Design and Construction of a Motorized Tricycle for Physically Challenged Persons

Abstract

The design and fabrication of a motorized tricycle for physically challenged persons was carried out. The aim was to improve on already existing tricycles, which are simple assembles of bicycle parts with no design specification. Anthropometric data were used to determine the lengths and size of the body parts of human being as well as the body weight. The most important part of the design is the incorporation of the fuel powered system which was added to improve the efficiency of the tricycle and to make life more comfortable for the physically challenged persons. A spark ignition automatic single speed two- stroke engine was chosen for this design and consideration was also given to the weight of the user in which a maximum weight of 75kg was used. The tricycle also has manual drives to assist in emergency situations and to supplement the power drive.