp so that the tube hole is oriented vertically and the index pin is pointing up. This is referred to as 'Front-Back Alignment'. A maximum of 15º variation from vertical is permissable for a non-ROP Version of the Rigid Mount.
It is not necessary for the ROP Version of the DFM2 to be aligned with the Vertical Tube vertically front to back, however the Vertical Tube should still be aligned sideways to be parallel to the side of the wheelchair.
Sideways Alignment:
Use the Vertical Tube in the tube hole of the Outer Piece as a lever and alignment guide. Hold the Vertical Tube parallel to the side of the wheelchair and alternately tighten the bolts connecting the Cap and Body of the Frame Clamp Inner Piece to clamp the wheelchair tube evenly.
Please Note
When the bolts are fully tight and the tube is firmly gripped there should be a slight gap of 1/32" to 1/64" between the Cap and Body of the Frame Clamp Inner Piece. If the gap is wider than 1/16" the Frame Clamp Inner Piece is probably too small. If there is no gap and the tube is not gripped firmly when the bolts are tight remove the inner
piece and tightly wrap some aluminum foil around the tube before replacing it. Make sure the aluminium foil does not get caught between the Cap and Body when the bolts are again tightened. There is some variation in the tube size on different wheelchairs so it is sometimes necessary to use the foil. Do not use paper or plastic. Do not use more than four layers of foil, more than this probably means the Frame Clamp is too large.
Front-Back Alignment:
With the inner piece attached firmly to the wheelchair the hole in the Outer Piece is aligned vertically by rotating the tube forward or backward before tightening the two bolts on the Swivel Clamp. The tube has to be removed to do this so care must be taken not to move the Outer Piece. Use the Tommy Bar to get enough leverage and tighten the two bolts alternately to get the most efficient grip.
With the standard DFM2 (non ROP) the Vertical Tube may lean no more than 15º forward or backward from the vertical if this is necessary to obtain the correct position for the mounted device. Installation of the DFM2 at a greater angle from the vertical places extra load on the Index Pin in the Frame Clamp Outer Piece. In situations when the correct position for the device cannot be reached without leaning the tube beyond 15º, custom S-Tube with a larger bend and/or Offset Links should be used to obtain the correct position, or the Folding Mount ROP Version DFM2ROP may be used.
Important:
All the bolts should be tightened sufficient to hold the mounting assembly for normal loads; when excessive force is applied the mount may move and should move before the wheelchair frame is likely to bend. It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure the mount is firm enough for their needs, but not over-tight, and to periodically check that the bolts have not vibrated loose.
Install the Frame Clamp – Removable Frame Clamp Receiver
The Removable Frame Clamp Receiver (RFCR) is connected to the Inner components of the Frame Clamp Assembly with a Swivel Clamp. There must not be any obstructions to turning the knob, nor should it be possible that the Locking Knob will be accidentally turned by contacting other wheelchair fittings.
[Next Step: Install the Vertical Tube and Index Clamp (or ROP)]
Steps in Installation Procedure:
Installing the DFM2 has these major steps:
- Identify the Parts
- Assemble and Install the Frame Clamp Components
- Install the Index Clamp and Vertical Tube
- Install the Folding Mechanism and Horizontal Tube
- Install the Quick Release Base
Folding Mount