DAEDALUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
MAKING TECHNOLOGY MORE ACCESSIBLE
Installing of the DAESSY Folding Mount - DFM2 and DFM2ROP
Installing the Folding Mechanism
Background:
The Vertical and Horizontal Tubes of the FOLDING MOUNT are connected by the DAESSY Folding Mechanism (RTH+2RTHTM) which allows the Horizontal Tube to be folded down beside the Vertical Tube.
Orientation of the Folding Mechanism
When the DAESSY Folding Mount is on the right side of the wheelchair the Tube Mount (stamped with the letters RTHTM), which is mounted on the end of the Vertical Tube, faces toward the rear of the wheelchair. When the DFM2 is on the left side of the wheelchair the Tube Mount, which is mounted on the end of the Vertical Tube, faces away from the wheelchair.
Choice of Folding Direction
The folding sequence has two steps. The first movement rotates the Horizontal Tube up through an angle of 90º. The second movement is a rotation of the Horizontal Tube down through 180º to place it parallel to the Vertical Tube. The initial direction of the second rotation can be either forward or backward. The Folding Mechanism can be converted to provide opposite directions of downward rotation.
When the wheelchair user has the strength and dexterity needed to perform the folding sequence the movements may be easier with backward folding. The Horizontal Tube and mounted device must be held though the entire sequence – not merely lifted and dropped – and the backwards and down motion may be better suited to the natural motion of the user’s arm. When an aide is folding the mount, there is little or no advantage to backward folding.
On many wheelchairs, the backwards rotation of the Horizontal Tube will be obstructed by the rear wheel or other fittings, and the S-Tube must be positioned to hold the Folding Mechanism further out from the wheelchair to avoid these obstructions.
Changing from Right Hand to Left Hand Assembly
The Folding Mechanism is usually supplied with the Tube Mount (RTHTM) for the Horizontal Tube assembled for right-hand installation with forward folding. The letters R and L are stamped into the silver coloured ring to which the Tube Mount bolted. The default assembly has the tube hole located over the R for right-hand.
The following steps change the Folding Mechanism to left-hand folding:
- Remove the tube mount by removing the two tube mount bolts
- Rotate the tube mount 180º to position the tube hole over the L
- Reattach the tube mount in the new position (the horizontal tube will point away from the wheelchair)
- Fold the horizontal straight tube down toward the floor (the mount is now in the folded position)
Install the Folding Mechanism (RTH+2RTHTM) and Horizontal Tube
Remove the plastic plug holding the Pinch Clamp in the Tube Mount for the Vertical Tube. Check that the Pinch Clamp is correctly aligned and slide the Tube Mount onto the end of the Vertical Tube. Orient the Folding Mechanism to face towards the rear of the wheelchair if the mount is installed on the right-hand side of the wheelchair or to face toward the front if the mount is installed on the left-hand side. Tighten the Pinch Clamp Bolt. Remove the plastic plug holding the Pinch Clamp in the Tube Mount for the Horizontal Tube. Check that the Pinch Clamp is correctly aligned and install the Horizontal Tube and tighten the Pinch Clamp Bolt. The Pinch Clamp hole in the top Tube Mount is vertical and it is easier to align the Pinch Clamp if the tube assembly is lifted off the wheelchair and laid down so that the hole is horizontal.
Caution:
The bolts on the Pinch Clamps should not be excessively tightened. The Pinch Clamps grip the tubes sufficient to prevent rotation when the mount is pushed firmly by a user. By design a Pinch Clamp does not provide an immoveable grip. Extreme tightening of the Pinch Clamp bolt in an attempt to prevent the tube from moving when very forcefully pushed, will crush the tube and jam the Pinch Clamp. DAESSY mounting assemblies are designed to carry the weight of a computer or communication device and are not intended to resist a strong force exerted by the user.
[Next Step: Install the Quick Release Base]
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