Foreign countries use autoclave composite materials to create the world's first folding luggage-type wheelchair

Andrea Mocellin use autoclave composite materials to

create the world's first folding luggage-type wheelchair

Three years ago, Andrea Mocellin showed the world’s first modular, foldable wheel. In view of the increasing demand, he saw the potential of using foldable structures as added value. This year Mocellin showed it under the name "Revolve Air" A wheelchair that can be folded into the size of hand luggage. Passengers can easily take the plane or store it in Smart's trunk.

 By establishing a partnership with DEXET Technologies, a high-performance engineering and composite material expert, the initial design and prototype of Mocellin can be transformed into a complete finished product. DEXET uses its composite materials and manufacturing expertise, as well as its expertise in Formula One racing and high-performance automotive projects, to help develop lighter, stronger, and more flexible wheelchairs.

The company's current goal is to first promote the limited edition Revolve Air and develop no more than 50 high-quality customized wheelchairs for very demanding customers. This series of products produced in small batches will be processed using standard prepregs and autoclave technology. The limited-edition series will also help optimize the design for mass production of Revolve Air, where composite materials will still be used in mass production.

Revolve Air is the first active wheelchair that allows users to walk on their own. Compared with manual wheelchairs, Revolve Air can provide larger wheels, lower backrests and lighter weight; the key features of Revolve Air include Revolve The 24-inch foldable wheels. The folding time of a wheelchair is the same as that of a standard foldable wheelchair, but it can save up to 60% of the space, which is very suitable for airplane travel and similar journeys. This also means that the chair can be easily stored in a small suitcase, in the passenger seat of a compact car, or even in the overhead luggage compartment of an airplane. Revolve Air can save up to 60% of space after folding.

Because it can be easily folded and handled, Revolve Air can save up to three hours in one-way air travel, thereby helping users reduce the burden on users by reducing check-in procedures, security, and other processes, and potentially reduce the need for paid services . The operation of opening or folding the wheelchair is simple and does not require complicated procedures or force. Both wheels can be folded along the same hub along with the seat and backrest to ensure compactness and transportability.

Both wheels with foldable rims of the wheelchair are based on the so-called Hoberman effect. Everyone is familiar with the Hoberman ball in the toy store, which is a constant velocity motion structure. Through the scissor movement of its joints, the structure can be folded to a small part of its normal size and then opened again. In countless experiments, Andrea Mocellin transferred its principle to the wheel and applied for the agency's patent in 2015. Revolve Air was originally invented, designed and produced in Mocellin's 37 square meter studio in Munich, Germany.

Looking to the future, the project leader pointed out that high-performance wheelchairs will provide users with greater independence when traveling or commuting in a space-constrained environment. In addition, the project is expected to continue to benefit from the advantages of composite materials. Although up to now, the technical products are only suitable for high-performance and high-cost products, but overall the future of composite materials in this field is very bright.